Camden Lifestyle Magazine Issue 02 "The Outdoors"

Coastal living at its core embodies an appreciation of nature
in its culture and design. Whether it be in capitalizing
on magnificent views through window placement, creating
comfortable outdoor living spaces under lofty porches, or
simply taking influence from the environment to bring
natural elements into a home design, there are many ways
to make a beautiful coastal home. As a home builder in
Charleston and in South Georgia for almost two decades,
I have seen some of the tried and true elements as well as
some very unique ways to pull together a coastal design.
The most important part of a successful design is to make
it your own.
Embracing natural elements in the paint and finishes is a
great start to getting that traditional coastal style. Gray and
white paint work well, as do other neutrals that enhance
the colors of the trees, sand, water, and sky that is central
to coastal life. Satin nickel is a classic finish choice that is
durable and blends well into other design pieces.
BEAUTIFUL
MUST-HAVE DESIGN ELEMENTS WHEN BUILDING YOUR COASTAL HOME
Watercolor Art by Jo Elliott & Written by David Spencer
To achieve that timeless look throughout the home, consider
bathrooms and backsplashes in white or neutral colors. However,
don’t be afraid to take twists on these traditional elements and
find unique products that make your home reflect to your tastes.
Finding one of a kind sconces and pendants can help make your
home unique without much cost. To find specialty items, utilize
online stores or vintage retailers; don’t feel limited to what is just
in your local hardware store.
Bringing natural wood and metal elements into the design is
another way to achieve a home that blends with its coastal surroundings.
On the exterior incorporating board and batten on
the siding, or shutters, make a home stand out. For windows, the
grid style, three over one, creates a lovely open yet timeless look.
However, consider contrasting colors for something a little more
interesting, for example black windows on a white house give it
an elegant and distinctive look. Metal roofing is another desirable
option, however mixing shingles and metal roofing can be a great
way to save costs and make a house look more customized. For
example, a shingled home with a metal porch can look fantastic.
For natural touches inside the home, consider wood flooring, accent
walls, and other features. Heart pine is the most popular and
classic, but rustic oak and other woods in a character grade look
fantastic and have natural variations to give your home personal
style. Exposed ship lap featured on wainscoting, accent walls, or
bed walls looks wonderful, but this popular feature can be overdone.
Consider accent walls such as bed walls or ship lap wainscoting
to bring the touch into your home. Also, don’t be afraid
to change things around, for example, shifting the placement of
ship lap planks to vertical is an easy way to make your home feel
special. Also exposed rafter tails on a new home and barn doors
with reclaimed wood give the design that rustic look that reflect
the casual culture of life on the coast.