It’s officially tradition — we’re “opening the doors to summer” for the 2nd year in a row! Last June, I shared Inspiration from Italy: Knocking on the Doors to Summer, a collection of stunning (and ancient) doors and door knockers spotted during my family’s 2019 trip to Rome.
My family and I are still dreaming about rescheduling last summer’s cancelled trip to Greece, but for now, we’re setting our sights a little closer to home with these gorgeous sunrooms and summer homes right here on the New England coast!
Grab your chicest floppy hat, some sunblock (SPF 50 over here), and come get inspired by these bold and beautiful summertime spaces…
Welcome to Summer in Barrington Bay
Featured: Sunroom in the Barrington summer home
Our clients asked us to update the furnishings in their summer home to create a comfortable and stylish oasis. Within just a few minutes on site, we had fallen in love with these views of Narragansett Bay — this home has a water view from nearly every window!
To create a lively yet relaxing atmosphere, we assembled a crisp palette of cool blues, bright yellows, verdant greens, and natural textures. This sunroom now boasts a warm yet breezy feel our clients can’t resist, which we continued in their other spaces, too…
The bedrooms adhere to a similar palette, but each has its own unique flavor. This bedroom (which was just recently featured on the cover of Nest magazine!) leans masculine with tones of deep-ocean blue, green grasscloth wallpaper, and a touch of coastal flair in the woven bed frame and rattan chair.
This bench with a view (left) adorns yet another bedroom in the home, showing how the right color choices can really bring the outdoors in. The photo on the right is a snapshot of the living room, where luxurious textiles pair beautifully with coastal-inspired decor. We love that we were able to brighten up the existing spaces with non-cliché coastal elements that make this home feel like a sweet escape. Hello, summer!
Journey to Greenwich Crossing
Featured: Sunroom in East Greenwich, RI
Seen here first! We recently finished refreshing the layout and furnishings in this well-loved sunroom. We blended sophistication with playful coastal aesthetics, taking some inspiration from coastal Florida (our clients have a home there, too). The result is a tastefully vibrant retreat where our clients can relax with their family and friends.
Pro Tip: When designing sun-filled spaces, we must always think about the materials we use so they don’t get damaged or bleached by the sun!
We love the contrast between the sofa’s deep blue upholstery and vibrant pink welting. This is one of those unexpected touches that really add the wow factor! These custom-made geometric cornices with a patterned band fit perfectly in the space, adding height and drama to the room — and proving that custom window treatments are a no-brainer. It all comes together with bright accessories and custom pillows.
Note: Due to COVID delays, not all of the furniture has arrived yet. While we are waiting for two swivel chairs, we added these blue and green chairs from our studio. Even though they aren’t a permanent fixture in the space, they still look great, don’t they?
Meet Me at the Jersey Shore
Featured Space: Summer home in Mantoloking, NJ
It took us nearly two years to complete this summer home for our clients in Mantoloking, and it was worth it! A fun and vibrant place to entertain, this home is different from any our clients have had before. They put their trust in us, and we created the summer home of their dreams.
Every room shines with its own personality, but we particularly LOVE the den, where a bold green stripe makes an unforgettable statement. For this room, we wanted to create a space perfect that would be comfortable for lounging and include furniture that could stand up to wet suits after a dip in the pool. Just outside the doors is the backyard oasis with pool, jacuzzi, and lounge furniture. Ahhh, bliss.
We’ve shared quite a bit of this summer home in past blog posts, but we haven’t shared much about the four kids’ bedrooms. Our clients have two daughters and two sons, so we designed each of their suites to their unique tastes and personalities. It’s so fun to see how cohesive each suite is, but different enough for each individual.
On the left, the oldest daughter’s suite encompasses a feminine mix of fun and sophisticated elements, while on the right, the youngest daughter’s room boasts youthful colors and lively patterns.
On the left is the younger son’s suite, where a punch of blue and orange pairs with natural tones to create a soothing beach vibe (how fun is the bathroom tile?!) On the right, painted shiplap covers each wall to create a mature, coastal atmosphere in the older son’s suite.
If it’s not apparent by now, this whole project 100% embodies the Blakely brand (and our vibrant coastal aesthetic) and speaks to our clients’ sparkling personalities and lifestyle — which is what we’re all about. If you’re looking for me, I’ll be by the pool…
Throwback to the Mallard Coastal Classic
Featured: Sunroom in South Kingstown, RI
We gave this tired cottage in South Kingstown a total facelift, turning it into a coastal oasis where our clients can soak up summer rays, enjoy quiet moments, or entertain a crowd. I especially love that even though we designed this home several years ago (where does the time go?), it still feels timeless and classic. This sunroom is part lounge space (above) and part dining room (below), making it the perfect space for all occasions.
Lively color, natural textures, and custom elements (like the built-in bench) maximize the space and fill it with bold summer character and memories to be made. Sangria, anyone?
Where Ocean Meets Meadow
Featured: Sunroom in Narragansett, RI
Our Ocean Meadow project is infamous for its dual-island kitchen, spacious family room, and waterfront views, but tucked just outside the main space, we have this little oasis of a sunroom. It has beautiful views and great natural light from the windows — because we designed them that way. 😉
Blues and greens speak to both the “ocean” and “meadow” project location in a sophisticated way, shiplap brings in the coastal elements, and we outfitted the floor with this decorative scalloped mosaic (right) to make it feel like its own space. The perfect space for a good book, good company, and a view.
So, how about you? Have you made a wishlist for your own sunroom or summer home? Because that’s what inspiration is for, isn’t it? It’s for inspiring you to take action on your own hopes, dreams, and vibrant life. Better yet, record those goals in our Interior Design Project Planner, so when your project starts, you won’t forget!
Until next time, we wish you the happiest of summers with all of your favorite people.
Xoxo,
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