“. . . the Atlantic is very blue & gray,
and thus some warm sunny colors
make a beautiful contrast . . .”
Location, Location, Location.
“It is not about strictly being on the water, it is about the specific location and venue,” says Rottet of her curated approach to waterside design. “The Mediterranean is very different from the Pacific, which is very different from the Atlantic . . . design for the vernacular, the weather, the prevalent breeze, the sun angles, and think about the use of the room at each time of the day.” For example, at her home in Montauk, New York it can be either chilly and windy or sunny and warm, depending on the season. “It is not too humid, though, so linen and wool work well,” she says. “A beautiful wool, cashmere, or angora blanket is welcome year-round.” Meanwhile, on the Gulf Coast, that same “wool and linen hold too much moisture and cotton is better. A wool blanket may always seem suppressing.”
Curate Color.
To select a water-inspired color palette, she recommends thinking about the colors that occur organically in nature in your given region. “The Atlantic is very blue and gray, and thus some warm sunny colors make a beautiful contrast,” she says. “Personally, I tend toward a neutral overall palette in coastal areas to allow the outside in, and then add accents of color depending on which coast. On the east coast, I add golden yellows and citrus greens or corals. West coast, I prefer lighter, softer yellow-tone accents and light blues.”
Toughen Up.
Finally, you’ll need to think hard about functionality with every single finish and decor choice in damp locales. “Rattan, cane, and other such materials deal with expansion and contraction well,” says Rottet, adding it’s vital to invest in solid wood pieces for the same reason—not thin veneers, which can peel. Look for metals designed to flourish in coastal areas. “There are many great companies that make metal-framed windows and doors that meet hurricane specifications and will last. Do not cheap out on windows and doors! In the Caribbean, for example, everything rusts and/or deteriorates if it is not of the best quality. With furniture, even the glues and metal connections can be an issue.”
Finally, in a waterside spot you’ll often need to prepare your home for incoming sand and muddy, wet clothes. “A wonderful addition to any waterfront home is an outdoor well-designed minimal foot wash and a mudroom,” says Rottet, who also has an eponymous furniture line, Rottet Collection. “I was just in the countryside of the South of France, where the wine rooms and mudrooms seemed to combine right by the front door. Seems appropriate—take off your shoes and grab a bottle of wine! The wellies stayed outside on the porch where they belong.”
/ Written by Kathryn O’Shea-Evans.
Photography by brizmaker/iStock/Getty Images Plus.
blues you can use.
Whether indigo or azure, cobalt or sapphire, blue is a calming color that science has proven relaxing to the human eye. Here, what to know about decorating with the hue . . . so you don’t feel (ahem) blue.
Read the Room. Wondering where to employ the color of the sky and sea? Shades of blue typically suit bedrooms (where they’re perceived as restful) and bathrooms (where they impart spa-like vibes).
Pair Colors. All you need to do to suss out what works well with blues is to look out your window, where billowing white clouds and verdant grasses tell you almost all you need to know. But for the intrepid, there are a plethora of other options, including a bold red and even soft pastel pinks, which can balance this traditionally masculine shade with warmth.
Don’t Forget Texture. Woven rattan touches, cotton dhurrie rugs, and supple worn leathers can bring a needed dose of earthy balance to an otherwise tranquil blue space.
