Island Blush- My Vacation Rental on North Padre Island, TX.
Island Blush
On a tiny strip of island – nestled between the canal system of Lake Padre and the Gulf of Mexico – lies the aptly named Island Blush, a pretty pink beach cottage radiating charm. Boasting two full floors, plus a third story loft, this Corpus Christi beach rental features views of both the lake and ocean – and is just a short walk to the beach. This coastal home is my personal beach rental and is available to book on Airbnb.
I added so many playful accents to this cottage, from abundant scallops and sea-inspired pieces to the clever use of everyday beach items transformed into art. Using natural woven materials heavily to add warmth and texture, and balancing the interplay of pastels with vibrant accents, I had fun with this coastal style in a creative and tasteful way.
My two favorite colors, pink and turquoise, feature prominently in this home, beginning with the exterior. The pale pink of the siding, First Light by Benjamin Moore, mimics the cotton candy skies of early mornings outside this beach cottage. It’s complemented by the turquoise front door, painted Tropical Paradise, also by BM. My handyman built flower boxes and I added an adirondack seating area, upping the curb appeal. We affixed an outdoor shower to the side of the house for rinsing off after a day on the sand next to the exterior storage room in which to stock beach toys and other household items.
The Great Room
Walking through the front door, you enter a multipurpose great room with an aqua-hued sandroom on the right. With abundant towel and shoe storage, this cozy nook – also painted Tropical Paradise by BM – features pink upholstered bench seating for sliding off flip flops or suiting up for the beach. Two fringed stools offer more places to sit near the fireplace and television.
In the living area on the left, I placed a scalloped rattan coffee table between two blush-colored club chairs, then anchored the wall with a gray sofa. I added personality with cheery prints of beach scenes and synchronized swimmers, seashell accent pillows, and a chrome heart hands sculpture. We matched the interior trim with the exterior paint, using First Light by BM, and kept the walls a crisp neutral Classic Gray by BM, so the pinks, blues and turquoise design elements could really sing.
The Kitchen
The kitchen beyond, painted in the delicate blue Summer Shower by BM, features a large island for dining. I chose white Cafe Appliances with champagne bronze hardware, tying in with many of the faucets and knobs throughout the house. In the cabinets above the washer and dryer, sits an appliance pantry, hiding the less-sightly appliances to reduce counter and visual clutter. Three large rattan pendants warm up the cool tones of the space.
An arched alcove defines the coffee bar, complete with a scallop mosaic backsplash and floating wood shelves displaying art and glassware. A mini beverage fridge and large storage drawers lie beneath.
The Powder Bath
The main-floor powder bath, with a wall-mounted faucet and vessel sink, features charming pink and mint palm wallpaper. A multi-light rattan pendant hangs above a rounded mirror and vanity, which we bathed in BM’s Tropical Paradise..
The Staircase
We covered the main staircase risers in these cute pink scallop tiles. The shiplap-cladded stair walls are lit with an adorable rattan shell sconce.
The Second Floor
The Main Bath
On the cottage’s second floor landing, you are greeted by a bathroom that serves the loft guests above. What’s unique about this design is that it features a vanity room with two separate shower and toilet rooms on either side. This makes it a perfect set-up for housing multiple guests, which is common for a vacation rental. I added these punchy pink faucets to the turquoise double vanity. The walls and ceiling are covered in whimsical, swirling wallpaper and lit by a bubble chandelier in the center of the space. The doors on either side lead to the separate toilets and showers tiled in various shades of blue. I included plentiful hooks for loft guests to hang their towels.
The Swimming Bedroom and Bath
On either side of the second floor, lie two bedrooms, each with their own ensuite bathrooms. In the first room, the Swimming Bedroom, I selected this splashy blue wallpaper featuring animated swimmers as a backdrop for the arched woven bed. Rounded white side tables, with matching blue geometric lamps flank the bed, and a blue armoire offers needed storage.
Originally this room was supposed to have a higher, horizontal window next to the balcony door, but during the framing phase of building this house, I realized that there was actually an ocean view from this angle. We promptly changed plans and had the window framed lower, to give the room’s occupants a glimpse of the water. Opposite the window, hangs this cool painting of an underwater swimming child.
Continuing with the swimming theme, the ensuite bathroom features fun, bright innertube art and clean, soft blue shower tiles. Vivid blue cabinet knobs pop against the large white vanity while champagne bronze plumbing hardware adds sophistication and continuity with the rest of the home.
The Palm Bedroom and Bath
The window in the Palm Bedroom – the other second floor bedroom – presents stunning views of Lake Padre and is framed by this Serena and Lily blue palm papered accent wall. From this vantage point, you can see my home across the canal, which makes this room really special to me. The side tables with spiral spun legs, hold knobbed white lamps, adding texture to the space. Blush-colored nook shelving holds art and books and this cheeky pink beach ball art photograph brightens up the adjoining white wall.
A pink barn door leads to the ensuite bath and matches the pale pink shower tile. Playful art, a painted bamboo mirror, and a standout palm light decorate the walls and ceiling. A wooden vanity sits atop hexagonal terrazzo tile.
The Landing and Loft
Back out on the second floor landing, a spiral staircase, fully coated in Sherwin Williams’ Buoyant Blue, leads to the loft. I created these custom art pieces by framing children’s bathing suits in colorways that match these spaces. It’s an easy and adorable feature for anyone to try with their own kids’ bathing suits. We mounted them on the wall above a scalloped wicker bench and potted plant.
At the top of the spiral staircase, three wicker globe lights hang from the ceiling, which is covered by blue tonal swirling wallpaper. A game table surrounded by a built-in bench could be a fun spot for kids to read, do crafts, or play card games. We placed two upholstered daybeds – spots to lounge or sleep – opposite the game nook.
On one end of the upper floor there is a small coved bonus room. We painted wide stripes on this room’s slanted walls and added two floor mattresses and a bean bag chair. With this clever design, the entire loft space could sleep up two eight kids.
The smallest details on this floor really make it a special place. Again, during the cottage’s framing phase, we realized the ocean could be viewed from this corner, so we added a little round porthole window and then attached a hinged cover to block out any light during sleeping hours.
Bright orange accents pepper the serene turquoise and blues of the third story loft and differentiate it from the rest of the beach cottage. Tangerine-hued life preserver rings – having washed up from the water on different acquaintances’ coastal properties – were almost discarded. Before they could be thrown away, I scooped them up and repurposed them, framing them as unique pieces of art. We did the same with a vintage child’s life jacket. I don’t usually decorate with orange but I just love the added touch. The colors complement each other well and add a cheerful quality to this dreamy area.
On the opposite end of the floor, sits a private balcony with views of the waterway. It’s the ultimate spot to sit and watch a cotton candy sunset.
This bright beach cottage perfectly complements its spectacular coastal surroundings. This fun, buoyant design in an ideal location makes for a perfect vacation spot. Check out the listing on Airbnb!