A Fireplace In Your Beach House

From coast to coast it has been a cold February for any one living by the Sea. What I love about this beach house decor is the simplicity of the rustic, country french mixed with a basic shabby chic style white love seat. Accessorized by Antique treasures: a long surf board and sailboat oil painting. For many of us anything rich in history makes Antique shopping a pleasurable hobby.

Numerous clients have disagreed upon my suggestion of "the white cotton sofa" telling me "white gets dirty!" As a Designer you learn not to make waves. A year or so later the same client would rave about loving their white sofa. Why the sudden love? Because a white cotton or white denim slip covered sofa is easy to keep white and clean. If purchased correctly, the slip covers can be washed in the washing machine. Adding a whitener in the water and your white sofa is clean, bright, and pristine again. Another great soil fix is to use a spray bottle filled with water and drop a few tablespoons of Clorox in. Then spray ever so lightly on the soiled white cotton sofa or chair, it works like a charm to remove soil. I have done it personally for years. Another reason I suggest adding a white sofa; is beach house decor fades with the sun quickly. As much as I love color, white is also great on the beach.

If your building or renovating a beach house or home by the sea a fireplace is a added pleasure and value. One of my favorite memories of living in LaJolla, CA on the ocean in my beach house was our fireplaces. At night while the waves of the sea crashed against the rocks, we would relax by the fire with our hot toddy drinks. When it's cold and dreary, people living at the sea want beach house decor that warms them on the inside when there's no sun to warm them on the outside. It's much more soothing to the soul.

Photo Credit: Velvet Linen-Eric Piasecki

How to Find Inspiration From The Ocean

In Florida the beach sand is white and the Ocean is a beautiful blue green. So when decorating a beach house the water color inspires all the surroundings of the beach house. Some of our inspirational beach house decor colors are: greens, pale aquas, blue, turquoise and all shades of blue. They always mix well with the natural colors found in sea shells and white, in any beach house interior. This cottage beach house, is in Florida right across from the beach. The owner choose to display shells, coral, and ceramics on glass selves that were custom built with light at the top of the cabinet to show off her collection. A simple and natural accessory like the Sea Shell can be collected from anywhere one travels the beach in the world. It just so happens the owner of this Florida Beach Cottage is, the author of Scandinavian Country. Her trademark blue and white palette is in evidence throughout her beach house.


Photo Credit: Traditional Home

Add Coral To Your Beach House Bedroom Decor

Often when decorating a bedroom in February at a beach house you are surrounded with tropical rain storms, fog, and snow on the coast. Adding a touch of red Coral accents in the bedroom can transform your beach house decor from traditional into magical. Walk into a bedroom with soft colors of the sea and the coral will remind you how it was visited by the mermaid. Coral accessories and fabrics will instantly bring your beach house bedroom
into a healing room.

Here are some interesting facts to know when decorating with coral; The Romans believed coral could protect children from harm, as well as cure wounds made by snakes and scorpions. Coral comes from the sea and is associated with emotional healing because of its watery home.

• Emotional healer
• Brings peace
• Stimulates intuition
• Enhances virility
  
• Relieves stress

Photo Credit: Tobey Fairley