The Cape Cod Beach Style has been one of designers favourite looks for a number of years. It is a look for the home taking inspiration from the textures and shades that can be found along the shores and from coastal living itself. The seaside look does not have to be just cool and classy with expensive ornaments and paintings but is extremely versatile. The New England White Furniture’s versatility fits in with the theme without needing to use more distressed furniture, the crisp white furniture goes well with the natural beauty of shells and driftwood that are a favoured embellishment in many homes and often are added as accessories, enhancing upon the coastal theme.

The New England Manhattan Console Table fits in without the need to use more rustic furniture when you are aiming for a beach style look.

White furniture can enhance natural light within your home

A room can be transformed hugely by the natural light that coastal colours of aqua blues, sea greens and oyster greys bring reflecting a watery look. If you are lucky enough to live by the coast you will know that one of the main attractions of living by the sea is the luminosity of light rarely encountered living inland.

The Westport Bookcase also makes an attractive Display Case

The soft hues of sands and neutral tones of pebbles along the beach have influenced the wonderful colours used within interior design choices of a coastal style or beach house theme. The Westport Bookcase is another stylish way to display nautical or coastal accessories and there is also The Wesport Single Bookcase for a smaller space, either of these Bookcases would make for an attractive and eye-catching focal point,  you could even have a wall hanging or coastal art displayed over the bookcase, a fabric wall hanging can add depth and texture. When you are choosing your fabrics or soft furnishings to go with the Cape cod effect or beachy coastal theme, you really are better to go with hard wearing materials, textures like rough wool and embroidered rope on cushions.  For floor coverings, wicker accessories can fit in with the look especially teamed with a canvas rug on a flagstone floor, or for flooring in the bedroom, whitewash style deck floorboards can be left bare but adding a sea grass  or natural fibre mat is a lovely finishing touch. For more idea’s of how to achieve some of the looks suggested we recommend the book ‘Coastal Style‘ by Sally Hayden and Alice Whatley.

Writing in the Press and Journal, Gabrielle Fagan looks at key trends for home interiors in 2010.

Amongst trends such as Spring Greens, Flower Power and Monochromatic Magic, Gabrielle writes that Coastal Style is definately a look for 2010.

“A relaxed coastal look will be ultra-fashionable,” says Marnie Janaway, head of home design for Sainsbury’s.

“The allure of the sea is strong this year, with all things nautical in vogue. Refresh a home with an airy Hamptons beach house palette of tranquil blues and understated neutrals.

“Cool cottons, natural rattans, galvanised metals and folk-inspired patterns can be easily mixed and matched across different rooms of the home, from bedroom to bathroom.”

So why not modernise your home by painting your walls and floorboards white and adding New England Style white painted furniture? Complete the holiday home look by adding accessories such as cushions, blinds and curtains in sea blue shades.

Add a set of Beach Hut Money Boxes, and you’ll even have somewhere to save for next year’s holiday!

West Wittering Beach

Originally uploaded by New England Lifestyle

Holidays by the sea conjure up images of idylic living, fresh and clean sunlight interiors. Think white wooden floorboards, fresh painted walls and clean bright furnishings.

For the bedroom, our Manhattan Range of white painted bedroom furniture immediately makes me think of being by the seaside in the summer. The tongue and groove detailing, clean lines, and fresh white finish reminds me of a holiday time, of fun times spent splashing around in the sea under the warm sun.

For the seating area or conservatory, the Hampton Coffee Table with its planked top is a must, combined with a couple of comfortable white seats in which to just relax and enjoy the ambiance.

Whether the walls are simply painted in fresh white, or cladded with white painted tongue and groove panels, our wall flag can make it seem as though you are on the other side of the world.