The job of this game room in this new-construction vacation home was to come through in the clutch.

When beach days were a washout, this room was on.

There was a drum set, board games, a large sectional sofa (that moved for dance parties), and a bar.

Unlike the home's kitchen, the layout and storage requirements were simple. What mattered was creating the right feeling.

To create a relaxed vibe, we leaned into the rustic quality of the reclaimed ceiling beams. There was just one problem — we had to order the cabinetry before the finished beams arrived, so we had no way of knowing exactly what the wood would look like.

We pored over cabinet samples until we landed on an unusual finish that produced a varied but cohesive mix of wood tones.

Decisions like this are often tricky. Rustic reality doesn't always align with a client's imagination. It's easy to gloss over what to expect — or worse, to talk clients out of the very materials that give a space its character.

The right design depends upon the client. That's why communication — and taking the time to truly understand each other — is so important.

BUILDER:  Jim Bernard Custom Homes

PHOTOGRAPHY:  Erin Little

STYLING:  Janice Dunwoody