Just Beautiful Coastal Chic

Enjoy a visual massage on us.




{via}



{via}

Beautiful coastal chic décor ... can you ever get enough?

~Natalee

7 Things to Stock in Your Beach Home Rental

Here are 7 things your guests wish you'd stock in your beach home rental … which will keep them coming back every year!

 

Don’t make your guests pack everything!   These little things can go a long, long way to making your guests take the easy route and book with you again next year.

 

1. Sugar packets & creamer.  Don’t provide the coffee pot, giving the illusion that your guests can wake up to steaming hot coffee in the morning, if you’re not going to provide sugar & creamer.  Some of your guests simply will not drink coffee without it.

 

2. Beach towels.  It’s an easily overlooked item, and your guests will be relieved to find some in your linen closet that they can take to the beach.

 

3. Sunburn Prevention/Remedy.  A little bottle of sunscreen or burn salve/aloe gel will go a long way to making your guests feel as though you thought of their comfort.  Yes, the might have packed it, but they might run out; a week's a long time.

4. Working Wifi. Also provide clear instructions on how to log on to it.  Ditto for televisions and cable/satellite service.

5. A list of local stores and especially fun things for vacationers to do.  Spell out whether or not they’ll need licenses for fishing, crabbing, etc.





 

 
6. Bikes, boogie boards, beach umbrellas, beach chairs … have a few larger items that aren’t as likely to get carried off.  It’s difficult for vacationers to pack these types of things.  Include something in your contract that states that they will lose their deposit if any of these items are missing, so that  you can cover yourself.  Post an exact count of what is provided so that your guests can be sure they have located and returned all the items they used over the week.

   

 

7. Books/board games/cards.  Some of your guests might think of packing these, but many of them are not anticipating the occasional rainy day as they are envisioning themselves in your beautiful beach home. Keep them happy by helping them make lasting memories with old fashioned family fun.

Hey renters, what are some things you expected to find at your beach home or condo but didn't?

6 Beautiful Bathrooms

Something for everyone:

If you love traditional bathrooms ...

{via}

If you want the modern minimalist look ...



{via}

If you ever dreamed of bathing in a castle ...

{via}

If you want a little of the old and a little of the new ...



I

{via}

If you want to bathe with the dolphins ...



{via}

Or if you are feeling a little old Hollywood.

{via}

Happy Monday!

StylishBeachHome.com Bath Towels and Lighting

Follow us on Pinterest StylishBeachHome.com for more beautiful beach bathrooms and spas.

Vacation Rentals by Owner: What to DO

This is for the folks that own beach houses for rent.

Far too often, when my own family takes a vacation to a beach, we are disappointed with what we can find in the way of luxurious beach homes.  Either pickings are slim in the first place, or the photos and description are deceiving.  Since we like to try new places every time we vacation, finding new beaches, the process has become a little bit of trial and error, hit and miss.

This post is an example of what to DO.  (DON'T is coming in a few days, as well as a checklist of things your guests wish you would stock in your beach house).

Owner: Robert Melton  Photos Courtesy of Home Away.  See the full listing here.

I feel pretty confident that this one looks great in the photos AND in real life. 

Wouldn't you be pretty optimistic at this point?

It's the perfect place for my large family, and it would be the perfect place for several families to meet on vacation because there is room to move. What impresses me about this home is that they clearly put in a lot of effort to make it attractive.  They have kept it updated.  I can even respect how they have mixed a rustic look with a bit of a cape cod style here.

Kitchens are important, and should be treated as such. This, sadly, is not always the case.  See the new appliances; the beautiful light fixtures?  This owner has hit the mark!

Ahh the Master Bedroom.  This is the retreat your guests will be searching for when not at the beach.

I am certainly paying attention when I see the details here -- claw foot tub, sconces.  They even went the extra mile with the faucets.


Perhaps if this were the home you lived in all year round, you might fill it a little more. But if you rent it out all year, it's the right amount of "stuff." Your guests will feel that you made an effort to warm the place up a bit, but without clutter. There is still plenty of room for all those suitcases and extra things that will come with the guests.

Now come down the hall this way ...

Because I have another bedroom with a bathroom to show you.  Orange!  I love orange.  I love that they picked something bright to show off their beach house.  It doesn't all have to be light blues and seashells.

I really love the sconces in this bathroom.

Another well-done bath/shower combination, probably on the first level.

 Another brightly done room!

Are you ready to go outside?  Well, this is semi-outside.  This sunroom gives you all the benefits of outside without the bugs and heat.  It even has a hammock.  It's an easy way to make your sunroom unique without breaking the bank.

And now the grand finale ... the pool.  This owner has provided comfortable furniture in a spectacular setting, with plants and ...

An outdoor shower!  I can't quite place where this is from the photos (perhaps down the stairs and around), but it's clearly outdoors.  It's clearly a well-done shower.  I'm impressed.

This set up will convince your guests to come back often, stay longer, and bring friends.

Pride of ownership really shines through in this home, and I predict as long as the owners keep this up, they will have not problem keeping it rented.  Many people own beach homes to vacation in them a few times a year, but face it -- the renting pays the bills and makes it an investment.  DON'T shoot yourself in the foot by expecting your guests to keep returning to a sub-par place.  DO fill it with beautiful things and thoughtful touches.  It will pay off.

What is Your Coastal Decorating Style?

We’ve done a little searching to find the most popular styles for beach home decorating. There’s an awful lot of coast in this awesome country that we live in, so there are many different flavors of coastal decorating to choose from in your quest to reflect or bring home the beach. Some examples of things that influence coastal decorating are: ethnic groups, religious influence, local traditions, military posts, climate, history of the area, local nature, commerce, and type of coast

You may not have known there were so many ways and styles to incorporate coastal decorating in your own home to reflect your personality and what you love.  We're going to show you some examples and even help you get the look!

American Coastal Cottage

Think: Beach House

Main characteristics: casual, natural fibers, infused with light, neutrals and blues, distressed/light colored wood, beachy nature (shells, coral, driftwood)stripes.

{via}




Natural Branch & Driftwood lamps

Tropical

Think: Pacific Island

Main characteristics: Casual, mosquito netting, coconut and bamboo fibers, large scale prints of palm fronds and banana leaves, tropical plants, exotic woods, wide paddled fans, tropical wood accents.

CoastalLiving.com

Teak Root Jar

Tropical Pillows

Nautical Chic

Think: Annapolis, MD

Main characteristics: Wide stripes, lighthouses, thick nautical rope, maritime accents, tighter spaces, lobsters, ships, portholes, oars, Chesapeake bay.

Traditional Powder Room by North Eastham Architects & Designers Peter McDonald Architect

  

  

Pier Lamp

Model Ship : : Porthole Mirror

Wooden Newport Rowing Oar

 

 

South Beach Modern

Think: Miami

Main characteristics: large, open spaces, large accessories, minimalistic accessorizing, abstract art, bold or neutral colors, shiny glossy surfaces, contemporary.


Sharyn Cairns Photography

Elio Chair (above) Civic Center Long Coffee Table (below)

Cape Cod Style

Think: Nantucket

Main characteristics: Renovated homes, whitewashed picket fences, grey exterior wood, traditional side of coastal decorating, white interior paneling.

{via}

California Coastal

Think: Santa Monica

Main characteristics: Trees inside, wickers, stone, huge furniture, mix of textures, vintage accessories, timeless charm.

Contemporary Living Room by Scottsdale Interior Designers & Decorators Ownby Design

Gran Timor Sconce / Andes Jute Rug

Which one is your "coastal personality?"  Where do you see yourself in each of these styles?  Sometime down the road, I'll show you even more styles that fall under the terms Tropical, Coastal, and Beachy!