This Coastal Retreat Is Layered, Laid Back, and Luxurious

An open-concept living space where a tailored linen sofa and rattan lounge chairs meet a custom light-oak pool table, all set against a backdrop of dunes and sea. — (Image credit: Bergman Vass)

A house that looks like it was plucked from Cape Cod – that was the overarching brief. But this project wasn’t in Cape Cod, nor was it a historic shingle cottage synonymous with the area. This home was a brand-new build, located 400 miles down the coast in Longport, New Jersey.

The homeowners wanted the character of a much older home along with the easy, breezy elegance of a classic beach house. Dana Bergman and Erica Vassalotti were the perfect fit. Their design studio, Bergman Vass, is known for creating luxurious beachside homes that blend a casual coastal decor with timeless design.

An expansive, light-filled living room featuring symmetrical cream sofas, a large square coffee table, and a central stone fireplace. The space is anchored by a natural jute rug and offers views of a sunroom and the coast through large windows. — The formal living room doesn't try to compete with the view – it sits with it. The low-slung furniture doesn’t interrupt the eyeline, and the pale color scheme allows the eye to flow past the room to the view beyond.

'This project was for a blended family who wanted a classic home that felt like it could belong on Cape Cod,’ Dana explains. ‘Their goal was to create a soulful, welcoming retreat to share with their growing family and future grandchildren. The process was highly collaborative, and the result reflects the family’s spirit and energy. One of the unexpected inspirations came from a dress the client wore to a meeting, which helped shape the palette and overall feel of the home.’

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The dress Dana refers to was, of course, a classic white cotton shirt dress. You can see it right away – just like the dress, this home is a blend of a casual ‘just threw it on’ feel and sophisticated style. It’s layered and lived-in, but with polish.

A sun-drenched coastal living room with a white fireplace and a neutral-toned sofa. Large bi-fold glass doors open onto a wooden deck with an expansive view of the ocean and beach at sunset. — The sunroom has huge French doors that open wide right onto the dunes. The Schumacher stripe sofa is a classically coastal piece.

This isn't your typical beach house – it's beachy, yes. You couldn't build on a plot like this and not lean into the coastal feel – but it's not cliché; there are no tropes or obvious motifs.

'For us, the goal was to create a home that felt unmistakably connected to the shore, but never themed,' explains Erica. 'We leaned into materials and textures that naturally evoke the coast, including cane, oak, washed linens, soft blues, and sandy neutrals – rather than relying on literal nautical motifs. The result is a home that nods to the seaside in a subtle, soulful way.'

The family room is the first space you enter, greeted by ocean views that complement, rather than compete with, the room itself – which mirrors the same colors, shapes, and textures. As with all the rooms, the family room feels relaxed – a space for entertaining and unwinding – yet there’s an elegance to the effortless.

Nods to the ocean are subtle. The slightly clam-shaped pendant light from Soane is the most obvious, but the textures, materials, and shapes all evoke the sand and sea.

'We wanted the home to feel serene, not staged, so every room blends comfort with craftsmanship, including woven textures, soulful antiques, custom woodworking, and beautiful lighting. It’s coastal, but in a way that feels lived-in and timeless rather than styled or thematic,' explains Dana.

'The family room stands out as one of our favorite spaces to design, with its custom pool table, cane cabinetry, Bonacina chairs, Soane chandelier, and checkerboard marble floors.'

A sprawling marble island anchored by woven seagrass stools and statement industrial brass pendants, perfect for casual seaside entertaining. — The homeowners love to host, so a large open-plan kitchen was a must. The white cabinets are broken up by marble and wooden accents and lighting that adds a quietly nautical charm.

Like any well-designed coastal home, the sea is the focal point. Every room has beautiful views of the water and the rugged beach. It’s why white was the obvious choice for the kitchen – the idea was to almost completely blend it into the open-plan room. But the clients made a last-minute choice to punctuate the all white kitchen with a statement marble countertop.

Dana and Erica note that 'it was actually these surprising design choices that ultimately became defining moments. The clients’ preferences evolved during the project – the kitchen stone was originally meant to be very quiet, but ultimately, a statement-making Danby marble was chosen. Though unexpected, it became one of the most beautiful and defining features of the home, tying in the colors of the ocean and adding a sense of age and patina.'

A unique architectural moment where a large circular cutout in a white shiplap wall frames a private breakfast nook and the sun-drenched deck beyond. — Quirky architectural features and interesting millwork give this new home a much older feel.

Despite being a new-build home, the rooms are filled with unique architectural details and carefully designed millwork. ‘It’s all these details – like arched bookcases, hidden paneled storage, and window hardware on closets – that add uniqueness and function,’ explains Erica.

There’s a mixing of old and new throughout, which gives the home extra character; it’s a collected look that keeps the style from leaning too coastal. Pieces came from all over the world and an impressive list of sources.

A serene, minimalist bedroom with an upholstered cream headboard and crisp white bedding. Two dark wood nightstands hold large sculptural lamps with pleated shades, set against a subtle textured wallpaper. — The main bedroom is on the very top floor of the house and has a cozy yet serene feel with the angled panelled ceiling and calming neutral color scheme.

‘We used layers of texture, natural materials, and thoughtful details to bring depth to the palette. Cane cabinetry, wallpapered vestibules, arched openings, and curated vintage pieces gave the home soul and warmth while keeping the palette restrained and elegant,’ explains Dana.

‘Our key sources included Rose Tarlow, C&C Milano, Les Indiennes, Chelsea Textiles, Pinch Design, Rose Uniacke, Bonacina, Soane, Urban Electric, Ann Morris, and Classic Brass Hardware,’ she continues. ‘The most notable finds include vintage table lamps sourced in Hudson, NY, Bonacina chairs and ottoman in the family room, a Rose Tarlow console in the foyer, and a custom white oak pool table.’

A bright, symmetrical bathroom featuring a white soaking tub centered under a vaulted shiplap ceiling. A glass pendant light hangs above the tub, flanked by a marble vanity and a glass-enclosed shower. — The main bathroom is elegant yet inviting.

This might be a new home, but it has the feel of a much older one. The classic features are timeless, and the decor has that transitional style that means you can’t quite land on the exact style or era. ‘The home is classic yet soulful, with a neutral, layered, and timeless coastal aesthetic,’ Dana and Erica explain. ‘It feels both elegant and comfortable, designed to reflect the family’s story while offering the warmth of a welcoming retreat.’

‘We always ask ourselves whether a decision will still feel beautiful ten years from now. Instead of overt coastal patterns or colors, for this home, we focused on layered neutrals, natural materials, and pieces with patina. Those quieter choices allowed the home to feel deeply connected to its Longport setting while remaining classic and enduring.’

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I am the Head of Interiors at Homes & Gardens. I started off in the world of journalism in fashion and luxury travel and then landed my first interiors role at Real Homes and have been in the world of interior design ever since. Prior to my role at H&G I was the digital editor at Livingetc, from which I took a sabbatical to travel in my self-converted van (not as glamorous as decorating a home, but very satisfying). A year later, and with lots of technical DIY lessons learned I am back to writing and editing, sometimes even from the comfort of my home on wheels.