Bunks by the Beach
Can you ever have too many beds in a house by the sea? We think not! Check out some of the stylish, space-saving ways designers have packed fun and function into these Jersey Shore getaways.
Calm Before the Storm
Top: Two bunk rooms — connected by a doorway — ensure plenty of space for overnight guests in a Longport beachfront home. The shape of the vaulted ceiling, a collaboration among designer Kelly Mericle, Fenwick Architecture and Van Duyne Builders, is similar to the inside of a lifeguard boat. Shiplap walls in this room are painted in “Comfort Gray” by Sherwin Williams. For more of this home, visit “A Sea of Tranquility.” | Bottom: Each room sleeps four people in cozy bunks accessorized with round, porthole-type windows.
SOURCES Interior design, Kelly Mericle Design in Philadelphia; architecture, Fenwick Architects in Linwood; builder, Van Duyne Builders Inc. in Ventnor City. Bunk room with white dresser: dresser, Twitter Feefer; armchair, Highland House Furniture with Scalamandré fabric; ceiling light fixture, The Urban Electric Co.; throw blankets, Serena & Lily. Other bunk room: dresser, Oomph; lamp, Robert Abbey.
Surf’s Up
Designed with the grandkids in mind, this custom bunk room in the West Point Island section of Lavallette gets its coastal vibe from shiplap walls and its subtle wave construction. Special details include a center staircase for easy access, nightstands with individual lights and handy outlets for computers or gaming. For more of this home, visit “Down by the Bay.” | Photo by Lynx Media
SOURCES Design and construction, Walter G. Kosenski II Inc. & Sons in Lavallette.
Ahoy Mates!
Left: This Stone Harbor bunk room, sketched by designer Wendi Jay and interpreted by builder Matthew Pappas, is a cozy spot to read or nap before heading back outdoors. Built-in drawers and doors eliminate the need for a closet and dresser. To view more of this home, visit “Character Study.” | Right: A window seat provides a place to perch as well as storage underneath. | Photos by Raquel Langworthy
SOURCES Design, Wendi Jay Design in Moorestown; beds and window seat, Matthew Pappas of Brandywine Developers in Avalon; architecture by Paul A. Kiss, AIA, PP, NCARB, of OSK Design Partners in Collingswood and Stone Harbor.
Under the Eaves
In her own Avon-by-the-Sea home, designer Barbara Batesko turned attic space into a bunk room and furnished it with full beds rather than bunks. Beds with trundles and a sleeper sofa provide additional sleeping space. For more of this home, see “Family Style.” | Photo by Tori Sikkema
SOURCES Interior design, Bee Hive Interiors in Avon-by-the-Sea; wall and ceiling color, “Simply White” by Benjamin Moore & Co.; built-ins, East Pequea Lane Cabinet Shop; hardware, Wilmette Hardware; bedding and sofa, Serena & Lily; ceiling light fixtures, Visual Comfort & Co.
Navigating the Nautical
Top: In a Long Beach Island summer getaway, designer Lori Levine was tasked with incorporating two full beds and two twin beds for the homeowners’ extended family and friends. “I wanted to create a bunk room that looked like it could be a sleeping berth on a vintage sailboat,” Levine says. A center staircase provides safe, easy access while a large oval window creates a porthole effect. Contrasting shiplap walls have an aged patina. | Bottom: The built-in window seat with cubbyhole storage offers a comfy perch for gazing out at the ocean. At the two-seat desk area, kids can use the whiteboard wall as a canvas on rainy days. | Photos by Jay Rosenblatt
SOURCES Interior design, Lori Levine Interiors LLC in Basking Ridge; design illustrator, Abby Jochnowitz LLC in Bernardsville; built-ins, Distinctive Woodwork Inc. in Lumberton; woodwork paint color, “Simply White” by Benjamin Moore & Co.
For other bunk rooms designed by Lori Levine, see “Summer Send-Off.”
All Tucked In
Height restrictions in an attic alcove did not allow for proper upper and lower bunks in a Sea Girt “sleepover room,” says designer Christina Kim. Consequently, built-in beds were designed for maximum efficiency to accommodate kids and overflow guests with a “beachy sleepaway camp vibe.” For more of this home see “Sea Girt Sway.” | Photo by Raquel Langworthy
SOURCES Interior design and artwork, Christina Kim Interior Design in Manasquan; built-ins, Builtforone in Edison.