Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House

My invitation to Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House & launch party was courtesy of Brizo fashion fixtures and their PR firm, MS&L. As a design buff, I happily accepted...and took copious notes. Wanna peek inside my notebook? Read on...

Situated on a windswept vista overlooking the Pacific Ocean, you'll find Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House. Constructed from the ground up in Seabrook's planned beach community, this charming home proves to be the ultimate getaway.

A dream team of designers and sponsors came together to create a space that is destined for entertaining. The large outdoor living space is a showstopper--and one of my favorite aspects of the house. On the far side of the lot, padded outdoor chairs and a couch create a cozy spot for conversation and take in the ocean view. Nearby, a large communal table sits grill-side. Just off the kitchen, this spot is loaded with thoughtful touches for entertaining, including an outdoor fireplace.

Minutes before I arrived at the Coastal Living launch party, the wind picked up and the clouds rolled in. The temperature suddenly dropped and had me heading for cover. Fortunately, the house has an open floor plan and easily accommodates a large group of people. Bringing the outside in, on the water side of the house, a large bank of windows highlights the view. As white-capped waves crashed into the shore, I sipped a glass of wine from a cozy perch, inside.

Upstairs, a master bedroom and guest room share two bathrooms and an adjoining deck. On the lower floor, you'll find a sizable gym and a bathroom that incorporates both a sauna and a steam room.

I especially appreciated the interior design, which incorporated beach house elements (starfish and shells here and there) without being trite. The layout of the space was especially appealing and since I love to entertain, my mind was racing with possibilities! Call it a second home...or a primary residence, this place was move-in ready.

Okay, on with the photos.....

Located on the Hidden Coastal Byway, from here, there are several short road trip options.

Bicycling is encouraged. European-style communal bikes are available throughout the Seabrook beach property. Now...on to the house.

A crushed oyster shell walkway lines the trail, leading to the houses perched above the beach. First house on the right is Coastal Living's 2010 Ultimate Beach House.

Transitioning from the beach to the outdoor patio was this lovely, herb-filled walk way. A sensory experience that's also easy on bare feet.

Outdoor living space off the backside of the house.

From backside of the house, another perspective. Love the large dining table, grill and outdoor fireplace. Behind me is the garage and to the right is the detached bedroom with adjoining bathroom.

Built-in cabinets for grilling and storage.

The guest bedroom, detached from the main house.

In the kitchen, I was smitten with these blown glass cake stands. Notice the shell motif on the smaller version.

The kitchen is a combination of wood and stone and in these colors, it reminds me of driftwood and shells, weathered in the surf.

Long countertops make room for lots of helping hands in the kitchen. Notice the clear vases on the windowsill? I have these too--a great IKEA find. Nice to see them in the context of this kitchen.

Open pantry shelves make it easy for guests to lend a helping hand. For continuity, the dishware matches the kitchen color scheme.



Post-party, a handful of designers linger in the space. There are seven people in this shot, yet the room still feels spacious. I love the different spots for conversation and engagement, yet essentially, they're all still in the same room.



View from the first floor. Behind the wind-swept trees, you'll see...the tide is out.



Loving this stripe treatment on the stairs.



Statue inset at the top of the stairs. This is an acupuncture model, which I believe is from China. Draped in shells, it continues the nautical aspects of the decor.



Upstairs bathroom. Loving the bold mirrors and the art instillation over the soaking tub.

Master bedroom with door leading to a deck, ocean side.

A rugged barn yard door treatment anchors walk-in closet doors. Rather than swing out, the doors slide open on the wheeled track above. The frosted glass treatment reminds me of beach glass.

View from the master bedroom. See the tent? That's the launch party for Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House, winding down.

Bathroom on the lowest floor. This bathroom houses a steam room and an adjoining sauna. Ground floor access to the beach is just steps away.

Mirror detail.

I long for radiant-heated floors and this house has them from top to bottom. Until I saw this demo, I had no idea what it involved. That's three layers and five types of material...before you add the flooring.

Ah...dusk and a crackling fire by the sea. Slice of heaven, no?

Exploring Seabrook

Take 300 acres of rugged Pacific Ocean coastline and couple it with a dream...

Founded in 2004, Seabrook is a planned beach community, 3 hours from Seattle. And when Coastal Living Magazine decided to construct the ultimate dream beach house, this is where they built.

Seabrook is a haven, just outside sleepy--and forgettable--Pacific Beach, Washington. And a haven it is. Adjacent to the sales office is a picture-perfect coffee shop. Across the street is a small market with enough wine and gourmet nosh to satisfy those trekking in from the city.

I've never been on a movie set, but a visit to Seabrook satisfies that urge. Beautifully-crafted houses ranged in an eclectic collection of "best of the beach" styles. Parking, I navigated a space in front of a house with a wide front porch. A guy who looked straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch ad was reading a book...with his golden retriever lounging on a plaid blanket nearby. American flags fluttered in the wind, while kids whisked by on their retro-style bikes.

Nostalgic for a time and a place I never knew, Seabrook evokes the notion of 1950's neighborhood block parties, sweet tea on the front porch, and those days when you greeted your neighbor by name. Tied up in that thought, I watched kids barrel roll down a slope of grass, giggling their way to the bottom.

Wary of the "planned community" aspect, as I walked the crushed oyster shell path leading to the beach, I wondered. What are the essential elements of community? And if you incorporate them in your plan, will it resonate with buyers?

At the launch party, this sense of community was definitely a subject of conversation. Ingrid talked about growing up in Brooklyn. Before air conditioning and internet drove people inside, back in the day, hot summer evenings were spent out on the front porch. Kids played in the street, and neighbors chatted with each other on the stoop. "Nobody does that anymore." She paused, reflecting on a recent visit home, "The streets are quiet now."

Next, I struck up conversation with a woman who recently purchased a 500 square foot cottage at Seabrook. "I'd like to have a house on the beach, but I chose to be near the community garden instead."

Prodding her, I asked, "You gave up the beach for community in the garden?"

"Absolutely!"

This had me pondering...In our modern world can we design for "community"? Addressing a table full of designers and magazine editors, we glanced up the hill at the heart of Seabrook.

Yes, it's possible.

--This way to Seabrook!



Simple choices: beach or town fun?


The plan...rolling out in phases.




Americana, on the Pacific coast



Seabrook community center. See that crow's next? You'd find me there...




A slice of New England in the Pacific Northwest.



Build to suit



Coffee and off in the distance, an ocean view




Forgot to bring something from the city? Lil's Pantry has staples and a small mix of gourmet items.





Vino at Lil's Pantry--a basic selection of usual suspects



Housemade frozen dinners (seafood & burgers, mostly)




Back from a beach run



Next stop? Coastal Living's Ultimate Beach House.

Blooms of Change

I've lived in this neighborhood for nearly 15 years. When the lease on my boyfriend's place mercilessly expired, we moved here. On full-sun days, his place was so dark, we dubbed his top floor apartment "the bat cave." I spent the next six months getting to know the area...and shopping for an apartment.

We found a sweet spot with a view of the lake, misty snow-capped mountains, and sunsets so beautiful, I'd drop everything and race home. Watching, transfixed, as the colors in the sky shifted from vibrant oranges and fire-glow pink, and receded into shades of sherbert. Eventually, the sky would yield to the moon, and a study of blues.

Just down the road was a blackberry patch, deep and lush. We'd fill 5-gallon buckets and then, after a quick check for bugs, I'd submerge the berries in vodka and wait 'til Christmas. In the dreary days of winter, inky blackberry vodka provided an instant infusion of summer.

The blackberry patch was prone to flooding, but I didn't mind. Penetrating the tangle of new growth to harvest the more seasoned branches, I'd slip and slide, wondering exactly how many layers I'd have to wear to avoid the thorns? Scratched and bleeding, my hands bore heavy stains and I'd chuck it up to "opportunity cost." The berries--and their many incarnations--were worth it.

But there will be no berries this year. That land is now home to a massive 200-room hotel. I watched as they hung the fake Greek-inspired trim--noticeably hollow from my vantage at a nearby stoplight.

A construction boom on a city-wide scale has eliminated most of the mom & pop shops. My favorite Thai restaurant shuttered years ago, and sits idle while developers secure the surrounding properties. Another massive construction project is inevitable.

They leveled the place where my friend Amy worked. And that 250-seat restaurant was turned to dust within a matter of days. The electronics store is now a prospering Whole Foods and that car dealership on the corner was overtaken by the hospital expansion. I feel like George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life," washed up in Potterville.

Lost in a sea of change, today I drove by a spot where that funky hotel used to sit. The Mexican cooks used to meet there every Thursday for salsa night. Ostrich-skinned cowboy boots and five-inch wide belt buckles replaced checkered chef pants and marinara-splattered tennis shoes. Emboldened by Tecates and tequila, we'd linger late into the night.

Lost in that memory, I was jolted into the present. In the shadow of a towering--and mostly vacant, glass & steel condo building, a sea of poppies waved gently in the breeze. Trying to get a closer look, I rounded block and quickly abandoned my car. Dodging ambulances and evening commuters, a simulated bird chirped my way through the crosswalk.

Philosophical and more than a wee bit sentimental, I thought about digging my heels in, and resisting the change swirling around me. Maybe...it's time to embrace something new. It's not a blackberry patch, but rooted in an unlikely spot next to the freeway, this brazen field of poppies was dancing in the wind.

Perhaps it's time to take a cue from them.

Field Trip to Sahale Snacks

Noshing over a cheeseboard, I struck up conversation with the man next to me. "Hello" was quickly followed by, "So what do you do?" His answer was succinct. "I work at Sahale Snacks." I quickly proclaimed my love for Sahale Snacks, my secret weapon for entertaining on the fly. (Their nuts, a wedge or two of cheese, a loaf of bread and voila! Party ready.)

At this point, I discover he's one of the Sahale Snacks founders and we launch deep into conversation.

Truth be told, I've had my sights set on Sahale Snacks from the early days. Their modern day success story goes like this: two media guys form a friendship and discover a mutual love of climbing. The problem? Nourishing and delicious food for the trail is tough to find. Raise your criteria with a desire for organic, all natural, AND delicious? The solution is...make it yourself.

Descending from a climb on Mount Rainier, a plan began to take shape. Once on terra firma, the two took to the kitchen and played mad scientist, whipping up a myriad of flavor combinations. Riffling through the cabinets, co-founder Josh Schroeter admits, "My wife thought I was crazy!"

The pair continued to work out recipe formulations, and brought in an outside consultant for some refinement. Eventually, they had a retail ready product and scheduled a demo at a local market. They quickly sold out and as Josh tells it, "I called Edmond and said, 'We've got something here.' "

That was in 2003.

By 2007, Sahale Snacks was sold in over 4,000 locations...and continued growing. Today they're in over 9,000 Starbucks, hundreds of Costcos, and nearly 300 Whole Foods across the US and Canada.

*
Earlier this week, I joined Sahale Snack founders Edmond Sanctis and Josh Schroeter for a tour of their manufacturing facilities. While they're not open to the public, they've given me permission to write about it.

Come along with me....

Home of Sahale Snacks, located in a non-descript warehouse south of Seattle.

The original line up:

Sing Buri
cashews, pineapple, peanuts, lemongrass and Chinese chili

Ksar
pistachios, sesame seeds, pepitas, fig and Moroccan Harissa

Soledad
almonds, apple, flax seed, date, balsamic vinegar and red pepper

Valdosta
pecans, sweet cranberries, black pepper, and orange zest

In the boardroom with Sahale co-founder Edmond Sanctis. In the foreground...biscotti crisps, a new product fresh on the market (see the bag on the right? Mock up label, which is actually a giant sticker on the face of the bag. Final design is the bag on the left. Differences are subtle, but most notably is the text across the top--option 1: above the recloseable seal, option 2: text below the seal.)

Another newly launched product: Tuscan Almonds, flavored with grated parmesan, sun-dried tomato, basil, oregano, and thyme. (One of my favorites.)

Food safety: We grab lab coats, hair nets and wash our hands before entering the manufacturing plant. Like a medical facility, no touching the sink faucets. To start the water, we lean into stainless steel pedals mounted on the side of the sink. (I forgot to wear my hair up. Stuffing my long hair into a hairnet was comical!)

Hand sorting cashews, looking for defects.

On our visit, the entire production was dedicated to Sahale's Cashews with Pomegranate + Vanilla. Pictured here is the spice blend. Behind me is a large walk-in style oven and to the right, a large vat of glaze rests on the stovetop. Once the nuts are roasted, they'll be tossed with the glaze, then the spice mix.

Cashews, hot out of the oven. This entire cart is wheeled into the oven. I'm told the rack, hot out of the oven, continues to hold heat. To speed the cooling process, the sheet pans are transferred to a different rack.

For an intense pomegranate flavor, Sahale makes a minced pate de fruit.

50 pound bags of Brazilian cashews, vacuum-packed.

The finished product is loaded into a hopper. Next up: packaging. Notice the size of the holes? While clusters of nuts are desirable, large clumps are not. The size of the hole ensures large clusters are broken down before packaging. (Side note: the large sheet pans are lined with Silpats. While that's an expensive choice for a non-stick surface, they've found nothing works better.)

Packaging styles vary. This is a wrap set up.

Behind: sheets of packaging on the roller. In the foreground: a finished "wrap-style" package.

This batch is going to Canada. Notice the label in French and English?

In process: a larger packaging style with a recloseable seal at the top. Here, product is loaded from above. "We used to package these by hand!"

Coming to a store near you!

The warehouse is massive. Supplies are here. Behind me is the finished product, ready for shipment.

Giant bags of peanuts. Pictured here is Eric Rivera from http://ericriveracooks.com/. (Notice the attractive hot pink "visitors" badge.)

Sahale Snacks founders, Josh Schroeter (left) and Edmond Sanctis (right.)

Outer perimeter: Core ingredients for Cashews with Pomegranate + Vanilla. Bottom right to top left: spice blend, pomegranate bits, raw cashews, roasted cashews, finished product. Center: ground Madagascar vanilla beans (no artificial "vanilla essence" here).

Above and to the right: Tuscan Almonds and herbs (basil, oregano, and thyme). To maximize herb flavor, they use flash-frozen herbs. Tossed with the glaze and spices, the herbs dry in the roasting process, locking in that bold fresh herb flavor.

Back in the boardroom, we sample the new line of Tuscan Almonds, Barbeque Almonds, and Southwest Cashews. While much thought is given to the nut flavors, Edmond and Josh discovered they pair best with beer. Redhook's new summer brew, "Rope Swing" was perfect.

###