For the walls
“An effective way to create a coastal style is to add tongue and groove panelling, either halfway up your walls or up entire walls, depending on the space,” says Holly Keeling, Interior Designer.
Choose eye-catching artwork as a feature and then develop your colour scheme gradually around this, adding accent colours. Teignmouth-based artist Laura Wall creates fun illustrations of seaside towns for her series ‘Love at the Seaside’, while Torquay-based painter Emma Carter creates dramatic fine art seascapes.
For the galley
“Go in at the deep end with co-ordinated units, tiles, flooring and accessories, or simply add accents to your new neutral kitchen with fabrics and bright splashbacks,” explains Ian Thomas, Director at Inline Kitchens. “My favourite 2014 designs are Mereway Kitchen’s contemporary driftwood-inspired door, and slab-style, sprayed or woodgrain doors.”
Claire Feasby, Inline Kitchens’ Interior Designer, enjoys working with fabrics from Romo and shares her colour advice: “Add a light and airy feel with blues, reds, whites, pastel and putty colours to give a clean, sharp look during summer, while retaining a sense of relaxed summer days throughout winter.”
For simple touches, make a driftwood spice shelf, spread an eco message with mugs from Surfers Against Sewage, or choose hand-painted ‘ships’ crockery from Susie Watson Designs. Plymouth artist Debby Mason’s marine wildlife etchings printed on tea towels and aprons can even make the washing up more fun.
Below deck
Holly Keeling explains that the layering of pale and neutral shades is key for this look. “Source natural materials, distressed wood furniture, rattan, hessian rugs and wicker baskets,” she advises. “Scour car boot sales for glass bottles and ships lanterns, and invest in some timeless striped linen by Ian Mankin or Clarke & Clarke.” Build a natural blend of greens and blues with mix-and-match sea colour fabrics and throw in block colours, nautical stripes or gingham for a rustic style. Holly suggests using outdoor lighting in the interior of coastal properties, and limewashing wooden floorboards or using driftwood-effect Amtico vinyl.
For little ones
You can experiment with themed fabrics for your young pirates and mermaids, but if you want to go one step further, designer Amelia Isaac at Barnstaple’s The Sign Shop suggests printing a design on tiles, kitchen worktops or wood. Laura Wall’s beach hut has been digitally printed onto veneered plywood to create unique changing rooms in an Ilfracombe shop, but why not do something similar in your child’s bedroom: how about a pirate ship wardrobe?
On the deck
You’ll be amazed at how colourful and effective buoys, fishing net and rope can be when hung in the right way. Or why not even install an old wooden dingy as a raised vegetable bed? Keep in sync with the sea by hanging Grace & Glory’s all-weather tide clock by the back door, and if you are feeling crafty, make a traditional willow crab pot with Hope Cove weaver, Sue Morgan. The world is your oyster!
