Text by Bethany Adams
When it comes to building a vacation home on the coast, one major perk will always be the stunning ocean vistas. But the design team at Gathered, owned by designer Lindsey Cheek, knows that the views inside the home are just as important—and this North Carolina beach house is proof. “It was kind of a dream project where they gave us complete liberties of the design,” Lindsey says of the homeowners, who requested a completely hands-off process after viewing the initial presentation.
With the only guidance being to make the space conducive to entertaining, the team paid attention to the kitchen that shows in everything from the materials selected to the details of the finishes. Cleopatra quartz countertops continue up the wall for a striking and easy-to-clean backsplash that contrasts with sophisticated cabinets in Benjamin Moore’s Narragansett Green. “[The homeowners] are not huge cooks, but they do entertain a lot,” Lindsey says, noting that the home is often open to friends and family. “So, we wanted to use quartz because it’s a durable material.”
On the island, the quartz is topped off with a waterfall of wood that creates an instant centerpiece. “When the homeowners are entertaining, it’s more like cocktails and appetizers . . . so, we thought this would be a great place to put a spread of food,” Lindsey says. “When you walk up from the first floor, this is the first thing you see, so it’s kind of like a piece of art; it’s functional, and it brings a lot of warmth.”
More wood tones and other natural materials like rattan, jute, and rush show up throughout the design, achieving the “coastal but not beachy” atmosphere that was the team’s goal. In the dining room, that intention translated into a custom table made from black walnut wood, above which hang woven pendant lights that pull their color from the Kelly Wearstler fabric on the host chairs. “The fabric was our jumping-off point for this area,” Lindsey says, pointing out both the coordinating cabinet paint and the aqua blue of the sectional in the connected living area.
And while the interior design is anything but boring, the team knew that the homeowners would want every excuse to enjoy the beauty of the home’s surroundings. “This was definitely a high-priority area,” Lindsey says of the outdoor dining space, where the clients can relax in white rattan chairs when the party moves outside. But regardless of where the gathering ends up, the views are sure to be unforgettable.
