Creating long-lasting memories is the motivation behind the dazzling vacation homes from Blakely Interior Design.A three-story new construction in the heart of Narragansett Pier boasts a bright and bold design.

Rhode Island-based Blakely Interior Design (blakelyinteriordesign.com) is no stranger to projects in easy, breezy vacation destinations. From Block Island to coastal Maine, owner and creative director Janelle Blakely Photopoulos has carried out clients’ visions for their second and third homes in New England and beyond. The key to doing this successfully, she says, is remembering you’re creating a place for generational memories—one that serves as the “happy place” outside of a primary home. “These homes evoke emotions and nostalgic memories that make our clients look back and say I remember my summers in Narragansett. I remember my summers on the Cape,” she says.

The vibrant coastal aesthetic in the kitchen

It’s from this mentality where many of her vacation house designs originate. From there, Blakely Photopoulos outlines a few key components for a functional and welcoming secondary home: aesthetics, durability and use of space. Asking pointed questions about these elements at the onset is critical in ensuring an exceptional project.

The way a home looks is often where a client’s vision begins. It makes sense: aesthetics are the first thing that people are drawn to, Blakely Photopoulos explains. Is the home going to be traditional-coastal? Timeless for year-round use? Or something entirely new and exciting?

The expansive great room offers enough seating for a family of seven.

A secondary home presents the opportunity for the client to try a design style they might not employ in their primary residence. New colors, patterns and accessories are on the table. “Our clients tend to be more brave with their vacation homes and are willing to accept a slight push out of their comfort zone to give them a design that feels truly unique and personal to their lifestyle,” she says.

The summer getaway features easy indoor/outdoor living.

Equally as important as aesthetics for these types of projects is durability. A home’s location will impact the materials selected for both the interior and exterior. If the home is by the beach, where there’ll be salt air, sand and moisture, that informs the choices in flooring, wall coverings, textiles, storage options and more. Blakely Photopoulos points to things like UV-resilient fabrics and flooring that can easily be cleaned after a parade of sandy toes.

In a New Jersey vacation home, the firm intentionally designed the den off the pool area with durability at the forefront. “We selected materials that allow the kids to come in and sit down with wet bathing suits if they want to,” Blakely Photopoulos says. “And it won’t damage the sofa.”

Blakely Interior Design owner and principal Janelle Blakely Photopoulos

The other important question to ask clients in the early stages of design is about the use of space. How many people will regularly stay in the house? If there’s a group of children, should rooms be outfitted with several sets of bunk beds? If a family plans to celebrate the holidays in the home, should there be a dining room with enough seating for everyone? “Understanding not only how the house will be used in-season, but also year-round, allows us to ensure we’re space planning appropriately to address all their needs,” Blakely Photopoulos says.

No matter where the homeowners are located across the country, the firm prides itself on working seamlessly with them at every stage of the project. “Each project begins with our signature ‘Deep Dive’ process, which allows us to get to know our clients at a granular level to create a home that feels distinctly personal to them. A beach house can mean something different to everyone, so our approach to design is guided by each client’s style preferences, past experiences, and everyday life at home. This holds true no matter if they’re local to us or not,” Blakely Photopoulos says.

The backyard is a retreat on its own, complete with a pool, pool house, and lounge seating throughout for over 30 guests.

For those living in different state from where their vacation home is located, Blakely Interior Design coordinates virtual meetings for when their clients are unable to attend in person. For presenting selections, they’ve been known to ship hundreds of labeled samples, from wallpaper to tile, so the clients can walk through the materials as if everyone is in the same room together. In one instance, a native Rhode Island couple living in Texas was embarking on a major renovation to their summer home on the Ocean State’s waterfront. “There were times when our clients couldn’t fly out for presentations or site walkthroughs but being able to connect with them on Zoom proved to be just as effective. And we’re able to do that without skipping a beat.”

Ultimately, Blakely Interior Design strives to design homes that feel personal to the client, whether they’re custom new builds, large scale renovations, or fully furnished interiors. That personal approach is expertly carried over to secondary homes, creating memories to last lifetimes.