Sunshine on the water, flags in the wind, the scent of charcoal and sunscreen hanging in the air…July arrives in a burst of light! This is the month of beach days, backyard cookouts, striped umbrellas, and fireworks after dusk. The world feels a little brighter and more golden; summer has finally hit its full stride.

Our muse this month is John F. Kennedy, Jr., forever remembered with wind-tousled hair, sun-kissed skin, and bare feet on the docks of Hyannis Port. His brand of all-American style, youthful, athletic, and understated, is as timeless as the Fourth of July itself. Whether sailing in a navy tee or walking a sandy path in white linen, he embodied the very spirit of summer: freedom, ease, and effortless cool.

We channeled that feeling into a favorite project, a breezy beachside home in a private coastal enclave near San Diego. Tucked just behind the dunes, the house opens onto a generous patio made for gathering with lemon trees swaying just beyond. That citrus inspiration made its way indoors, most memorably in a custom Iksel wallpaper in the dining room, where lemon branches climb across a backdrop of intricate Iznik motifs.

Inside, the palette is blue and white, punctuated by pops of sunny yellow, crisp stripes, and natural textures. There’s a boldness to it all, but a familiarity too. The house, as Mark says, feels like “a giant American flag,” filled with stars and stripes, but in the most artful way.

For this family’s oasis, we leaned into classics: wicker chairs, block prints, and whitewashed woods. There’s a sense that everything belongs to the light; sun-faded, relaxed, and lived-in. And in a home made for entertaining, nothing feels too precious. That’s part of the charm. It’s a place where sandy feet are welcome and pitchers of iced tea sit ready on the table.

Here’s to July, to sailing and sun, to citrus and celebration, to the red, white, and blue, and the golden glow that makes it all unforgettable.