Nautical Decorating Ideas For Outside

Marlin on Mantle

Francesco Lagnese

These rooms prove that seaside is chic with bold stripes, weathered wood, and a classic red, white, and blue palette.

blue sofa

José Picayo

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Because she needed so much curtain fabric — 80 yards — Harper used three inexpensive linens and had her workroom sew them together with bold horizontal bands of navy. Sofa in Cowtan & Tout's Crispin. Club chairs in Ferrick Mason's Lucas Check. Asilah Mosaic rug, Niba.

Francesco Lagnese

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Inventive Curtains

Because she needed so much curtain fabric — 80 yards — in a North Carolina sitting room, designer Lindsey Coral Harper used three inexpensive linens and them sewn together with bold horizontal bands of navy. Sofa in Cowtan & Tout's Crispin. Club chairs in Ferrick Mason's Lucas Check. Asilah Mosaic rug, Niba.

white bathroom

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Life Preserver

The guest bath in designer Ken Fulk's vacation home "feels authentic to the period of the house, but also clean and modern," he says. Pedestal tub and fixtures from Sunrise Specialty.

blue and white bedroom

José Picayo

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bedroom with patterned bedding

Ngoc Minh Ngo

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Mismatched Fabrics

"We call this 'the sailor room,' because we went all out with the nautical theme," designer Ken Fulk says of a bedroom in his Massachusetts vacation house. "The mix-and-match nature of the patterns and faded batik prints make it feel like it's a collection of old textiles brought back from a journey at sea." John Robshaw bedding. Antique cage lights hang from an antique metal four-poster bed that belonged to the previous owner.

bathroom

Victoria Pearson

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Sea Glass

This California bath designed by Heidi Bonesteel and Michele Trout is as refreshing as a dip in the pool. A ribbon of blue glass tiles wraps around the room and ripples like water.

Wood, Room, Interior design, Floor, Textile, White, Home, Wall, Drawer, Flooring,

Victoria Pearson

7 of 54

Steamer Trunks

Two vintage Louis Vuitton suitcases propped on wood blocks and topped with a tray serve as a night table in a Napa Valley vacation home. Bed and bedding by Ralph Lauren.

kitchen with blue tile

Julian Wass

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Clear Blue

A backsplash takes over an entire wall in a home on Fire Island. Baskets under the island hold large platters and the lobster pot. The Pere Tranquille bistro stools from Annick de Lorme are made in France and can be customized in various colors and patterns. Veneto glass tiles from Stone Source. Heavy-duty marine lights above the island from Architrove. Deschutes sconces from Rejuvenation. All paint in the kitchen is Ralph Lauren Paint's Pocket Watch White.

vase wallpaper

Francesco Lagnese

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Stairwell Accents

Hemisphere maps are suspended from a brass picture rail in the stairway of a New England home.

White, Room, Countertop, Furniture, Interior design, Lighting, Property, Ceiling, Light fixture, Kitchen,

Tara Striano

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blue and white striped bed

Luca Trovato

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Blue Check

In the master bedroom of a California home, the small-scale pattern of C&C Milano's Gentleman Pied de Poule on a pair of Wisteria X-base stools plays against the bold blue-and-white stripe on Restoration Hardware's Directoire bed. Carpet by Stark.

antique crystal ship chandelier

Frederic Lagrange

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Whimsical Lighting

An antique crystal ship chandelier from Jonathan Burden sails over a glass-top dining table in a Brooklyn townhouse. Benjamin Moore Waterborne Ceiling Paint in Bird's Egg.

victorian hat rack

Francesco Lagnese

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Mounted Map

In the back hall of a Rhode Island home, a Victorian hat rack stands against wallpaper charting the coast outside. Rug by Beauvais.

blue corduroy sofa

Francesco Lagnese

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Warm Wood

The sofa in a Rhode Island home pairs Clarence House blue corduroy with seat covers in Peter Dunham's Samarkand. A bold-patterned Indian rug echoes azure tiles in the kitchen, framed by faux-bois-painted walls and trim in Benjamin Moore's Linen White.

white bathroom

Christopher Baker

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Bleached White

Bead board in the master bath gives a Savannah home the attitude of an old beach house. A Tria Giovan ocean photo hangs above a Savoy Freestanding Oval tub by Waterwork.

dining room with stripe rug

Christopher Baker

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living room

Francesco Lagnese

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Ceiling Decor

An old fishmonger's sign hangs over the sitting area in a Hamptons cottage.

blue bedroom

Christopher Baker

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bathroom

Jonny Valiant

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Caribbean Splash

"Powder rooms are places where you can gild the lily," said designer Mona Ross Berman of this colorful half bath. "We used a loud geometric in a bright ocean blue to give it a slightly over-the-top feeling." Wallpaper is Recessed from Studio Printworks.

wall anchor

Francesco Lagnese

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Preppy Pennants

In the guest bedroom of a waterfront home, vintage nautical flags inspired the choice of striped bed linens from Pottery Barn.

bunkbed

Jonny Valiant

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moorish chest

Francesco Lagnese

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Pattern, Pattern Everywhere

Persian Pear wallpaper by Joanna Rock envelops the master bedroom in a waterfront home. The Simla sleigh bed from Robert Lighton is accented with throw pillows from Lynda O'Connor and Max & Company on top of embroidered pillow shams by Jed Johnson. Wisteria's Moorish chest doubles as a night table. Rug by Oscar Isberian.

danse azul artistic tile

Francesco Lagnese

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Swirling Waves

A stunning wall of Azul Cielo and Thassos marbles, cut with a water jet into a delicate Art Nouveau-like motif, is the focal point of the master bathroom in a Lake Michigan home. The pattern is Danse Azul by Artistic Tile. Etoile faucet and undermount tub by Waterworks encased in Calacatta marble.

Blue, Room, Interior design, Floor, White, Kitchen, Major appliance, Home, Cabinetry, Turquoise,

Francesco Lagnese

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Waterfront Views

Two farmhouse sinks, from Rohl on the island and Kallista by the window, have an old-fashioned look in a lake house kitchen. Faucets by Barber Wilsons. Blue mercury-glass pendants from Gallery L7 pick up the color theme.

blue swordfish mantel display

Francesco Lagnese

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Marlin Above the Mantle

The layering of pattern on pattern in this Lake Michigan house starts with the living room fireplace, decorated with kaleidoscopic Moroccan tile from Urban Archaeology. Designer Martin Horner of Soucie Horner upholstered the sofas in not one, but two fabrics — Dedar's Sottosopra on the frame and Bergamo's Ucria on the cushions. Throw pillows made out of vintage textiles by Lynda O'Connor add more color. C&C Milano's Pienza Rafano covers the club chairs. Rug by Oscar Isberian.

Room, Wood, Interior design, Floor, Wall, Flooring, Interior design, Picture frame, Hardwood, Linens,

Alec Hemer

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Anchor Doorstop

A clever weight props open the doors to this beach house.

Tall ship, Mast, Petal, Sailing ship, Bouquet, Barquentine, Boat, Watercraft, Full-rigged ship, Shelving,

Victoria Pearson

27 of 54

Curated Accessories

A boat model, shells, and coral reflect California seaside life in a West Coast bungalow.

Blue, Room, Drawer, Interior design, Teal, Turquoise, Aqua, Cabinetry, Chest of drawers, Office equipment,

Victoria Pearson

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Moby Dick

Walnut Wallpaper's "Little Whales" is buoyant backdrop for a children's room inside a California cottage.

Purple, Flower, Lavender, Violet, Flowering plant, Shrub, Creative arts, Floral design, Hydrangeaceae, Annual plant,

Alec Hemer

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Scrimshaw Fireplace

This beach house's mantle was inspired by the work of sculptor Louise Nevelson. It's composed of scraps of wood from the project and various woodworkers' shops and was made by Alethea Patton. Metal surround by Brian Kennedy. Sconce from Erin Martin Design.

Interior design, Room, Floor, Table, Furniture, Flooring, Interior design, House, Hearth, Living room,

Bjorn Wallander

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New England Touches

John Knott and John Fondas transformed a onetime hotel into their Maine summer house. The living room's vivid fabrics, all by Knott's firm, Quadrille, pack a playful punch, while Syrian inlaid chairs and Chinese ceramic stools evoke the cosmopolitan taste of New England seafarers.