3/29/10

HOME DECOR: GOING COASTAL

CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THINK OF SEA GLASS

 



OF THE COLORS OF THE OCEAN



OF DRIFTWOOD
OR A SANDY BEACH
OF SUNBLEACHED FABRICS AND TIMEWORN FURNITURE
AND YOU HAVE THE ELEMENTS NEEDED FOR COASTAL DECOR

SO, TODAY I'M INTRODUCING YOU TO A STYLE THAT I LOVE

FOR ME ITS AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE,
A TUG AT LONG AGO MEMORIES OF BALMY NIGHTS, FRAGRANT BREEZES, AND SAND BETWEEN MY TOES

COASTAL COTTAGE

TAKE A LOOK AND TELL ME IF YOU LOVE IT AS MUCH AS I DO.   I COULD SERIOUSLY CURL UP AND LIVE IN THESE PHOTOS.


Coastal decorating - painted furniture, wooden floors, striped rugs -
(cottage style furnishings by Stanley)
(seriously love the deep teal color)
Coastal decorating takes the indoors out - creating inviting outdoor rooms with an inside feel.
You can enjoy this style even if you don't live on a coast
(coastal living magazine)

More coastal cottage furniture by Stanley
Crisp white kitchens are a mainstay of coastal cottage homes 
I love how the tiles here are the colors of the sea and sand
and I love the timeworn barstools
The bamboo/rattan chairs are a little more traditional in style but the feeling is unmistakenly coastal
My favorite touch is the lanterns - especially the green one ...
Living under the stars - seagrass deep seating, white slipcovers, teak table and painted white fireplace and cabinets - who would want to spend any time indoors??
A green painted buffet adds an inviting punch of color in this beach cottage entry
Notice the beadboard walls and touches of sea glass color in this inviting dining area
I love that Coastal and Cottage styles don't take themselves too seriously.  The furniture here has elements of treasured antiques, but the soft painted finishes and timeworn edges change the overall feel to casual and fun.

More from the Stanley Furniture line - simply adorable pieces


Love the high wainscotting - painted white, of course!
Amazing bed from Tuvalu Home

Dove grey - like driftwood and a cloudy sky - love the casual slipcovers
A soft turquoise dresser makes an impact in an entry

A very beachy floor covering - seagrass is classic and durable
Look at the lamp - I love this clear glass bottle lamp

Here is another, in green
Sea green subway glass tiles form the backsplash in this coastal kitchen

Simple furnishings, timeworn elements, slipcovers and touches of blues and greens are the formula for making this room inviting, fresh and beachy
Seagrass is a durable and virtually waterproof floor covering, perfect for coastal decorating, but also works well with many decorating styles.


It stands to reason that you would find coastal decor in a beach town.   I recently had lunch in Laguna Beach, and prowled around the town a little afterwards...

and came across a wonderful shop in South Laguna on PCH
called Cottage Furnishings
They very kindly allowed me to take a few photos of their treasures to show you
there were sprinklings of coral and shells
these wonderful wide molding frames
I especially loved them in groupings
Cottage furniture
or painted vintage furniture
(if you have the time, you can create your own)
lamps, textiles, shells and shorebirds
glass fishing floats and jade turbo shells
and wonderful stacked glass lamps


I love this piece that says "you have my whole heart for my whole life"

visit them when you get the chance, or visit their website here.

Coastal style can be as casual or serious as you choose.  It can feel like a vacation, or a fresh and inviting home.  It will be beautiful and comfortable as long as you don't take the shell and seaglass theme too far, and keep a nice neutral white palette with just touches of the blues, greens or greys you've seen here. 

I love this look - but I lived in the South Pacific for 6 years.

I'm interested in how you like it. 
Is it a style you would like to try?
In what room would you like to try coastal style?

I'd love to hear what you think

8 comments:

  1. Finally, I have a name for what I like! Cottage coastal. - minus the seashells : ) Thanks Claudine, love this post!

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  2. i absolutely LOVE this style! and like ashley, i now have a name for it :) i live in northeast ohio so little reminders of the beach would be lovely all year round! i think i'll try to incorporate this style in every room :)

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  3. LOVE your colors.. and looks! Your eyes see what I see! I can look at sea glass for, it seems, eons! And as the sun moves, the view changes!
    Thanks for giving me morning light!

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  4. Thank you for the insight on keeping coastal simple to enjoy the natural beauty and colors!!!! Loved your music!!!!!!!

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  5. Your topic was great! Thanks for taking a moment to draft such an interesting piece… Air Conditioning Repair Parkland

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  6. Lovely, I like your style. Our site: http://www.thewhitelighthousefurniture.co.uk has specialized the in the “New England” coastal style for over 6 years. If this is your idea of an exquisite interior too then come and have a look at our site, you can create the look for only a little money with the clever use of accessories and furniture combined.

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  7. I like this style ! That's so vintage ;)

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  8. I definitely love this look, since I live across the street from a SC marsh and spend a lot of time with the beach style of living (flip flops, shorts and t-shirts, crabbing, fishing, etc....lots of sand between my toes! I want to use this look through out my home but in a subtle way. I have an incredible portrait of my older son standing in the marsh with mud on one cheek and denim overall shorts on in my living room, along with linen curtains and a seagrass rug. My chairs are striped, but in a marsh- green gray fabric from Robert allen....what do I put with it as far as couch color, accessories? ANYTHING you can tell me would be awesome!!!! Any hints of paint colors since it goes straight into the kitchen where I have a seaglass colored glass subway tile (1x2") backsplash, white cabinets (that can be painted) and white appliances (which will eventually go to stainless) Thanks ahead of time.

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