Modern Coastal: let’s discuss this polular style and why it suits our Sunshine coast renovations

The Modern Coastal style is a fresh, relaxed interior design aesthetic that blends the breezy, natural feel of coastal living with the clean lines and minimalism of modern design. It’s all about creating a calming, airy space that feels connected to the sea, without being themed or cliched- No boat oars or anchors! The combination of neutrals, timbers, natural textures like linen, render, rattan, timber and leather paired with the contrast of fresh, clean whites defines this style. We took the Modern Coastal style as our brief for our Mooloolaba kitchen renovation. Let’s explore this popular style and how we infused it throughout our Mooloolaba renovation.

Nail Your Base

The first point of any Sunshine Coast renovation always starts with the flooring. A timber floor, or an earthy, textural tile will add warmth, depth and pull your scheme together. For a project trying to achieve the Modern Coastal style, I like a timber that falls in the mid-range brown to blonde tone, not too red and not too yellow. This flooring is a simple Vinyl Plank, Vale ‘Spotted Gum’ 5mm. If any of your cabinetry is meeting the floor, be careful and ensure the undertones match. For a high-end or luxury renovation, I love the texture and quality of engineered timber flooring for the hardwood look and feel without the price tag or solid hardwood.

 Layer Your Whites and Neutrals

The white kitchen is the dream kitchen for many Sunshine Coast homeowners. The key to making an all-white kitchen work is by adding textures and balance to keep it from feeling too flat. Here we applied VJ panel to the front of the Island for texture, and the splashback is a simple matte white subway laid in herringbone pattern, again for subtle texture. We paired the tile with white grout for an understated finish. White cabinetry in Polytec Classic White Matte opens up this fresh space further, Classic White is a lovely clean, fresh white, one of our favourite Polytec colours. The matte finish feels contemporary and brings coastal-casual charm. The stone benchtop is Caesarstone ‘Organic White’, again it’s a beautiful clean white. Walls were painted in Dulux ‘Natural White’ which has a peachy undertone to enhance the flooring. Breaking up a beautiful white kitchen with timber is such a gorgeous and timeless combination, perfect for Modern Coastal style.

All About That Brass

Brushed Brass tapware adds a pop of glamour and warmth to this clean base of white and timber. This mixer from Reece injects the right amount of brass and I love it’s clean curve. Brushed Nickle, white, black and copper also work well with Modern Coastal style. Push-to-open overhead cabinetry enables a clean aesthetic. Handles don’t typically suit the minimalism of modern coastal, so for a streamlined finish, we went with a slimline lip pull handle in brass on the drawers.

It’s all in the Details

This kitchen works really well on its own, but the addition of a solid timber (Tasmanian Oak) breakfast bar further warms and softens the space. Another way to balance a white kitchen is by adding overhead open shelving. The basin is an undermount basin in white from Reece, repeating the white on white theme is the best way to create a clean white benchtop/ basin combo.

Styling and Accessories

Styling and accessorizing your kitchen is all about balance and harmony. When choosing barstools or seating for your white and timber kitchen, a good option is one that will allow a nice contrast to your Island. White Island? Go for a stool with timber legs. Timber Island? Go for white legs. This rule of balance applies to the benchtops also: white benchtops = timber or natural accessories like breadboards, decorative trays etc. Another tip is to contrast your pendant lights with the overhead cabinetry so again, white cabinetry = natural pendants whereas timber cabinetry = white pendants. Pendant lights are a great way to introduce more texture into this classic kitchen. Natural or woven textures like rattan, wicker, Indonesian fishing baskets or even coconut chips will add a naturalistic texture and charm.

If you are struggling with the overwhelm of making interior design selections and decisions, get in touch, Coco Interiors offers full design and build services, helping our home renovation clients from concept through to completion.