Coastal Chic Vero Beach Home is a Perfect Blend

1 of 12

How a 1940s picnic scene became the backdrop for this 4,600-square-foot, vintage home in Vero Beach, Fla., is the essence of serendipity for the worldly clients of one design duo. Excited to host family and friends at their recently purchased piece of paradise, the homeowners did not hesitate to commission interior designer Suzanne Varner who lives in Memphis, Tenn., and her daughter Austin Macaskill from New York.

“It’s all about gathering for a party, a very elegant party,” Varner says. The scene in question, a study in blues, notwithstanding, is ethereal, filled with whimsy and subtle flashes of bright pastels that show up in the palette of soothing beachy colors. “There’s a tiny, bright yellow basket and a pink plume on a gentleman’s hat,” Macaskill says. “They wanted blues and aquas mirroring the surrounding scenery … whimsical patterns with a hint of formality.”

When Macaskill discovered the hand-painted mural in a metropolitan antique shop, she knew it was a perfect fit. Niched beneath the living room’s vaulted ceiling, this unique seven-paneled find exudes a playful tone in complement to the owners’ antique wingback chair. Glimpses of a Chippendale frieze on one side of the living space and a Palladian-style door peeking out from beyond the foyer on the other offer clues to the formal architectural revival styles found throughout the home.

Playfulness spills over into the dining room where real-life party scenes take place. The linear space lends itself to evening cocktail hours and Sunday brunch buffets. Yet, it is also paramount for the hostess to be able to seat 15 or more for a dinner party or a family feast. Each pedestal-based table seats six, while two benches pull up aside the center table to accommodate four or six more guests. “This arrangement is cozier, a bit more intimate than one long table,” Macaskill says. “It’s a surprising layout for a dining room.” A gilded mirror on the opposite wall reflects the owner’s personal aesthetic. “They wanted hints of glamour throughout the home. The mirror in the dining room exhibits just that,” Varner says. Hints of glamour follow from room to room in small, subtle metallic touches found in a brass wall sconce, a lamp base, a flash of gold leaf on a frame.

“The house has a great floor plan,” Varner says. “Because it is all on one level, it provides an easy flow for both entertaining and everyday life.” The spectacular ocean views and continuous light permeating throughout the house are what inspired these designers to create a space worthy of its backdrop.

Coastal colors reflect the abundance of daylight and surrounding sea tones in the breakfast area. The design team worked with the homeowner, virtually communicating with the client via text and email, sending fabric swatches and photos to seek her approval. “It’s always great when you have clients who know what they like and are incredibly decisive,” Macaskill says.

Framing a courtyard view, Lee Jofa’s floral cornflower blue and mint green coral drapery fabric proved the pivotal choice for the serene palette in one of the guest rooms. “Once we chose this fabric, the rest of the room came together quite effortlessly,” says Macaskill, who found the framed coral on grasscloth shadow boxes, a last-minute purchase during the week of installation. Varner appropriated the client’s antique frame chairs from her home in Tennessee and placed them with pillowed cushions beside a shell-encased chest.

“It’s more interesting when the things you find have a story to tell. Whether from a local antique dealer or the client’s own collection, it’s rewarding to see it all come together,” Varner says. “One advantage, I think, is having a younger set and a seasoned set of eyes on the project,” Macaskill says. Vision or experience … it makes for the perfect blend of old and new by design.

Story Credits:

Interior Design by Austin Macaskill and Suzanne Varner, Varner Macaskill Interiors, New York, NY

Text by Marimar McNaughton

Photography by Carmel Brantley, Ocean Ridge, FL

Open to see Interior Design Sources: