WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: MAKEOVER

One of the great things about being a writer and photographing homes for a magazine article or book is that you make new friends.

Years later you continue to share photos of new decorating schemes, news of family milestones and word of new businesses.

I first met Roberta Laprade when I photographed her shop, Enchanted Treasures in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, for one of the magazines I was editing. Roberta and her best friend and partner Martha LeCompte were pioneers in defining Romantic Style and I was delighted to meet them.

Roberta invited us back to her home overlooking the water . It was a captivating combination of romantic and coastal elements styled in Roberta's trademark way.

Several years later Dan and I photographed her cozy cottage for our book Waterside Cottages.

After the shoot, I went back to the shop and bought several treasures for my home that still make me smile when I look at them each day.

Enchanted Treasures was a tremendous success but recently, Roberta felt it was time for a change and opened a staging and re-design company, Coastal Styling (www.coastalstyling.com).

I asked her to share the secret of a good makeover.

"Honestly assessing your home's architectural and circumstantial features is crucial," explains Roberta.

"You need to figure out which elements should be showcased (such as a cozy nook or stunning ocean view) and which minimized (for example, oddly placed windows or worn surfaces). Colors are also an important way to quickly give your home a fresh new outlook.

Roberta's magic touch is evident in this seaside makeover.

First she removed the commercial style carpeting and refinished the wood plank floor. Next, she treated the walls to a serene pale aqua paint job.

Roberta established a simple aqua and white color scheme with slipcovers and a few new tables. Last but not least, she added accents in appropriate natural materials.

"Wicker and sea grass feel right at home by the beach and give a room a breezy outdoor feel," she says.

It's a sea change!

(Top photo by Dan Mayers)