Designing for Coastal Homes
A guest blog written by Greenwich, CT Interior Designer, Christina Roughan
Living on the water has never been so appealing as now.
Christina Roughan’s Classic Georgian Estate Project featured in TRADITIONAL HOME.
Stunning water views and a private beach are some of the amenities of this Coastal Shingle Style residence by Steven Mueller Architects. View More SMA Projects
Steven Mueller Architects designed this 12,000 square foot "Coastal English Manor Style Residence" in Riverside, Connecticut. The oversized property allowed the client to construct the English Manor Estate that accommodated his program requirements in this prestigious shoreline community, while respecting the scale of the neighboring homes.
Interior designer Christina Roughan shares her tips with us on selecting the right furnishings and décor to have that dream coastal home.
Think about how your home is going to be utilized and what your style is. Think about whether you are beach chic casual, beach traditional or spare and modern and which coast or country you are living on.
Remember that if you are furnishing outdoor areas or those near open windows that you should consider fabrics that are water and mold resistant. Finishes like Crypton, Sunbrella, etc.
Consider traffic flow and commons areas where groups will gather. Then you can determine furnishings are durable and stand the test of time.
Remember that sunlight effects so many areas of the home. In addition to fading rugs, drapes, etc. That your ‘art’ needs to be protected from the sun-rays. It’s important to establish this prior to decorating, so a proper film can be built into the windows
Your flooring should really be easy care and practical. When in doubt think of lots of sandy feet.
When thinking about window treatments consider the architecture of the home. If you have a modern aesthetic with large picture windows where you would never adorn anything as the view is the art. If you need covering have simple drapery panels on either side so you can still accentuate the view.
Establish a floor plan where the views take precedence.
“If you have outdoor spaces, it’s almost like you have a whole extra house.”
- Designer, Christina Roughan
And now more than ever outdoor spaces have become an integral part of everyday American living. Most people would love to have a 3 or 4 season space that can be used as an outdoor room or indoor area. Steven Mueller Architects and Christina Roughan have frequent requests for interior spaces and home offices on covered porches, pool houses, extending their use and longevity. Every design is different to create the perfect mix of outdoor living indoors.
Christina Roughan Photo Credit: Jane Beiles
