Nautical Living

Ok so you must have been living in hibernation or working on an oil rig to not realise that today…tomorrow, is the centenary of the Titanic. With the new footage of underwater imagery being ‘just’ released (good timing eh) and the launch of the new ITV drama series ‘Titanic’ (suitably named) the world has, quite rightly, gone Nautical mad.

YSL Spring/Summer 2012. Courtesy of blog.myfdb.com

As the preview collections for Spring/ Summer 12 were being strutted down the runways, Interior Designers were busy ‘weathering’ pieces of wood, and blasting floorboards. I might sound sarcastic but I absolutely love this trend. However, lets be honest can we actually call it a ‘ trend’. For as far as I can remember, every summer those blue and white stripes flood the clothes rails and the new take on deck shoes are released.

Just maybe we could say it’s adjusted slightly each year. And what definitely is hot right now is ‘Shabby Chic’ (thank you Rachel Ashwell), so I think its more suitable to call this phase ‘Shabby Coastal Chic.’

So this blog today, I am going to pull together my top 5 interior inspirations to help you create this ‘Spring/Summer 2012 edition’ of nautical living at home.  


1) Natural Touch:

iamjulieb.com

Choose natural materials and fabrics such as wood and cotton. I love the introduction of the monochrome pieces to curtail the shabby look.

2) Centre Piece:

Coastalliving.com 

One center purchase to this room and the whole look becomes ‘Coastal Chic’. The driftwood coffee table, though I doubt ‘economically priced,’ becomes the talking point in this room. Oh and maybe the view…

3) Elegance:

abeachcottage.com

Layering white upon white creates coastal beach elegance. The painted suitcase is a novel idea to add some quirky character, which in comparison to the last table idea ...I bet this IS economically priced. 

4) 'Bringing Outdoors In:'

contemporarystyle.net

The use of bringing ‘the outdoors in’ is created beautifully with the wooden paddle fixed to the wall, in addition to the weathered wooden reclining chair as if it has spent many a homely nights on the beachfront. Shabby coastal chic at its finest.

5) ...

home-designing.com

Well what can I say..it is neither shabby nor chic, but ‘extreme,' I’ll give it that!

As I now go off in search of my own coastal treasures, il say Ahoy me hearty.. and I wish you luck in capturing this seasons ‘trend.’

MagpieBlu.