Coastal Cool

Design by Lisa Santoro
Photography by Meghan Balcom
Text by Nayda Rondon

A father and his three twentysomething kids are busy professionals all leading full, productive lives. They’re also a close-knit family that loves to spend time together, especially at their happy place—a vacation home in Seaside Park.

The single-family raised house—the kind where the house is lifted on stilts and the ground underneath serves as a relaxation/recreation area— has six bedrooms, four bathrooms and a bay view. It had been everyone’s go-to fun spot since 2015, when the homeowner and his late wife purchased the new spec home for its move-in-ready, fully furnished appeal. However, nearly a decade later that freshness had faded, leaving the widower homeowner contemplating updates but at a loss as to where to turn for design counsel. 

The Visual Comfort Antigua Light’s circular lines and natural abaca/antique burnished brass composition draw the eye.

Serendipitously, it was his own role as a financial advisor that helped him. He got to talking with a new client about vacation homes and his need to refresh his, only to discover not only that both men shared Seaside Park retreats, but also that his client’s wife, Lisa Santoro of LJS Interiors in Morristown, would be perfect for the design job. 

“And the rest is history,” says Santoro, explaining how the homeowner, whose main residence is in Newton, Pennsylvania, gave her the literal keys to the house, giving her almost total creative license. The family, she says, provided “must-haves from a functionality standpoint and shared their fave colors, but beyond that they gave me the freedom to create a cohesive coastal look, and it was incredibly rewarding to present ideas that not only met their needs, but also exceeded their expectations.”

The custom island’s countertop, a durable quartz that can withstand lots of entertaining, was also used for the kitchen backsplash. Essentials for Living Tapestry counter stools sit well with the coastal vibe. Their interwoven rope pattern and neutral colors complement the light-toned wood base; the plush seat cushions clad in performance fabric provide easy maintenance comfort

Keeping to the existing open f loor plan, Santoro reinvigorated the interiors with all new furniture, lighting and décor in complementary colors, textures and styles. To maintain an airy sense of continuity, she gave all the rooms a refreshing coat of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray and incorporated the relaxed coastal vibe with natural materials such as abaca and jute. She made sure the tiles in each bathroom had elements—whether in color or shapes like “wavy” swirls—that evoked the ocean. The kitchen got a facelift with new countertops, backsplash, sink, hardware and lighting. Furnishings and fabrics were chosen with an eye to utilitarian style.

“They are a relaxed family and wanted durable materials,” says Santoro, “so we kept that in mind for the sofa and chairs.”

The wave shape is fun and brings through the coastal theme,” she says of the marble tiles from Garden State Tile used to create the first floor hall bathroom’s shower accent wall. Also noteworthy for its visual and tactile appeal: the reeded design of the teak vanity by Willow Bath & Vanity.

The project, taking place from February to July 2024, wasn’t all easy breezy, though. “All four bathrooms underwent a complete gut renovation at the same time,” says the designer. “It was incredibly important to me that each had its own unique coastal feel, yet remained cohesive with the adjacent spaces. And each bathroom reflected the style of a family member. Coordinating the selection of tiles and materials for multiple bathrooms at once definitely required careful planning and attention to every detail.” 

Things were also “interesting” when it came to installing the single-sheet quartz tops for the kitchen counters and the custom island. “Getting them into the house was crazy,” Santoro recalls. ”Since the home is elevated, we had to bring in a boom lift, remove the front railings and bring the slabs in through the porch. It was a particularly windy day, and I was convinced that the slabs might take out every window in sight. Fortunately, everything made it inside safely, though I don’t think I exhaled until the last piece was in place.”

The primary bedroom’s Lexington Furniture natural abaca bed fosters dreams of tropical nights. “I love the material and color of the bed; it just gives the space the right amount of interest,” says designer Lisa Santoro.

Working under a time crunch—the project had to be completed before the July 4th weekend—didn’t make things a day at the beach, either. But Santoro wasn’t going to let her client down. When the final outstanding piece—the missing Dovetail Furniture dining table—arrived just past the last scheduled pre-holiday delivery date, she personally went to the warehouse, loaded the 48-inch table top and base in her SUV and drove to the house. “The electrician helped me bring them into the house,” she says. “I’m quite handy so I had no problem attaching the base to the top. No, the homeowner wasn’t there when I brought it in. But, yes, the homeowner was very appreciative when he was able to go that weekend to host a gathering with everybody there. 

“Seeing how much the family truly loves their home is rewarding,” Santoro says. “Beach houses tend to be a hub for visitors, and it’s been wonderful to hear how much they enjoy sharing their beautiful space with friends and family.”