Desert Coastal

One of my favorite things to do is to browse HGTV's Rate My Space for design inspiration. One of my all-time favorite posters on the site has created a fantastic coastal environment in - of all places - Las Vegas! Pictured below are her living and guest rooms. I can't believe the desert is outside her front door...

Nothing defines coastal like clean-lined furniture slipcovered in white combined with the rough texture of seagrass or jute. This room showcases a great balance of neutrals and textures - the dark wood of the armchairs adds just the right amount of contrast.

A close-up of the seating area reveals a great seashell collection, which adds the perfect accent to the round seagrass ottoman. I love this rug!

This furniture piece is so gorgeous - it really makes the room. Its patina and texture offset the newness of the concrete floors perfectly.

Here, the homeowner has installed a wide pine plank wall in the guest bedroom of her "tract" home to add interest & really drive home the coastal theme. The whitewashed walls and all-white decor contrasted with aqua damask bedding and that petite chandelier is just beautiful.

I love a great painted floor!

To see the HGTV post for yourself, look here and here.

New England Coastal Architecture

Featured below are some of my favorite seaside houses located on a beach walk taken daily during my visit to the Massachusetts coast. Enjoy!

Great Howl - I adore a house with a name! Classic New England architecture - mansard roof, historical colors used for the red & yellow trimwork and functional shutters, weathered shingled siding & rosehips pressing against the weathered picket fence. The perfect picture of coastal Massachusetts, and an oceanfront view!

Another historically untouched oceanfront home. Simple weathered shingles, white trim, and an overgrown hedge for privacy - perfection!

A great modern seagrass garden with seashells for mulch. The dusty hues and slate border fit well with the seaside theme. The only thing I would change here is the vinyl fencing. Whatever happened to painting good old wood every few years?

What a fantastic example of a gambrel roofline. This house is in need of a little TLC, but it has great historic lines and an oceanfront view. I love the historic trim colors and the weathered fence. One of my favorites!

An old stonefront Gothic chapel with leaded glass and a gorgeous shingled clocktower. I'd love to have a look at its interior.

A closeup of the great trimwork and stone facade - the grays and beiges of the stones are beautifully reflected in the fishscale shingles. The unpretentious colors of the leaded glass are strikingly similar.

A simple roadside colonial across the street from the ocean. I love the stone wall made from local beach rock and the contrast of the yellow door against the weathered garden gate.

A somewhat less traditional brick sided schoolhouse design, but I couldn't resist. So simple and cottagey! I love the vine climbing over the front window.