Climb Aboard The Coastal Interior Design Ship

Summer is almost over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t achieve the holiday atmosphere every day. Climb aboard the coastal interior design trend, and set sail all year round. The seaside is known as an inspirational place and has sparked ideas for artists and interior designers through to writers. 

Why take a trip to the seaside if you can incorporate it into your interior design? Coastal décor is a perfect way to refresh our homes and take us back to basics. We’re going to explore ways in which you can bring a touch of the seaside to your interior and also speak to Sally Denning about her new book, Relaxed Coastal Style. If expert advice is what you’re after, read on!

(Image Supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

The Key Is In The Detail

The coastal interior design trend is meant to create an atmosphere for you to get away from day-to-day life. The key thing to remember is you shouldn’t go overboard – this trend works best when attention is paid to the finer details in a room. Incorporating accessories such as lanterns, signs and rustic candles will help achieve the desired look, subtly.

It’s All In The Colour

It’s common to see whites and light blues in coastal décor, but don’t be afraid to incorporate soft greens, deep blues or vibrant reds. The walls and floors of your space should be kept simple, and patterns can be integrated into different areas. Throw in a striped cushion, floral rug or mosaic curtains, for a pattern pop. Don’t be afraid to go a bit out there with your furnishings – you want to create the feeling of being on holiday and having fun! 

How to Choose the Right Textures

Think about walking along the beach: the feeling of the sand between your toes, the sensation of the cool waves thrashing at your ankles and the roughness of the pebbles in between your palms. There are so many different textures to discover at the seaside, and you want to include as many of these as you can into your interior design. Whether this is a bowl full of shells, driftwood hanging on your walls or a distressed looking side table, it’s about featuring raw materials. Here at Industville all of our lights are made from raw materials and are handcrafted.

(Image Supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle) 

Let Us Be Your Lighthouse

Light is an essential element when trying to channel this trend. It’s best to use natural lighting as much as possible but it’s also okay to choose lighting styles that you would likely find on ships because this is in keeping with your coastal theme.

Industrial lighting is the perfect way to add a touch of the vast open sea to your décor. Large pendants and caged lights are coastal favourites, and our range comes in a variety of different colours and finishes.

Interview with Sally Denning

Sally Denning is a freelance interior stylist and creative director with more than 20 years’ experience working for editorial clients such as Homes and Gardens, House Beautiful, Homes and Antiques along with various commercial clients such as Little Greene, Ian Mankin, Vanessa Arbuthnott, Pooky Lights and Sofas & Stuff. We love her designs. You can find them on her website www.sallydenning.com and you'll find us regularly scrolling through her Instagram @blackshorestyle, so we wanted to find out a little bit more about her. 

How do you stay on top of the latest trends?

I get asked to press shows and receive press releases all the time, so there’s a lot to keep track of! But I’ve got to keep informed of what designers, fabric houses and furniture companies are launching to get an insight into upcoming trends.

Brooklyn Flat Wall Light – 8 Inch – Pewter, by Industville (Image supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

What are the latest trends in lighting?

To make it a feature in its own right, and make it more of a statement within a decorating scheme. The revival of Edison bulbs has enabled people to be more adventurous with lighting too. Lighting is no longer only functional but can be the lead design piece in a scheme.

How do you keep coming up with new ideas?

That is my favourite part – coming up with new ideas! I tend to always have a lightbulb moment at the wrong times, so I make sure I always have a notebook in close proximity to write down anything that comes to me.

Swan Neck Cone Wall Light – 8 Inch – Pewter, by Industville. (Image Supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

What keeps you inspired?

I’m bombarded with new ideas every day, so it’s hard to get bored if I’m totally honest!

Is there a memorable project that you will always remember?

Styling and writing my latest book, Relaxed Coastal Style, is a project I will always hold dear. It was lovely to be asked to create an actual book! Planning and designing eight roomsets in conjunction with fashion designer Edeline Lee for an ad campaign for Little Greene paints was a fun project to work on. The stand won Best Stand at Decorex that year which everyone was thrilled about.

Brooklyn Dome Wall Light – 8 Inch – Pewter, by Industville. (Image supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

Was there any project done using Industville lights you particularly enjoyed and why? How did you enjoy using Industville products?

I used some Industville lighting when we did up our house a few years ago. I wanted brass and grey finishes that would take Edison bulbs, and I also wanted a single hanging pendant that would work over the end of my kitchen surface and they had just what I wanted.

I love lighting, but it’s very easy to get it wrong if you’re not careful. It requires careful planning and if you’re renovating, plan your lighting at the first phase of building before the plastering etc is done. Try and plan exactly where you want the task and wall lighting to be with an electrician or lighting expert, to light up kitchen worktops, functional spaces like bathrooms and hallways. Supplement with more ambient lighting such as desk and floor lights, or table lamps.

Brooklyn Flat Pendant – 8 Inch – Pewter, by Industville. (Image supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

In your book, Relaxed Coastal Style, you offer decorating inspiration to get the coastal look. Is there something in the works that we should look out for?

It’s a book full of relaxed and rustic coastal style with 13 beautiful houses from around the world.

What is the inspiration behind the interior design of your own home?

Our home is an old farmhouse, so we were blessed with beams and stone walls, so I guess that was the lead inspiration. I am a big fan of texture, so adding interesting recycled cladding, and reclaimed wooden flooring seemed the obvious choice. I wanted to use more contemporary lighting and furnishings to complement the old barn style and Industville lighting fitted perfectly.

Brooklyn Flat Pendant – 8 Inch – Pewter, and Brooklyn Dome Wall Light – 8 Inch – Pewter, by Industville. (Image supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

Where do you turn to for inspiration?

I look at sources like fashion magazines, exhibitions, and popular culture stuff as this all filters down into interiors too. I also love Instagram and Pinterest, which are constant sources of inspiration. I also get very inspired by Industville’s Instagram page @industville – that is a great basis for interior inspiration.

(Image supplied by Sally Denning - @blackshorestyle)

Would you recommend Industville to your clients?

Yes, I think the products are well priced, in style with latest trends and well made.

We loved catching up with Sally to hear about her thoughts on the coastal trend. We hope this blog has given you some inspiration on how to channel the seaside in your home or business. If you need any help or advice, don’t hestitate to contact our friendly team. As ever, we love to see your pictures, so tag us on Instagram – @industville – or by using the hashtag #Industville. Don’t forget to check out our Pinterest boards for some inspiration.