Surf city
You may live in the middle of the Mojave Desert, but don't let that stop you from adding a touch of the tropics to your décor.
That dreamy beach vacation can become part of your everyday experience thanks to a variety of casual coastal furnishings, accents and colors that will be making their way to home stores in the coming months.
Several new furniture collections and home accessories with a coastal feel debuted at the World Market Center Las Vegas during the most recent home-furnishings trade show.
HGTV Home's new Water's Edge collection is among those. With its cool colors and rounded lines it is casual and reminds you of the ocean without being too beachy.
The collection, manufactured by Bassett Furniture, and available at its West Sahara Avenue location, includes bedroom, dining and living room furniture done in a creamy shade. Some pieces offer cane accents and the collection's custom hardware was inspired by a compass.
Also evoking images of the coast and its casual lifestyle is Lexington Home Brand's new Monterey Sands collection.
"Monterey Sands blends the comfortable understated style of the West Coast with natural elements, decorative metal accents and a unique finish that delivers a fresh look," said Phil Haney, president and CEO of Lexington Home Brands.
The pieces have a sandy brown finish that has been rubbed with an oyster white finishing glaze to accentuate the depth and character of the wood, which also has been gently wire brushed to highlight its grain. It is reminiscent of driftwood without being rustic.
"In all facets of interior design, we are seeing the use of pleasing neutral backgrounds and lighter wood tones to create an environment that is intentionally more pleasing to the eye and the soul ," Haney said.
Piece in the collection also incorporate the look of woven rattan and bronze nailhead trim.
The natural tones complement the organic blues and greens often associated with the design style.
"Casual nautical coastal style typically includes softer coastal colors such as tans, browns and creams, inspired by the beach and seashells, to greens, yellows and pastel blues with a cottage feel," said Kimberly Joi McDonald, CEO and president of Designing Joi in Las Vegas.
Jackie Jordan, color expert for paint manufacturer Sherwin-Williams, agreed, noting that inspiration for a coastal decorating palette can come from anything associated with the beach.
"Coastal themes should draw from more than the sand and sea; dune grass and sea shells can provide even more color inspiration," she said. "Sea Salt (SW 6204) and Wheat Grass (SW 6408) are two of my favorite colors. They are part of the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Coastal Cool color palette, featuring 20 colors that work beautifully together. You can also use them as a guide when shopping for your coastal décor."
As part of the HGTV Home collection, the colors are the same for paints as well as upholstery in the Water's Edge collection.
According McDonald, this decorating style is, though fashionable and trendy, timeless and classic. It is treasured for its uncomplicated and relaxed look.
It is "as calm as the waters of the sea it purports to represent," she said.
Additionally, nautical décor can take on a more formal look with crisper, brighter colors, such as ruby red and royal blue, that are often paired with bright white.
Other characteristics of the style include windows adorned with shutters, sisal rugs and wood floors of teak, bamboo, white-washed or lightly stained planks.
Accessories, wall art and pieces of home décor prominently feature items such as anchors, boats, world globes, starfish, coral and lanterns.
As the colors and themes of coastal décor derive from nature and the outdoors, they are well-suited for the lifestyle of many valley residents who tend to blur the line between indoor and outdoor settings.
