PLAY IT AGAIN

This North Carolina beach house has all of the groove of a 70s classic—without any of the cliché.

- Hadley Keller

DINING ROOM

Louvered oak panels let in light while recalling the 1970s development of Figure Eight Island, the site of this house by power design couple Barrie and Matt Benson. Carpet: ABC Carpet & Home. Sideboard: Made Goods. Table: custom, wood with a Saarinen edge and a faux antique parchment top. Chairs: vintage, in Cowtan & Tout fabric. Table runner: R. Runberg Curiosities.

"THIS IS A HOUSE OF ACTIVITY and gathering—of sandy feet and wet bathing suits,” says Matt Benson, principal of Meyer Greeson Paullin Benson, who designed this coastal build on North Carolina’s Figure Eight Island with his wife, interior designer Barrie Benson. This being Barrie’s third project on the island, she focused on differentiating it: “I’m big on personality, on making sure the house looks like it’s their house and not anybody else’s.” For an active, close-knit family who loves to host, that meant an easy, welcoming space with a stylistic nod to the 1970s when the island was developed.

SITTING ROOM

Barrie Benson outfitted this room off the kitchen with comfortable furniture so that guests or family members can keep the matriarch-a passionate cook and host-company while she party preps. Sofa and armchairs: Highland House in Perennials fabric. Carpet: Stark. Side chair: Anthropologie. Side table: Mecox. Lamps and art: vintage. Pendant: PET Lamp.