HOW TO FIND YOUR COASTAL
The coast.
For me, it represents a place of constant change and boundless energy. The salty air, the painterly skies and golden light, the textures of the landscape and the houses weathered by time—the coast stimulated my five senses when I was growing up.
I spent countless hours from infancy through my teenage years on the Rhode Island shore and Block Island, and this is where my spirit blossomed. There were storms along the way, but somehow the coast kept me on a course headed due North. I was deeply in tune with this journey. I knew it was more than myself that was steering my ship.
The coast is something bigger than all of us. It’s where earth, sea, and sky become one. It is my home and it has given me comfort for as long as I recall. This is where I found my coastal.
I grew up in the 60s and 70s, an era that celebrated creative and personal freedom. I felt empowered to determine my own sense of purpose and followed my instincts into the world of design. Surrounded by textile mills in Western Massachusetts, I spent my days exploring fabrics, pattern making, and sewing my wardrobe. I was driven and resourceful, and I was comfortable embracing the unknown. I dreamed big, and those dreams became a force to be reckoned with.
Today, I channel these experiences to guide others in finding their coastal. It’s a highly personal process. Rather than work from a formula, I get to know my clients, channeling both what they tell me and what my intuition illuminates. Concurrently, I think about the principles of design, mindful of connecting elements such as color and texture to formulate a rhythm for each project. This paves the way for a fresh perspective on a home’s floor plan.
The end result of my collaborations with my clients transcends the physical structure. It’s a feeling—a memory of being at the seaside, feeling the soothing and sultry hues that linger during sunlight-filtered days in an idyllic summer season.
Want to find your coastal? Try these color experiments:
See where your instincts take you - search out YOUR favorite colors that speak to your soul:
✴︎ Meander in a paint store and select four colors from the paint display rack that speak to you; don’t think about why you like them—just go with it.
✴︎ Purchase sample sizes in latex flat (and get a few foam brushes—no need to invest in a fancy brush for this exercise).
✴︎ Stroke the pigment on a piece of 8 x 10 (or larger, if you desire) mixed-media paper or foam core.
✴︎ Hang these sample boards in a light-filled space and live with them for a few days. See how the color interacts with the light as it changes throughout the day.
When you’ve found your color, seek out a tired-looking room in your home that could benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Paint a wall, niche, or woodwork in the room.
Spiritual Design Principle: Be a seeker in search of your true self.