Creating a coastal home

People who move to Southeastern North Carolina, of course, come with their furniture. Once they get here, they often find their pieces are too dark, too ornate, or too formal for our breezy, casual coastal lifestyle.

It’s something that Karen Kistler, of K2 Designs, has experienced personally and noticed in her clients.

“They do find that the look they had isn’t one they want here,” she said. “I tell them they don’t have to give up everything, the pieces they love. You can make small changes.”

She recently moved to Wilmington from Raleigh, and made a similar design change in her own Autumn Hall home. Using her space as an example, here are a few of her suggestions for adopting a coastal look.

1. Use splashes of blue

“Those serene blues, like seafoam and other colors are really beautiful,” Kistler said. But you can be judicious in your use of them. In her sitting area, she added a unique print in a bluish green to two chairs. Another idea is to add a blue backsplash to a kitchen. “Using these shades as pops of color is a good way to do it.” Deeper, dynamic blues, such as nautical shades, are also nice as an accent.

2. Incorporate local art

“I love to educate clients about what there is available from local artists,” she said. It’s a good way to add some local flavor in an understated and subtle way. On her porch, Kistler has added a large piece of sea-themed folk art. She has several other pieces of local art, incorporating swimmers, fish and other coastal influences.

3. Make a statement

The entryway to Kistler’s home showcases an oversized cypress root, which represents coastal flora and offers a dynamic look against an otherwise bare wall. “I love this, but wasn’t sure I was going to use it here,” she said. “As it is, I think it works.”

4. Lighter woods

“In general, lighter shades of wood are good in coastal homes,” Kistler said. She likes to use reclaimed locally sourced wood in some cases, such as for shelves or tables. She also likes the look of white-washed tones. “It makes for a simple and clean look.”

5. Understated beachy

“Sea glass is wonderful and shells are wonderful,” she said. “But you don’t want it to be too knick-knacky.” Kistler has added these beachy touches in small way, on her bookshelves, for example, and here and there on tables. They are often mixed with other favorite mementos to create a diverse, curated look.

6. Keep what you love

Kistler has a set of dining room chairs that she loved and wanted to keep in her Wilmington home. She re-upholstered them in a fabric that adds touches of coral red. She also had a circular white dining room table made for the space. “Don’t be afraid to mix textures and tones,” she said.

7. Mix coastal with traditional

“I grew up in a contemporary home, but my mother loved antiques and tradition as well,” she said. As a result, Kistler has learned the best ways to interminglt different themes so they blend into a look that’s both stylish and individual. Other new homeowners can do the same.