Style 7 – Cottage Coastal Style

Category Archives: Design How To’s

Provides tips, techniques and inspirational room ideas to get a designer look in your home.

Gone are the days where anchors and shells dominated the décor of a cottage coastal home. Today’s coastal style is more sophisticated and paired down. Inspired by the ocean, it evokes a light and breezy feel by way of airy fabrics and the use of coastal colors in furniture and window coverings. Blues, light greens, neutrals, whites and warm toned and white washed woods are most common. It is warm, relaxing, and peaceful with a casual yet refined air to it. Raffia and rattan make their appearances in furniture, rugs (natural sisal), and even grasscloth wallpapers.  Unfinished wood pieces, and rope in lighting fixtures and decorative accents are the traditional décor items…ok and maybe just ONE jar of seashells is allowed :-)!

Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn and Serena and Lily are great sources for pieces that fit this design.

 

This living room shows a fresh take on today’s more modern coastal style, keeping the colors neutral an light with the use of bright white with natural wood toned accents in the chairs, rug, tables and chandelier.  Coastal colors of blue and green are brought in as accents for this calm and soothing look.

Coastal Living ROom
Coastal Living Room

 

This bedroom room starts with a neutral palette of whites and tans with accents of ocean blue to keep the room soothing and relaxing so it doesn’t detract from the star of the show…the view!

Coastal Bedroom
Coastal Bedroom

 

This Cottage / Coastal idea board shows the pieces you could use to recreate this look in your own home.

Coastal Idea Board
Coastal Idea Board

If you love clean lines, accessory-free space, and neutrals with primary colors, then modern style may be the design style for you.  A clean, streamlined furniture style from the 30’s, this style grew from the idea to build for function, to do without traditional decoration, and to embrace industrial materials like chrome, glass and concrete,… Continue Reading

The Bohemian (or Boho) /eclectic design captures the carefree and experimental essence of the lifestyle it characterizes and borrows from several other styles, evoking a sense of imagination with unexpected contrasts. This style is THE one to watch for 2016 as its carefree, “collected” vibe is one everyone is gravitating to for today’s modern living… Continue Reading

Watch this quick 2 minute video to get some great decorating ideas.  This video will show you how to make a chic copper chandelier just with supplies found in your local big box store.  Copper is on trend right now and adding this over your table for the holidays will add a beautiful and festive… Continue Reading

Is your bedroom a peaceful sanctuary you retreat to for rest, relaxation and romance or does anxiety and stress take over at the sight of a dingy comforter and a pile of clutter? If you felt your stress levels go up just at the mention of your bedroom then it might be time to switch… Continue Reading

An offshoot of the mid-century movement, Scandinavian design brought a populist, minimalist look to the forefront of today’s modern living. Although most people associate it with IKEA, there’s a lot more to the style. It is centered around warm functionality, clean lines, flawless craftsmanship and understated elegance. The use of light is considered to be… Continue Reading

There are so many design terms thrown around these days that it may get intimidating for the person that just wants to update their bedroom or living room.  But understanding your style and what look you gravitate towards will go a long way to understanding what decor you should buy and invest in to make… Continue Reading

This is a look that hearkens back to the turn-of-the-century industrial era. It emphasizes frequent use of raw steel with exposed brick elements. It also relies heavily on rustic wood pieces. The modern variant also uses copper tones. In order to create this style the look of rough surfaces and materials that suggest an industrial past by leaving… Continue Reading

Originating in the ‘50s and ‘60s, this look is reminiscent of the Rat-Pack days in Palm Springs or the “Mad Men” sets we see today and produced some of the most iconic pieces in modern design. It is characterized by simple, elegant lines, natural shapes and chic minimalism, with frequent use of molded plastic, natural… Continue Reading

Contemporary and transitional are distinct, but related design styles that share many commonalities. The main focus is on balance: not too cold, not too formal. It often has clean, sleek lines and is marked by solid colors, mainly muted neutrals with some bold punches of color in furniture and accessories. Furniture is sleek, lower to… Continue Reading