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Dining area off the kitchen of a Westfield, NJ new home, with dome pendants over the table and French doors open to the garden on two sides

Bringing a Coastal Sensibility to a New Jersey Home

Custom Homes by MRC

Getting that Coastal Feel All Year Long

Why wait for summer to get the feeling of the warmth of the sun and the breeze of the ocean? Modern coastal home design aims to evoke the experience of the coast – without necessarily living there. 

Modern coastal blends the minimalism of modern design with the beachy feel  of traditional coastal design, resulting in a fresh, pared-back aesthetic, a signature aesthetic of Ellie Mroz Design. Classic Coastal Colonial is the built version of everything below, nowhere near the shore.

How do you create a modern coastal home?

COLOR PALETTE

Dining area off the kitchen of a Westfield, NJ new home, with dome pendants over the table and French doors open to the garden on two sides

Keep your color scheme light and subtle. That doesn’t mean dismissing color entirely – blues and beiges play well here – but mostly using lighter colors help create that sleek look. And don’t forget cedar and light woods – perfect for coastal accents and backdrop. Pay  particular attention to the floors; light/natural woods are the ideal foundation for this aesthetic.

TEXTURES

Family room of a Westfield, NJ new home under a vaulted ceiling, with woven pendants, a gray sectional and a surfboard leaning against the wall
Reading nook with a built-in window seat under a gabled shiplap ceiling in a Westfield, NJ new-construction home

Coastal homes are full of texture, and that’s because the spaces they’re evoking  - shell-line beaches, plant-filled dunes, are also full of texture.  

Textured elements in your home help make your space feel cozy and coastal. This can be created with shiplapped walls and ceilings, rattan, leather or beaded light-fixtures, planked, reeded or caned custom built-ins and plastered kitchen hoods or fire places. 

BLENDING INDOOR/OUTDOOR

Side porch of a Westfield, NJ new-construction modern farmhouse, with a stained plank ceiling, white columns and a bistro table in the shade

There’s no greater nod to coastal living than incorporating outdoor life into your home. That means designing with porches, pergolas and indoor/outdoor fireplaces in mind. And maximizing views and natural light with strategic placement of windows and doors.

OPEN CONCEPT FLOOR PLANS

 Airy and light-filled are two adjectives you’d associate with coastal homes, and this is best achieved with open-concept home designing when possible. 

But if you don’t have the option for an open-concept floor plan, you’re not out of luck. Keeping the above tips in mind — especially light palette light and streamlined, pared-down design – will make any home look more open and airy.

Questions this raises

Does a coastal-style home need to be near the shore?

No. Light, natural textures and a relaxed relationship between rooms can inform a home anywhere. The architecture and materials should still suit the actual property and the way the household lives.

How do we keep a coastal interior from feeling themed?

Focus on proportions, materials and a cohesive palette rather than a collection of motifs. Construction details and furnishings should support the same direction. EMD can provide optional full-room interior design and furnishings; construction-related design is available when MRC is the builder.