Design Focus: Beach House Style

When​ ​we​ ​think​ ​of​ ​Beach​ ​House,​ ​specific​ ​words​ ​come​ ​to​ ​mind.​ ​Words​ ​like​ ​open​ ​space,​ ​seaside inspired​ ​colours,​ ​airy​ ​fabrics​ ​and​ ​oversized​ ​cushions​ ​are ​associated​ ​with​ ​what​ ​we​ ​think​ ​these homes ​look​ ​like. As​ ​with​ ​many​ ​decorating​ ​styles​ ​this​ ​sprang​ ​from​ ​practicality.​ Originating​ ​from​ ​the​ ​Atlantic​ ​coast,​ ​these homes​ ​took​ ​advantage​ ​of​ ​the​ ​climate​ ​with​ ​ample​ ​windows​ ​and​ ​sturdy​ ​woods​ ​to​ ​withstand​ ​sandy​ ​feet and​ ​salty​ ​air.

Coastal​​ ​life​ ​is​ ​comfortable,​ ​relaxed​ ​and​ ​unfussy,​ ​and​ ​interiors​ ​in​ ​this​ ​style​ ​reflect​ ​that​ ​mood.​ ​​ ​Although laid-back,​ ​great​ ​care​ ​is​ ​taken​ ​to​ procure​ ​a​ ​casual​ ​chic​ ​feel​ ​with​ ​simple,​ ​natural,​ ​durable​ ​materials.​ ​This style​ ​exudes​ ​a​ ​vibrant,​ ​organic​ ​feel​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​both​ ​soothing​ ​and​ ​active.​ ​The​ ​beach​ ​house​ ​design​ ​is one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​easiest​ ​styles​ ​to​ ​translate​ ​in​ ​any​ ​home​ ​thanks​ ​to​ ​the​ ​many​ ​different​ ​themes​ ​based​ ​on personal​ ​tastes​ ​and​ ​location.

Almost​ ​everyone​ ​loves​ ​coastal​ ​style​ ​decorating​ ​because​ ​it​ ​reminds​ ​them​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fun​ ​and​ ​relaxing​ ​times at​ ​the​ ​beach.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fastest​ ​growing​ ​decorating​ ​styles​ ​and​ ​its​ ​decor​ ​reaches​ ​far​ ​inland.​ ​The coastal beach house is a popular at the lake as it is on the sea shore. This style​ ​can​ ​be​ ​achieved​ ​with​ ​a​ ​few​ ​simple​ ​adjustments​ ​bringing​ ​the​ ​essence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​beach​ ​in​ ​your​ ​own home

BEACH​ ​HOUSE​ ​STYLE DEFINED

Beach​ ​houses​ ​usually​ ​exist​ ​along​ ​the​ ​coastal​ ​areas​ ​and​ ​are​ ​often​ ​raised​ ​to​ ​suit​ ​the​ ​shoreline​ ​sites. They​ ​are​ ​adaptable​ ​for​ ​use​ ​as​ ​a​ ​vacation​ ​house​ ​near​ ​water​ ​or​ ​even​ ​in​ ​mountain​ ​areas.​ ​They​ ​typically feature​ ​wide​ ​porches​ ​constructed​ ​of​ ​wood​ ​with​ ​the​ ​main​ ​living​ ​area​ ​raised​ ​one​ ​level. Coastal​ ​style​ ​is​ ​as​ ​individual​ ​as​ ​its​ ​location:​ ​a​ ​saltbox​ ​in​ ​New​ ​England,​ ​a​ ​Mediterranean​ ​villa,​ ​a​ ​tropical cottage​ ​in​ ​Belize.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​a​ ​singular​ ​explanation​ ​difficult​ ​as​ ​each​ ​coast​ ​comes​ ​with​ ​their​ ​own culture​ ​and​ ​uniqueness.​ ​If​ ​an​ ​explanation​ ​is​ ​needed,​ ​coastal​ ​style​ ​is​ ​at​ ​its​ ​best​ ​when​ ​it​ ​sets​ ​a​ ​mood rather​ ​than​ ​overwhelming​ ​people​ ​with​ ​its​ ​beachiness.

There​ ​are​ ​different​ ​types​ ​of​ ​coastal​ ​styles.​ ​Houses​ ​decorated​ ​in​ ​each​ ​of​ ​these​ ​coastal​ ​styles​ ​do​ ​have similarities,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​a​ ​love​ ​of​ ​ocean​ ​hues​ ​and​ ​sun-bleached​ ​white,​ ​an​ ​incorporation​ ​of​ ​natural materials​ ​and​ ​fabrics,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​celebration​ ​of​ ​natural​ ​light.​ ​A​ ​coastal​ ​space​ ​simply​ ​evokes​ ​the​ ​easy, carefree​ ​feel​ ​of​ ​boating​ ​and​ ​beach combing.​ ​And​ ​as​ ​an​ ​added​ ​bonus,​ ​you​ ​can​ ​pull​ ​off​ ​the​ ​look​ ​even​ ​if you’re​ ​hundreds​ ​of​ ​miles​ ​from​ ​a​ ​shoreline.

Even​ ​with​ ​these​ ​similarities,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​differences​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​The​ ​beach​ ​houses​ ​in​ ​Hawaii​ ​differs​ ​from those​ ​in​ ​Spain.​ ​However,​ ​these​ ​differences​ ​are​ ​not​ significant​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​deter​ ​anyone​ ​from​ ​converting their​ ​home​ ​into​ ​a​ ​tropical​ ​paradise

TYPES​ ​OF​ ​BEACH​ ​HOUSE​ ​STYLES

The​ ​most​ ​popular​ ​style​ ​is​ ​the​ ​American​ ​coastal​ ​style.​​ ​Its​ ​main​ ​features​ ​are​ ​relaxation​ ​and​ ​comfort. This​ ​style​ ​is​ ​quickly​ ​growing​ ​and​ ​branching​ ​into​ ​sub-styles.​ ​These​ ​varieties​ ​in​ ​style​ ​still​ ​contain​ ​the same​ ​basic​ ​elements​ ​–​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​natural​ ​light,​ ​warm​ ​whites​ ​and​ ​ocean​ ​hues,​ ​reflective​ ​surfaces,​ ​soft furnishings​ ​and​ ​nautical​ ​decor.

Another​ ​is​ ​the​ ​Tropical​ ​Island​ ​coastal​ ​style​ ​from​ ​the​ ​islands​ ​of​ ​Hawaii,​ ​Polynesia​ ​and​ ​many​ ​more​ ​in the​ ​great​ ​Pacific.​ ​This​ ​style​ ​is​ ​quickly​ ​emerging​ ​and​ becoming​ ​prominent​ ​in​ ​homes​ ​across​ ​the​ ​globe.​ ​It is​ ​known​ ​for​ ​bright,​ ​tropical​ ​patterns,​ ​natural​ ​elements,​ ​natural​ ​teak​ ​and​ ​other​ ​woods,​ ​and​ ​cultural​ ​and nautical​ ​decor.

The​ ​Mediterranean​ ​coastal​ ​style​ ​is​ ​next.​ ​When​ ​one​ ​speaks​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Mediterranean​ ​style,​ ​the​ ​most common​ ​origin​ ​that​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​mind​ ​is​ ​Greece,​ ​but​ ​the​ coastal​ ​towns​ ​of​ ​Spain​ ​and​ ​Italy​ ​also​ ​helped launch​ ​the​ ​Mediterranean​ ​style.​ ​The​ ​style​ ​incorporates​ ​lots​ ​of​ ​natural​ ​light​ ​with​ ​bright,​ ​sunbaked colours,​ ​terra​ ​cotta​ ​stones,​ ​heavy​ ​woods,​ ​black​ ​iron​ ​or​ ​metals,​ ​and​ ​carved​ ​detailing.

CHARACTERISTICS​ ​OF​ ​BEACH​ ​HOUSE​ ​STYLE

If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​thinking​ ​of​ ​incorporating​ ​the​ ​Beach​ ​House​ ​style​ ​in​ ​your​ ​own​ ​home,​ ​a​ ​few​ ​adjustments and/or​ ​elements​ ​should​ ​be​ ​considered.

Light: Light​ ​may​ ​be​ ​the​ ​single​ ​most​ ​important​ ​element​ ​of​ ​coastal​ ​style.​ ​Nobody​ ​thinks​ ​dimly​ ​lit​ ​for​ ​a​ ​beach house.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​why​ ​white​ ​is​ ​the​ ​hallmark​ ​colour​ ​of​coastal​ ​interiors;​ ​because​ ​it​ ​spreads​ ​and​ ​amplifies light​ ​not​ ​soak​ ​it​ ​up.​ ​Windows,​ ​glass​ ​doors​ ​and​ ​skylights​ ​allow​ ​sunshine​ ​to​ ​flood​ ​in​ ​so​ ​if​ ​your​ ​home​ ​is skimpy​ ​on​ ​these​ ​elements​ ​consider​ ​adding​ ​them.​ ​Window​ ​treatments​ ​should​ ​be​ ​spare​ ​and​ ​simple.​ ​If that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​an​ ​option,​ ​consider​ ​a​ ​mirror​ ​mounted​ opposite​ ​a​ ​window​ ​or​ ​a​ ​glass-topped​ ​table​ ​in​ ​a​ ​sunny area​ ​of​ ​the​ ​house.

Fabric​ ​&​ ​Tones: Fabrics​ ​are​ ​simple,​ ​unassuming​ ​and​ ​put-your-feet-up​ ​comfy.​ ​Think​ ​linen​ ​slipcovers,​ ​cotton​ ​rugs,​ ​and wispy ​sheers​ ​that​ ​billow​ ​in​ ​the​ ​breeze.​ ​You​ ​can’t​ ​go​ wrong​ ​with​ ​pure​ ​white,​ ​but​ ​washed-out​ ​pastels​ ​or tailored​ ​stripes​ ​fit​ ​with​ ​the​ ​look​ ​as​ ​well.​ ​Even​ ​though​ ​white​ ​done​ ​right​ ​is​ ​arresting​ ​in​ ​its​ ​minimalism,​ ​it can​ ​be​ ​monotonous.​ ​Accents​ ​of​ ​beige​ ​and​ ​pastels​ ​brings​ ​the​ ​pop​ ​of​ ​colour​ ​the​ ​space​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​reflect the​ ​sea.​ ​Adding​ ​organic​ ​pieces​ ​like​ ​sea​ ​shells,​ ​wicker​ ​or​ rope​ ​gives​ ​the​ ​style​ ​a​ ​finished​ ​look.

Open​ ​Space​ ​&​ ​Furniture: Coastal​ ​rooms​ ​are​ ​breezy​ ​and​ ​decorated​ ​with​ ​an​ ​eye​ ​to​ ​maintain​ ​clear​ ​lines.​ ​Sturdy​ ​wood​ ​and materials​ ​that​ ​can​ ​outlast​ ​wear​ ​and​ ​tear​ ​is​ ​the​ ​decor​ ​of​ ​choice​ ​because​ ​they​ ​can​ ​withstand​ ​salty​ ​air and​ ​sandy​ ​feet.

CANADIAN​ ​COAST

Canada​ ​has​ ​more​ ​coastline​ ​than​ ​any​ ​other​ ​country​ ​in​ ​the​ ​world. There​ ​is​ ​approximately​ ​202,080 kilometres​ ​of​ ​coastline​ ​that​ ​is​ ​dotted​ ​with​ ​coastal​ ​towns.​ The​ ​style​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​popular​ ​designs​ ​in Canada​ ​whether​ ​you’re​ ​into​ ​whale​ ​watching,​ ​fishing,​ ​kayaking,​ ​surfing​ ​or​ ​even​ ​snapping​ ​photos​ ​of icebergs.

BRINGING​ ​THE​ ​BEACH​ ​HOME

There​ ​are​ ​easy​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​create​ ​a​ ​coastal​ ​decorating​ ​style​ ​in​ ​your​ ​home.​ ​Textures​ ​and​ ​patterns​ ​work well​ ​in​ ​this​ ​particular​ ​style​ ​as​ ​they​ ​add​ ​great​ ​interest​ without​ ​the​ ​need​ ​for​ ​strong​ ​use​ ​of​ ​colour.​ ​Think​ ​of piles​ ​of​ ​cushions,​ ​throws​ ​and​ ​large​ ​floor​ ​cushions.If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​major​ ​renovations​ ​or​ ​actually building​ a​ ​beach​ ​house,​ ​a​ ​warm​ ​durable​ ​exterior​ ​is​ ​key​ ​to​ ​recreating​ ​an​ ​authentic​ ​beach​ ​house.  Outdoor​ ​natural​ ​stone​ ​that​ ​offers​ ​durability, like ThinCut™ Machine Cut Weathered Fieldstone,​ ​can​ ​help​ ​give​ ​the​ beach​ ​house​ ​feel.​ ​Natural​ ​stone​ ​veneer brings​ ​a​ ​warmth​ ​and​ ​beauty​ ​that​ ​fits​ ​well​ ​with​ ​the​ ​coastal​ ​theme.​ ​They​ ​can​ ​be​ ​installed​ ​where​ ​full​ ​bed stones​ ​can​ ​not​ ​because​ ​the​ ​weight​ ​and​ ​size​ ​is​ ​significantly​ ​less.​ ​This​ ​makes​ ​it​ ​easier​ ​to​ ​create​ ​the Beach​ ​House​ ​style​ ​of​ ​your​ ​dreams​ ​with​ ​little​ ​fuss.