As we search the globe for new ideas, products and inspirations, we can’t help but notice how amazingly different some coastal lifestyles really are. But let us begin by saying that creating peaceful and more relaxed spaces at home, especially during these stressful times is so important to one’s mental health and well-being! We are so thrilled to bring as much inspiration as we can which will help you to define what that peaceful and relaxed space means to you, what it looks like and how it makes you feel. We are here to not only provide great products and ideas for your home but also to provide a bit of humor and some inspiration about how to live a happy life. We cannot highlight enough the importance of positive attitudes, relaxing environments, great food (and great cocktails of course), awesome friends and genuinely sincere and positive vibes!
So back to coastal lifestyles! Here’s a peaceful minimalist place the really inspires us all the way from Madagascar!
Madagascar Beach House. Photo Credits: Top 7 Unique House Design
Amazingly Different
Since there are so many different coastal settings from the South Pacific to the coasts of New England and beyond, we thought it would be fun and so very interesting to take a look at just how different they really can be. While we cannot do a complete and in-depth review of all of them in a single day, we do want to write about them as we come across them.
Regarding the tropics, you might be thinking “isn’t a tropical lifestyle just something where people are wearing Hawaiian shirts, hanging out at the beach and drinking fruity rum cocktails with umbrellas in them?” At first glance, yes, it would seem like that. But we are discovering that depending on where you go, there are some really cool and distinct aspects to beach life and tropical living which vary widely from country to country. To many people, a beach is a beach. It’s all palm trees and blue ocean water and there is no difference between them. But actually there are some big differences worth researching. As climates and landscapes change depending on where we go, certain locations do cause us to stray from the term “tropical”. But we can still retain those images of warm sunny days, clear blue waters and amazing beaches (think the Mediterranean). The term “coastal living” really applies here!
Credit: Grace Hotel, Auberge Resorts Collection, Santorini, Greece
Honestly, who would pass up a trip to the Greek Islands?? Those have got to be some of the most spectacular and amazingly scenic places on the planet. The endless number of cliffside hotels with whitewashed walls, bright red and pink blooming bougainvillea and endless blue waters which defy the imagination create another iconic look that I think can only be found in the Greek Islands (hello Santorini!!). So we are going to be doing some research about places like Greece to see what kinds of art and handcrafted items might be available which fit into the look and feel of our brand, Cerulean Bay. Then of course there is the food, the wine and yes, great cocktails! All very important elements of tropical and coastal lifestyles!
Credit: Grace Hotel, Auberge Resort Collections, Santorini, Greece
Turkey is another place we will check out, the coastal areas of the southwest from Antalya over to Oludeniz to the west are striking examples of sub-tropical climates and scenery which demand our attention (OK, that was kind of dramatic but you get the point. Who can say “No” to that? Not us!!)
Cultural Inspirations
But even when you get back to the true tropical climates, there are so many places which differ from each other. We received some samples from Bali which are really amazing like these teak root pots and some giant vases made out of palm tree trunks. Some of the artwork and handcrafted pieces from there are mind-blowing, they are that nice. And of course, it’s Bali! Being a part of Indonesia means there are architectural and design elements that just cannot be ignored when it comes to tropical home décor. So we are looking at those aspects of the local culture in each place we investigate. And of course we will promote those as they influence things we are interested in such as casual fashion (yes, we are working on our own clothing line!), culinary inspirations for great recipes and of course great cocktails (a definite must!!)
Imagine Your Coastal Lifestyle!
For now, the majority of what we carry comes from the Fiji Islands which is truly an amazing and wonderful place. As we discover new and beautiful artistry and cultural decor from other tropical locations, we will update this guide to help you imagine new looks for your home which you otherwise might not thought of. So for now, take on the wonderful task of thinking about a personalized and awesome tropical/coastal lifestyle that you would like to have for yourself. Feel free to share your ideas with us! We might just be able to help you find that next really cool piece! And as always, we will keep you posted about what we discover for new ideas and inspirations along the way!
Photo Credit: bayleys.co.nz