30A Getaway

Captivated by the local charm of the Emerald Coast’s famed 30A, the homeowners knew this was the place when they chose the community of WaterColor as the destination for their family beach home. Located in Santa Rosa Beach on the Florida Panhandle, their 8,000-square-foot dwelling, sited on a prominent circle in what is known as the Lake District of WaterColor, nestles within a neighborhood characterized by its tall Low Country–style homes, native oak trees, palmettos, and pines. The area is sprinkled with green parks and town squares, and Western Lake is within walking distance, where residents go to fish, Yolo board, and kayak. Across the footbridge, fine dining, shopping, and quaint galleries are just a stroll away. 

Once the owners secured the lot, they brought in architect Geoff Chick, owner of Geoff Chick & Associates in Freeport to bring their vision to life. “They asked for ample space to entertain inside and out, with oversized guest bedrooms and en-suite baths,” he says. “WaterColor has a strict design code, and the clients challenged me to design a larger home that would befit the community’s cracker-cottage vernacular, an architectural style typified by wood-frame houses with metal roofs, raised floors, and straight central hallways from that run from front to back—similar to shotgun house design,” he explains.

Photo by Jack Gardner

By using a detached garage apartment structure and utilizing the half-story attic for the playroom and bunkroom, Chick was able to break down the mass of the building to better relate to the smaller scale of the neighborhood. Using 14-foot ceilings on the first level and 12-foot ceilings on the second, he implemented transom windows to increase daylight capacity on both floors. To ensure plenty of natural light in the center of this expansive home, he incorporated an open-riser staircase with glass railings in the foyer to maximize the amount of sunlight streaming in through the stair hall windows. He also recommended incorporating a large mirror to reflect the light down the house’s center hall toward the great room. 

Close to finalizing their architectural plans, the clients requested an interior designer to help consolidate ideas and consult on custom features, furniture layouts, and electrical plans. Chick introduced them to Cara McBroom of Lovelace Interiors, with whom he had worked many times, and appreciated her bold use of color and modern application of authentic materials.

Photo by Jack Gardner

“I had also met these homeowners when they purchased a home I’d previously designed for another client,” says McBroom. “They loved the way I mixed warm rustic elements with light, soft modern furnishings—and that I didn’t clutter up every surface with accessories. It just so happens I was furnishing a home for their dear close friends as well, so it was serendipity,” she adds.  

The clients gave McBroom a binder of inspirational photos to drive the design, which revealed their love for beauty, function, attention to detail, and their preference for lightness and color. They sought out clean-lined furnishings with modern appeal, yet with cozy softness and warmth. The homeowners have six grandchildren, so they wanted their house to have a comfortable elegance and a fun, family-friendly vibe. 

Photo by Jack Gardner

Inspired by the Emerald Coast’s ever-shifting seascape, the color scheme ebbs and flows between deep ocean blues and shallow aquas to all the teal, turquoise, and cyan hues in between. “I would describe the overall look as soft contemporary coastal glam,” says the designer. “Pops of sunset orange bring all those blues to life.”

Throughout, McBroom balanced hard lines and glinting surfaces with sumptuous fabrics, plush rugs, and natural organic textures. She paid homage to  Southern coastal style with a repeated motif of painted pecky-cypress finishes, shiplap walls, and rich cognac wood tones. A sprinkling of glamorous touches, including shimmering light fixtures, satin brass hardware, and a collection of vibrant artworks the clients acquired from their travels and favorite art galleries create dynamic accents.

“I love the sophistication of the interior finishes and applaud the bold use of color,” says Chick. “Cara pushes the boundaries of traditional interior design to create a fresh new look that’s completely unexpected.”