The new wave in beach house design is directly attributed to Diane Keaton’s love nest in 2003’s hit movie Something’s Gotta Give. Three years later, writer/director Nancy Meyer’s directive (make the viewer feel the sand right outside the door) has inspired cool new color schemes and furniture—plus a cult following of consumers (and professionals) who buy the DVD to emulate the sets.

“Nothing in the past five years has impacted interior design more than this film,” says George Allison of Designer’s Source of Sarasota, who captures the laid-back Hamptons look. Adrian Serrano oil painting, Sonnet Gallery, 1920 Adams Lane, Sarasota (941) 955-6443; chashmere throw and Anachini pillow, 8313; trade-only Hickory Chair, $2,370, 1785 Northgate Blvd., Sarasota, (941) 955-4609.

Check out the rooms that inspired our set at www.setdecorators.org.  

WHO'S IN STORE

Pam and Marcus Anast conjure images of pillow-talking comic detectives Nick and Nora Charles. Their banter is just as witty (and just as delightfully sexy in a married, Baby Boomer-grandparent way). But instead of criminals, this Sarasota pair sleuths for hot new trends in international design.

Their Sarasota Collection Home Store is a unique mélange of posh European, South American and Asian styles, brilliantly executed in materials that hold up to Gulf coast weather extremes. Silky-soft Legna towels and sheets are done in quick-drying Italian wood-pulp fiber, for example, and the store’s custom outdoor furniture (produced in a factory they own in Peru) is made from ipe, “an exotic wood 300 times denser than regular teak,” Marcus says.

“We stand for fashion for living, and that takes imagination and style,” he says of the former New York City fashion design team’s mission. Why the transition from SoHo to Sarasota? “We used to do five collections a year; now we’re having a ball.”

WHAT THIS TOWN NEEDS “A lounge for grown-ups,” the pair exclaims. “We solved the problem with our backyard furniture store; every month we invite friends here for salon evenings outdoors.”

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT “The downtown YMCA,” answers Marc. “My Mustang GT convertible. The color sold me—it’s so Florida,” adds Pam. “It’s slate blue,” says Marc. “Robin’s egg,” corrects Pam. “Color to be determined,” they agree, adding that photos of the seven grandkids are the only possessions they’d take during a hurricane evacuation.

THE RIGHT WHITE So perfectly scaled, pretty and practical, their daughter, Lisa, bought this sofa ($2,400) for her Amagansett, L.I., ocean home. Don’t be fooled by the silky white fabric: it’s Nauga-silk, an easy care solution for sophisticated beach style.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Chill Out

Fill the air with the sound of music, birds and ocean waves. Relaxing Sounds of Nature series CDs (under $10) at Barnes & Noble.

Beach Book

The best wallpaper book for coastal interiors is Thibaut’s Boat Collection, with patterns for every decorating style, including one with actual sand ($67 a roll) forming shells on subtle pastel grounds. M&M Wallcoverings & Blinds, 4801 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, (941) 925-7800.

Sarasota Shuffle

Metal stingray sculptures available in three sizes to shuffle on a beach house wall, not in the sea. Madison Park, 80 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota, (941) 953-9176.