The Living Room

Nautical Palette: Crisp blues, whites, and yellows are a nod to Norfolk, with its active boating community and history as a Navy town.

Statement Piece: With its dark background and large scale, this simple, powerful photo of an albatross is the perfect dramatic art for the otherwise airy space.

Top Brass Lamp Shades: This seaworthy metal is more practical (read: easier to keep clean!) in a beach house than fabric shades. Bonus: A pair of floor lamps frees up space on the end tables.

All Washed Up: The ceiling’s gray-white wash (paint thinned with water) resembles driftwood that’s floated ashore.

Attention to Detail: Extra touches, such as the square blocks added to window casings and trim layered in a wainscot pattern, create the look of custom paneling without the high price tag.