Coastal Sophistication in South Carolina

"Casual and sophisticated, modern and timeless, serene but colourful" is how the designer describes this relaxed, South Carolina home.

Ode to Blue - Interior Designer, Lauren Leonard

Lauren Leonard Interiors

This week I'm sharing my love of blue and white from, interior designer, Lauren Leonard...

Which Shade of Blue Denotes a Restful Interior

 Design by Cottage Company of Harbor Springs

Blue and white are my favourite combination, however as blue comes in many shades and tones, what blue works best if you want to create a restful atmosphere.

Shiplap Inspiration

I have fallen in love with shiplap, not a term we are familiar with in New Zealand, so think Lockwood houses that have had a paint makeover. Tongue and groove painted white or whitewashed can look amazing in almost any home, especially a coastal or farmhouse style house.

A Beach House Beauty by Blackband Design

Another stunning beach style project by one of my favourite interior design company's, Blackband Design. This Newport Beach house has fabulous texture and colour and must be a dream come true to the home owner's.

How to Select Lighting for a Coastal Look

1. Beach style dining room by  Burnham Design

I believe that our homes and surroundings definitely affect our moods, and thoughtfully styled interiors can help promote a feeling of relaxation, especially if you opt for a Hamptons/coastal look. Finding suitable furniture for this style of interior is not difficult but finding the right light fittings can often become a challenge.

Master Bedroom Project Underway - Blue and White Hamptons/Coastal Look

Above: My inspiration from my Houzz and Pinterest boards

My latest home project is my master bedroom which I am keen to paint a soft, clear blue but finding the right shade of blue has become quite a challenge. I have paint swatches all over my walls but none are that perfect shade for my room. I have narrowed it down to two Porters colours, either French Grey or Ice. French grey is subtle and a little dirty, while Ice is a clear baby blue but maybe a little strong for me in depth. However, While I ponder the right shade of blue, I want to share my inspiration, mood board and a few options I have for bed linen and accessories.

Coastal, With a Touch of Hamptons - What do you think of Laura Ashleys FRESHWATER Range?

Laura Ashley opens its doors to its 'Freshwater' collection, I'm feeling a little bit Hamptons, a little bit coastal. Laura Ashley state, "this classic decorating scheme of just two or three tonal colours is all about creating a harmonious canvas, so that touches of individuality can be added for a stylist effect. Taking inspiration from coral and plant life around the shoreline, this casual and laid back story is the bridge between inside and out. It mixes textures and finishes, wood, brick, exposed beams and nut brown leather, all working together to create interest and individual style".

Hooked On Hamptons - How to achieve this look in your home.

In the interior design and architectural world 'The Hamptons' is a familiar sounding word, but where are the Hamptons and what depicts this style? The Hamptons makes up a group of villages and hamlets in a seaside location on the South Fork of Long Island, New York. The area is popular with anyone who's anyone in New York. An historic location with a mix of original colonial homes and new builds replicating the colonial style. Think of grand portico's, pillars, shutters and shingles along with perfectly manicured gardens. For the interiors, designers have created a unique look, a style that works perfectly in this pretty coastal location. Light filled rooms with neutral walls, white washed or light toned wooden furniture combine with linens in soft accents such as pale blue, grey and beige uniting this look.

Hamptons Architectural style

Above: Aerin Lauder's South Hampton home via

East Hampton home via

Above: Proving Hampton style is worldwide, this Auckland home reflects a little Hamptons with its portico

Hamptons interior Style...

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Images via: 1|2|3|4|5

When I search 'Hamptons' the resulting images send me into a kind of dream like state, where my mind is mentally re-decorating every room in my house to achieve this light filled style. Who would have thought a location would become a style! I have never heard of anyone asking for 'Mission Bay' style, although Mission Bay is a seaside location. Recently I was informed, the front of my house (since its makeover), does look 'Remuera', so maybe the Auckland suburb of Remuera does have a distinct style. Regardless I took this as a compliment to my home. To those of you located outside New Zealand, Remuera is a prestigious suburb in Auckland although not near the beach.
Come to think of it, I wonder if there is a Notting Hill, Ohio or Sydney style. Nevertheless Hamptons is almost a dictionary style that has made its mark on interior design and architecture, worldwide.  

If this is your style you will certainly have fun trying to create a little Hamptons love in your home. Easily replicated without the millions required to reside in this prestigious location. You don't need a grand home to incorporate this light filled look to your interior. Take one bedroom, subtle neutral paintwork, white shutters or wide white wooden blinds, white washed furniture, the right toned linens and a few accessories and voila you have your own Hamptons escape!

Hamptons bedroom moodboard. Take some basic white furniture and add your accessories...

Above: Wardrobe, bed and drawers from the Coast range at David Phillips - Sesame square throw, also from the David Phillips range.

I hope you have enjoyed an introduction to Hamptons style. Next week I will be sharing the progress to date of the makeover of the front of my house, If you don't want to miss out, you may want to sign up for email updates over at the sidebar.

Lee oxo

Sharing this post at the following blog parties:

I should be Mopping the Floor
Alderberry Hill

The Dedicated House

A Stroll Thru Life

DIY Showoff
Ivy and Elephants

Savvy Southern Style

Not Just A Housewife

No Minimalist Here

The Real Housewives of Riverton

Coastal themed Interiors & accessories

I'm aware Summer's long gone in NZ, but hey! the sun was shining today and I am still able to walk along the beach most mornings. One of the hardest things about returning to NZ after so many years in SE Asia and the Middle East was not having daily sunshine and that wonderful warmth I felt waking up every morning to the sun streaming through our windows.  Recently I shared a post on a lovely coastal interior which jogged my memory that I had started to draft a post in April about coastal themed interiors and had not yet finished it, so with a bit more work and a lot of searching of images I have completed the post and hope you will be inspired to bring some coastal sunshine to your home.

A simple way to incorporate a theme into your home, whatever it may be, French, Country, Contemporary, Coastal, is to take the word and then make a list of words that spring to mind, a kind of "word association" game. Taking the word "Coastal", I created a short list of words to help me with my textures, a quick and easy way to help create a mood board. 

I then created another list to help select accessories that will work with the coastal theme...

seagulls
sand

driftwood

stripes
coral

wicker/rattan

shells

glass

waves

sun
starfish

More inspiration...

The coastal lamp above and below is a smart idea from Laura Ashley. Fill your jar with shells, pebbles or whatever little treasures you have to add some interest and texture. You could even place a faux nest and eggs inside.

The  items above are from Laura Ashley's coastal range.

Create a nautical mirror -  link to instructions can be found at the end of this post.

Sand dollar cookies, see quick links at the end of this post for recipe and  step by step instructions.

Coastal style...

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Image Sources 1|2|3|4|5

Quick Links:
Nautical mirror instructions from Martha Stewart....Instructions here.
Cute sand dollar cookies from Sugarbelle....Recipe & instructions here.

We hope you've enjoyed our coastal inspiration. A recent post with a tour of a coastal home can be seen at the link below.

A lot of love in this coastal interior ....read more and see images here

I will be sharing this post with the following blog parties:

I should Be Mopping The Floor

Coastal Charm

Rain On A Tin Roof

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here

Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Stroll Thru Life

Lot's of Seaside Love In this Coastal Interior

Over the past few days our blue Autumn skies seemed to have turned to grey, however, the sea and sand still lure me to the beach most days to walk Poppy. Last Tuesday was the most perfect Autumn day, sea glistening like a mill pond, Poppy and I strolled along the sand looking at all the pretty shells forming patterns on the beach, maybe this is why I wanted to share this pretty seaside home I discovered this week.

Bleached and white painted floors immediately remind me of seaside cottages and my childhood at the beach. I would love to have my cottage floorboards sanded and white washed and seriously thinking of doing this next summer when I can move my furniture out and hopefully re-do one room at a time. The owners of this pretty home have used weathered textures, both fabric and wood along with innovative decorator pieces such as white pebbles in the fireplace place and the rustic burlap coffee sack used to create a window valence.  Isn't the small boat great! what a brilliant idea to have it overflowing with scatter cushions creating the perfect place to laze and read a book... Also loving the clever use of dip dyed curtains dyed a gentle shade of blue, puddling onto the white painted floors which appears like gentle waves lapping the shore.

This pretty home without a doubt has the seaside touch throughout, I hope you enjoy the tour. If you wish to see more images you will find a link at the end of this post.

Images via jj Locations - This home is available for photo/film shoots and can be seen at their website.

We hope you've enjoyed today's tour, Poppy had a little bark when she saw the wee terrier at the end, she recognises animals on the computer and also on the TV, sometimes its hilarious. There is an advert on the TV at the moment where a cat is running towards you, she only has to hear the music jingle and she will rush towards the TV dancing on her hind legs to get up as high as she can barking  like crazy at the cat, it's so funny to watch.

I will be sharing this post with the following blogs:

                                                          I should Be Mopping The Floor

Coastal Charm

                                                                 Rain On A Tin Roof

                                               Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Time Travel Thursday at the Brambleberry Cottage
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
 Stroll Thru Life

Fabulous Seaside Interior

The Hamptons you might think, but surprise, this fabulous home is actually in England, in West Sussex. The  architecture is perfect for its seaside location, a lovely wide verandah to relax out of the sun, with an upstairs balcony giving widespread views of the sea.  Imagine living here all year round it would feel like a permanent holiday.

I love the shutters in the bedroom, well I guess I am biased as have very similar in my own room. The mirror in between is a great way of creating a feeling of more space... I have a light bulb image above my head , a perfect addition to my own shutters.

Please visit JJ Locations to see more images of this fabulous home.

Hope your having a fabulous weekend, Cold Play were in Auckland over the weekend but sadly I didn't have a ticket, I would have loved to have gone.  Sometimes I can hear concerts when the wind is blowing this way but no such luck Saturday :(

Visit another Seaside home with definitely a touch of shabby chic