A book that has been gracing my coffee table for quite some time now is “Rooms to Inspire by the Sea” written by Annie Kelly and photographed by Tim Street-Porter. It wasn’t until today that I realized I hadn’t shared this treasure with you yet. Better late than never. If you’re expecting cliché photos of beach houses with blue and white, driftwood and shells you will be disappointed. This book is much more than that. In my opinion, it is the perfect source to get decorating ideas for turning your home into a sea-side-inspired retreat with your own colour scheme and sense of style.
The book features 12 breathtaking beachfront homes and cottages to swoon over, including those belonging to top designers like John Derian, Tom Scheerer, India Hicks and Jonathan Adler. Annie and Tim traveled to beach sights like the Hamptons, Hawaii, Mexico and the Bahamas to capture different styles in different surroundings. Each house blends in with the place where it sits. The different furnishings, collections of accessories, the styling and variety in colours show that a coastal style is subject to interpretation and location.
You’ll see very modern interiors, to tropical, rustic, vintage, and nautical styles. The photography is beautiful with natural lighting. Annie brings the photos to life with her descriptive texts and background information, pointing out small details. A must-have book for those who like to capture that memorable beach-holiday in and around the house without falling back on the hurricane candle holders and wreaths of shells.
I just love the stacked straw hats and vintage bird cage in this picture.
Great ideas: Glue all your shells and frame them like pictures for your wall. And keep a basket of flip flops for guests or just decorative under your side table.
Disclaimer: Photos from the book are copyrighted and only used to complement the text.
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