If I were to ask for a show of hands on who is ready for some warm weather during winter’s longest month, I’m pretty confident that my vision would be blotted with palms. The rigmarole of added time needed to dress in layers, being slapped in the face from a cold front or sitting in a car that can’t seem to warm up challenges. The tropics have their funny palms, beach finds and foam capped waves that play into our simple approach to living, being sated with nature’s gifts. Island design adapts to an accommodating climate with a look we can support, which is more than rattan cocktail shakers and ceiling fans (though those work too). It came about from colonialists relinquishing their home country’s formality, along with their corsets, brocades and mounds of hair styled into something that appears to have taken hours to master. They came to the islands with their manor house belongings and adapted to a tropical climate, pairing down their beautiful pieces because bright skies and endless coast influence more than parlor room twee.

A pairing of quality pieces, light fabrics and tropical details evoke British Colonial style for modern living.

In this Laguna Beach living space elements from Colonial Style are used yet updated. Note the rattan ottoman, illustrated pillows and trellis design of the customized cushions, there’s few elements but all were deliberately chosen. That rattan piece was bought from Bali and took over six months to deliver due to reasons of cargo space and import documentation that was as detailed as acquiring livestock. In those six months we lived on throw pillows, which were inexpensively sourced from Ikea. We made it work because the choice to have a unique piece that endures make flopping around on oversized cushions exciting and worthwhile. It’s simple to do, just get your paper umbrella spiked drink and start researching the process, launching with these 4 easy steps.

4 Steps to Island Style

1. The coastal look relies on washable fabrics in light shades, which is easy to care for, light and fresh.
2. Bring in at least one quality furnishing in dark wood and accent with lighter pieces. Rattan, palm and woven textures are island staples.
3. Accent with subtle motifs, like colonial prints that honor the mainland, over beach trinkets and anything that says, It’s 5:00 somewhere.
4. If you are fortunate to have a garden that grows palms and citrus, bring it inside. Otherwise find inspiration from the market to insert something natural with color and the novelty of a warmer place.

Resources:

Cushion fabric: Robert Allen Design
Throw pillows: Ikea