The Whitewashed Kitchen: Rattan Pendants Over a Marble Island
The island is the heart of a coastal kitchen. Two natural pendants overhead make it feel like a room you want to linger in.
A Coastal Bedroom That Feels Like a Sea Breeze
The best bedrooms feel like a window left open on a warm morning. Here's how I got ours there with light and linen.
Our Sunroom Makeover: Linen, Rattan, and a Lot of Light
The sunroom was the room nobody used. Now it's the room nobody leaves. Here's the coastal makeover that did it.
Designing a Coastal Grandmother Dining Room
Coastal grandmother style is at its best in a dining room. Here's how I made ours feel collected, warm, and lit for lingering.
The Guest Room I Want to Sleep In Myself
A good guest room is a small act of hospitality. Here's how I made ours so comfortable I keep stealing it.
A Breezy Bathroom Refresh With Glass Sconces
A coastal bathroom is all about soft, flattering light. Two glass sconces at the mirror did more than a full reno would have.
Our Front Porch and Entry: The First Breath of the House
The entry is the first breath someone takes inside your home. Here's how I made ours feel like a warm Charleston welcome.
The Reading Nook by the Window
Every home deserves one chair by a window with perfect light. Here's the little coastal reading nook I built in ours.
A Coastal Nursery in Soft Whites and Naturals
A nursery should feel as calm as the baby you hope will sleep in it. Here's the soft, coastal one we created.
Our Home Office With a View of the Marsh
A workspace can be calm and coastal too. Here's the light-filled office where I get my best thinking done.
Why Warm Light Is the Secret to Coastal Rooms
You can buy the most beautiful fixture in the world and ruin it with the wrong bulb. Here's the color of coastal light.
Pendant Lights That Feel Like the Coast
Not every pendant reads coastal. Here's what to look for in shape, material, and finish — and where to hang each one.
Layering Light in a Whitewashed Room
A single overhead light flattens a room. The secret to a glowing coastal space is layering three kinds of light.
The Case for Wall Sconces in Every Room
Sconces are the most underused fixture in most homes. Eye-level light changes a room more than any ceiling fixture can.
How to Choose the Right Bulb for a Coastal Home
Bulbs are confusing on purpose. Here's everything you actually need to know to make your fixtures glow.
Glass, Rattan, or Linen? Choosing a Pendant Shade
Glass glows, rattan textures, linen softens. Here's how to pick the right pendant shade material for each room.
Bedside Sconces: The Upgrade I Recommend Most
If you make one lighting change this year, make it this one. Bedside sconces changed every bedroom in our house.
Dimmers, Warmth, and the Charleston Evening
A dimmer is the cheapest luxury you can add to a room. Here's why I put one on almost every light in our house.
Plug-In Sconces for Renters and Old Houses
You don't need to rewire a 1920s house to get beautiful sconces. Plug-in versions look hardwired when you do them right.
Lighting a North-Facing Room Without Making It Cold
North-facing rooms get cool, flat light all day. Here's how I warm one up without losing the brightness.
What 'Coastal Grandmother' Actually Means to Me
It's not seashells and anchors. Coastal grandmother is about ease, warmth, and a home that feels gathered over time.
Five Rattan Pieces I'd Buy Again
Rattan is the backbone of a coastal home. Here are the five natural pieces I'd buy again without hesitating.
The Planter Light That Lives in My Kitchen Window
Plant and light in one fixture sounds gimmicky. In practice, it's the most coastal, alive thing in my whole kitchen.
Thrifting for Coastal Character in Charleston
A coastal grandmother home should look gathered over time. Thrifting is how you get that soul honestly.
My Favorite Housewarming Gifts Under $89
The best housewarming gift is warm, useful, and suits any home. Here's my under-$89 list I return to again and again.
Building a Calm, Clutter-Free Entryway
The entryway sets the tone for the whole house. Here's the simple system that keeps ours calm instead of chaotic.
Bringing the Outside In: Biophilic Touches
Coastal style is really about connection to nature. Here's how I bring the outside in, from plants to planter lights.
The Linen Everything Edit
If one material defines coastal grandmother style, it's linen. Here's why I use it in nearly every room.
Small Swaps That Made Our House Feel Coastal
You don't need a renovation to feel coastal. Here are the small, cheap swaps that shifted our whole house.