Borrowing from Nature: Colors from the beach are not just for the seaside home...

As this designer braces herself for a New England winter, I did what all non-skiing, ice-hating, cold-fearing, north dwellers should do - I headed south for one more hurrah at the sunny seashore on the east coast of Florida .

While walking the sandy shore, I started thinking about life by the water. How lucky the beach-set is to enjoy crisp whites, nautical blues and the occasional splash of red that is so appealing at water's edge. How I long for that option year round.


Might it be possible that my charming antique Victorian in a leafy suburb of Boston could benefit from a beach inspired interior spruce up? The answer, and inspired YES! In every direction I started to see possibilities.

When I look down, I see the sand and immediately imagine it on my living room walls. Not the soft light tan of the dry summer sand but the darker, wetter looking sand of the winter. The dune vegetation offers many shades of green. I choose a soft green of the dune grasses and pick up the light tan of the dying and dried tufts. These colors will help create the perfect window treatments. A large scale floral will work nicely. Bamboo woven shades, reminiscent of so many classic island interiors will incorporate the driftwood colors that I admire on my walk - keeping my waterside inspiration alive at the same time providing cozy privacy and classic, updated design style.

Now for the furniture. The adorable quick moving sandpiper gives me and idea. Dark brown chenille for the sofa. Bring in the green again for the two club chairs - moss green heathered wool with dark brown leather welting/trim is perfect! Two white Asian style ceramic garden stools (white for the sandpipers belly) next to each chair. Reclaimed wood and steel coffee table (thoughts of driftwood again) and mother-of-pearl tall console lamps, that remind me of the shells on the beach, with natural linen shades, add accent to the room. A patterned sisal rug with a linen border and a large scale weave and a wall of framed artwork to remind me of my travels, compete the new look. The rest of my existing pieces will fill in the gaps and provide warmth and my own personality.

The beauty of this scheme is that it can be accented for a summer feel with blue, softer greens and gray in the form of pillows and throws. Switch things up easily to a cozy winter New England feel with darker greens and reds. The curtains could even be swapped out in the winter for a luxurious velvet with a fun linen accent tape for added style and natural feel.

No matter where you live Mother Nature can inspire your interiors - bring your favorite colors indoors and make them your own! Check in next week to see this scheme come to life on a design board.