Get the look - Hamptons
This is a style that just keeps on keeping on. Every time I think it has had its day, it seems to pop up again in popularity.
And why not? Sophisticated, but also calm and relaxed, it is perfect if we live on the beach, and perfect if we aspire to live by the water.
Described as a style that combines cool and classical with rustic, casual beach vibes, it tends to feature lashings of blue, off whites and paneling.
Read on for some help in creating the look in your home.
Tip 1. Embrace patterns.
Patterns are key to the Hamptons look. Often subdued and applied to soft furnishings such as cushions, drapery or even rugs, the idea is to create a visual interest without overwhelming the eye, room or home.
Bonus points for adding in texture as well as patterns to your look. Texture softens the look and creates that warm, cosy feeling that is so key to this style.
One of the nice things about focusing your patterns to soft furnishings is that they are more easily removed if and when you decide to change the look of the room or space. Great for those of us who tend to change our minds about what styles we like!
Tip 2. Embrace white walls
White is another core feature of the Hamptons look. For many, it is the first thing that comes to mind when you say ‘Hamptons’.
Focusing on crisp whites, I personally favour colours such as Casper White Half and Snowy Mountains Half by Dulux. In fact I recently worked on a new build for a local developer, and chose Casper White Half for the exterior walls of one home as part of a Hamptons vibe. Check out the blog here Hamptons Exterior Palette.
Tip 3: Blues are the best.
Just as the Hamptons style loves to use patterns in subtle and tasteful ways, it also loves blues - grey blues, light blues, darker blues and my personal favourite, Duck Egg Blue.
These colours provide a beautiful contrast to the crisp white interiors and transport us to the beach or coast. Add in a dash of green and you add some additional depth and interest to the rooms as well as bringing in a little bit more nature.
Colours Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Dulux Coastal Drift, Dulux Duck Egg Blue, Porters Paints BreakWater, Dulux Sea Breeze.
Tip 4: Paneling and timber shutters.
Yes, I know that these are not the same thing, but to my mind they work well together, each creating straight lines, be that vertically or horizontally. And both a key feature of the Hamptons look.
Paneling is seeing a real resurgence at the moment and it seems that it is available from all sorts of places, even Bunnings. No longer just for the exterior of the home, it is also an important inclusion to your home interior if you are looking to create the Hamptons look.
Paneling can be in the form of wall panels (check out Easy Craft for some great examples) or in the form of moldings and wainscotting.
When it comes to your windows, plantation shutters are not just aesthetically pleasing but also a great way to moderate heat and light - great in warm climates such as Australia or the tropics.
Tip 5: Shaker Cabinets
Shaker cabinets and the Hamptons style are synonomous.
Simply described as a recessed panel in the cabinetry, shaker profiles are a perennial favourite. Typically painted in white (although not always - consider an island bench in a shade of blue as an alternative), they create a point of interest and class while not being too busy.
Tip 6: Timber flooring
To completed the look, timber flooring is a must. Timeless and effortlessly sophisticated, consider either oak floors for an element of warmth or alternatively stain the wood a dark brown for a more dramatic effect.
If you need help creating a Hamptons Look in your home (or any other style for that matter), then don’t wait to book a FREE 15 Minute Discovery Call with me.
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