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Volunteer White House Christmas Decorating 2017

dining room with large mirror in background

David Tsay

Designer Carolyn Espley-Miller decorated her Carpinteria, California, beach house with white walls, slipcovered seating, and antiques to create a tranquil and serene space. Get more decorating ideas for coastal homes.

dining room with large mirror in background

David Tsay

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Café-Style Dining

A large mirror over a long French serving table gives the dining area of designer Carolyn Espley-Miller's Carpinteria, California, house "the feel of a café in Paris." Slatted chair from Mecox Gardens.

stairway in entryway with black banister

David Tsay

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Entryway

In the entry, a well-worn Gustavian bench is set off by pristine walls in Benjamin Moore's White Heron.

living room with large stone fireplace and white slip covers on furniture and blue striped run

David Tsay

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Perfect View

Does it get any better than this? Espley-Miller's living room has an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean, a massive stone fireplace, and big, comfortable sofas and chairs slipcovered in white cotton denim. A "wonderfully huge" antique dhurrie defines the seating area. Walls are Benjamin Moore's White Heron. The blue print throw is from Hermès.

screen door in white painted entryway

David Tsay

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Breezy Entrance

Ocean breezes waft in through the entry's screen door. "I had such a strong vision of a serene, whitewashed house on the sea. So I just gave the whole place a big dollop of white, from floors to ceiling," says Espley-Miller.

white kitchen dining table area with fireplace

David Tsay

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White Antiques

In the kitchen, a light with a Victorian wicker shade hangs above a table made of antique corbels topped with glass.

distressed wooden cabinet with plant on top

David Tsay

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Distressed Wood for Texture

A distressed cabinet from a milk factory has the "rough, briny texture" that Espley-Miller likes.

upstairs hallway with black banister and black chandelier near an oval window

David Tsay

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Hints of Black for Balance

A black banister and black chandelier help ground the bright, airy, open upstairs hall landing.

portrait against a brown wicker lamp next to small flower vase

David Tsay

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Simple Decor

A winsome flea market portrait leans against a wicker lamp from Pom Pom.

vintage poster of a ship

David Tsay

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Vintage French Sea-Themed Poster

In the upstairs hall, skipping ropes with brightly colored handles are piled under a French poster.

white kitchen viewing the stove with teapot and white hood above

David Tsay

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White Kitchen

Just about everything in the kitchen got a coat of white, including the hood. The light fixture is trimmed with antique fabric.

white car with rose print slipcovered seat

David Tsay

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Slipcovers for the Road

Espley-Miller is "a girly girl" who loves gardens, and roses in particular. So she slipcovered her car seats in floral chintz.

"Why shouldn't your car be as lovely as your home?" she says.

white bathroom with red line tile outlines

David Tsay

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Red Line Tile

Stripes of red tile lend definition to the shower walls and tub surround in a boy's bathroom.

bedroom with light red stripes on bed, curtains, and carpet

David Tsay

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Striped Bedroom

Striped bedding and a striped rug echo the lines of wooden French blinds in the bedroom of one of Espley-Miller's two sons.

white bathroom with deck facing the ocean

David Tsay

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Simple with Ocean View

The master bath opens to an oceanside deck. "It's very white and very simple," Espley-Miller says. "I wanted nothing to detract from the incredible view and the light."

master bedroom with seafoam barn door headboard and white bedding

David Tsay

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Light Blue in Master Bedroom

Barn doors with their original seafoam color make an arresting headboard in the master bedroom. Bedding is from Restoration Hardware; the blue accent pillows are vintage. Roses are from Espley-Miller's garden.

white lamp with sea shell fringe on edge next to rose bouqet

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Seashell Fringe

Shells fringe a custom shade on a Pottery Barn lamp in the master bedroom.

fireplace in the master bedroom

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Antique Mantel in the Master Bedroom

The bedroom's mantel is a wooden French window frame from Lucca Antiques. A framed grid of shells on fishing wire "sparkles and catches the light from windows and the fireplace," Espley-Miller says. "It's so beautiful."

patio with lounge chairs and fire pit

David Tsay

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Sunset

The patio fire pit takes the chill off after sunset.

Cregan: "Are you 'someplace else' when you come to this house?"

"I'm absolutely transported — I've stepped out of the fast-paced, modern world into this sea of tranquillity. I sound like I'm tooting my own horn, but everyone who walks in here says a feeling of calm washes over them," says Espley-Miller.

Volunteer White House Christmas Decorating 2017

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/house-tours/g931/white-beach-house-in-california-0910/