Dreaming of sandy beaches, tropical breezes and waves lapping the shoreline. Well this coastal inspired living area will help your mind wonder. This look was created on a tight budget and by knowing when to buy new or secondhand we were able to create the ideal look on a budget that worked! Here are the choices we made to create this relaxed, gorgeous look.
The room at first glance
And here she is well on her way to a whole new look. Here is what we did;
First, the wall colour was lightened by painting over the green with a fresh coat of soft grey from Benjamin Moore’s Off White Collection. We decided on Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl OC-52. Perfect for a coastal vibe with it’s blue undertones. All the trim, doors and mantle were painted in a complimentary White Dove OC-17.
We took the drapes from floor to ceiling to add height to the room. The window was then finished with a versatile Hunter Douglas top up/ bottom down cellular blind in cream purchased secondhand then layered with an affordable new cotton drape in white from Fabricland. Finding this secondhand blind was a huge score as this 96″ long window would have been at least $1,500 to cover new and we paid $200.00.
The all over Berber carpet was replaced with a weathered looking laminate click together flooring. The client wanted something that was affordable, easy to install, durable, would hold up to heavy traffic and easy to clean and maintain. This bad boy purchased at Floors For Less fit the bill in every way!
Every light fixture on the main floor was replaced. We went with a lighting package filled by Mclaren Lighting. We decided on a current and versatile drum shade in all three bedrooms, living room and hallway.
A contemporary take on a classic style, we added a cage chandelier to the front entry.
And here is where we decided on a super splurge for this special order gorgeous fixture for the dining area. The homeowners and I fell in love with this beauty.
The insignificant recessed shelving unit in the corner of the living room was given more of a presence by adding Beadboard for an architectural detail and replacing the piddly glass shelves with substantial wood shelves to both increase functionality and visual weight.
The shelves were then complete with some of the homeowners much loved possessions.
The dining area was given a new look with the addition of a secondhand Canadian made table and chairs originally purchased from Urban Barn. An upholstered bench that I had completely refurbished was meant to sit along the window side of the table. The bench would have increased seating capacity form 4 to 6 and added a uniqueness to the set. It was perfect for a casual look while increasing visual weight, but Unfortunately, the bench was stolen out of the homeowners truck during transport. I guess somebody else loved it as much as we did. How sad was I?
The overall look in the dining room was complete with warm toned woods, antiques and pieces collected from travels.
In the living room, we completely modified the fireplace and converted the old wood burning one with a secondhand electric one. The Mantle was also purchased secondhand for $50.00 and painted in the White Dove to match the rest of the trim.
I created the two light fixtures flanking the fireplace using closet doors. The doors were cut to size and painted, then two ornate sconces I purchased, need I say it, secondhand were attached and topped with sisal shades.
The secondhand coffee table and matching side tables were painted in a warm white. I chose to modify the coffee table into an ottoman style to create a relaxed put your feet up kind of vibe.
All the furniture is placed away from the walls to create a free flowing airy atmosphere perfect for a beachy feel. Two secondhand Couch Potato chairs face the sofa to create an excellent conversation area. Both the sofa and the loveseat are from Ikea’s Ektorp series and were of course purchased secondhand. We did order new covers in Nordvalla Blue and the laminate floor was topped in a new sisal rug from Ikea as well.
A cream coloured secondhand sofa table sits at the back of the loveseat and adds a decorative detail to the room. The two glass lamps topped with linen shades sitting on each side of the sofa were purchased new from Sears for a fabulous price!
Decorative throw cushions from both Fabricland and HomeSense add colour and unite the overall look. Top it off with a few beach themed items and the look is complete. Soft, relaxed, warm and inviting all around.
