The Art of Living
By Haley Dockendorff
Your home and physical spaces should reflect who you are, yet serve you and your guests with functionality and aesthetics. As South Florida residents, coastal culture and influence come out to play in many areas. Figuring out how to perfectly blend the aesthetic with your own inspiration, as well as structural integrity, can be a bit of a challenge.
Cue On The Sea Design: brainchild of local sweethearts Jonathan and Rebeca Llampay, pioneers of “coastal living.” On The Sea Design specializes in curating custom coastal and nautical concepts for interior and exterior spaces.
Individually, the two have always had and lived a coastal mindset. Rebeca was born in Brazil but moved to South Florida when she was eight years old. Being surrounded by artists in her family, she had a love for creativity her whole life, with coastlines always being the inspiration. Jonathan grew up as an active member of the local surf community. He also worked alongside his father, who did construction across South Florida, exposing him to the development of coastal and oceanfront properties at a young age.
Their vision together began when they met while studying at Florida Atlantic University.
“She was like my right hand,” Jonathan said, mentioning the years they worked in high-end retail together.
After graduating with their respective degrees in Professional Architecture, the two accumulated more than 10 years of experience in the field. In 2020, they decided to come together as one and open On The Sea Design.
Rebeca and Jonathan tend to take a “his and hers” approach when creating concepts.
“We don’t always agree,” Rebeca said, “But that can be convenient, especially working with other couples, because we can offer our clients two different perspectives, and let them choose which direction they want to go.”
The two have a signature style of coastal, nautical, and classical elements. Rebeca loves the use of textures, pops of color among neutral tones, and finding harmony between those modern and traditional concepts. Jonathan has a stronger background in the construction aspect of their designs, but they work hand-in-hand on each project.
“We find that our best work comes from when we put our heads together and work together on something,” said Jonathan.
Rebeca and Jonathan bring that attention to detail you just don’t get when you work with separate designers and architects who can clash. On The Sea Design can oversee each step of the process and ensure structural integrity blends seamlessly with that interior feel.
“I love being able to influence and enhance how you walk through a space and what your experience is like,” Rebeca added. “For most people, interior design is more hands-on and tactile, so you can really appreciate how elements work or feel because you’re using them every day.”
The couple’s work is heavily influenced by the ocean and their experiences of living on the coast their whole lives, particularly in South Florida.
“This area is that perfect middle ground between Palm Beach, with its more historical and traditional elements, and Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which are more on the modern side,” Jonathan said. “In Delray, it’s like a happy middle.”
Now, Rebeca and Jonathan are preparing to launch an online storefront, On The Sea Interiors, featuring some of their favorite furniture pieces and custom collections. The site is set to go live in Spring 2026.
