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Fashion and interior design are directly related. When I start working with a new client, I always look to see what they are wearing. Maybe it's a color that they are drawn to or a specific pattern.
You may never see me in a bucket hat, but here are a few of my favorite early summer items to help you achieve the coastal grandmother look.
First image via Pinterest
Rain or shine, there is nothing like a day by the sea. A sunny afternoon at the beach is the best, but a cozy foggy or dreary day can be just as beautiful. For this reason, I have a pinterest board devoted to moody seaside photographs. Whenever I feel stressed or need inspiration, I find that it is the perfect place to take a moment.
Enjoy!
Images via Pinterest
Design trends are influenced by many different factors, including current affairs and politics. After a wild few years, there is an urge to return to what is comfortable, familiar, and nostalgic. Although the world is open again, we want our homes to be an oasis and a place to escape from the chaos of the world. Meet the coastal grandmother aesthetic. The trend embraces calming palettes, layered textures, and a breezy understated lifestyle. As a thirty three year old, I can confidently state that I have embraced the coastal grandmother aesthetic for years.
I typically opt for monochromatic outfits and as we transition into the warmer months, my go to is always a white on white or beige on white palette. For example; white jeans, a cream sweater, and a pair of sand or light colored mules or flats. I love a coastal inspired interior, maybe this is why my husband refers to our master bedroom as "the Cape Cod Bedroom." But it doesn't shout coastal with cheesy nick-knacks and beach signs. It is an understated and relaxed look, featuring soft blues, greens, creams, and warm beiges that evoke the feeling of the seaside - overall it is a welcoming, serene, and timeless look.
I can easily say that Ina Garten was my first coastal grandmother muse. My friend Martha and I used to tune into her show, once a week during college. We loved her seaside living and breezy entertaining style. "How easy is that?" Then Nancy Meyer's, Something's Gotta Give, was the ultimate inspiration for interior design, fashion, and lifestyle.
After a stressful few years, we all understand the importance of a welcoming and relaxing home. Soft palettes, cozy textures, and timeless details. Over the next few posts, I will share coastal inspiration, interiors, fashion, and a past AGA Interior Design project with a bit of coastal grandmother flair.
xx
Image via Pinterest.
Almost ten years of on and off blogging have inspired me to write about everything from vacations, to fashion, to recent art exhibits. I find it funny that I have never used the AGA Design Blog as a platform to share my interior design projects. It is time we changed this!
Throughout the start, execution, and completion of an interior design project, much thought goes into each detail. I constantly assess how each selection will work within the room and throughout the entire home. The beginning phase is crucial for listening and observing my clients. I also like to study the background of the property - How old is the home? Who was the architect? What is the architectural style and who lived here?
As a designer, I feel that it is my obligation to design interiors that reflect the homeowner, but also remain true to the history of the property. Our most recent project is rich in Boston’s Back Bay history.
Here is a look at the history, design process, and final space!
Our client reached out with the goal to brighten her Back Bay living room in “The Coolidge House.”
The house was built in 1880 - 1881 for iron and steel manufacturer, George Parsons King. Architect, William Whitney Lewis designed the home and it was featured in great detail in the July 23, 1882 Boston Sunday Globe. After several different owners, the property was transformed into a lodging house in 1940, called "The Duchess House.” In the late 1970's the residence was divided into six condominiums, which remain in use today. Here is an architectural rendering from 1881:
During our preliminary meeting, we established the need for a custom area rug to better fit the space. We also emphasized the need for furniture that was appropriate for the scale of the room. Our client requested that the design reference her home on Martha’s Vineyard. She wanted to walk into an airy, welcoming, and uplifting living room filled with blue and white. Here is a look at the before:
The original fireplace served as great inspiration for the design. Here is a photo and our presentation mood board:
Two family chairs were to be reupholstered in a blue and white woven fabric. The paint was tweaked from a light blue with subtle aqua, to a soft blue, with a hint of periwinkle. A sofa with a curved back was selected to interrupt the linear lines of the windows and shutters, but also mimic the curved details of the tray ceiling. We also incorporated a woven coffee table for texture. And splatter table lamps were added on either side of the sofa for balanced symmetry and lighting during darker hours.
Details on the history of the building were gathered from Back Bay Houses and Boston Sunday Globe. Final project photography by Sarah Winchester Studios.
