A Coastal Composition

Written by Kristen Hampshire
Photography by Steve Buchanan

This Bethany Beach retreat offers oceanfront views, elevates everyday living and brings calm and comfort home.

He’d renovated before—several times—but had never started with a blank canvas.

“This was the first house we ever built from the ground up,” says the homeowner, who set out to create a refined yet livable retreat for his family on the Delaware shore. “We had a place off the beach for years, but this time, we wanted to be right on the oceanfront—in something bigger, something done right.”

That decision led to a collaboration with Purple Cherry Architecture & Interiors, known for its craftsmanship and portfolio of estates, waterfront residences and legacy homes. Working alongside OSK Design Partners and builder Hugh H. Hickman & Sons, Inc., the Purple Cherry team shaped a cohesive coastal retreat that feels grounded in its Bethany Beach setting and elevated in its design.

“It began with a clear vision,” says Cathy Cherry, the firm’s founding principal. “He wanted a home that celebrated the views, functioned beautifully for gatherings and still felt calm and sophisticated.”

Seamless Sight Lines
The home’s architecture and interior are choreographed around a sweeping Atlantic panorama. “Everything points to the ocean,” says Gray Warren, senior interior designer. “We aligned the ceiling beams, fireplace millwork and window frames to create a natural rhythm that draws your eye through the interior and out to the water.”

Custom millwork carries through the main living spaces, linking the fireplace wall to the adjoining sunroom. “It’s one continuous gesture,” Gray explains. “That kind of detailing elevates a house from beautiful to timeless.”

Soft neutrals, pale wood and layered textures create what Cathy calls “a quiet conversation between the materials and the view.”

Designed for Real Life
Each level of the home serves a purpose to fulfill a plan centered on coastal relaxation and practical, everyday living. The main floor blends kitchen, dining and living areas into a space made for gathering. “It’s very dual-purpose,” Gray says. “You can entertain a crowd, but it’s equally comfortable when it’s just two people enjoying a weekend.”

The couple can easily seat about 20 people for a casual dinner, with formal table seating and an expansive island, along with adjacent conversation spaces that flow from the main living area. It’s accommodating but not overwhelming. “Even if it’s just the two of you, you don’t feel like you’re in a castle, sitting far away from the person you’re dining with,” Gray points out.

Durable finishes and easy-care materials offer a balance between utility and luxury. Vinyl-covered barstools are practical yet refined; fixtures and hardware were chosen for longevity and understated shine. “We knew this home would welcome guests and kids,” Gray says. “Everything had to look tailored but perform in real life.”

Upstairs, guest suites take on distinct personalities—one framed in driftwood tones, another with a banana-leaf bed, and another with outdoor bench swings overlooking the dunes. “None of the bedrooms are assigned,” Cathy adds. “Each one feels special, so every guest has the best room in the house.”

The primary suite, however, is a designated space with tailored swivel chairs that are usually facing toward the window and water views. The ensuite tile selection is “pop-art play,” Gray says.

A serene dressing room in soft blush-pink millwork gives the homeowner’s wife a private retreat. “It’s a delicate, personal note in an otherwise neutral home,” Gray says. “We love when spaces reflect quiet individuality.”

“We knew this home would welcome guests and kids. Everything had to look tailored but perform in real life.” – Gray Warren, Senior interior designer

Thoughtful Details
From the start, the goal was a turnkey home, and the homeowner was involved in a hands-on way throughout the process. “There was a lot of back-and-forth conversation about how we would live in the space,” he says of what rounded out at 8,400 square feet.

Purple Cherry’s interior team managed furnishings, artwork and accessories. No detail was overlooked, from greenery touches to carefully selected coffee table titles. “They gave us options for everything—three choices for each decision,” the homeowner says. “We trusted their judgment. There isn’t one room we’d do differently.”

For the design team, those finishing layers were essential. “When you install furniture, it’s beautiful, but it doesn’t yet feel alive,” Gray says. “The accessories—the books, glassware and art—make the house sing.”

Many pieces were intentionally modest in cost but rich in story. “We even sourced coastal books specific to Delaware,” Cathy points out. “That kind of detail roots the home in its place.”

Sanctuary by the Sea
The project broke ground before the pandemic, a stroke of luck and a challenge in equal measure. “We were able to build year-round, which helped,” the homeowner says. “But then prices started rising, so we ordered everything we could ahead of time. Somehow, it all came together.”

What began as a dream of a “simple beach house” evolved into something far more refined—a sanctuary by the sea defined by craftsmanship and calm. “They nailed it,” he says. “There is not one room I would have done differently.”

Cathy smiles at that. “That’s the best compliment we can get,” she says. “When every space feels exactly as it should, that’s when a house truly becomes a home.” CS

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