Tag: interior design

5 Tips for using Driftwood Décor in your Lake Home

Posted on Camille Smith

One of the many perks to being on the lake is the abundance of wildlife, foliage, and other elements of nature just outside your back door. For lake homeowners, a common experience is noticing pieces of driftwood floating by your boat dock. Some may dismiss these fragments of fallen trees as a common, unremarkable aspect of lake life. However, driftwood is a widely popular material for interior design. Whether you make a DIY driftwood craft or showcase a piece that you found on the shore, this material is sure to heighten the comfortable, classic ambiance of any lake home. To get more insight on how to best incorporate driftwood into lake house décor, we spoke with Anne and Jessica from Briar Design, an interior design firm based outside of Boston. They recently completed a project on a 5,000 sq. home on Lake Winnepauske in New Hampshire and had some advice for lake homeowners when it comes to driftwood art.

A Little Goes a Long Way

Planed driftwood shelves

One of the best parts of driftwood art is that every piece of wood is unique. Especially if you’re displaying a piece that you found on your own lakefront property, it can add a nice personalized touch to a mantle or coffee table. However, since it’s a trendy and distinctive material, too much driftwood can overpower the room and create a 60’s and 70’s vibe that you may not be aiming for in your design. Anne and Jessica recommend pairing driftwood with other materials to create diversity in the look. “We layer it in bookshelves which is beautiful and functional—often next to pottery and greenery. It can be very sculptural,” they advise.

Keep it Natural

Photo courtesy of relianceveneer.com

It’s easy to see why pieces of driftwood art are in high demand – it’s a widely beloved classic material that evokes both earthiness and sophistication. However, its popularity means that most purchasable driftwood art is manufactured, which can often detract from the authenticity of a room. One benefit of having a lake home is prime access to driftwood hunting. Anne and Jessica note, “If you’re lucky enough to find an awesome piece of driftwood, it would never look like too much because you have a story behind it.”

Follow the Shape 

Photo courtesy of SouthernStateofMindBlog.com

Once you have your authentic pieces of driftwood, the next step is to start thinking about decor. If you’re unsure of its best placement in the room, one easy way to start is by considering the size and shape of the piece. “If you’ve found several small pieces, group them together,” Anne and Jessica comment. One idea is collecting these tiny pieces together in a clear jar or lamp base. Smaller pieces can also add a fresh look to coffee tables.

On the other hand, a large piece of driftwood could serve as a mantelpiece or a decoration that extends down the center of a dining table.

DIY is Always an Option

Photo courtesy of TheLearnerObserver.com

Maybe you’re the kind of person who is full of creative ideas, and you feel right at home with super glue and paint. If so, driftwood is an amazing material for DIY projects. When done right, a driftwood decoration project can add the perfect personal touch to your lake home. From creating candle holders to embellishing the outside of a mirror, there are so many ways to use this natural material to put your crafting expertise to work. For inspiration, check out Sustain my Craft Habit’s site for some step-by-step projects.

Make it Front and Center

Photo courtesy of Decor Pad.

If you happen to find a particularly bold and dynamic piece of driftwood, consider using it in place of a piece of artwork. “You could put it over a mantle,” Anne and Jessica suggest, “It could be in place of a painting or mirror. If it’s branchlike, it can be beautiful hung on the wall.” Sometimes, simple choices are best. Especially if you’ve found a unique piece with a backstory, don’t be afraid to consider it art and include it in a prominent place in the design.

Regardless of how you use it in your home, finding unique pieces of driftwood is an experience that is emblematic of lake life. We hope you enjoy discovering this natural material and finding ways to incorporate it into your interior designs!

Life in Living Coral: Using the 2019 Color of the Year in Your Home

Posted on Staff
Pantone Color of the Year 2019 Living Coral

Pantone hit it out of the ballpark with their 2019 Color of the Year, Living Coral. This vibrant, brilliant hue is a dreamy complement to all things nautical and shore-side.

Here are five tips for using the Pantone Color of the Year in your lake home.

Textile Touches

Living Coral Furniture Decor Lake Front Home
Photo courtesy of ComfyDwelling.

The beauty of textiles is they allow you to make bold or subtle statements with color.

For a low-key look, why not stock your bathrooms with some sumptuous coral-toned bath towels?

Some luxury throw pillows in coral will brighten up your living room, and at the very least some coral placemats or napkins can spice up the dining room table.

Be careful with bright draperies though–your view is one of the most precious things your lake home has to offer, and bright drapes can pull the eye away from it!

Accent Walls

Adding an accent wall in coral is one way to celebrate this color loudly.

While some homeowners may say, “Go big or go home,” with a color this boisterous, prevailing wisdom holds that less is indeed more.

Perfect for warming up any space, Living Coral speaks to us most when used as an accent in a breakfast nook, bathroom, or mudroom.

Statement Pieces

Adirondack Chairs in Living Color
Photo courtesy of Fifthroom.

For a bold furnishing set for those with no fear of commitment, these Adirondack chairs in coral will give your outdoor lounging area a delicious burst of color.

Some retro appliances in Living Coral can also brighten up a kitchen dramatically. A classic coral bedspread will give you or your guests an exciting feature to sleep on for years to come.

Wall Art

Consider a piece of art featuring the pigment. An abstract painting or a vintage print can give you just the right amount of coral flair you need to feel like your home is on-point with this trend.

Sometimes, a tiny amount of color will tie a room together in a sophisticated way. Wall art featuring some coral accents will really shine when incorporated with some textile touches nearby.

Floral Accents

Maybe you find the idea of committing to Living Coral long-term a little daunting. If so, consider adding some living touches to your living space.

A few stems of amaryllis, coral roses, and tuberose look great in a vase and can add just a touch of the color to the room on a short term basis.

There are also many beautiful orchids whose coral blooms are great for warming up your home’s interior.

Outdoor flower gardens are becoming more trendy as homeowners to improve curb appeal and increase the value of their homes and vacation houses.

Creating a garden can do just that and will give you a lovely outdoor hobby, as garden maintenance is a must for thriving blooms.

Try planting a Coral Wings Rhododendron or a Knockout Rose in Coral. These gorgeous bloomers will add some seasonal flair to your yard and can even provide some stems for indoor bud vases.

Whether you’re a slave to trends and can’t wait to paint the lake house coral, or you prefer to keep things more subtle, these five tips for using the Pantone color of the year in your lake home will freshen up your 2019 look with very little work.

For more home improvement or DIY tips, read more articles here.

Article Contributed by: Sarah Miller, Lawnstarter.com

Sarah Miller is a writer, self-claimed nutritionist, and CrossFit junkie. She spends most of her time meal prepping and actively trying to beat personal records in the gym, but always enjoys a meditative walk through a nearby woodland area or near a lake.

What to Expect From Home Design in 2019

Posted on Staff

The new year is the perfect opportunity to give your home a fresh look. Check out the home design trends experts predict will gain popularity in 2019 and help increase the value of your lake home!

Dark Exteriors

In 2019, expect to see more dark home exteriors   in combinations of navy, steel grays and flat, deep reds, accented with contrasting colors like white door frames and/or natural wood shutters.

In choosing paint or material colors to work with, consider the personality you want your home’s appearance to communicate.

Dark blues are often associated with integrity and power, while dark reds communicate vigor and leadership. Charcoals and steel-gray tones often represent sophistication and masculinity.

Such combinations will help create a stark and compelling new look to your lake home, as well as yield as much as 43 percent return on investment.

Mismatched Metals

Uniformity has its place, but not in 2019.

When you’re working with metals, Invaluable.com advises homeowners to mix no more than three metals in a room, and to choose one dominant material and one to two accents.

Aluminum is a cool-toned metal that works well as a room’s dominant material and is often seen in kitchens, particularly those with stainless-steel appliances. Copper and gold make the best accents to use with silver.

If you want your kitchen to feel warm, incorporate gold and copper in drawer pulls and cabinet handles, lighting fixtures and counter-top baubles.

Or keep your kitchen cool with cast iron fixtures. Replacing these small details can have an almost 90 percent return on investment, according to USA Today.

Also consider using textured metal finishes. For example, if your kitchen appliances are stainless steel and you choose copper as your accent color, swap your coasters with hammer-finished copper ones or replace your backsplash with hammered, bronze sheets.

Spa-Style Landscaping

Simply living at the lake can help reduce your stress thanks to the “blue mind effect,” which is responsible for the feelings of relaxation and peace people experience near the lake. But spa-style landscaping, which is expected to become an emerging trend in 2019, can take these feelings to the next level.

Enhance your shore appeal with a small zen garden under a big pergola. Enclose the area with warm-toned wooden benches and airy drapes, or feature a quiet, miniature reflection pond or tricking waterfall wall.

For something simpler, landscape with aromatic plants along your waterline or retaining wall, such as rosemary or lemongrass.

Gardenias, jasmine and lavender are also calm-inducing plants to include in your landscaping. These flowers fare poorly in consistently moist soils, so try planting them closer to your home than the water.

And be sure to include some stabilizing vegetation too to protect your shoreline, like blue flag irises, lemongrass and cardinal flowers.

In fact, USA Today also reports these small upgrades can more than double your money in resale value.

Interested in more lake home decorating tips and ideas? Read our articles “Lake Home Decor: Living in Style“ and “Unique Landscape Designs for Lakefront Properties.“

Lake Home Tips: Kitchen Upgrades to Make Your Space Feel Bigger

Posted on Staff

To be honest, most of the time spent at your lake home is spent outdoors – as it should be. But the second-most popular place at your lake home is inside: It’s your kitchen, and when you’re entertaining your family and friends, a cramped space just won’t do.

Construction crews aside, there are many simple ways to make your kitchen feel bigger. Take a look at the few examples below to see how you can update your space this lake season!

Photo courtesy of Curtis Adams via Pexels

White and Wood

Lightening up the color of your kitchen may sound simple, but it’s effective.

Lighter colors, such as creams and whites, are better at reflecting light, which helps create the illusion of a larger room.

To take your upgrade a step further, interior designers suggest putting up trim around the top of your space, painted an even lighter color than the walls.

Add texture to your kitchen by paneling your walls with whitewashed wooden planks, commonly known as shiplap.

Popularized by the HGTV show “Fixer Upper,” shiplap can not only help make your kitchen feel bigger, but it can also make your space feel warm and cozy, like a comfy lake cabin.

Or, when accented appropriately, can give your kitchen a coastal vibe.

Let the Light in

Another technique to making your space feel bigger, is increasing the amount of natural light that flows into it.

Do away with your dark colored window shams and thick, heat-blocking curtains, and spring for a set of indoor shutters that can be opened and closed at your leisure while still inviting in ample sunlight.

You can also incorporate reflective surfaces in your kitchen. Similar to how lighter colors can make a space feel roomier, so can reflective surfaces like stainless steel appliances and metallic backsplashes.

Eliminating low-hanging chandeliers and frosted light fixtures can also open up a room.

Redo Your Floors

Installing patterned flooring is another option to consider when attempting to make your space feel bigger.

One way to achieve this is to use over-sized tiles in your kitchen. The size of these will help to create a sense of wideness to the area.

In selecting these tiles, choose similar colors that are slightly different, such as a slate and a lighter grey. Dark floors will contrast well with your light walls.

If you want hardwood floors, install planks of alternating colors. As with your tile, be sure not to very the color drastically. Slight variations will achieve the look you desire without being visually jarring.

Another tip is to install your hardwood floors vertically, rather than horizontally. This will help make your space look as it longer.

Incorporate Open Shelving

Ditch your boxy ceiling-to-counter shelves and opt for several open shelving units.

This will help add depth to your kitchen by optimizing the amount of light in your space and help make better use of your wall space.

Often thick and dark, closed cabinetry can also have an oppressive effect on a space.

Open storage aides in functionality of your kitchen by eliminating the time you take hunting down that pot or pan, as well as makes the room more inviting.

So before you call the contractor, try out one of these simple upgrade suggestions for making your space feel bigger, and be sure to check out our other home improvement articles here and here!

Lake Home Decor: Living in Style

Posted on Staff

There’s a lot that goes into purchasing a lake home, and the process can be stressful at times. However, there’s more to it than just business. One of the most exciting aspects is knowing you get to start off with a clean slate, explore your style and re-create your living space.

Home decor can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. From minimalist to opulent, free-flowing to sophisticated, the way you choose to decorate says a lot about you.

Personal style is about as subjective as it comes, and we’ve looked at a few ways to add some unique charm to lake living in a way that won’t impede on your own personality stamp.

Nautical

Appropriately, the first lake home decor style we’ll explore is inspired by the water.

Light and breezy, this particular mode of interior design incorporates navy, white and grey hues.

When it comes to this coastal theme, think rustic meets aquatic. It’s important to make sure you include lots of natural light to the look, considering the whole point is to bring the outside in.

Vintage Accents

Wine isn’t the only thing that gets better with time.

There’s nothing wrong with a little wear and tear when it comes to home accessories, and some aged items like old ship helms, distressed wood or even framed vintage swimsuits add a subtle flair of nostalgia.

Incorporate some old family photos, particularly those that took place at the lake, around these items for a personal touch.

Aquatic Life

What’s more nautical than actual fish?

A fish tank or bowl is one of the most underrated decorative pieces. If positioned strategically, this eye-catching statement piece can be a great focal point in any room.

Color Coordination

Decoration involves so much more than just wall hangs and picture frames.

The color scheme you choose is just as important as art and knick-knacks. As stated before, the nautical theme uses specific hues to invite an airy, beachy vibe into your home.

Sheer curtains help with this breezy illusion. Opt for grey, navy and white to serve as base colors, with accents of light blue and gold to bring some depth to those neutral tones.

Classic, Country Cottage

Country chic, sometimes known as shabby or vintage chic, has humble beginnings in the world of interior design.

Remember the days of slamming screen doors and tire swings in the front yard?

A style that exudes warmth and comfort, country chic brings us back to a simpler time before stainless steel and granite counter tops were essential for modern living.

It’s a smart move for a lake home since they’re often the place where memories are made, traditions are started and familial history abounds.

This style includes vintage furnishings, wood paneling, and mixes of patterns and plaid. Here are some ways to hit a home run and create your very own cottage.

Farmhouse Decor

Any respectable country kitchen is a place where home-cooked meals are born and families come together. It should be a space filled with comfort and familiarity.

Try a gingham table cloth to bring the farmhouse aesthetic into your home.

Checked patterns have withstood the tests of time and become hallmarks of traditional country living.

Add a vase of fresh flowers to the center of the table and some matching kitchen caddies on the counter for a truly timeless appeal.

Mason jars are impressively versatile and can be used for almost anything: drinking glasses, utensil holders or just decorative accessories. Inexpensive and easy to get, these pay homage to the times when homemade jams were still a common feature of everyday life.

Warm, Natural Lighting

When you walk into a cottage, it should feel friendly and welcoming.

The use of candles, and a lot of them, is a guaranteed way to turn a house into a snug little home.

Play off the candlelight by incorporating hues of sunny yellow, burnt rust and forest green into your furnishings.

To compliment the warm glow, use wide, open windows to let in as much natural light as possible.

Repurposed Accessories 

Distressed wood, old lake signs and thrift store finds.

The best part about this lake home decor is that it doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, much of what’s used can be found in the attic or garage. The trick is to find weathered, well-loved items and reuse them in unique, unexpected ways.

For instance,  grandma’s old couch might be hideous, but it’s got a sturdy build. Try reupholstering it or throwing on a slipcover.

Repaint an old dresser or convert a vintage suitcase into a coffee table. Nothing really needs to match, because you’re going for informal, not perfect.

Bohemian Chic

Lake living is known to be laid back and casual, so it’s only right to have a home that matches that free-flowing nature.

Popularized in the 1960s and 1970s, this is the true style of the flower child. Bohemian chic channels a laissez-faire, carefree attitude by being part indie, part gypsy and all charm.

When it comes to interior design, there are no actual rules other than you must love it. Some staples of this theme include fairy lights, globally-inspired art pieces and souvenirs, and a good mix of vintage furniture and contemporary statements. Use of color is imperative.

Live Plants

To emphasize the natural aspect of Bohemian living, spring for live plants. Fresh and organic, greenery is a simple step to breathe some life into your home.

The presence of flowers, ferns and succulents adds a grounded, earthy vibe by bringing nature inside. They also improve air quality, so in this case, more is more.

Throw Pillows

Use a vivid mix of tones and patterns by infusing these tastefully placed pops of color to create an inviting, bold look to any room.

Throw pillows are great for forging an eclectic, “lived-in” appearance.

Add some eye-catching tapestries and blankets of varying textures (tweed, wool, velvet), and you’ve got yourself a mellowed out retreat brimming with culture.

A wall gallery is a charmingly cluttered way to show off your unique personality.

This is an unconventional design element that gives you artistic license to be fun, spontaneous and totally unique.

It could be a variety of different picture frames, or perhaps a couple of mirrors and some graphic art. Feel free to throw in some dream catchers or handmade accessories because this is all about personal expression.

Decorating your lake home can be a ton of fun, but it helps to know which direction you want to go in.

Lake home decor is a signature of personality. What do you want your space to say? How do you want your guests to feel? Most importantly, what does lake living in style mean to you?