Beachy Neutrals

A large, light blue sectional sofa encourages the type of informal gathering vacation homes are known for. Get the look in your own home by filling a sectional with oversize pillows, which can easily be tossed on the ground for floor seating.

To avoid beach overload, the decor includes spicy Far East-inspired furnishings, fabrics, and accessories, such as this bold grid of mirrors in the great room.

To banish the dark and musty feel of 1960s-era wood paneling, the homeowner painted it a calm khaki and beefed up the molding around the fireplace.

This homeowner used "bottom-of-the-barrel" stock cabinetry and splurged on granite countertops in the kitchen. Crisp white cabinets brighten the space.

An open upper cabinet makes it easy to spot what you need and provides a simple display case for stemware and dinnerware.

Bench seating in the breakfast nook takes up less room than regular chairs and doesn't obstruct window views.

Inexpensive candle lanterns add a splash of color to the breakfast nook and another Far Eastern touch.

Woven fibers, including this chair and lamp, add textural interest to the sea-and-sand palette and keep the look natural.

Pale blue walls, gauzy panels mounted to the sloped ceiling, and do-it-yourself pendent lights make a breezy retreat of the guest bedroom, where visitors are greeted with serene white linens.

Pendent lights throughout the home are made from large rattan balls and paper lanterns.

In the master bedroom, large wood doors with reeded glass serve as a showstopper headboard and hide the open bathroom behind the bed.

The space-defining room partition in the master bedroom conceals the open bathroom.

Shelves behind the headboard in the master bedroom provide storage. Attractive wicker baskets corral toiletries.

Matching dark frames punctuate a collection of inexpensive sea creature prints.