On the Couch With Erika Powell

Beach Chic

MHI: What challenges do you face when designing at the beach?

EMP: My projects are usually second homes, and as a result, homeowners want to feel like they are at the beach. As a designer, I think nothing is worse than a blatantly "beach house," and at all costs, I try to avoid anything that is obvious.

You can exude beachy without the literal beach items. I have to tell my clients to trust that I will give them a house that feels like the beach without a contrived, themed look.