Summer will be there soon, temperatures are going up quickly now, and we are all longing to get out and go to the sea side. Bleu sky, the fresh breeze from the sea, the sand under our feet. We don’t need a lot of imagination to know what we need for a nautical style.
And as we won’t be able to travel as much as we were used to, or not at all this year, we can create this summer feeling also at home and have a relaxing mood all year round.
When we think of nautical style we imagine: blue and white, stripes, relaxed living. But it can be more than that.
Sitting area with Paradise wallpaper via Burke Decor - Cora Waterfall hanging lamp Circa Lighting - Rope mirror Pottery Barn - chest of drawers Anthropologie - dress Ludmila Corlateanu Milla Milla
A touch of the Hamptons
Stylish, elegant, refined as we know it from the movies. Bringing a bit of American glamour in our homes. Blue and white, looking very fresh with a touch of nostalgia. A play with prints, motifs, stripes. Not trendy, but a combination of evergreens. Timeless looking. This can well fit a contemporary classical interior. The blue and white will bring a lot of light and you can easily combine it with some dark wood to give it some warmth.
Something you have to keep in mind is that to much blue can be to cold, unless you are decorating you summer house where this feeling of a fresh breeze is more than welcome when temperature are getting high.
Palm botanical printed fabric Thibaut - Campaign etagere via Flickr - tiles Cement Tiles Shop - dining table Dear Keaton - dining chair ModShop - Palm Tree hanging lamp Paul Ferrante - kitchen Alexis Bednyak Design
A touch of glamour
Modern, clean lines for a contemporary kitchen. A touch of gold and bold prints will add a touch of glamour. Some exotic botanical inspiration will make this nautical style look completely different of what we know all to well. The typical stripes for the nautical style are getting a more sophisticated look in this jacquard woven fabric. Add a touch of color, a lacquered piece of furniture will finish your room in an un-expected way. And a crystal chandelier can be the element to give it an eclectic look.
shower tiles via Home Bunch - porthole mirror Amazon - hammered copper bathtub Signature Hardware - La Cage shower Catchpole and Rye - Marrakech curtain Anthropologie
A touch of old times
In a traditional setting stripes should be a part of this nautical style in the bathroom. Take care to make it playful such as using those round mosaic tiles. A hammered copper bathtub will bring the contrast to the modern tiles and add a touch of the old days. This Cage shower will be the star in the bathroom. An old sailing boat or cruise ship can give you a lot of ideas for details or the use of certain finishes such as copper of antique brass. Bring in a modern and more feminine touch with an embroidered curtain.
picture shutters Matthew Wakem -pillows Thibaut - beach image via Amazing Places - hanging lamp Screen XI Market Set
A colonial touch
The tropical beaches will inspire us to add some green plants in the house. Dark exotic woods are a great option for a colonial touch. Our summer houses are in general not as big as the space we live in during the rest of the year. The living area will be maybe also the night area, or will be the space that can host some guests over night. Cover the mattress with a printed blanket and add a lot of pillows in different prints. Just mix prints, keep them all in the same colors and they will fit perfectly. Those wooden shutters can add just that extra to make your nautical interior different from a traditional one.
picture on the left Philpotts via Remodelista - Coral art print Victorian Wall Art - Timor ikat via Marla Mallett - accent chair World Market - counter balance floor lamp 1stDibs
A touch of the Far East
Dreaming of traveling to the other side of the planet, exploring other cultures? A four poster bed is the perfect piece to start creating a relaxed bedroom. When the room is big enough you can add also a small sitting corner and you have the feeling of a luxurious suite in a hotel. Ikat fabrics will give you the feeling of being in a more exotic place. No better choice than teak wood in combination with high gloss lacquered wood. The beige tones of the sand and the red tones of coral will make this room a very refined nautical room.
How to bring this nautical style in our home without just using stripes
bring the stripes in a more creative way
combine different motifs with stripes and botanical prints, all in blue and white
add some glamour by using brass
dark exotic woods
ethnic fabrics and prints
soften your blue and white interior with beige tones and add a stronger contrast color
Which type of nautical style fits your personality?
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