A Coastal Retreat Blending Whimsy and Tradition: The Story of a Collaborative Architectural Masterpiece
Nestled between the organic textures of Eastern white pine paneling and the playful elegance of a Le Manach printed banquette, this coastal home defies convention. A vintage French bamboo-and-glass coffee table contrasts with a Christopher Farr flatweave rug, while Benjamin Moore hues and natural bluestone flooring anchor the space in earthy sophistication. The art curated from the Richard Smith Foundation and pieces by Roger Hilton adds layers of narrative, proving that every corner whispers intention.
From Conventional to Extraordinary: A Design Evolution
When Claudia Blumberg and her husband purchased the property in 2019, they envisioned a traditional beach house spacious yet intimate, with room for gatherings but devoid of McMansion sterility. Enter Rita Konig, the London-based AD100 designer whose ethos of “lived-in elegance” resonated with their vision. “We wanted a home that felt collected, not decorated,” Claudia recalls. Konig’s solution? A collaboration with Gil Schafer of Schafer Buccellato Architects, another AD100 talent known for classical forms with emotional warmth. Together, they reimagined the home as a “storybook cottage,” where each addition a Federal-style foyer, a relaxed rear wing, an L-shaped upper level felt like a chapter in its organic evolution.
The Magic of Collaborative Design
The duo’s shared philosophy comfort, classical references, and a disdain for perfection shaped every detail. Bookshelves brim with well-loved volumes (“They’re not for display,” Konig insists), while a Henning Kjærnulf Razor Blade chair in turquoise leather pops against a Madagascar-covered wall. In the living room, a Rita Konig Bali Hai sofa draped in custom pillows invites lounging, and a faux bois Nobilis wallpaper wraps the son’s room in whimsy. Even the Shumacher Louis stripe fabric on the sunroom’s window seat feels “like it’s always been there.”
A Narrative of Imperfection
The home’s genius lies in its deliberate quirks: uneven floor levels, mismatched eras, and transitions that “pause the monumental.” Schafer reflects, “We crafted a myth a cottage that grew over generations.” Konig adds, “It’s the pauses between spaces that make it sing.” The result? A house that feels both grand and humble, where a Soane rattan daisy light fixture coexists with a Margot tray’s practicality.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
This coastal home redefines modern living by embracing contradiction classical yet relaxed, curated yet effortless. The collaboration between Konig and Schafer shines in its narrative-driven design, though the reliance on “organic evolution” as a theme risks romanticizing the logistical challenges of such a project. Still, the outcome is undeniably magnetic: a space where every imperfection tells a story, proving that the best homes are those that feel alive.
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