COASTAL

TWISTSet against South Florida

water views, this home
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takes a classic blue-and-

white motif to new levels
with modern flourish.
by Elizabeth Bonner Czapski | photography by Jessica Glynn

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D
uring strolls with her dog through the lush
Carriage Hill neighborhood in Boca Raton,
Florida, Carol Ging would often pass by a
striking waterfront home under renovation,
admiring its transformation over time. When
the house appeared on the market for sale one day, she seized
the chance to settle her family into the home where she felt they
belonged. “Securing this property—our sixth and, hopefully, final
home—has been life changing,” Carol says.
Falling in love with the bones of the house and its extensive
trim and wainscoting, as well as the efforts of the previous owners
to give it an updated open floor plan, the Ging family was handed
their dream home with no work left for them to complete. The
residence is stunning, with its sloped tongue-and-groove ceilings
and exposed wood beams across an expansive great room that
includes a living room, dining space, and game area.
Beautiful millwork throughout reminded Carol of the
Nantucket cottage style she’s always loved. To make the décor
feel cohesive and bring the look to life, she enlisted the expertise
of designer Lisa Michael. They initially planned to work with the
family’s existing furnishings, but their commitment to creating
the desired aesthetic with authenticity quickly launched them
into in a full redesign. “They wanted a coastal farmhouse feel
with a Nantucket vibe,” Lisa says. “Ultimately, the project
opened up Pandora’s box. I ended up doing the entire house from
top to bottom.”
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To impart a comfortable but sophisticated nautical motif,
the designer went with a chic twist on a blue-and-white scheme,
infusing dusty slate blue through accent paint colors and
patterned fabrics. A bold decision to incorporate a soft black
hue—Wrought Iron by Benjamin Moore—lends extra depth.
“The contrast with the black and steel blue gave it a transitional
edge,” Lisa says. “This rich color on the walls made the amazing
architectural details stand out.”
Carol says the wonderful outcome of the daring color
combination bolstered her confidence when making other
selections. “Lisa upped the cool factor while keeping the overall
look quite traditional,” she explains. From a three-drum oyster-
shell chandelier in the dining room to recycled denim fabrics and
driftwood fixtures in the living room, an eclectic layering of textures
across thoughtful accents brought tactile appeal to the abode.
Every well-planned detail combines for a family retreat
that Carol now describes as “a little slice of Nantucket in a
distinctly South Florida locale.” For Lisa, that meant instilling
true character and layering in a sense of history. “When I think
of Nantucket, I think of old and new. I think of integrating, even
down to the accessories,” she says.
“The architectural envelope of the home is really unique
for the area. Together with what I did to the interiors, it’s an
incredible marriage. This house had a soul to begin with—I just
gave it a story.”
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When designer Lisa Michael

introduced homeowner Carol
Ging to the Carrara tiles above
the range in the kitchen, the two
realized they were a well-matched
team. “Once Lisa found that lovely
hand-painted marble backsplash,
I knew she got me,” Carol says.
They also installed Carrara marble
countertops and subway tile. To
create contrast in the crisp, white
space, Lisa chose a steel blue
shade for the island base and
incorporated black pendant lights
with oyster-shell interiors. “The
kitchen was the jumping-off point
to the rest of the home’s design
and color story,” Lisa says.

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For the master bedroom, Lisa began with

the serene John Robshaw bedding and then
built the rest of the space around its light,
airy look. The coordinating fabrics, draperies,
and framed sea fans were all chosen to
coordinate with the bedding’s blue hue.
Lisa spotted the bench downstairs and
repurposed it for the bedroom when she
noticed how well it complemented the new
bed. A balcony offers a view of the water
that always relaxes Carol and husband Mike.

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 The master bath pulls in the neutral elements of the suite,
creating a calming space that earns interest not from color, but
through the intricacy of its pieces—like a window treatment
with hand-sewn flowers and a unique chandelier. (Opposite)
A whimsical corner of the bedroom features a comfortable
chaise and a fanciful custom-painted vanity, which Carol calls
“an everyday delight.” Lisa filled beautiful built-in shelves with
carefully curated accessories, “little nuances that really give it that
cozy, layered sense of history and charm,” the designer explains.

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