5 min readNellie Howard Ossi’s clients used to split their time between Raleigh, North Carolina, and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, until they hired her to design their new home. Since the interior designer put the finishing touches on their Nantucket-style cottage, the couple has almost made the new build their full-time residence, seeing Raleigh less and less.
This was a ground-up project, and Ossi and her mother, Phoebe Howard (a designer in her own right), worked on it from the start with builder Heritage Home Group. The only thing her clients told Ossi and Howard was that they loved a blue and white color palette; otherwise, they gave the designers complete control, which is any creative’s dream come true.
Ossi used that classic, nautical color palette to create cohesion throughout all 5,800 square feet of the home. Upon entry, you’re immediately greeted by the great room, which is dotted with deep blue accents across a neutral backdrop. This room and the almost all-white kitchen are technically open to each other, but Ossi and stylist Page Mullins created separation between these and other spaces in the home through strategically-placed furniture and utilizing different interpretations of the home’s signature palette.
When it came to the smaller details, Ossi wanted to ensure that the home wasn’t just pretty but also functional for how the couple and their daughter live. The designer did what she does in all her projects, which was to bring in a professional organizer once they started getting closer to finishing. Amelia Gabriel, a professional organizer out of Jacksonville, Florida, had several sessions with the clients to learn their lifestyle and even help them move when the time came. “She helps them pack up their stuff and bring it to the house, but puts it away in a thoughtful way catered toward how they’re going to live in their new space,” Ossi tells House Beautiful.
From the generous entryway and intimate dining room to the covered patio out back, the easy flow of the floor plan is one of Ossi’s favorite aspects of the home. “Everything in the home is beautiful but also approachable for everyday real life, which, in my opinion, is the perfect sweet spot,” she explains. “Everyone has their own space to retreat, but there are still plenty of beautiful places to gather.”
FAST FACTS
Designer: Nellie Jane Howard Ossi of Nellie Howard Ossi Interiors
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
The Space: A new Nantucket-style, 5,800-square-foot cottage with 4 bedrooms and 7 baths.
LIVING ROOM
Two large sofas welcome you into the space and balance out the patterns.
Meant to feel classic but not fussy, Ossi designed the living room to serve as a breath of fresh air. The crisp blue and white color palette brings a distinct presence to the space, with drapery, pottery, custom cushions, and a rug bringing in deeper touches to the neutral canvas. “It’s a room designed for real life, from morning coffee to evening cocktails and conversation,” Ossi adds. “A place where elegance and ease coexist.”
KITCHEN
A counter-to-ceiling zellige backsplash adds an organic touch.
An oversized plaster hood brings subtle texture to the all-white kitchen while anchoring the space. It feels tailored and clean, while the zellige tile adds movement to the walls, giving it a more relaxed feel. Rich Windsor-style stools and blackened brass pendant lights add dimension.
The oversize kitchen island makes for the perfect hostess spot to prep and chat, while blue Roman shades tie the palette in with the rest of the home.
BAR
A hidden jib door leads to an at-home watering hole.
Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue turns this home bar into a jewel box space that anyone would be happy to have a cocktail at. It’s an intimate and dramatic pause, tucked between the more airy living room and dining areas.
BUTLER’S PANTRY
Etched glass cabinet fronts disguise mess while keeping things airy.
Everyday routines of cooking and meal prepping are made beautiful in this thoughtfully designed scullery. The same zellige tile from the kitchen covers the walls, but, rather than a bright white paint, Ossi chose a light, sea foam blue for the cabinets.
DINING ROOM
Rich wooden furniture grounds the space.
Keeping up with the tailored style from the other gathering areas, Ossi brought in more personality to this dining room through a graphic patterned rug and chairs. Bold prints can make any formal dining space feel more welcoming and less fussy while still elevating the design; she chose the chandelier with the same idea in mind.
LOUNGE
Darker paint colors hug the more dramatic rooms.
With as much natural light as this lounge gets, the deeply saturated blue paint color doesn’t feel heavy at all. It helps that the expertly matched blue tiles that hit the ceiling reflect some of that light. Tiling the wall was Howard’s idea, creating the perfect level of visual interest without feeling overwhelming.
It’s a room built for relaxation and fun, whether Ossi’s clients are watching TV, playing games at their dedicated gaming table, or sipping a cocktail. “The French doors open to the upstairs balcony, which offers a breathtaking view of the nearby Guana Reserve,” the designer says.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Bay windows provide the perfect backdrop for a seating nook.
Ossi explains that this bedroom “leans into light, texture, and quiet pattern,” for essential tranquility. “A classic canopy silhouette is refreshed in crisp white iron, layered with soft block-print blue bedding.”
PRIMARY BATH
Polished nickel finishes feel timeless and refreshing.
The soft blues from the primary bedroom remain present in the ensuite, where reeded vanity fronts and wicker baskets add texture. The brown baskets help to break up the space and are a darling way of hiding away essential toiletries.
GUEST BEDROOM
Repeated patterns tie together different elements in the room.
“The green is a happy contrast from the classic blue and white found throughout,” Ossi says. They kept things playful with the repeating patterns on the curtains and bed frame, and chose a woven rug in a pale plaid to give it that classic touch. The wicker details act as the perfect complement to the greens and whites.
PATIO
An all-season space built for entertaining.
A true extension of the house, Ossi created more gathering areas in the covered patio fit for grilling, lounging, and relaxing. “The natural rattan warms up the home’s shake exterior, while the blue and white flows naturally from the interior,” she says. Long dinners, late nights, and laughs by the pool await.
About the Designer
With both parents active in the world of interior design, it’s no shock that Nellie Howard Ossi followed in their footsteps. As the leader of her own design firm, Nellie Howard Ossi Interiors, Ossi brings her Southern coastal upbringing with her to every project, as well as an appreciation for classic furnishings, creating timeless designs that work with her clients’ lifestyles.
