Rethinking Coastal Interior Design & Dramatic Seaside Living
When most people picture coastal interiors, visions of white-washed furniture, breezy blue-and-white textiles, and seashell motifs often come to mind. But at Trevor Fulmer Design, we believe coastal living can be equally atmospheric, layered, and sophisticated.
Our latest oceanfront retreat project redefines traditional seaside style through the use of rich textures, dramatic finishes, and sculptural elements—all while maintaining a strong connection to the surrounding water views.
Our project, titled Nautical Noir is a striking coastal condo that was recently featured in Ocean Home Magazine in an article titled The Perfect Storm. The piece highlights how this project departs from expected beach house aesthetics, embracing a moody palette, thoughtful craftsmanship, and elevated design. We're honored to have our work recognized in a publication that celebrates exceptional coastal homes.
Located along the Massachusetts shoreline, this moody coastal project blends high-contrast materials, an earth-toned palette, and contemporary forms to create a space that feels both timeless and unexpected. Whether you're a homeowner looking to transform your beachside escape or an interior designer seeking fresh inspiration, here are ten design strategies we used to bring depth, drama, and elegance to this nontraditional coastal home.
Blog Contributor:
Trevor Fulmer, Principal TFD
“Coastal interior design can be modern, edgy and moody. You have more options than blue and white striped textiles.”
- Trevor Fulmer
1. Embrace a Moody Coastal Color Palette
Trade the expected blue and white palette for a more grounded and dramatic mix of black, charcoal, walnut, and sandy taupe. These colors echo natural coastal elements, like sea-worn rocks, driftwood, and wet sand, while offering a sophisticated base for layering. Earth-toned neutrals and deep hues enhance architectural details and bring a sense of intimacy and depth that feels right at home beside the sea. Explore more before and after images here.
2. Integrate Natural Textures That Speak to Place
Coastal interior design doesn’t have to be breezy to feel authentic. Materials like jute rugs, woven seagrass, and linen-covered furniture provide an organic balance to sleek modern lines. In this project, we used grasscloth and painted raffia wallpapers to add tactile richness and soften the hard edges of contemporary forms, giving the space a lived-in and layered quality. See the entire project here.
3. Highlight the Water View (Always!)
Every design decision was made with the ocean in mind. Furniture placement, window treatments, and even lighting were orchestrated to ensure uninterrupted sightlines to the sea. We positioned sculptural lounge chairs and custom sofas to frame the horizon, creating natural moments of pause that celebrate the ever-changing light and landscape.
4. Add Movement Through Pattern
Rather than using literal coastal motifs, we drew inspiration from nature’s rhythms. Textiles, rugs, wallpapers and marble with abstract, wave-like patterns lend a sense of motion to each room without veering into the overly thematic. These patterns subtly evoke crashing waves or wind-swept dunes, grounding the home in its environment while keeping the aesthetic modern.
In the powder room we featured our Ascent grasscloth wallpaper pattern, which part of our Natural Principles collection. See the all wallcoverings here.
In the guest bedroom we incorporated our Radiance rug from our Foundations collection, in partnership with Landry & Arcari.
5. Choose Sculptural Lighting and Fixtures
Lighting in coastal homes often defaults to the nautical. Here, we reimagined that theme through a more artistic lens: rope ceiling fixture, domed pendant lights, and bubble-filled wall sconces. One of our favorite moment came to life by merging a sculptural pendant light and custom credenza. The pendant cleverly cuts though the table. All of the lighting elements reference maritime materials but offer a fresh take that feels curated rather than kitschy. Watch the video of Nautical Noir and see the light fixture in illuminate.
6. Use Curves to Soften the Architecture
From archways to rounded furniture silhouettes, curves play a crucial role in this home. In coastal environments where architecture can sometimes feel stark or utilitarian, domed archways and soft-edged furnishings add warmth and an organic counterbalance to rectilinear windows and wall planes. The result is an interior that feels both architectural and inviting.
7. Layer Reflective Finishes for Subtle Glamour
Moody doesn’t have to mean heavy. We introduced metallic accents in bronze, aged brass, and brushed nickel to reflect light and add contrast to matte textures. Whether through a reflective pendant light, a hardware detail, or a sculptural object, these finishes catch the sunlight and bring a sense of movement into darker spaces.
8. Invest in Quality Woodwork
In place of bleached or whitewashed woods, we turned to dark walnut and cerused finishes, materials and treatments that brings instant depth and richness to any coastal interior. From cabinetry to custom furniture, darks woods adds a refined contrast to lighter woven elements and enhances the moody coastal palette.
9. Curate a Mix of Art Forms
To keep the space visually interesting and emotionally resonant, we incorporated a range of artwork; from contemporary paintings to vintage sketches, abstract sculpture to portraiture. Art in this home is layered, unexpected, and often site-specific, reinforcing the idea that great design is always personal. For those designing beachside homes, mixing mediums ensures your space feels collected, not staged.
10. Make Each Room Tell a Story
Rather than design around a singular theme, we curated each space to reflect a moment or mood. A reading nook with a jute rug and unobstructed ocean views. A dining space anchored by a sculptural chandelier and hand-thrown ceramics. A bedroom framed by painted raffia and a custom designed bed frame. The common thread is a sense of place and intention, a reminder that every home by the sea can be a personal retreat.
The New Language of Coastal Interior Design
This moody oceanfront home invites a rethinking of what coastal design can be. It's not just about color schemes or nautical references, it's about atmosphere, materials, and thoughtful composition. Whether you're designing your primary residence or looking to elevate your seaside second home, consider trading the traditional for something more tactile, curated, and unexpected.
At Trevor Fulmer Design, we create modern coastal interiors that feel personal, polished, and deeply connected to their environment. If you're ready to transform your waterfront property, we’d love to help you design a home that reflects your style and your view.
Interested in learning more? Explore our portfolio or contact us to start your project.
