Coastal Kitchen

Looking at home inspiration pictures is a favorite hobby of mine. So naturally, when my brother told me he was renovating his beach house kitchen, I got so excited about all the possibilities for a coastal vibe! And the best news is, he is designing with a clean slate! My brother is going to make the beach kitchen of his dreams, and I am excited to work on his coastal design inspiration on a budget.

Personally, white, blue and gray colorways are eye candy! These color combinations reflect a calming environment and who doesn’t want that these days. The Pantone color of 2020 is Classic Blue, not coincidentally. Blues are reminiscent of the sky at dusk and instill a sense of calmness and confidence. Different shades of those three colors (whites, blues, grays) with light-wash wood and metallic sounds so dreamy. I try to stray away from the overboard use of “beachy” images. Just pick a few and add them as your statement pieces!

I don’t know why but Sherwin-Williams color Misty is my favorite. I would paint my whole house with this color, not just a beach home! Misty is such a muted neutral that compliments basically any other color or pattern. I am all about white kitchens and the Misty color is so complimentary to it!! Misty, Adrift and a white color combination give me such a visually appealing aesthetic.

Below are some inspiration pictures of my vision for the perfect coastal kitchen.

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All of the blues, grays and whites! Island pendants can make such a statement and bring more color into the design.

The island pendant can be the jewelry of the kitchen. Pendant lighting is important to shine light on daily tasks, but they are also: an accent, a decorative piece and they provide the proper ambiance to the room. In a beach house, there is usually already lots of natural light, so I am focusing most on the appearance of the pendant to accentuate the coastal design.

Most of my coastal decor inspiration came from Shades of Light. They have affordable and unique coastal pieces that are perfect for any shore home!

Include sea urchins, frosted glass, nautical rope, mermaid scales and sea-tone colored pendants for the perfect hardware decor.

White cabinetry is a clean and classic look for any home. For understated beachy vibes, I love white cabinetry with a different color island to add a little pop of color. A neutral undertone in the blue family is my choice! For countertops, especially at the beach, I prefer quartz. Quartz is strong, low maintenance and non porous. The downside of quartz is it lacks heat resistance, but overall it requires the least amount of maintenance. And when you are relaxing at the beach, the last thing you want to worry about is cleaning your counters! I like Cambria Quartz Torquay for my color scheme. This particular quartz resembles a soft marble with white and gray tones. The Torquay is light and subtle, but at the same time, it ties the kitchen together. A light-wash wood or one with gray undertones are complimentary. There are multiple options for wood (or wood lookalikes) today. For a beach home, bathroom, or laundry room/mudroom, I would opt for the porcelain wood look tile. The porcelain tile is a more expensive flooring choice, but it will pay off in the long run! In fashion and home design, I love a fluid mixture of high end products with more budget friendly ones.

You can find all of these renovation staples at local stores like Home Depot!

Another way to bring in blues to your kitchen is with the backsplash. The backsplash could be a simple subway tile, glass tiles (that resemble authentic beach glass), painted tiles with beach images or create a coastal image over a large square footage (like above the stove).

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Coastal vibe tile backsplashes. How beautiful are these!?

And the final touch, the accessories! Accessories are where you can have a little fun with your design. Beach glass, shells, and animal creatures are the finishing touches to a coastal vibe. Have fun with it! I found some options that caught my eye, but the options are endless!

For smaller details, include coastal signs with streets or phrases, seashells, sea glass and marine animals, whether they are man made or natural from the local beach. Don’t be afraid to take a walk on the beach and collect seashells and rocks to make your own coastal decor. You can create signs from washed up drift wood, put sea glass under a piece of glass to make a clock or in a vase/lamp to place on a shelf, paint shells for display, or create picture frames with all of the above! The DIY options are endless, and add a personal touch.

This re-fillable glass table lamp fits any type of decor. Unscrew the lid and fill it with collectibles, shells, or whatever items suit your style. The best part of these refillable options is you can continuously change out the items it is filled with.

Another option is to work with Etsy shops and they will do the hard part of the DIY for you! Shop owners will customize your design and colors but they will do the heavy lifting for you by making your design a reality for a small price. Some shops will also send you everything needed for the project and you can assemble it yourself.

Hope you enjoy high tides and my beach vibes !