It’s hard enough for a couple, much less a multigenerational family, to agree on design and décor. But that was the case for recent clients of Casey Roy Interior Design who were seeking a functional, comfortable and stylish beach getaway for their expansive family.
The clients have 13 grandchildren, so “kid-friendly” was near the top of their wish list. In order to have enough space, they purchased two condo units in a newly built beachfront high-rise building on the north end of South Padre Island.
“They asked us to create a floorplan to make the best use of the square footage,” Roy says. “In addition, they asked us for a design that was an elevated, contemporary island style” that didn’t sacrifice elegance in the pursuit of comfort and usability.
The biggest challenge facing Roy’s firm was coming up with a plan to combine the two units into one space that would provide five bedrooms, a large kitchen and spacious living areas. They had to work around existing plumbing and HVAC — definite impediments to making structural alterations.
After that hurdle was surmounted, Roy’s team worked with their clients to select finishes and materials for flooring, countertops, walls and cabinets; plumbing fixtures, door and cabinet hardware and decorative lighting followed. The design process took about three months and the custom-designed, enlarged condo was complete in nine.
The result is an open yet cozy unit in a timeless, neutral palette with pops of island color throughout. Furnishings include custom pieces and rugs featuring abstract designs reminiscent of coral and undersea flora, touches that blend hearty indestructibility with striking but unstuffy style for the grown-ups.
“It is a room-by-room process, and each space has its own personality,” Roy says of the design procedure. “The tone-ontone neutrals in the living room are fresh, sophisticated and soothing. The family room is a youthful space with splashes of color and is anchored by a large custom entertainment unit housing the TV and gaming system” faced by a large, L-shaped sectional large enough to hold a gaggle of cousins.
Furnishings and décor are sleek and contemporary and subtly bring to mind the sea without being cliché. The overall look is cohesive, airy and bright, and it is impossible to tell that this was ever two separate units.
Each bedroom has its own private bath — a particularly handy set-up when the whole family is ready for a shower after a day in the sand. Roy says the kids’ bunk room is “especially fun and flexible” with pull-out trundles to accommodate large family get-togethers or the extra friends who tag along.
Roy’s team fully stocked the home so that the family could get busy having fun from Day One, without having to think about things like beach towels, utensils or cookware.
“Everything in the bathrooms was pulled together by our designers, even the shampoo and hair dryers,” Roy says. “Not a detail was overlooked.”
Roy says that while the architectural and design process went smoothly, the installation proved to be a bit trickier. It required a team of four designers, a delivery crew and four large truckloads of furnishings and was completed during the hottest weeks of mid-summer. Adding another layer of complexity to the situation was that the building’s elevators were out, necessitating an eight-story climb for the crew bringing in the furniture and boxes of accoutrements.
Ultimately, though, Roy says that the design and logistical challenges were inconsequential hiccups. The clients are thrilled with the finished project and look forward to having a great place to gather for years to come.
“We were exhausted once it was complete,” she says, “but literally everything was in place and truly turnkey-ready for our clients to enjoy.”
DESIGNER Casey Roy Interior Design
210.560.2174 | www.Caseyroydesign.com