Natural lighting. Natural ventilation. An open floor plan that makes room for all of your senses. Those are the secrets to coastal design, architects with a reputation for beautiful waterfront homes say. But coastal design also has to go more than skin deep to meet stringent codes — without destroying the design.

The neutral colors on this home were carefully selected to blend not only with the landscaping, but also with the region's unique light qualities. Photo courtesy of Southern Pine Council

Wedlick notes that when coastal home designs focus narrowly on capturing the view, they throw away equally valuable assets inherent to waterfront property.

"If you're building in a place with a mountain view," he says, "you may not have any other sensual aspects, so it's fine to have a big expanse of glass," he says. "But in a coastal property, you want to think of windows not as sheets of glass but as openings."

A major priority in coastal design concerns how the home relates to its environment. You can't escape the vernacular. Darrell Russell, a principal with Looney Ricks Kiss' Rosemary Beach, Fla., office notes that some of Florida's most popular oceanfront designs took homes of the region's past as their starting point.

"An architect-designed home reflects an authenticity of style, often of a specific period," he says. "If you think about it, even the homes at Watercolor (a popular coastal development on the Florida Panhandle) are a glorified version of the old Florida Cracker style."

In Cedar Key, Fla., husband and wife team Greg — the builder — and Ada — the designer — Lang specialize in coastal construction. Their firm, Cedar Key Building and Design, has been around since 1987.

"One thing we're seeing is a downsizing trend," notes Ada Lang. "Because of construction costs, maintenance and taxes. The Florida Cracker style makes the most sense here because it respects the climate and the history. But what we call Cracker style is really just a version of the coastal vernacular common from North Carolina's Outer Banks all the way South."

Decks, porches and patios play a central role in how coastal homes are used. Even when elevated to meet local codes, as each of the homes above are, the right combination of materials can preserve the look of an outdoor space -- and smooth the transition to indoor living. Photos courtesy of Southern Pine Council

"Materials have become a big, big issue in coastal design," notes Wedlick, "maybe more so than anything else. The materials you use should complement the type of coastline you have — not just the landscape itself but the regional heritage. If you build a house on the water with materials that belong in the mountains, you lose something.

"We actually go to the site with the owner and take panels of the materials we're considering," he adds. "Materials change dramatically when you get them on site. The quality of light is different near the water. They may want white, but there are thousands of variations of white."

Russell says the choice of materials comes down to the overall design theme, but some choices are finite because they must have the durability to withstand coastal climate swings.

Of course, as Greg Lang points out, stricter building codes have affected all building systems, including design — but not as dramatically as might be expected. Much of the new hardware and technology lie behind the walls, and impact glass and functional shutters can minimize Mother Nature's toll on the look of the exterior.

"We use a tremendous amount of hurricane ties, ring shank nails and bolted connections," Greg Lang says. "Foundations in our coastal area require much more embedment and resistance against scouring, wave action and overturning. Our typical foundations are installed all the way to the limerock strata, which can be 30 feet below grade. That adds significantly to the cost but it also ensures that the house is strong and safe."

Russell adds that often the difference between a great looking coastal home and a dud comes down to an awareness of both form and storm-proofing function.

"Often it's simple things," he says. "For example, we know a hip roof performs better than any other type of roof in a big storm — aside from perhaps a round house. So we try to encourage that type of roofs and use combinations that won't be vulnerable."

Russell notes also that even with the proliferation of impact glass, shutters still play a major role in coastal designs. "A lot of people will just get non-functional shutters and screw them right into the stucco," he says. "That ruins the look. We try to really detail the hardware and the way the shutter attaches so that even if it's for decoration it looks good."

Wedlick has specific tips on crafting a coastal home that becomes an architectural jewel — not an albatross.

"One challenge is that people want a lot of glass to take advantage of the water view," he says. "But a water view has the benefit of being one continuous object. That allows us to use many faceted windows without hurting the view.

"If you tried the same thing with a mountain view," he adds, "you might end up with a window mullion right over the mountain peak. But water is forgiving."

The home's orientation to the water dictates usability as well.

"Another thing people don't consider is the way a coastal home is used," he says "It should be what we call an upside down house. That's because you want the living spaces on the back of the house, above the bedrooms. Think about where people are going to spend their time."

Certain coastal building regulations create tough design problems — especially FEMA's flood elevation charts. If a home's elevation is modest — under 6 feet or so — Wedlick says the design impact is minimal. But when homes must be built on stilts, as is increasingly common along Florida's Gulf Coast — it takes smart architecture to draw attention away from the spindly legs and toward the home's amenities.

"The key to an elevated home is to have (steps) that flow outward, so you can move toward the water. One thing we like to do is create continuous wide swaths of steps at least 8 feet wide, cascading down to the water. These steps become stadium-like seating, all opened up to the waterfront."

Wedlick adds that despite the popularity of traditionally styled waterfront homes, you don't have to limit buyers to a narrow palette of home styles or colors for their coastal home.

"You can pick up the shape of the landscape with a long, broad elevation, or punctuate it vertically against the water view. The big thing you want to avoid is having a busy house. If you have a lot of complex roofs and elaborate compositions, the setting can't compete with the house. When you build on the water, the view that brought you here for should be on a par with the house."