Come home and relax

This North Carolina coastal cottage offers a wealth of ideas for family and friends to kick back.

Each season, loggerhead turtles drawn by an innate homing instinct nest on the warm sandy beaches of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Likewise, homeowners Mary Jane and John Sanacore were drawn to nest in the same area. Following the turtles' example, they built a haven among the landscape of this place.

Their new home nestles atop a dune ridge at one end of the island. It peeks out from behind rush grasses and sandy mounds, seemingly extending its form in all directions-toward the ocean, sky, sand, and maritime forest.

Bald Head Island itself is situated off the southeastern tip of North Carolina. Surrounded by the waters of the Cape Fear River, a nature preserve, and the Atlantic Ocean, it is accessible only by passenger ferry. Once on the island, the main modes of transportation are golf carts, bicycles, and good, old-fashioned walking.

"The Sanacores wanted to build a permanent home here that reflected their love of the coast," says architect Chuck Dietsche. "Their poetic, reverent descriptions of past beach trips gave me the impression that they wanted a house that was more about experiences than about appearances."

One step inside this home, and there is little doubt that it is about the experience of the place-though it's not too shabby in appearance either. Because each room was designed to take the best advantage of the setting, this structure showcases picture-perfect views. Inside, the wide windows and high ceilings provide not only a sense of spaciousness, but also a relationship with the outdoors. Glass doors can be easily opened to let in breezes.

Seating arrangements throughout the home are decidedly casual. Movable chairs can be arranged with the views in mind or grouped together for conversations with friends. Don't feel like talking? That's fine. There are many reading nooks as well as comfy cushions and banquettes perfect for an afternoon nap.

The living room has a cozy fireplace for chilly nights, and ceiling fans above circulate air year-round. Sisal and woven Oriental rugs warm the hardwood floors, and the furniture is dressed down in natural color tones and fibers-a guarantee they're less likely to show dirt.

Colors throughout the home are calming and reflective. Shades of watery blues, grassy greens, and a bit of red here and there reflect nature. The look is casually elegant, and it's toned down enough to allow the real star of the show-the view-to shine.

"The two initial decisions we made set the form for the house," says Chuck. "We put all the communal spaces on the second floor, magnifying the splendor of their high site, and we placed the kitchen in the center of things."

Mary Jane spent a lot of time working with Chuck to design the kitchen-and it paid off. "We've had as many as four people cooking at one time without killing each other," she says with a laugh. The space reflects Country French and English styles with modem conveniences.

The dramatic use of imported tiles on the countertops and vent hood creates a focal point, drawing your eye through to the living room and beyond. Punches of blue and red enliven the kitchen. "Every room needs some red," says Mary Jane. "Just a little touch to brighten up the room-it doesn't have to be fire-engine red."

A farm table functions as an island in the midst of the kitchen, providing plenty of additional counterspace. And there's even a place under the sink for dog Frodo's bowls. The connecting dining room makes cooking, entertaining, and, of course, eating, a breeze.

Because the upstairs rooms are open, guests and owners alike have an easy walk from the kitchen to the other spaces. Baskets of seashells picked up on the beach, dried grasses, family treasures, and well-loved books are found throughout the comfortable living areas. The interiors also make for wonderful discoveries.

Were it possible to capture the ocean's beauty-its fluid lines, dancing waves, hidden treasures-and fashion it all into a single home, this would be the one.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Jun 2003
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved