The 5 Key Elements of Modern Coastal Home Design
We’ve had a lot of experience when it comes to designing a modern coastal home. From a cozy, art-filled family retreat in Cohasset to a modern beach oasis on the shores of Truro to our soon-to-be-revealed expansive multigenerational beach house in Narragansett, coastal design has very much been at the forefront of our work. In this month’s journal, we’ve gathered our years of lessons learned and insights to provide five key elements of this design aesthetic.
We’ve often talked about how much our interior design in residential projects has been influenced by our hotel design. Authentic coastal properties like The Edgartown Inn and The Sydney, both located in the heart of Edgartown on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and 21 Broad and 76 Main on Nantucket, offer so much inspiration and design experience that can be carried over to our residential coastal projects. Esthetics, functionality, and elevated outdoor experiences all play a huge role in this unique design process.
Although there is so much that goes into creating a multigenerational coastal home design, we’ve narrowed down 5 essential elements that should be taken into account. And we’ve asked Kristina Ranaldi, our Senior Interior Designer, to share some of her insights along the way.
#1: Durable, weather-resistant materials
When designing a coastal home, the weather is an important component that needs to be considered. Environmental factors such as strong winds, salt water, and humidity can all have an impact on the design element you choose.
Kristina is well-versed in designing with a coastal aesthetic in mind, as she’s been leading the design of our soon-to-be-revealed Narragansett family vacation home. When asked about her approach, she highlighted the importance of “using indoor/outdoor fabrics and rugs that have higher durability.” These fabrics have the ability to withstand humidity. She also mentioned the need to consider the fluctuation in humidity when selecting the specific wood used for the flooring.
#2: A Soothing Palette
A coastal design palette should feel casual, light, and airy, reminiscent of your favorite seaside vacation. By incorporating soft hues of blues, greens, and beige tones, we aim to create a more serene vibe that is harmonious with the coastal landscape. “To add more drama, instead of bold tones, we’ll weave into the design textured natural elements like grasscloth, sisal, and bamboo, along with more flowing organic fabrics like linen-like drapes that feel authentic to the location,” says Kristina, “Modern finishes, such as brushed nickel and brass, can help elevate the overall design while still staying true to the coastal aesthetic.”
#3: A Sense of Place
One of our favorite ways to truly bring out the design of a coastal home is to lean into its sense of place. A good place to do this is by observing the surroundings outside the home. This gives you a better understanding of what materials may work best in order to create that seamless flow between the interiors and the outdoor space. As mentioned above, light, airy textiles and fibers help to create a more open feel and better embrace the beloved coastal views. Incorporating native plants for indoor greenery and showcasing local artisans’ work are other impactful ways of creating a sense of place.
#4: An Elevated Outdoor Experience
An extension of the home itself, maximizing outdoor living space offers families and guests a transition between indoor and outdoor enjoyment. Custom elements like bar seating, a fire pit, and comfortable gathering areas are great for entertaining. Where more elevated amenities like an outdoor shower, pool and pavilion area for lounging and water station to refill water bottles on the go can do a lot to create a welcoming extension of the home.
#5: Innovation (it’s not just for urban dwellings!)
For the final element, we asked Kristina to share with us some of the innovative, one-of-a-kind elements that are part of the Narragansett design. “The home has an elevator with stairs that wrap around it. When considering the walls around the elevator shaft, rather than something expected, we opted for a material called Plyboo, which is made from bamboo. It still has that beachy driftwood feel with more of a modern take.”
Other areas of the project that are out of the box include rippled glass in the upper cabinets of the kitchen to create a water effect and better connection with the sea, as well as a catering kitchen. “Their goal for this home is to do a lot of entertaining, so having that separate kitchen will be really convenient,” added Kristina, “And we went really dramatic in there, the contrast between the main kitchen, which is very bright and white, and the catering kitchen, which is really dark and moody.” The result is two kitchens that are designed so differently in the same house.
Thank you, Kristina!
Want to learn more about our approach to designing a destination home? Download our Destination Home Design Guide to get Rachel’s best tips for planning the ultimate family retreat.
Live well,
