Cool Ways to Beach Up Your House

Even if you live nowhere near the shore, you can still make your home feel like a breezy retreat. One family shows HGTV Magazine how they did just that.

By: Caroline Schaefer Del Col

From: HGTV Magazine

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Photo By: Alexandra Rowley

Family Home

It would be easy to mistake Meghan and Bill Cashel's sun-filled Marblehead, Mass., house for a vacation home. But the Cashels and their two sons, Billy, 5, and Tucker, 3, live in the 1940 Colonial — with its blue and green walls, slipcovered furniture and woven accessories — all year long. "Before having kids, Bill and I lived in San Diego, and we loved that laid-back coastal feeling," says Meghan.

From: HGTV Magazine

On the Water

When they bought their house by the Marblehead Harbor in 2008, they figured, why sacrifice breezy style just because winters can dip below 10 degrees? With the help of architect and interior designer Molly Frey, Meghan, a stay-at-home mom, and Bill, a finance executive, decorated their home to feel like the kind of place you'd like to escape to for a beach getaway.

From: HGTV Magazine

Gray Exterior

Stone-gray siding (the paint is Hailstorm by C2) is quintessentially coastal, especially paired with white trim and a light-blue door (Nantucket Fog by Benjamin Moore). "The house is calming from the second you walk in, which is exactly what we had in mind," says Meghan.

From: HGTV Magazine

Living Room

"We were craving an open, airy hangout space with tons of sunlight and soothing colors," says Meghan. She certainly got her wish. The linen curtains fit the aesthetic well. They're heavy enough to block the sun, but their loose weave still allows light to filter in.

From: HGTV Magazine

Rattan Chair

The natural woven club chair from Ethan Allen is topped with a fish-pattern cushion that's made of indoor/outdoor canvas fabric.

From: HGTV Magazine

White Coffee Table

A double X-base makes this poplar table look light and airy, not bulky. Plus, the natural sea-grass rug looks cool on any kind of wood floor.

From: HGTV Magazine

Slipcovered Sofa and Sea-Inspired Pillows

Removable cotton and twill cushion covers give the couch a relaxed, slightly rumpled look. A lattice print, stripes and a fish pattern, all in soft shades of aloe and brown, make the room look serene.

From: HGTV Magazine

Blue and White Dining Area

A combo of slipcovered seats and cushioned X-back chairs is more casual than a matching set. The table's antique white finish gives it a slightly weathered look.

From: HGTV Magazine

Capiz Chandelier

Iridescent shells falling from a fixture whisper beach. The delicate discs come from windowpane oysters.

From: HGTV Magazine

Distressed Mirror

The frame's whitewash finish resembles driftwood. Try a distressed look on a console or table.

From: HGTV Magazine

Striped Rug

Meghan added an ocean hue to the room with a nautical woven cotton rug from Dash & Albert.

From: HGTV Magazine

Kitchen

The Cashels chose white marble rather than granite or engineered stone for the countertops. An adorable clamshell fruit basket sits nearby.

From: HGTV Magazine

Glass Tiles

The pale bluish-green backsplash is made of 2-by-4-inch tiles. “A white kitchen is clean and pretty, but without the seafoam wall color, it wouldn't be as calming,” says Meghan.

From: HGTV Magazine

Pastel Seats

Cream stools with light-blue leather seats feel summery.

From: HGTV Magazine

Bedroom

“You know that relaxed feeling you get from gazing at the water? That's what we wanted for our bedroom,” says Meghan. Ocean-inspired art like this seaside painting above the bed is easy to find at flea markets and on websites like art.com.

From: HGTV Magazine

Linen Headboard

Meghan paired a white nail-head-trim headboard with beachy blue-and-white bedding. At the foot, big rush baskets hold pillows and blankets.

From: HGTV Magazine

Worn Wooden Chests

A burnt-oak stain gives these three-drawer dressers an aged, washed-ashore look. The plantation shutters above them are a clean and crisp contrast.

From: HGTV Magazine

Bathroom

Meghan gave the white shower a seaside spin with a 12-inch swath of blue mosaic glass tile. Coastal art like this rippled-water canvas print is an easy way to beach up a bathroom.

From: HGTV Magazine

Children's Room

Nautical details make an appearance throughout Billy’s room. A jute rope with clothespins shows off artwork. A replica of a ship light sits on a bedside table, and a fun lobster stool makes for extra seating.

From: HGTV Magazine

Bedding

Star-pattern sheets and a navy-blue blanket complete the red carved sailboat bed.

From: HGTV Magazine

Cool Ways to Beach Up Your House

Related To:

Shop This Look

Family Home

On the Water

Gray Exterior

Living Room

Rattan Chair

White Coffee Table

Slipcovered Sofa and Sea-Inspired Pillows

Blue and White Dining Area

Capiz Chandelier

Distressed Mirror

Striped Rug

Kitchen

Glass Tiles

Pastel Seats

Bedroom

Linen Headboard

Worn Wooden Chests

Bathroom

Children's Room

Bedding

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