Page 152 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2026

HOME
LET THE
SUNSHINE IN
Julie and Brad Blue
story by Holly Harrison and Shannon Stage
photos courtesy of Julie and Brad Blue and Elizabeth Hall Designs
There is nothing but sunshine in the home of Julie and Brad Blue. Their unique, light-filled home reflects the couple’s bright outlook on life and their love for family and friends.
Living and raising their family in Minnesota, Julie and Brad Blue enjoyed returning to Julie’s Southern Mississippi roots to frequently check in on her parents. Keeping their eyes open for available property on each family visit, they found a beautiful lot on the eastern end of Pass Christian facing the Mississippi Sound. Now, over a decade later, they have left the cold Minnesota winters behind and created a destination for their own children to visit.
The Blues are both retired teachers, so it should not be a surprise that they planned their new home down to the last detail! “If you are building your last house, you do it differently. We want to age in place and to enjoy every minute. We considered every detail.”
The intention of their design is evident from the solid foundation of the contemporary raised home to the artistic interior elements. “’We prioritized resilience, sustainability, structural integrity, and quality from the beginning of the project to the end. We saw what happened in Katrina, so we did not compromise when it came to those priorities,” says Brad.
The home is built to Gold Fortified Standards with superior construction methods designed to withstand extreme weather events. Their deep foundation pillars are concrete and steel with exposed steel support beams above ground. The siding on the home consists of unique concrete panels affixed to a steel grid system that allows air to circulate and water to drain, reducing the risk of weather damage. The parking area under the house
features two living walls of vines shading the space as well as providing privacy.
Brad has a wood working shop that opens to the back yard with its own covered patio, allowing him to expand his workspace
on clear days. The very shape of the home was influenced by our sunny climate. The roof is a butterfly shaped structure with peaks running parallel to the water, creating high ceilings on
the front and back of the house. Inside, the angled ceilings and extra volume there, gives you the feeling that the rooms are swelling as you walk towards the expansive water view at the front of the home. Double sliding doors in the main living area open to a deck that dramatically offers ample space for outdoor entertaining.
The couple’s minimalist interior design esthetic draws your eye around each room to intricate details like patterns, wood grains, and nuanced colors. “We worked with an architect in Minnesota who researched light and ran a simulation so we could see what the light in here would do each month, each day, and each hour of the day. We can tell you how the light will look in this house in September!”
With this information, Julie and Brad took full advantage of their water-facing location with strategic window placements that allow a smattering of light in the home every hour of the day. Even the light from a full moon dances across the floors and furnishings. These angles of light are mimicked in design throughout the home.
With the assistance of interior designer Elizabeth Hall in Vancleave, colors were drawn from the natural palette of their surroundings, spaces flow without barriers, and the finish and
152 | May 2026
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