By Ellen Zoe Golden
Living at or near the beach can make a homeowner feel extraordinary, after all, close proximity to the ocean is a gift of immeasurable value. Yet, there are special considerations to take when designing and decorating a beach house, no matter whether the residence is moderate or elaborate, because the elements of sun, sea and sand require more than just respect and admiration.
“When investing in a beachfront home our clients have a different lifestyle,” explained Nicolas Viale, owner of Century 21 Coastal Estates in Playa Tamarindo, Langosta and Caña Fistula. “They like living with open windows, watching sunrises and sunsets with their huge open terraces, having dinner under the stars, relaxing in their tropical gardens, etc. But, beach houses need to be conceived and furnished in a different way than other homes—the humid salt breeze from the ocean is the enemy.”
That salt will cause damage to the structure of a beach home (especially if its structure is steel), any air conditioning systems, electrical installation, the paint and stucco, furniture, appliances, decoration, and artwork. Prior to the Costa Rican real estate boom, this sort of thing was not of much concern as beach houses were simply weekend homes of minimal comfort level with not much inside of them. Now, people are investing in art, top-quality furniture, as well as high-tech electrical devices and those houses have partial or total air conditioning. It’s important to protect these investments.
“You need to budget some money before you buy a beach house to replace some property, redecorate, reupholster and replace things that erode or become damaged from the erosion and natural damage which occurs from living near the beach,” Viale adds. “This changeover is likely necessary every three years, and be aware that maintenance/repairs cost for such a home will be two to three times the costs of a regular home.
“Essentially, do whatever you want, make a nice home for yourself, enjoy it. When you need to, replace something. It’s a completely different lifestyle!”
Interior designers who specialize in the décor for beach houses offer an expertise much needed for these kinds of properties. Two of the better known in the Guanacaste area include Celine Price and Jean Guinot. Home designer/project manager Price was born and raised in Marseille, France, but has been applying basic guidelines to Tamarindo abodes at Sunset Hill, Tamarindo Diria Condominiums and private homes since she made a permanent move to the area from Los Angeles two years ago. Celine’s primarily focus these days is the prestigious project Los Altos de Pinilla, the deluxe luxury spa and hotel under construction between Tamarindo and Avellanes beaches.
Tamarindo Pacific Interiors’ Jean Guinot is an interior designer whose San Josecompany also designs and imports furniture, ornaments, lighting fixtures, accessories, and more. He started working here totally by accident. A French/Italian born in Senegal, Africa, he was manufacturing furniture in Costa Ricafor a company in California when he met Cala Luna Hotel and Villas’ Else Pilurzu. She took a chance and Guinot decorated the entire Langosta project, which resulted in work at Los Suenos, Reserva Conchal and more.
What follows are Price and Guinot’s guidelines for the decoration and design of beach homes.
FOCUS ON THE VIEW AND BEING OUTSIDE
“Make sure the main rooms face the beach,” said Price, explaining that this will provide the homeowner with the option of creating an air flow for the house with open doors and the ocean breeze or building beautiful, big windows facing the sea, and then air conditioning the enclosed room. Or do both. Use lots ceiling fans for natural airflow, and it’s always best to air condition bedrooms as well as offices where computers are kept.
Outside the main room, create a large entertaining area. Price offers a number of options including a swimming pool, a BBQ pit, a colorful garden, a natural wood deck, dining area, sunbathing section, etc.
“Always there is an outside shower and bath which is necessary for the sand,” she emphasized. “And, an area for surfboards, of course, preferably made in teak.”
To combat the problems that arise from the ocean air, Guinot uses a special treatable fabric called “sunbrella,” a mildew resistant water repellent material on both the inside and outside furniture. Originally designed for boats, “its wonderful for me because I can do all kinds of things without it looking like canvas. We do a slipcover for the upholstered pieces making revamping easier. Always use slipcovers on your outside and general living room furniture if possible because they are easy to change when they are in need of it. This is an extremely important issue.”
BRING THE OUTDOORS INDOORS
When Guinot does a project at the beach, “my tendency is to bring the outside inside. Definitely soft color, something fresh, definitely prints such as landscapes, palm trees on window treatments, coordinated with bed covers, using solids colors. Always use color and patterns that remind you that you are in the tropics, like seashells, flowers.”
Price concurred. “If there’s a garden outside, then put a dry garden inside, meaning plants inside by the stairs, for example, that the owners would water themselves. Or the dry garden could be made with cactus.”
USE LOTS OF NATURAL AND AVAILABLE MATERIALS
Tamarindo Pacific Interiors specializes in mixing the natural earth materials and creating furniture and window treatments that Guinot feels are appropriate for life at the beach. “We like eclectic, using different materials such as wood with rattan, and bamboo shades for window treatments, maybe the panels in sea grass. We have a local factory where we bring coco from the Philippines and integrate it into wood furniture to give it another dimension. I want furniture to be a conversation piece.”
While Price doesn’t advocate rattan, she does recommend the use of natural material for a beach home, especially the various local woods. Teak is a favorite of hers, because it’s a hard wood, as well as banana leaf because it’s “soft to the eye and more comfortable than rattan.” However, both teak and banana leaf need to be sealed to foil beach erosion. “Bamboo is a natural, very resistant material, and so is caña brava, another type of wood. Bamboo blinds are good, especially for use around 3 or 4 p.m. when the sun starts to get into the house. And I like using stones in the floor, and wall, too.”
Both Price and Guinot agree that while the above generalities can satisfy most, it’s important to spend time with the clients and find out about their specific needs. For example, Guinot always asks if the home will have children or if the unit will be rented. These kind of factors will refine the decorating process and increase both the enjoyment of the home and the rental and resale value of the property.
Ellen Zoe Golden
The Catalyst Group
Division of The M.O.B.
Toll Free 1-800-548-1753
EllenZoe@aol.com
