5 Ways to Create a Coastal Home

You don't have to have a house on the water to create a home that makes you feel close to the coast.

For our very first Coastal Home feature, we are heading to the Coastal Cleveland town of Bay Village, Ohio to visit my friend Kelly.  

When Kelly was a child, she grew up in a home on Lake Road in Bay Village and would spend her family vacations in South Carolina, Cape Cod and boating in Vermilion.  Although Kelly has always had an eye for decor, this lifetime exposure to the water and coastal living inspired Kelly to design and build her very own dream home 8 years ago.

I love this picture of Kelly's mom she has hanging in her living room.  It reminds me very much of Kelly's decorating style.  She loves history, family, vintage and worn pieces, all things related to the water and it's no surprise to me that her mom is dressed in all white, because that is what Kelly chose as the background color on her canvas. Every wall in her home is white and ready for her to work her magic.

Here are 5 ways Kelly has decorated her beautiful home to give that cozy & coastal vibe.

1. INCORPORATE BLUE & WHITE

One of Kelly's oldest memories dates back to a blue and white dress she wore as a 3 year old. She absolutely loved it and hardly ever took it off.  From then on, those were her signature colors! 

I have to tell you, and I can only speak to the Cleveland crowd, but Kelly Miller loved navy and white LONG before it became the trend in this area.  From the moment I met her many moons ago, I have always associated these two colors with Kelly.

She loves incorporating blue into her decor because she says it goes with every color on the color wheel.

Here are my favorite little pops of blue through out her home...

2. INCORPORATE NATURAL WOOD AND DRIFTWOOD

Nothing is more beachy and coastal than the beach itself.  The sand, the driftwood, the shells... Kelly loves using all types of natural woods and worn whites in her home.  One of the benefits she says? It can get beaten up and knocked around and no one notices!

3. START A COLLECTION

One of the best, easiest and most personal ways to create a coastal home is to start a beach collection.  Whether it is sand, shells, driftwood, sea glass or found treasures, collecting things at the beach that you love and placing them in a favorite jar or bowl will instantly create a coastal look.

More importantly, it is a great way to remember favorite places or time together.

Kelly says that she and her husband Mike always go shelling on their trips.













4. CREATE AN "AHHHHH" SPACE IN YOUR HOME

What Kelly means by this is creating a home that makes you relax, feel comfortable, and go "ahhhhhh" the moment you step foot through your front door. 

That's what she wants to feel when she gets home. 

Perhaps creating an entire home that gives you this feeling is overwhelming?  Start with one room and create a space that brings you this peace.  Still don't know where to begin?  Shoot Kelly an email!  (address below)

One of my favorite spaces at Kelly's house is her screened in back porch.  Because of the floor to ceiling screens and cozy furniture, it literally feels like a room outdoors.

After telling her that I would spend most of my time out there, Kelly told me that's exactly what she does.  She's been known to pile on blankets while sitting out there as she hangs on to every last moment she can before the cooler days approach.

5.  FIND ONE OBJECT THAT MEANS "HOME" TO YOU

For Kelly, that object is an anchor and she loves to tuck them into her decor.

KELLY INTERIORS