CUSTOM HOME INSPIRATION

Ideas Worth Saving

Every custom home starts with an idea. Here are a few ways our homeowners have turned theirs into something uniquely their own.

Custom kitchen and great room in The Sullivan home with reclaimed wood accents

Aerial view of the Caffey's Inlet custom home in Duck

Vintage blue double vanity in a Southern Shores custom home

Browse kitchens, baths, outdoor living spaces, custom details and more from homes built by Beach Realty Construction.

CURB APPEAL

Exteriors

From classic cedar shake to contemporary coastal forms, each home responds differently to its setting and the people who live there.

Front exterior of the Chicahauk Craftsman custom home at twilight with cedar shake siding and covered porch — **Chicahauk Craftsman** 1920s-inspired Craftsman character

Front exterior of the Southern Shores custom Craftsman home with wraparound porch and coastal details — **Southern Shores** Custom Craftsman with wraparound porch

Exterior of The Sullivan custom home in Duck with cedar shake siding and multiple decks — **The Sullivan** Timeless cedar shake exterior

Aerial view of the Caffey's Inlet custom home in Duck with multiple decks and coastal surroundings — **Caffey's Inlet** Coastal contemporary design

Pine Island custom home with multiple porches, outdoor living areas and private pool — **Pine Island** Outdoor living built into the architecture

Rear exterior of the Essex custom home showing multiple decks, pergola and outdoor living areas — **The Essex** Compact footprint, generous outdoor living

THE HEART OF THE HOME

Kitchens

Islands, cabinetry, tile and thoughtful layouts give each kitchen its own personality while keeping gathering at the center.

Custom kitchen in The Sullivan home with white cabinetry, professional range, farmhouse sink and oversized island — **The Sullivan** Bright cabinetry + oversized island

Caffey's Inlet gourmet kitchen with large island, white cabinetry and coastal contemporary finishes — **Caffey's Inlet** Island Woodcrafts kitchen

Pine Island custom kitchen with white cabinetry, oversized island and coastal glass tile backsplash — **Pine Island** Coastal glass tile + oversized island

Chicahauk Craftsman kitchen with white cabinetry, quartz countertops and pale blue glass tile backsplash — **Chicahauk Craftsman** Soft blue glass backsplash

Custom kitchen island and cabinetry in an Outer Banks waterfront home — **Albemarle Sound Retreat** Warm natural cabinetry

EVERYDAY RETREATS

Bathrooms

Tile, vanities, showers and unexpected materials turn practical rooms into some of the most memorable spaces in the home.

Vintage blue double vanity in the primary bathroom of a Southern Shores custom home — **Southern Shores** Vintage blue vanity

Zero-entry tile shower in the Caffey's Inlet custom home — **Caffey's Inlet** Zero-entry shower

Primary bathroom in The Sullivan custom home with glass shower, freestanding tub and wood-look tile — **The Sullivan** Freestanding tub + wood-look tile

Concrete sink and wall-mounted faucet detail in a bathroom at The Sullivan custom home — **The Sullivan** Concrete sink + wall-mounted faucet

Freestanding tub with beadboard and built-in bench in the Pine Island custom home — **Pine Island** Freestanding tub + built-in bench

Bathroom in the Chicahauk Craftsman custom home with long white double vanity and stone countertop — **Chicahauk Craftsman** Long double vanity + storage

MADE FOR THE OBX

Porches & Outdoor Living

Porches, decks, pergolas and outdoor kitchens extend the home beyond its walls and make more room for the way people actually live at the beach.

Screened porch at the Chicahauk Craftsman custom home with cedar shake walls and outdoor seating — **Chicahauk Craftsman** Extra-large screened porch

Covered porch overlooking the water at an Outer Banks custom home — **Albemarle Sound Retreat** Covered porch overlooking the water

Pergola-covered deck detail at the Essex custom home — **The Essex** Pergola-defined outdoor space

Outdoor kitchen and bar area at the Essex custom home — **The Essex** Covered outdoor kitchen + bar

Caffey's Inlet outdoor deck with matte bronze cable railing and coastal views — **Caffey's Inlet** Open cable railing + Trex decking

Covered deck at The Sullivan custom home in Duck — **The Sullivan** Covered semi-oceanfront living space

A COASTAL ESSENTIAL

Outdoor Showers

Practical does not have to mean boring. Outdoor showers can become part of the architecture instead of something hidden around the corner.

Outdoor shower at the Southern Shores custom home with white privacy walls and chrome shower fixture — **Southern Shores** Bright + classic

Enclosed outdoor shower at the Caffey's Inlet custom home beneath the deck — **Caffey's Inlet** Private under-deck shower

Enclosed outdoor shower at the Essex custom home — **The Essex** Built for busy beach days

SMART USE OF SPACE

Built-Ins & Millwork

Custom storage and architectural millwork add function while helping a room feel designed specifically for the home.

White brick fireplace with custom glass-front built-ins and reclaimed wood mantel in The Sullivan custom home — **The Sullivan** Fireplace + custom built-ins

Custom built-in entry storage in an Outer Banks waterfront home — **Albemarle Sound Retreat** Entry storage built for everyday use

Custom built-in window seat with storage in the Pine Island home — **Pine Island** Window seat + concealed storage

BEYOND BEACHY BLUE

Coastal Color

Coastal color can be subtle, saturated or completely unexpected. The best palette is the one that feels right for the home.

Vintage blue double vanity in the Southern Shores custom home — **Southern Shores** Vintage blue cabinetry

Bedroom with painted accent ceiling in the Southern Shores custom home — **Southern Shores** Color carried overhead

Chicahauk Craftsman kitchen with pale blue glass tile backsplash — **Chicahauk Craftsman** Soft coastal blue backsplash

Pine Island dining room with blue chairs and statement pendant lighting — **Pine Island** Blue accents in a bright dining room

THE DETAILS MATTER

Custom Details

The small choices are often what make a home memorable. Texture, lighting, tile and unexpected materials can completely change how a space feels.

Room in The Sullivan custom home with reclaimed wood vaulted ceiling, shiplap walls and statement chandelier — **The Sullivan** Reclaimed wood vaulted ceiling

Custom stairwell in The Sullivan with painted brick wall, dark wood treads and stainless steel handrail — **The Sullivan** Painted brick + dark wood stairwell

Custom wet bar in The Sullivan with reclaimed wood walls and decorative tile — **The Sullivan** Reclaimed wood + decorative tile

Close-up of coastal glass tile backsplash in the Pine Island custom kitchen — **Pine Island** Coastal glass tile backsplash

Bedroom in The Sullivan custom home with white barn door and custom wall detailing — **The Sullivan** Barn door + architectural trim

Laundry room in the Chicahauk Craftsman custom home with patterned tile floor — **Chicahauk Craftsman** Patterned flooring in a utility space

Decorative chandelier beside tall windows in the Pine Island custom home — **Pine Island** Statement lighting

IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES

Design Ideas

Sometimes an existing project sparks a new idea. These concept visualizations show how a finished space could evolve with additional design elements.

Design concept showing star jasmine climbing across a pergola at the Essex custom home

Concept Visualization

DESIGN IDEA

Soften a Pergola With Star Jasmine

Climbing greenery can soften the structure of a pergola, add texture and create a more established garden feel around an outdoor living space.

Greenery shown here was added digitally for design inspiration and was not part of the completed Essex project.

Unfinished room over garage in the Southern Shores custom home

Second view of the unfinished room over garage in the Southern Shores custom home

Three design concepts for finishing the Southern Shores room over garage as a guest suite, game room or creative studio

Concept Visualizations

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS

What Would You Do With an Unfinished F.R.O.G.?

A finished room over garage can become almost anything your home needs. Starting with the unfinished upper level of our Southern Shores custom build, we imagined three very different possibilities.

A private guest or in-law suite could add sleeping space, a kitchenette and a comfortable place for visitors to settle in. A game room could turn the same footprint into a destination for movies, pool, foosball and family time. Or it could become a creative studio and office with room to work, record music, practice and unwind.

Finished rooms shown here are digitally created design concepts based on the actual unfinished space and are not part of the completed Southern Shores project.

Design concept showing the Essex outdoor kitchen styled with pendant lighting, greenery and coastal accessories

Concept Visualization

DESIGN IDEA

Take an Outdoor Kitchen From Functional to Finished

The structure is already doing the hard work. Pendant lighting, comfortable bar seating, greenery, open shelving and a few well-chosen accessories can make an outdoor kitchen feel more like a true extension of the home.

Decorative elements shown here were added digitally for design inspiration and were not part of the completed Essex project.

Design concept showing a Southern Shores outdoor shower enhanced with teak, towels and greenery

Concept Visualization

DESIGN IDEA

Make the Outdoor Shower Feel Like Part of the Home

An outdoor shower can be more than a place to rinse off the sand. A teak floor or bench, simple hooks, fresh towels and a little greenery can turn a practical beach-house feature into a space that feels surprisingly polished.

Decorative elements shown here were added digitally for design inspiration and were not part of the completed Southern Shores project.

YOUR HOME, YOUR DETAILS

Found a Few Ideas?

These are just a few of the ways we’ve helped homeowners bring their vision to life. The possibilities are endless, and deciding on the right layout, finishes and details can feel overwhelming.

We’ve helped hundreds of homeowners go from “We want to build a custom home” to “I can’t believe we’re living in our dream home.”

So whether you already have a clear vision or need help shaping the ideas that will make your home truly yours, we’re ready to start the conversation.

And who knows? Your home may end up inspiring someone here someday, too.

Explore Our Custom Homes → Contact Our Construction Team →

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Inspiration Gallery

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Ideas Worth Saving

Exteriors

Kitchens

Bathrooms

Porches & Outdoor Living

Outdoor Showers

Built-Ins & Millwork

Coastal Color

Custom Details

Design Ideas

Soften a Pergola With Star Jasmine

What Would You Do With an Unfinished F.R.O.G.?

Take an Outdoor Kitchen From Functional to Finished

Make the Outdoor Shower Feel Like Part of the Home

Found a Few Ideas?