Seaside Living In Style
It’s been a long time since our family called the Wellington seaside suburb of Breaker Bay home, 12 years to be exact! But having lived in four houses along Breaker Bay and even one in Moa Point, we’re as much a coastal family as we are a city one.
Although there are so many wonderful things about living in the city, after spending some time at our gorgeous listing at 189 Breaker Bay Road, we both found ourselves reminiscing on some of the best aspects of living by the sea in Breaker Bay. Of course, the views are a huge plus, but there’s a special energy that comes with living so close to the ocean, being at one with the ferocious weather, crashing waves and wildlife, it’s pretty special.
We lived in several lovely homes along Breaker Bay, all with different views and unique qualities, but I have to say, 189 Breaker Bay Road is next level. The way our clients have tastefully renovated and decorated this home is such a great example of seaside style done right.
So, today I wanted to take a look at some of the aspects of this property that make it really stand out from your average coastal home, at least in my eyes. Whether you live by the beach yourself or simply love admiring some great interior design, this one’s for you!
It’s All About The View
Possibly the most obvious point of them all, but this one can’t be overstated. If you’re lucky enough to have a view of the ocean, planning out and decorating a space around the existing windows is the first step. Other than a space where you might position a couch to face the TV, orienting your furniture to maximise those views is a no-brainer.
The upstairs living space at 189 Breaker Bay Road is a great example of a space that lets the view speak for itself. The furniture is classic and uncomplicated and the colour palette ties into the shades of nature outside, allowing your eye to be drawn to the vista beyond. Another good tip for maximising the view is to make sure any curtains or blinds used aren’t too bulky or overbearing, prioritising as much unobstructed view as possible. I have been known to simply take curtains down altogether for this reason, possibly not the best strategy for a bedroom however!
Mother Nature’s Colour Palette
When it comes to the colour palette of a coastal home, Mother Nature provides unlimited swatches and inspiration! Whilst it’s of course important to bring your own personal taste in colour into your home, I personally love when seaside properties take inspiration from the colour palette of the surrounding nature.
Soft shades of blue, green and yellow, offset by neutral tones can create a harmonious look where the line between the nature outside the windows and the decor inside a home becomes blurred. This simple base palette then offers up plenty of opportunity to bring in fun pops of colour like pink, red or orange, the world is your oyster (no pun intended)!
The Art Of Coastal Textures
Much like the conversation of colour, the materials used in my favourite examples of seaside homes are often inspired by the surrounding scenery. The key to incorporating these materials and textures into a seaside space is subtlety. Rather than turning to driftwood or distressed timber for inspiration, think cork or plywood. The classic use of horizontal wooden wall panels to resemble shiplap can be spiced up by drenching them in a funky colour, and the inclusion of aged brass tapware, textured tiles and a variety of textured soft furnishings ties it all together.
Subtle Nods To Nautical
When it comes to homewares and decor, if you’re looking to avoid the slightly on the nose nautical airbnb style, subtlety will again be your best friend. 189 Breaker Bay Road captures this point perfectly, with small nautical nods throughout, including a gorgeous frosted ship detail on the interior window, one of my favourite little details!
My Father used to live in Breaker Bay and as an artist he has always had a great eye for picking up interesting pieces of wood, gorgeous shells, dried up seaweed and unique stones. When displayed in moderation throughout a space, these found objects can create that perfect homage to the surrounding scenery, and they won’t break the bank!
This can also be achieved through artwork, ceramics, soft furnishings and vintage nautical decor, which often tends to be much cuter than something you might stumble across at a name brand store. Think outside the box; small details like a circular picture frame or mirror inspired by a porthole window, door handles that resemble shells or a funky vintage clock shaped like a fish are all more than appropriate in this setting!
The possibilities are truly endless and Pinterest, magazines and design books are always great resources for design inspo. But, if you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, sometimes simply taking a page out of Mother Nature’s book of inspiration is the best first step!
All reference images sourced via Pinterest, photos of 189 Breaker Bay Road by Dean Zillwood.