Growing up and still living in a coastal community, I’ve been exposed to beach houses all of my life. Even when I went to college, which was located in Western Michigan which, spectacular lake beach houses (on Lake Michigan – see Lake Michigan image below).

While I’ve never lived in a home situated on the beach, like many people, I love the idea of having a house on the beach – whether my main residence or a vacation home (or both).

In college my roommate’s family owned a 5 acre property on Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan waterfront is some of the finest in the world with endless sandy beaches and in some areas huge sand-dunes flowing to the water. My roommate’s family’s home was perched high up above the lake with a series of steps to their private sandy beach. I had the good fortune of spending many weeks and weekends at that home. We lounged in the rich sand, swam for hours and enjoyed evening fires in the fire pit on the beach. Everything from the home to the landscaping was relaxing and inspiring.

Lake Michigan Beach

I grew up with a friend whose family owned a condo in a beach-front condo community on the Island of Maui in Hawaii (yeah, I’ve been fortunate to have many good friends, some of whom had vacation homes in the finest places in the World). To a 14 year old kid, it was hard to beat 3 weeks steps away from an incredible boogie boarding beach.

Napili Beach, Maui

These days my beach home living experiences is limited to vacation rentals; although our home is a block from the beach which is the next best thing (and fairly luxurious in and of itself). I hope to always live in coastal communities because there’s something freeing about being close to a large body of water. With a little luck and some hard work my family and I may be able to get a home directly on the water.

There are as many beach home designs and architectural styles as there are beaches throughout the world. This post features 36 distinct beach house styles from all over the world. Enjoy our gallery.

Tiny Beach House Cottage on Cape Cod

Tiny Beach House Cottage with wood shingle expterior on Cape Cod

Day bed reading nook looking out on sandy beach in tiny beach house on Cape Cod.

See more of the above house here. Source: Redfin.

Midcentury Style Beach House on the Pacific Ocean (1 acre)

This stunning midcentury house sits on one acre on the Pacific ocean just north of San Diego, CA. The home was renovated in the midcentury style which you can clearly see in the living room above. The home includes 4 bedrooms, 6.5 bathrooms and over 6,300 sq. ft. on one acre.

You can enjoy the view on extensive deck as well as a courtyard-style swimming pool.

See this entire home here (via Redfin).

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2-Storey Wood-Shingle Beach House with 2 Balconies

I just love this wood shingle side two-storey beach house with 2 balconies. The inside is as fabulous as the exterior. Includes a small pool as well. You have to see the beach.

See this entire home here.

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3-Storey Beach House with Pool

Here’s another fabulous East Coast beach house with wood shingle exterior (clearly I love wood shingle exteriors). This house offers extensive views of the sandy beach and is steps away from it. It’s also very nicely decorated and designed on the inside.

See this home here.

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Lake Michigan Beach Front

As stated above, I love Lake Michigan. You get the expanse of the ocean, but it’s fresh water. Accordingly, I had to include a stunning Lake Michigan beach house. This one featured above is second-to-none both inside and out. IT enjoys 115′ beach frontage. More importantly, it’s low-bluff which isn’t all that common along the shores of Lake Michigan. Most beachfront houses along Lake Michigan are high up on a bluff.

See the rest of this spectacular home here.

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More beach houses