Yours, Mine and Ours: A Beach House for Two Families

Working within the home's original footprint, the families replaced the dark warren of small rooms with an open floor plan. Three new oversize bedrooms plus four pullout couches now provide sleeping for a whopping 19 beachgoers (not counting sleeping bags). More importantly, the kitchen and family room—where everyone tends to gather—were relocated to the back of the house to take advantage of stunning lake views.

Dawn took the decorating lead, bringing in a sophisticated twist on beach decor. The water-inspired palette of pale blues, grays and greens balances the dramatic dark wood floors, which are überchic but, of course, show every grain of sand. "I joke that I'm the type of person who loves Manolo Blahnik shoes but has 1,000 bunions," Dawn says. "Lighter floors would have been less maintenance, but I don't care. They made the house."

Pictured: High windows in the family room offer light and privacy, while beach views beckon outside the glass doors.