Pelican Brief

On a wall inside this circa 1970s Wrightsville Beach house matted and framed are four photos of the Pelican Drive cottage taken in successive decades.

Purchased about 10 years ago by a High Point couple the cottage fully furnished was conveyed as is.

The furnishings were dated 1990s peach blue yellow orange and green recalls interior designer Liz Carroll who was consulted about a year and a half ago when the homeowners wanted to remove the dark green wall-to-wall carpet and restore the hardwood floors.

As they walked through the house Carroll learned more about the couples evolving family dynamic that three grown daughters were starting their own families and realized a full renovation was in order. They refurnished the house to make the space more livable without creating expensive additions. The result was more functionality for an active family of adults with room for a growing brood of children.

Carroll was especially impressed by her clients who insisted the furnishings be donated to two local nonprofits: Cape Fear Habitat for Humanitys Re-Store and Sharing Our Bounty.

Outdoor curtains soften the hard angles of the open porch that overlooks Lees Cut and the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to blocking the suns rays that flood the indoor space at certain times of day Carroll says the curtains are a polite way to create privacy.

What I love most about outdoor curtains is that it extends your living room Carroll says.

The living room dining room and kitchen occupy the primary spaces on the homes main level. The palette began with a soft chamois a creamy gray tint that Carroll says does not compete with the view.

You want to live around it Carroll says.

The soft teal blue found in the drapery fabric recurs throughout most of the rooms in the house. The chartreuse green was selected to match the color of the marsh grass in season. Pale purple was pulled from the night sky at sunset. All washable fabrics were selected for the ease of living in a multi-generational household at the beach.

Over and over the homeowners said they wanted to be comfortable Carroll says. She liked the roundness of the chair backs paired with a round dining table. The Louise Gaskill chandelier above it mimics a boat captains wheel and adds a sophisticated nautical splash to the interior.

The kitchen footprint remained the same but Corian countertops were replaced with honed Carrera marble.

If somebody leaves a popsicle on the counter top it will withstand wear over time Carroll says.

A white square porcelain tile backsplash was replaced with light blue glass subway tile. French bistro rattan bar stools feature woven seats and backs and are suitable for sitting in wet suits or salt-sprayed shorts and Ts after a day of boating.

Living room furnishings are grouped over a custom cut rug. A side table wound with heavy nautical rope doubles as stowage for kids games. White coral anchors a pile of books placed on top of a plush washable white vinyl ottoman.

Instead of a large coffee table Carroll says I wanted a big soft ottoman for seating soft enough for little kids to stand up and pull up on something soft to put your feet on.

The chest of drawers found in the childrens bunkroom unites the palette of pale teal and chartreuse. The decorative accessories reiterate the subtle nautical touches and the octopus painting fabricated for indoor or outdoor use is another theme of the homes makeover.

The Lilly Pulitzer teal and chartreuse trellis patterned drapery fabric is the star of the show in this king-sized bedroom one of three king-sized chambers in the five-bedroom house.

The familys three grandchildren ages one to three will grow into this bunkroom furnished for four. Carroll wanted to make it a fun place for the grandkids and their cousins while extending the nautical motif with lantern-style lamps and wicker footlockers for storing personal items beach toys and blankets. In a room that was hard for hanging traditional artwork she strung navigational flags from one end to the other for a dash of whimsy.

A twin bedroom with custom-designed headboards fabricated by John Lester Furniture is trimmed in a shade of red found in the light blue teal and gray sailor wallpaper.

I thought it would be fun to pull that red out. Its an unexpected color combination Carroll says.

The master suite is a calm retreat for the homeowners. The headboard footboard and rails are upholstered. A soft tufted upholstered bench is complemented with soft tufted bedding. Sea fans framed in silver are echoed by the washed wood nightstands.

With fabrics plucked from Trina Turks washable line this crisp navy and white guest room pops with dramatic color combinations.

RESOURCES

Creating this Home of Distinction

INTERIOR DESIGNER

Liz Carroll Interiors

APPLIANCES

Atlantic Appliance & Hardware

AUDIO/VISUAL

Sound Decisions

KITCHEN/BATH HARDWARE

Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

PLUMBING

Wrightsville Beach Plumbing

ELECTRIC

Blanchard Electric

ELECTRIC FIXTURES

Liz Carroll Interiors

LIGHTING FIXTURES

Liz Carroll Interiors

Airlie Moon Louise Gaskill chandelier

TILE SUPPLIER

Southeastern Tile Connection

TILE INSTALLER

Property Refinements

PAINT

Riptide Painting

FLOORING

HARDWOOD SUPPLIER/INSTALLER

Rug Runner

CARPET SUPPLIER

Liz Carroll Interiors

CARPET INSTALLER

Rug Runner

COUNTERTOPS/STONE CUTTER/BACK SPLASH/INSTALLER

Southeastern Marble & Granite

FURNISHINGS

Liz Carroll Interiors

UPHOLSTERED HEADBOARDS

Lester Furniture Mfg Inc.

ACCESSORIES

Blue Hand Home

Nest Fine Gifts & Interiors

DRAPERIES

Liz Carroll Interiors

Patterson Custom Drapery

WALLCOVERINGS

Liz Carroll Interiors