“Drop dead gorgeous,”

Comforting and colorful furnishings complement, but never distract from, the real star of the show: the beautiful view.

is how designer Jamie Jackson, of Pacific Home describes this new home and its surroundings, overlooking Anini Beach on the North Shore of Kauai. So when the homeowners were looking for just the right décor to complement the easy feel of this stunning place, Jackson—who is known for her modern, beachy style—excitedly took on the project.

For a family who's not afraid of fun and color, Jackson boldly mixed an array of different, cheerful patterns on accent items, such as the napkins and pillows in the dining area.

“The concept was to have fun with it. Make it totally accessible for a family, for people who visit and use the beach and just really live in it,” Jackson says. Because the homeowners spend most of their time on the East Coast, Jackson utilized technology, such as e-mail, to work with the family long-distance. At the top of their design wish list? Create a style that married both Nantucket and plantation styles. In other words, East Coast meets North Shore, for the epitome of coastal living.

Touches of turquoise provide serene pops of ocean hues in the clean, streamlined kitchen.

A cheerful, laid-back design directive gave Jackson plenty of room to play. In three months, she chose and set up everything from the furniture to the forks and spoons. And no stuffy pieces or ornate furnishings here. “Things had to be easily cleaned and washed,” she says, “meaning a lot of slip covers and durable fabrics.”

The media room and library  (shown here and at left) is meant for relaxing. Wood tones and natural fiber textures bring a hint of the lush outdoors in.

To give the décor a unique feel, Jackson chose affordable pieces and covered them with different, fun fabrics and textures. She reupholstered cushions, customized slipcovers and sofa and pillow trims. She also tried to mix up the textures in each room, adding natural woven fibers and warm wood tones. Not to mention, lots of color. “This family really likes color,” Jackson says, and she wasn’t afraid to use it. She chose creamy neutrals and subtle beach tones for the walls, but accented everything with bright pops of tropical hues.

Bright splashes of watermelon jazz up an otherwise neutral space.  Because the finishes are subtle, accent colors can easily be changed.

“There’s a hint of the past, like in the rolled-arm sofas, but it’s modern too,” Jackson says. “There’s stuff you would find in an old Nantucket beach house that’s been there for 150 years, but it’s also bright and cheerful and says we’re in the Pacific."

A litte bit of this, a little bit of that: A traditional light fixture and armchair mix harmoniously with island touches, like a large vase of bamboo and even bamboo window shades.

The result of marrying two very distinct styles of coastal living? A unique, yet comfortable space, perfectly at home in the Islands. The homeowner’s initial response said it all for Jackson. “The first feedback I got from them was a one-word email,” she says. “It just said ‘wow.’ As a designer, that’s really nice to hear.”