Coastal, But Chic
A bible for creating non cliché coastal interiors from a serious sea lover.
There’s a distinctive energy felt in homes by the sea – even without knowing, you can sense the presence of a body of water nearby. It’s the balance in the calm and the flow, the beauty of the light fall from the sunrise or the shadows cast by sunset, and the coolness and a natural rawness that only the sea breeze can bring to a space.
I love a good concept – a party, outfit, interior, you name it. Any excuse to dress or design with intention, and as a sea lover and someone who incidentally also lives by the ocean, incorporating the water element into an interior is inherent in my nature.
When designing, it is key for me to consider the location at heart, drawing inspiration from the natural rhythms of a place and allowing this to inform the design direction. I'm forever inspired by European elegance in design, however growing up in Noosa, one of Australia’s most famed, laid-back coastal towns, my origins have influenced the way I apply these inspirations in my design work.
For instance, as much as I love rich, heavy fabrics, they’re simply not practical for the warmth of the Sunshine Coast. That said, I’ve managed to sneak a little mohair into our home, but confined it to a bedhead where there’s limited skin contact, so it still works!
Consider this a bible of 14 of my go-to principles and considerations for creating a coastal interior that steers clear of cliché, along with a wish list of pieces I’d be adding to cart (if my home weren’t already filled with its fair share of odd and wonderful sea-inspired objects and artefacts).
I’ll focus more on the do’s than the do not’s here, as I believe this is a more constructive framework to apply when building an interior. Although I will say – stay clear of 50 shades of white and grey, anything that reads ‘Hampton's style’ and please, please no fake palms!
My first tip, whether you live by the sea or not, is that there is never a finish and only a start. Build interiors over time, layering and adding to your collections as you grow within your space.
Right on theme is this Sexy Fish Folding Screen by Laura Gonzalez. Since stumbling across this piece earlier in the year I have been dreaming about styling it within an interior. Paired with a classic stripe armchair in a reading room, used as a privacy screen in a dressing room, or placed in a bedroom with a mohair ottoman in an icy blue, the opportunities feel endless. This is a true personality piece.