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