Reader OMG! – Tracey’s Bright Beach House


Reader OMG! is a series showcasing home tours from my favorite people…The DIY Playbook readers! Every month or so, I highlight the home of someone with some serious design style. I hope that these swoon-worthy spaces will make you say “OMG”…hence the name! It also gives me a chance to feature home styles outside of my own, so you can take away some fresh ideas for your space.Reader OMG blog series

So far we’ve featured these amazing homes in the series…

Tracey’s Bright & Airy Beach HouseTracey's bright beach house

  • Homeowners: Tracey, Jay, and Frankie (their dog!)
  • Location: Boundary Bay, BC Canada
  • Home Type: Beach Home, 3 beds/2 baths
  • Year Built: 2003, but they purchased in 2014 and did a complete renovation
  • Describe your Home Style: East Coast Nantucket Inspired
  • Favorite Spot in your House: Our bedroom as it has a deck and when you step outside onto it, you smell the sea air and watch the world go by!
Tracey with flowers in the kitchen

I actually “met” Tracey because she was the photographer for my last Reader OMG! feature. Kerri mentioned that she loved Tracey’s work and I reached out to her to see if she was available to shoot Kerri’s Vancouver home. At that time, I realized what a stunning home Tracey has and asked if I could also feature her space here on the blog! Luckily, she obliged and you won’t even believe how gorgeous her beach house is. I want to pin every single image because each shot is filled with so much inspiration. All of these photos were taken by Tracey.   I wasn’t needed to to take the photos, although I would love to go visit and see this home in person one day!

I know you’re going to love this home tour (it’s 30 steps from the beach!), so let’s dive into it…

Exterior & EntrywayA black and white home in British Columbia

Front porch chairs and lantern
Entryway stairs

Paint Color: Behr, Dove Grey (Walls), Benjamin Moore, Simply White (Trim)

If I had to draw a picture of the outside of my dream home, I’m pretty sure this would be it! The white siding, the black windows, the roomy front porch with Adirondack chairs…yes, yes, yes! It looks like this home should be in the Hamptons or somewhere on the East coast. And oh my goodness, how about their sweet pup in the window? I cracked up when I saw his little face in the shot. I love it so much!

Many of the pieces in Tracey’s home are salvaged and have a story behind them. She found the entry table at her local nursery (they were getting rid of it!), so she decided to bring it home to use as a console table.

Living RoomBeach house living room

Vaulted ceilings in a living roomPaint Color: Benjamin Moore, White Dove (Walls), Benjamin Moore, Simply White (Trim)

I adore this open and light-filled living room. The vaulted ceilings give it a rustic charm, while the large doors and windows allow so much natural light to flood in. Tracey’s furniture choices are perfect for those beach house vibes. The sofa and table are both from Restoration Hardware and the room is composed of muted blues and grays with an overall neutral palette. It allows the plants, flowers, and other organic elements to really shine.

As a photographer and interior stylist, Tracey hosts monthly styling workshops in the summer months right here in her living room! She says it’s amazing to open the three french doors to have everyone gather together.

Kitchen & Dining Room

White kitchen with large island and white subway tile
white kitchen cabinets and subway tile
Purple hydrangeas in a white sink
Farm house Dining room table
Dining room table in a large open kitchen

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore, Simply White (Lower Cabinets), Benjamin Moore, Stonington Grey (Upper Cabinets by Pantry)

The kitchen and dining room open into the living room..making for a great open floor plan. When I saw this kitchen, my jaw hit the floor. It looks like a movie set, it’s so stunning. In fact, I keep getting vibes that this is the set of a Nancy Meyer’s film. A spacious, yet inviting kitchen. You’ll also notice that Tracey decided to forego traditional upper cabinets so she could take her white subway tile all the way up to the ceiling. She still has plenty of storage with all of the cabinetry on the left side of the kitchen and the multitude of drawers down below.  Plus, look at that huge 5×7 island! Tracey and her husband decided to only use natural materials in their home so they age naturally (like their honed marble countertops).

The gray farmhouse table is a great addition to the dining room (it’s hand made by Brad Russel of Hand One Designs). The lumber was saved from an old train station…how cool is that?! A wonderful spot to corral for dinner and hosting.

Master Bathroom

White and marble master bathroom

Shower niche for soap and accessories
Shiplap in a master bathroom

Tracey’s master bathroom really screams “beach house” to me! The shiplap gives those coastal vibes and the rest of the white and marble space feels clean, calm, and so serene. If it were mine, I would feel like I was on vacation every time I used this gorgeous en suite bathroom. Tracey’s architect suggested adding the two large skylights in the room and they bring in so much natural light.

Master BedroomBright bedroom with gray headboard and textured lantern

White flowers and seashells for coastal decor
White bedding in this master bedroom oasis

The couple’s master bedroom is another soothing oasis. The light bedding next to the gray headboard (from HomeSense for $50!) works wonderfully, and I love the texture from the Serena & Lily pendant and driftwood bench. Plus, how awesome to have a deck right off your master bedroom? Tracey says it gets the best sea breeze up there (that sounds heavenly…).

Laundry RoomCute laundry setup in a beach houseSide door into the mudroom for the laundry roomSink in a laundry room

Paint Color: Benjamin Moore, Simply White (Trim)

Now, this is a spot where you might actually enjoy doing laundry! I like the contrast with the dark grout in the white subway tile and how about that brass faucet?! The laundry room also opens to their side door and Tracey created a cute little drop zone here. You could recreate this look with your own DIY board and batten (here’s my tutorial).

BackyardTracey's backyard beach houseHanging pendants outdoorsPots for greenery on a back porchLarge outdoor table for diningFire pit in a backyard

I think I saved my favorite space for last…the backyard. Talk about a good place for entertaining! That back porch is huge and I can just picture those textured pendants (old from World Market) illuminated at night. Tracey keeps it cozy with all of her plants and greenery. Oh, and I really want to visit and make some s’mores at that firepit. What an awesome home to host guests! Hint, hint, Tracey!

Shop The Look – Tracey’s Beach House

Because Tracey has found so many amazing salvaged pieces over the years, I don’t have links to every source in her home. But here are some similar items so you can recreate her beachy home look!

shop the look - tracey's beach house

Table Lamp // Adirondack Chair // Accent Chair // Driftwood Decor // Faux Lavender Plant // Silver Lantern // Striped Pillow // Gray Lumbar Pillow // Natural Barstool // Striped Rug // Wood Bowl // Concrete Crock // Dining Room Table // Metal Dining Chair // Textured Pendant // Knit Blanket // Faux Potted Olive Tree

Tracey cutting flowers in her kitchen sink

A big thank you to Tracey for sharing her gorgeous home with all of us. I know I am definitely inspired after seeing all of these images. And it really has me looking forward to the summertime with that gorgeous outdoor patio. You’ll find me opening up the doors and windows, letting some sunlight in, and channeling my inner Tracey Ayton.Tracey's bright beach house

Submit Your Home for Reader OMG!Reader OMG blog series

Want to see your home featured on The DIY Playbook? Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line โ€œReader OMG!โ€, including lots of photos of your gorgeous home. I would love to feature more homes outside of the Chicagoland area, so submit, no matter where you live! I’ll hire a local photographer to come capture pictures of your space.

Casey


The Year of Casey

Hey there!

Iโ€™m Casey Finn, the voice behind The DIY Playbook. I’m a Chicago gal teaching you how to design, DIY, and maintain your home…by yourself! Learn more about me right here.