House Tours: A Home Fit for the Fourth of July

When the homeowners built this beach house, they wanted a place that captured the relaxing and cheerful mood of summer. The large front porch welcomes neighbors or relatives who want to stop by to say hello or, hopefully, stay awhile. Wicker furniture and vintage pieces are perfect to handle the wear and tear of the outdoors. Mixing outdoor fabrics in stripes, solids, and florals maintains a casual, yet cohesive look.

With a little attention, a foyer can become much more than just a pass-through area. A built-in bench just inside the front door is an easy location to take off your shoes or grab a hat. A traditional round table painted white is the perfect place for a bouquet of blue hydrangeas.

In the family room, beige grass-cloth walls and white molding is a neutral backdrop to colorful furniture and accessories. A large blue rug sits atop hardwood floors. The furniture is an eclectic mix of dark reed armchairs and a floral skirted sofa. To cozy up the room, mix-and-match pillows are scattered throughout the room. Light blue accessories are a pretty complement to the pale blue ceiling.

French doors are a gateway between the dining room and the home's beachside back deck. The long drapes, wooden table and chairs, and chandelier are classic dining room pieces.

Get the Look: To decorate for a Fourth of July party, festive paper lanterns and a worn-in rug add a casual touch to the dining room.

Scattered throughout the home are beachy accessories such as this seashell wreath hanging from a simple red ribbon. To add a cottage vibe, chicken wire replaces glass on the china cabinet door.

The homeowners anticipated plenty of traffic between the beach and the kitchen, so an open floor plan was the best choice. Glass-front cabinets showcase pretty white and yellow dishes. The rest of the room is an airy combination of crisp white paired with warm wood tones.

The striped fabric on this window bench matches the foyer bench. Large, undressed windows provide plenty of light to read a book or enjoy a game of chess. Variations of a star pattern repeat on the rug, chair cushions, and red pillows.

The homeowners' five children love to relax in this homey TV/playroom. Neutral paneling and a natural fiber area rug adds texture to the space. The bold red sofa and crimson carpet combine with patriotic accessories in shades of blue and white. An oversized wooden table can hold snacks, books, or toys.

Flag garland dresses the banister and celebrates Independence Day. A durable rug handles heavy traffic up and down this staircase. A small bench in the hallway becomes a catchall for beach supplies.

This kids' room is gracefully girly. Three sets of pastel bedding are mixed between the two white wicker beds. The combination of plaid, gingham, and floral patterns create a shabby chic vibe. For a modern touch, bold, unframed artwork hangs over a dainty nightstand where the girls can store their treasures.

Intense red walls pair with bright white wainscoting below to set the patriotic theme. The striped wall pattern mimics the lines in wainscoting, giving it a cohesive feel. Dark blue accents found on the hand towels and drawer pulls add to the color scheme. Open shelves below the sink counter are a perfect place to store bath towels.