DesignNJ-OctNov2023_Digital issue

WRITTEN BY MEG FOX
PHOTOS BY RAQUEL LANGWORTHY | DESIGN BY SALT DESIGN CO.
ARCHITECTURE BY VIRTUOSO ARCHITECTURE
BUILT BY DREYER CUSTOM HOMES
Multiple light fixtures crafted from abaca rope — arranged at varying heights in the foyer’s
open stairwell — make a statement against a clean, white backdrop. Wide-plank engineered
white oak floors, used throughout the house, are “highly durable,” designer Sarah Brady says.
Choosing the perfect soft taupe for the dining room walls was a meticulous process, one that
involved many paint samples. Ultimately, a desaturated version of Benjamin Moore & Co.’s
“Classic Gray” created an inviting ambience that harmonizes with the bright white foyer, Brady
says. An extendable table can accommodate extra guests for special occasions.
Ayoung couple who had long cherished
summer months at the Jersey Shore
dreamed of one day living near the beach
year-round. When the ideal property
became available — as it did in Sea Girt — they vowed to
build their “forever home.”
“I always found Sea Girt to be a special town because
of its picturesque landscaping and greenery and the beach
being within arm’s reach,” the wife says. “It really was just
a pipe dream to live there someday.”
Once architectural plans were in place for the new
Seashore Colonial-style home, “I knew I needed to enlist a
designer to make our vision come to life,” the wife recalls.
“Building a house from scratch was a daunting task.” But
she was determined to get it right.
Enter Sarah Brady, the owner and creative director of
Red Bank-based Salt Design Co., and her team. “I had
pinned some photos from Design NJ that featured Sarah’s
work,” the homeowner says. After coming back to the
same images over and over, “I had a strong feeling Salt
would be a good fit.”
Brady and her fellow designers, Jessica McDonald
and Karen Vasquez, joined the project at the start of
the building phase, allowing them to make structural
recommendations onsite. They also collaborated on
various architectural elements within the approximately
8,000-square-foot home ranging from custom millwork
and cabinetry to flooring, furnishings and the final touches.
From an interior design perspective, “I wanted a casual
coastal feel that was true to the town of Sea Girt, with
a modern twist — one that embodied the feel of a fulltime
residence, not a beach house,” the homeowner says.
As a family of four with two young children, “It was
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