Summer lovin’
As temperatures climb, Colin and Justin provide style cues to freshen your space
Whether you live lakeside or oceanside, deep in the forest or at the urban jungle’s very epicentre, there’s no escaping the call of summer-inspired home decor.
But what makes one summer-themed home hip yet another dramatically wide of the decorative mark? Guess it all comes down to a couple of easy rules: “less is more” and “avoid being too literal.”
As globetrotting Brits, summer conjures images of helicopter flights between Nice and Monaco, glorious tours of the Greek Cyclades and boat trips through the Florida Keys.
OK, so we aren’t currently travelling (the pandemic put paid to that, huh?) so it seems ever more important to flavour our schemes with a hint of warmer climes.
Think cool, tranquil and tasteful, but without so much as a hint of “Trading Spaces” thematic debacle. That means (remember our “literal” litany) the avoidance of sand-textured walls, ship anchor stencils and light cords threaded with plastic “seashells.” Seriously, less is more.
First things first, decide upon the destination that most appeals, then cherrypick the components that stand out. Miami Beach, for example, is a coastal joy with more than a hint of Latin American spice — if that’s your thing, use bright colours and bold geometric patterns to elicit the vibe.
South Beach style, on the other hand, overlaid as it is with Art Deco, is all pastels and shiny metal, whilst the Florida Keys esthetic is imbued
with an abundance of rattan and woodsy finishes.
“Pacific Rim,” a direction that embraces the ocean with gnarly driftwood, hurricane lamps and slatted timber, is another easy to achieve esthetic.
Furnishings tend to be muted and linen clad. Think sunlight refracting through shuttered windows and languid sun downers enjoyed on dreamy rattan day beds.
Nests that showcase these aspects allow you to commune with nature while experiencing the day as it develops. Summer-friendly window coverings, for example, look best when arranged with minimal lines; in cottage country projects, we tend to leave windows dressed with blinds, or shutters (rather than overplayed drapery) so our paymasters can awaken with the day and retire as the sun goes down.
Should you be tempted by the joys of the forest, take a tip — you won’t need tree trunk-shaped pieces sprouting from your home’s every corner — be inspired, instead, by organic fabrics, good quality wooden floors or by artworks that suffuse your home with just a hint of the forest.
As your decorating endeavours gather momentum, consider “opening” rooms to beckon light. Remove dark, heavy drapes and replace with diaphanous fabrics that embrace warmer climes.
If you’re feeling particularly ambitious, swap out small boxy windows for large French doors — a biggish job, sure, but just think of those widened summery vistas.
For today’s project, we created a beachy, summery vibe using a textural floor rug, big box store T&G wall panelling (arranged half height under a bull-nosed rail), sky blue paint by Benjamin Moore and rattan layers.
The slick plantation shutters are redolent of American coastal vacation homes, whilst the cherry wood tables (affordably sourced from Wayfair) suggest schematic indulgence. And we may have added a surfeit of toss pillows.
As a final note, one that’s pertinent no matter which style you favour, remember that warmer climes are as much about the great outdoors (is your deck, garden or patio keeping up?) as they are interior design — so get ‘em while they’re hot. Summers, that is. Because all too quickly those temperatures will shift, and the mercury’s downward trajectory will begin, all over again.