This dreamy beach house was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, located in Virginia Beach, a coastal city in southeastern Virginia. Longtime residents of Virginia Beach, and active in the community, the owners had always dreamed of residing on the ocean, and they envisioned their new dwelling as their primary residence, as comfortable for two as it would be for twelve when serving as a gathering place for their three grown children, significant others, and friends. 

The front of the house features a brick-paved forecourt, providing convenient day-to-day parking. Beyond the gate lies an entry garden, gracefully enclosed by the main body of the house and the garage wing, guiding the way to the welcoming entry porch.

DESIGN DETAILS: ARCHITECT Robert A.M. Stern Architects INTERIOR DESIGN Manuel De Santaren LANDSCAPE DESIGN Ann P. Stokes Landscape Architects

What We Love: This dreamy beach house in Virginia provides its occupants with their lifetime goal of living next to the ocean. This home is perfect for entertaining family and friends with living spaces that are elegant yet inviting. Large windows throughout this dwelling flood the interiors with light while framing tranquil views of the ocean. Overall, we are loving so many details of this home, from the charming mudroom entry with its arched door to the private balcony off the main bedroom.

Tell Us: What design features in this home do you find most appealing? Let us know in the Comments below!

Note: Have a look at a couple of other incredible home tours that we have highlighted here on One Kindesign in the state of Virginia: Gorgeous Virginia lake house gets reimagined with industrial-modern vibe and A mountain modern inspired house set in woodsy Northern Virginia.

The front door features custom nautical-inspired colored glass sidelites, which add a unique touch. Stepping inside, you find yourself in the stair hall, elegantly defined by a pair of pilasters that gracefully uphold an elliptical arch. At the far end of the stair hall, a door leads to the mudroom.

Through French doors flanking a substantial picture window, the living room seamlessly extends to the ocean-facing porch, creating a delightful indoor-outdoor connection. A paneled chimney breast surmounts the custom mantelpiece. When looking back from the living room, one’s gaze leads through the stair hall, culminating at the front door. Adding to the room’s charm, the living room’s chamfered corners feature large doors adorned with antiqued mirrored glass, with one of them cleverly pocketing away to reveal a fully equipped wet bar, providing both functionality and elegance to the space.

A segmented arch gracefully connects the kitchen to the family room, fostering a seamless flow between the two spaces. Abundant doors and windows frame captivating views of the pool terrace and the vast ocean beyond, infusing the area with natural light and a sense of tranquility.

Within the cozy family room, a warm fireplace and thoughtfully crafted bookshelves create an inviting atmosphere. The shared beamed and beaded-board ceiling treatment between the family room and kitchen further enhances the harmonious and welcoming ambiance of both areas.

Accessible through its bespoke gate, the motor court grants entry to the three-car garage and the arched mud-room entry, offering a well-designed and practical space for arrivals and departures.

Resembling the proportions of an Ionic volute, the sweeping curved stair exudes elegance and grace. Scrolled brackets lend their support to the unassuming spindles and baluster, guiding one’s gaze upward to the beautiful circular radial-beamed ceiling adorned with a pendant lantern.

Pocketing doors grant the upstairs sitting room the flexibility to serve as an extension of the owner’s bedroom suite or transform into a second-floor living room, conveniently positioned at the top of the stair hall.

Embracing a tranquil color scheme, the owner’s bedroom exudes serenity and sophistication, complemented by a beautifully paneled tray ceiling. From this inviting space, a pair of doors flanking a picture window opens up to a second-floor balcony, providing breathtaking views of the beach and the vast ocean beyond. The arched opening in the room showcases a thoughtfully designed cutout, allowing filtered light to gently illuminate the space through an elegant eyebrow dormer.

Outside the office and living room, a cozy seating group on the porch invites relaxation, enhanced by the presence of an outdoor wood-burning fireplace adorned with a stone surround. The allure of the Chippendale-chinoiserie theme carries over to the overmantel above the fireplace, adding an extra touch of elegance to the outdoor space.

Adjacent to the kitchen and family room, the pool area of this dreamy beach house features ipe decking bordered by bluestone accents. Overlooking the family lawn and the expansive ocean vista, the porch connected to the dining room and living room offers a delightful and relaxing outdoor space.

In the owner’s bedroom, French doors and a picture window, complemented by an elegant elliptical eyebrow dormer above, open up to a second-floor balcony, presenting a picturesque view of the surroundings.

Positioned at a corner of the living room’s porch, comfortable seating awaits, with panoramic views that are framed by Chippendale railings and classical columns in an attenuated Doric order as well as a more vernacular shingled segmental arch. When viewed from the beach, the east facade of the house presents an illusion of a two-story structure with an adjoining one-story wing with an occupied roof.

PHOTOGRAPHER Eric Piasecki