Wednesday, January 27, 2010

~ Coastal Cottage touches ~

Hello sweet friends! I hope the week is finding you healthy and happy! Today it's finally sunny out and a bit warmer on Long Island, thankfully! Is Spring around the corner? Oh I so hope so! Whether it is or isn't , lol, that's where my thoughts are going for sure! If your new to my blog or been a follower for some time, you must know how much I love the Coastal Cottage look. While I adore an eclectic mix of Traditional Cottage decor, splashed with some Farmhouse details, I'm a huge fan of mixing it with coastal touches too! The pictures in this post are from the fabulous online shop Home at Sea. I've also included photos from my own home and Coastal Living Magazine to show you how I love to mix it all together.
As most of you know I love signs in my house, the one above just makes me feel like even if it's 30 degrees out, if its on my wall, then it's officially warmer out! :) Coastal decor doesn't have to be for just those that live on the water or even close.... It's a state of mind..... It's casual, comforting and completely Cottage! I can just picture myself in this bath below. I'd probably make my ceiling pale blue instead, but, the tub and floors just blow me away!

Grab a cup of tea or coffee or whatever your fancy, and come relax with me and lets pretend we are away at that perfect spot!

This bedroom just makes me melt, It's as sweet as sugar and yet simple and relaxing too... I love the small touches of sea-side decor, simple shells around a mirror, how easy! And the natural texture mixed in with cottage white is what gives it that coastal flavor. ( love the ruffles on the curtains too! )

This would be my Coastal kitchen , soft sage green, white paneling, and a flow of sun... I'm feeling my sandy feet on the floor already! and I'm probably making a bowl full of fresh fruit to bring right out onto the deck for picking :) I love how they put the fish plates on the back wall above the stove too... Home at Sea has such pretty ones just like these, and again, it's just the hint of Coastal decor that makes everything blend so nicely and give it that simple casual touch it needs...

As most of you know, every once in awhile when I find a site I love , I share :) the picture collage below is just a hint of what Home at Sea has, I left a link on my side bar to them too, I think you'll love the casual feel and the sea-side items! You can also click the picture below to be brought right there.

This living room below is so tranquil and pretty to me! It has everything I love, Soft blues, lots of natural elements, and oh my when I saw the shutters? A brainstorm of ideas went through me... My living room in my own home is painted a deep Merlot and while I do like it, I think I see a new project for Spring :) Pale blue walls and shutters are going to be involved... Stay tuned :) I would probably change the furniture to a soft sage gingham, and florals though. I already found my inspiration chair, so that's where it will all begin :)

I think the coffee table in the living room picture needs this gorgeous piece below. I have always been a fan of bubble glass like this, It's so pretty! Plus the visual texture gives a glass bowl more strength to the eye and doesn't let it get lost. It's always just a few great pieces that complete a room, and the best thing about accessories is you can put different ones out for different seasons..... Love that :)
I sooooooo heart these tiles below too! I mix lots of black and white photos into my decor and even in a kitchen filled with color, I can see these mixed in with florals , maybe framed? Or to stand alone as a piece of art too!
And, love this platter below too.... I guess at this point, you can tell I'm really wishing for the new seasons! :)

I set out my nautical touches the minute that snow isn't forcasted, lol ! I think it comes from always dreaming about living on Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket Island! Hey, A girl can dream, right? :)


My own house has it's few touches that bring me closer to the dream of owning a Sea-side Cottage. Or at least , they give it that "feel" for me. These steps ( below )used to be plain white, and once I knew I was painting the paneling in the foyer a creamy white, I decided to add some color and appeal to the steps. This was so easy, all I did was find the perfect wallpaper and then had someone add a few hand painted details to it. So now there's no question when you come in my house that I love the Cape Cod look. :) A few people have emailed me and asked what definition I give to my style. I can easily answer " Cottage"..... But in each room I mix a little Nautical feel , a little farmhouse feel, and a little Traditional Decor... Then mix in every kind of fabric possible, soft tones mixed with stronger colors , and there you have it :)

I plan on doing a post soon to show the steps in which I came to my look , that way it will be easier to do in your own home if that's the look your going for. If you have questions about it, just ask them in the comment section and I'll include some in my next post!

I bring the most of my Coastal elements into the bathroom and foyer. And then add splashes in other rooms as the season changes. But I think painted paneling and bead board are two of the strongest statements for Coastal decor, and they act as the perfect backdrop for the accessories too! You can click on the pic below to make it bigger and see the details of what I did in the bathroom and foyer.

Well I hope you enjoyed my little tour of the Coastal look! All the signs are from Home at Sea .... I think I will try and do what the one below says .... :) But then again, lol, I'm also inspired to get my living room re-painted and find me some shutters too! So off I go, into the paint store for the perfect color! Gotta love paint, so inexpensive and yet changes everything! :)
I hope you all have a wonderful ... pretty.... inspiring ....week!

Much love and Friendship!

~ Cynthia ~

48 comments:

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Hi Cynthia~ ~I am so glad that I stopped by I love your dream pictures too. I am totally a fan of gingham it would look great in that room. I had dreams of a wedding with all the girls in gingham when I was young. Standing under the trees in all of Gods glory for an early Spring wedding. Didn't materalize as I got married in November. I'm sure someone else had a lovely ginglam wedding. Casual and country.

lillie mae acres said...

Wonderful post Cyn. Although our decorating styles are far apart except the farmhouse touches, I always enjoy the pics and decorating design tips you post.

Anonymous said...

Hi cynthia, i love all the coastal touches you have in your home!!Everything looks so warm...Kathy

Julie Harward said...

I LOVE SO MANY DIFFERENT LOOKS..I LIKED THIS A LOT TOO..IF I LIVED BY THE BEACH I WOULD FOR SURE HAVE THIS LOOK, IT'S VERY PEACEFUL AND VERY BEAUTIFUL! COME SAY HI :D

beth said...

I also love a coastal cottage look in my home. Makes me feel like I'm at the beach all year long! And spring is just around the corner. We saw geese flying North yesterday and today. They must know!! :) Can't wait!!
Hope you have lovely day! Beth.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I brought back a few shells and things to decorate my Florida house in more of the nautical theme. I LOVE the beach! What great ideas! ♥

Just a little something from Judy said...

It seems to me that you have a way of taking many different decorating styles and adding your cozy, warm, inviting and beautiful touches, creating a home that I could move right into. This coastal dream home is one of them. So relaxing and calming. The signs added a special touch,and the paint choices were perfect. What fun to dream! So beautifully shared...as always at this post.

Cheryl B. said...

Cynthia, I think what you do of mixing styles, is what personalizes a home. That way, just because six friends all particularly like one style, their houses will totally look different. Because one will mix in some of this other style; but another of the friends will mix in a different style; and on it goes ...

Here in mid-west MI, we just had a short little winter thaw, but are headed straight back into accumulated inches. I think I'll put off dreaming of the beach for awhile yet, or I'll end up getting way to antsy - seeings how it's rare around here to be hitting the beaches before June (and sometimes then it's still chilly).

'Ahrisha' commented about a country gingham wedding - I had one :-} Actually, the girls wore all old fashioned styled, long puffed sleeved, high waisted with the U-Trim in the front (does that make sense?)dresses, made out of white back ground material. But then one girls had little pink roses on it, and another's had yellow, and one's was blue .... The guys then all wore white tux's, and their shirts cordinated with the color of the roses of the girls dress whom they were walking with. The ushers all had pale green shirts.

But at the reception, the bridal table and cake table had homemade gingham tablecloths, with different color ginghams in each flounce down the front. :-D

Yup, I still like gingham and little prints on materials - and this spring will be our 30th anniversary.

Unknown said...

Super Cute! I love your helpful tips. I also love your steps with the wall paper! That is such a great idea. :)

~Liz

Amy said...

Just dreamy Cynthia. I love those soft colors. That bedroom is perfectly sweet. Thanks for a nice post!

Kit said...

You mention Coastal and it speaks to my heart! Every year my love and I head to the Oregon Coast where we lease the most incredible condo and it is filled with lots of seaside touches. Boats, shells, glass floats, and lovely paintings of the sea. Back home in Montana, we have created a hallway filled with all our own treasures of the sea, from our visits.

Elizabeth and Gary said...

Hi Cynthia,
Love your post! It's all so dreamy! I am looking forward to spring too.
Take care and enjoy your day,
Elizabeth

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Totally Yummmm-O! Especially the chaise.....Oh yes...I'd love to be curled up there! So sweet.

Warm blessings,
Spencer

Gina said...

I love this post! That living room is calling my name...exactly my style!

Betty Jo said...

Oh My! What incredibly beautiful rooms!! Yep, lots of snow here and very cold, but I'm dreaming of spring.

Sandy said...

Thank you for a wonderful "getaway" to a place I can only dream about in this life time. Some lucky soule actually gets to live there?

Lisa said...

Hi Cynthia!
I've just browsed your blog that i love:there's a piece of soul in what you make,personnalized!congrats!
The pictures of this post make me dream (here in the north of France the weather is ugly!).
I'llcome back soon to dream again :)

countrycharisma said...

Cynthia, thanks for the great pictures, particularly the claw foot bathroom. I have obtained a tub and going to have it redone. We have an old carpenter gothic farmhouse 1847, and it needs a master bath redo. I am working on ideas and believe I have a plan. Your blog is filled with great information as well as your store. Also, my daughter had done the pantry with a cute door in her kitchen and it turned out so great. She and everyone who saw it, loved it. Thanks for great blogging, carrell

Brittanie Gordon said...

I love that celery green Kitchen!! Just found your blog and LOVE it!

Brittanie
www.cupcakeskissesncrumbs.blogspot.com

Little Pieces of My Life said...

I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blog, style and colors.
You find the perfect photos. Readers can just feel how much you love decorating.
I'd like to send you the perfect apron for your kitchen......aqua and polka dots.
Send me an email wiquilter@charter.net

Hugs,
Karen

Beverly @ My Sew Sweet Studio said...

Loved your Coastal pictures and the Cape Cod touches you have in your home. Will look forward to seeing how you change your room with the merlot walls. Sounds yummy. Loved the blue and white stripped chaise. Wanna settle in there with a book.

Bird said...

Gorgeous pictures and inpiring ideas!!! I wan to move closer to the sea now!!!

Just came over to tell you I am having a fabulous Le Creuset cookware GIVEAWAY worth $66.95!!!

For details see:

http://birdcrafts.blogspot.com/2010/01/blog-celebration-and-le-creuset.html

And good luck!! :)

Mahek said...

hi
Cynthia,
I love all the elements that you mentioned in your post and i agree that one should bringthe required decor although we cant take our home to the site... like the beach side....
Thanks for the lovely pictures...

Anonymous said...

Hi Cynthia! How've ya been!!!lol I too adore coastal and hope someday to retire to a cottage by the sea!!!Hubby prefers mountains/woods!??? Love love what you showed but to be honest I think your home looks perfect the way it is; although I am curious now about your living room redo! I'm working on my own projects and have started way too many which is why I'm not around much! I'm on a different path AGAIN!!!LOL Just wanted to stop in and say hi! Sincerely, Jeannette

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What a lovely blog you have created. I look forward to future posts and will follow along.
AK.

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