Summer Is ....

Summer is...

• Travelling to a faraway place, to discover something new.
• Sitting under a big shady tree in the heat of a summer afternoon.
• Freshly mown grass, sprinklers and listening to crickets in the backyard.
• Balmy nights spent entertaining in the great outdoors with friends and family.
• Stepping from the beach onto the grass with sand between your toes.
• The lightest of fabrics allowing the sea breeze to cool your sun-kissed skin.
• Endless summer days with nothing to do but stop and take in your surroundings.
• Rich, glossy green foliage contrasting against bright, tropical flowers.
• The cool sea breeze at the end of a hot summer's day.   
• The relaxed, slower pace of life.  

 

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

{Inspired by Tim Neve - Editor Coastal Home Magazine}

Check out Coastal Style on tumblr and Pinterest

Colour Explosion

 

 

 

I love the use of colour in a beach house. It injects a sense of fun and anticipation of good things to come. It puts guests in a happy, relaxed frame of mind. City woes are left behind and the promise of easy, carefree days lie ahead. Eclectic furniture, splashes of bright colour and bold patterns all add to the sense of whimsy in these colouful and quirky beach shacks.

Melissah xox

Images via 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 

Check out Coastal Style on tumblr and Pinterest

Breaking The Rules - Decorating Tips on a Budget

Forget the expected - rethink the rulebook of decorating. 

Read on for heaps of inspiration and lots of clever and creative ideas...

When I walk into a space, I want the room to feel welcoming and inviting. I think it should reflect the owner's personality, their passions and interests. I love the concept of 'emotive decorating', which is contrary to the rulebook approach. I like to create spaces that make my clients feel happy and relaxed, and aren't just about displaying the latest "it" chair. Decorating should be a fun process, and rooms should reflect that.

Rule breaker #1: embrace colour

 

 

These days, clients are very nervous about using colour. With neutral tones playing such a key role in today's modern decorating schemes we have all become afraid of colour. So I say, splash it around and have some fun with it - afterall we are talking about a beach house here! In order not to overdo it - restrict  it to one or two colours and keep it balanced with lots of white or neutrals.

Rule breaker #2: paint everything!

Paint is your best friend. It is a cheap way to freshen up a house and give it a new look. A coat of paint can make a world of difference to a tired looking house. Paint everything :- walls, ceilings - even floors! A great way of breathing new life into vintage or unwanted furniture is to slap on a coat of paint. White is always a fool proof winner or have some fun with a soft, beachy tone like these pale blue timber shutters.

Rule breaker #3: the three Rs

I am a big believer in the three Rs: reupholster, repaint and revamp. Rework and re-invent pieces that you no longer use or love. Rather than going out and paying big dollars for a new piece - hunt around for furniture and accessories with character in antique shops, thrift stores, garage sales and on the sale tables. I shop for furniture from shops that sell ex-display furniture and I always manage to find a bargain or two!

Rule breaker #4: rethink spaces

Bathrooms and kitchens can be expensive to renovate. Use your imagination and think of creative,  decorative tricks that will add personality to the room but won't cost a fortune. Think freestanding furniture rather than built-in joinery and funky accessories like ottomans and bamboo towel ladders.

Rule breaker #5: layer up

 

Contrary to the popular, minimalist look that we are seeing with clean lined, pared back interiors when it comes to your beach house why don't you layer it up for a cosy, lived in feel. 

Rule breaker #6: supersize scale

 

Playing with scale scares clients but mixing up the scale and sizes of pieces adds individuality and interest to a room. Incorporating unexpectedly larger scaled pieces into a room lightens the mood, adds an element of whimsy and feels more relaxed. In order to not overdo the look only 'supersize' one piece in each room.

Rule breaker #7: triple your lights

One of the most important element in a room is lighting. Make sure you make the most of the natural light then incorporate different types of artificial light. Light creates warmth and ambience in a home - you can never have too many lights!. Hunt around for interesting fittings and it will add design interest to your home. Think about incorporating a mix of various lighting sources such as pendants, wall lights, step lights and downlights. Also put some thought into decorative lighting such as table lamps and floor lamps.
 

Melissah xox

Inspiration: Real Living, images via Coastal Style Pinterest

Check out Coastal Style on tumblr and Pinterest

Beware of the Warm and Cozy

Watching Bikeyface ride around the studio in circles as the sun shone weakly through frost-covered windows, I had a terrible realisation: If we weren't careful, we could fall prey to the Cozy Neighbourhood Winter Madness Syndrome. Ever since I moved to the Cambridge/Somerville area it's gotten me every year. 

Not to be confused with the Winter Doldrums or Seasonal Depression, the Cozy Neighbourhood Winter Madness Syndrome is characterised by the claustrophobia of becoming trapped by winter in our immediate surroundings. Particularly vulnerable are residents of certain urban yet peripheral neighbourhoods like ours. On the one hand, our neighbourhood is self-sufficient and has everything we need: Cafes, grocery stores, shops and a multitude of other services are within walking distance or just a short bike ride away. On the other hand, it is village-like and does not feel altogether connected to the outside world. This makes it both convenient to stay close to home once the freezing temps and snow set in, and frustrating to feel yourself trapped in a pattern of doing just that. Soon, Boston proper begins to seem as distant and foreign as Hong Kong; the outer suburbs as desolate and forbidding as Siberia. Sure, we know that it's all in our heads, that we could and should venture out beyond our shrunken travel radius. But the 'ville keeps us firmly in its clutches with its cozy cafes, charming shops and poorly plowed roads leading out of town. "Stay put, baby," the neighbourhood whispers seductively, "it's cold outside." As the winter progresses, we slowly begin to go mad from lack of contact with the outside world. Before we know it, we are speaking a dialect that only the local coffee shop baristas understand. When we finally emerge in spring the folk across the river can sense we're different.

Well, not this year. I was worldly now. I was tough. I would not be deterred by the warm, inviting glow of the Wine and Cheese Cask whilst attempting to ride past it on my way out of town. 

"Bikeyface," I said, my voice ringing with festive  determination. "I am prepared to go anywhere for lunch! I have donned many layers of wool and my bike is geared for adventure." Bravely, we bundled up and stepped into the cold. Things were going well, until we happened past a new coffee house down the road. We tried not to look directly at it. But oh how tiny it was. How comfy the people inside looked. Through the fogged up window we could make out a small unoccupied table with two chairs, just waiting for us...

Next thing I recall, I was sitting across from Bikeyface, chewing on a delicious spinach pie and sipping a hot cappuccino. A David Bowie song played in the background. Humming along, the barista glanced in our direction meaningfully, as if to say "You see ladies? No need to go anywhere; we got everything you need right here." A customer approached the counter and ordered a hot beverage. It was only January, and already he spoke in the local dialect. 

Summer Skincare Tips

EVERYDAY CARE

You and your skin are younger now than will ever be again, 

so enjoy the way you look today and take time to 

look after one of your most important assets

Living by the beach can take it's toll on your skin - 

salt, wind and sun all have damaging effects

 so that's why we need to vigilant with looking after our skin,

so it's soft, healthy, youthful and nourished.

 .... here are few clever tips to help you on your way.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

TOO MANY TEMPTING SKINCARE PRODUCTS

Smearing on product after product might make you think you're doing the best for your skin, but it isn't worth the effort—or the money. 

Actually, the more treatments you use, the more likely you're to develop an allergy or irritation - plus the products won't work as well. 

A balanced approach is a better option—so focus on a couple products with the ingredients your skin needs most. 

MOISTURE RICH

TRICK OF THE TRADE...

Never  rub moisturiser into your face, pat it on. 
Rubbing actually takes it off your skin and disperses it in different places.

 Patting it on helps the skin soak it up.

Now you know!

SQUEAKY CLEAN

ALWAYS WASH YOUR FACE BEFORE BED...

Letting skin marinate in makeup - not to mention a day's worth of oil buildup - can lead to clogged pores and blemishes, especially if you're prone to oily skin. Your body temperature increases slightly when you sleep, which can enhance absorption of whatever's on the surface - so you really want only beneficial ingredients on your face when you sleep. And another thing to remember ~ the longer your cleanser is left on your skin, the drier your skin will become - so always rinse after 60 seconds. 

Melissah xox 

{Source: Bella Mumma (modified)}

Check out Coastal Style on tumblr and Pinterest

Once More with Feeling: the Return of the Winter Tire Dilemma

After last year's mild winter, this holiday season caught us off guard with a bountiful snowfall. My two ridable transport bikes at the moment are a Brompton and a 650B prototype mixte (more on that soon). The mixte sports 42mm Grand Bois Hetre tires, and so I thought it would be a great idea to ride it in the snow. After all, the Hetres ride so nicely over unpaved, uneven terrain. Crusty snow feels kind of similar. I took to the streets. 

Here I will pause to admit, that despite 3 previous winters of cycling behind my belt, I had never before ridden on roads that look quite like what's pictured here. There was never a need to, since our neighbourhood usually gets plowed and salted pretty thoroughly. Typically the streets look more like this - with snowbanks piled high on the sides, but the travel lanes mostly cleared. This time around, maybe on account of the holidays, they had not cleared the snow all that well. I got to experience the real deal. 

The snow on the roads created terrain of three distinct categories. There was the even, packed snow. Riding on it felt similar to riding on post-rain dirt roads, nicely packed and kind of softish. The Hetres handled well there. There was the crusted-over snow, uneven and slippery at times, though not outright icy. This too felt manageable. And then there were the occasional stretches of deeper, slushier snow. I expected it to feel similar to mud, but it was way more slidey and my front wheel kept fishtailing. Still, overall I thought that the tires did fine. There were only a few stretches where I felt uneasy, and I attributed that to a lack of confidence. 

So I got home and uploaded some pictures of my snow ride, planning to comment on how decently the Grand Bois Hetres handled. But promptly the pictures received feedback from others to the opposite effect, warning that these tires ride poorly in the snow. The fact that I happily rode them and felt they were fine strikes me as funny - in a concerning sort of way. Ideally, I'd like to be able to tell the difference between lack of traction and lack of confidence.

And so, once more the Winter Tire Dilemma is upon me. Naturally, everyone is suggesting studded tires. This is my 4th winter commuting by bike and I have yet to try them. Partly this is because they are expensive and I cannot seem to commit to a wheel size. I am riding 650B now, but in winters past I've ridden 26", 28" and 700C, and who knows what I'll be riding next winter. I am also convinced that getting studded tires and mounting them on my bike will activate the Umbrella Carrying Principle, ensuring that I will not need them. 

Finally, the very fact of having gotten through 3 winters without them makes me question whether I really need studs. Winters here aren't really that bad, and tires with some tread seem to do pretty well. The Schwalbe Marathon Plus are the husband's favourite for city slush and snowy paths alike, and they are even available for the Brompton's wheel size. The performance-oriented Continental Top Winter IIs also come highly recommended. Knobby mountain bike tires are another popular choice. One issue, as I understand it, is that no tire is equally good for both snow and ice. Studded tires help with ice, but not snow. Tires with heavy tread help with snow, but not ice. This winter, my commutes cover longer distances and more remote areas than previously, so a good winter tire is worth considering ...though with all the choices and factors involved, I suspect spring might come by the time I decide. 

New Year's Resolution

 

LOVING THESE SENSIBLE, NO-NONSENSE TIPS

 TO GET YOUR NEW YEAR EATING BACK ON TRACK...

1. Always eat breakfast People who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight. Eating first thing in the morning revs up your metabolism and really gets you going for the day.

2. Don’t skip meals People who do, often find themselves feeling hungry (because their blood sugar levels have dropped) that they turn to foods like biscuits or lollies for a quick sugar fix. 

3.Eat smaller portions. To prevent overeating serve meals on smaller plates and stop eating when you feel satisfied rather than uncomfortably full. As a wise friend once said: the best exercise for losing weight is to push yourself away from the table!

4. Make water your first option Have a drink of water if you feel like something between meals because you may need fluids, not food. Research suggests that having two glasses of water before a meal reduces the quantity of food you consume. 

5. Slow down Allowing at least 20 minutes to eat your meal gives your brain time to register that you are satisfied. So take small mouthfuls and chew your food well. 

6. Keep track of your weight Weigh yourself weekly to monitor what’s happening with your weight. People who weigh themselves regularly are more successful at maintaining their weight. 

7. Eat at the table Don’t mindlessly eat in front of the TV. By eating together as a family at the dining table, it slows down food consumption and you tend to eat less. 

  
8. Eat rainbows The easiest way to ensure a healthy diet with a good intake of vitamins and minerals and other vital antioxidants is to always have a colourful array of foods on your plate. 

9. Spice up your diet Herbs and spices are rich sources of antioxidants so add oregano and mint to your Greek salad, a few basil leaves to your tomato salad and lemongrass, ginger and chilli to your favourite Thai salad dressing. 

10. Make it wholegrain. Choose wholegrain bread and other grain foods instead of overly processed varieties because they are the best energy foods for the brain and working muscles.

Melissah xox

{Source: Karen Inge, Jenny Craig Dietician / Images Cannelle et Vanille and Pinterest }


Check out Coastal Style on tumblr and Pinterest