Blending the East and West Coast

As interior designers, we are asked a gamut of questions, but the prevailing theme is “Why East Coast/West Coast Blending.”  Well, to begin our team of two is from both coasts, California and Massachusetts born and bred, so why not take the best of each aesthetic, and combine them? The weathered historical beauty of the East with the cool vibes of the West- sounded like a match made in proverbial heaven for us when dreaming up a business model five years ago.  

So how do we do this and have it all make sense and feel uniform- our second most asked question before “Yikes, how much will it all cost.”  This idea is not rocket science, but it must be something bred into our being, something we live in every day- something we grew up with.  Christina being from Southern California and Briegh from coastal Massachusetts we have authentically covered both coasts.  First off you need vision and the ability to combine styles seamlessly. No, not with lobster prints and an overuse of nautical or anchor themes. 

Let’s say you want the East Coast/West Coast vibe in your home, how do you achieve this?  Simply stated it is a combination of elements.  First, you need antiques, the East Coast is filled with beautiful antiques shipped from France and England, you can find these in most places, antique stores, and consignments, heck even Facebook Marketplace has cool stuff you can sift through.  Invest in quality antiques that you can keep forever and reuse in various spaces and rooms. Next, you need texture, California style is all about layering.  A rule of thumb we use in all designs is layered: fabrics, rugs, patterns both large and small print, and a fuzzy element whether it be a throw or a sheepskin pillow- wools, linens, stripes, plaids they all have a place in Blend style.  

Using a simple color pallet is also key- not painting each room a different color but keeping it cohesive in whatever colors suit your fancy.  Use variations of colors throughout rooms whether you like greens, browns, blues, or simply whites- use a variation throughout your home all on the same pallet scale. We super love to use Roman Clay finish or Limewash on walls.    

Woods, woods, and woods are a necessity in any Blend Designed home. New England is known for the beautiful woods that are found locally – there is so much more than white oak out there that makes an impact.  Walnut has been a personal favorite lately and Hickory is also beautiful.  Line small rooms with wood or use wood on your interior wood windows for added warmth. 

Lastly, stone- you see the most amazing stone walls all over New England and homeowners utilize stones from their soil to partition their plots of land.  Stone is so innately New England.  Using stone inside and outside: entryway, flooring in bathrooms or an accent wall in kitchens are all a nod to New England architecture. A stone pot or urn would also do the trick. 

Living in California and then in New England for over 15 years has allowed Blend Designs to truly understand the complexities of “blending” these two vastly different styles.  We believe there is no better combination of styles than California and New England.  When someone walks into a home we designed in New England and explains that the space feels very California, we have succeeded in our design.