2 Amazing Alys Beach Home Makeovers

Alys Beach has become an Instagram dream for visitors to “30A,” Florida’s swanky Panhandle beaches along Highway 30A. With its whitewashed architecture, arched doorways, courtyard gardens and tile floors, the coastal neighborhood offers one photo op after another.

But while every Alys Beach home that appears in magazine features is undeniably gorgeous, most share the common color palette of white, off-white and maybe a little beige. Enter Bill Musso of Atlanta’s Musso Design Group, the talented interior designer who is known for rich colors and a layering of international flavor in his houses. For these two projects he worked on at Alys, Bill went beyond an expected style.

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“I love the multicultural aspect of Alys Beach,” he says. “It allows for so many bouncing-off points in design.” To him, there are no set rules for interior design. Yes, the architecture of an individual home and personality of a client provide clues, but from there, he has a preferred plan: “I usually come up with a color scheme before selecting furniture,” says the designer. “Some say it’s unorthodox, but I like to work that way.”

These two Alys Beach homes — completed within months of each other — are unrelated except that they both share the richly layered Musso look.

Let’s take a look!

Alys Beach home designed by Bill Musso — Vivid blue-patterned wing chairs (clad in Schumacher fabric) play off the accent of blue tile in this dining room. Bill designed the custom light fixture, which uses recycled blue bottles as part of its shapely lines.

A unique curvilinear wall treatment delineates the kitchen from living room in this open floorplan. Capitalizing on the geometric flavor of the architecture, the designer incorporated poufs made from Moroccan rugs and vintage maze landscape designs on the walls. Sofas are from Thayer Coggin and cocktail table from Julian Chinchester. — A unique curvilinear wall treatment delineates the kitchen from the living room in this open floor plan. Capitalizing on the geometric flavor of the architecture, the designer incorporated poufs made from Moroccan rugs and vintage maze landscape designs on the walls. Sofas are from Thayer Coggin and the cocktail table is from Julian Chichester.

Alys Beach Bill Musso project — As if a courtyard pool outside the French doors isn’t fabulous enough, this bedroom benefits from playful Koi fabric by Ralph Lauren fabrics used on pillows and window treatments.

An upholstered headboard features nail-head trim. An Anthropology lamp adds another texture to the bedside table. — An upholstered headboard features nailhead trim. An Anthropologie lamp adds another texture to the bedside table.

Designer Bill Musso came up with this custom tub design, which features Walker Zanger tile along the tub and Ann Sacks floor tiles. Large-scale wall art is by Laura Walker out of Auburn, Alabama. — Designer Bill Musso came up with this custom tub design, which features Walker Zanger tile along the tub and Ann Sacks floor tiles. Large-scale wall art is by Laura Walker out of Auburn, AL.

A vintage bed frame is distinguished by a Moroccan blanket the designer picked up during a vacation. An architectural wall panel from India provides art above the bed.

A charming courtyard offers a private place for entertaining or a morning meal al fresco. Black mesh chairs are by Dedon.

The rectangular room allowed a desk area to be included with the sitting room. Dark wood accents against white-washed walls are part of the Bermuda-style look of Alys Beach. Musso designed display shelves as wall art, then added Innovations wallpaper below the shelving. Lighting is from Solaria. — The rectangular room allowed a desk area to be included with the sitting room. Dark wood accents against whitewashed walls are part of the Bermuda-style look of Alys Beach. Bill designed display shelves as wall art, then added Innovations wallpaper below the shelving. Lighting is from Solaria.

Schumacher fabric covers this patterned headboard as an artistic twist. Antique rice bowls accented with mirrors are from Atlanta-based Chip Cheatham, Chip & Company.

A guest bedroom includes a stylish wallpapered alcove for the bed, using Thybony grasscloth. Wall lights are by Circa Lighting. — A guest bedroom includes a stylish wallpapered alcove for the bed, using Thybony grass cloth. Wall lights are by Circa Lighting.

Thanks to designer Bill Musso of Musso Design Group for sharing his inspiration with us. And additional thanks to Lauren Rubinstein for the beautiful photos!

About the Author
Lisa Mowry