Interior Design: At the beach, think nautical, but not overboard

If there’s one style that never goes out of style, it’s the nautical, beach-inspired look, perhaps because of the nostalgia that it carries with it. After all, what better childhood memories are there than of Fourth of July barbecues and sand castle contests at the beach?

The trick to creating that cozy waterside atmosphere inside your home, though, is to avoid the kitsch and keep it looking natural. “Remember not to get carried away with beach shtick like rope and boat floats and fishing nets,” says Jeff West, owner of the store Jeff West Home in Rehoboth Beach, Del. “It starts to look like a tacky seafood restaurant.”

Written By Santa Cruz Sentinel

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Coastal currents: creating waves of style

The homes of the Mid-Atlantic’s waterfront communities epitomize coastal style. Whether on the beach in Ocean City or a creek on the Eastern Shore, the look is casual and calming, creating a style that makes its owners feel like every day is a vacation.

Gina Fitzsimmons, owner of Fitzsimmons Design Associates and the Annapolis-based home furnishings store Details of Design, specializes in coastal homes. She calls this look “Chesapeake Cozy.”

Written By Christianna McCausland, For The Baltimore Sun

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