Easy breezy

A holiday home is somewhere we spend our precious time, with the idea of getting away from it all.

It can be pure joy escaping ‘real life’ for a few days, saying goodbye to the traffic and noise, opting for the simple pleasures of a quieter place instead. Somewhere where we don’t have the clutter of daily life, the do-to lists that we never seem to get around to actually doing and the piles of washing that always seem to linger.

A holiday home is somewhere we spend our precious time, with the idea of getting away from it all. The ideal destination evokes a sense of feeling energised as well as relaxed. Casual yet sophisticated, laid-back but tidy, a breezy vibe is what we’re drawn to. And this doesn’t mean you have to fill it with awkward pieces of furniture that don’t fit the space but create an atmosphere that isn’t relaxing at all.

Maybe you’ve just purchased a beach house for the first time and are about to move in. Or have you owned your holiday home for years, waiting for this moment to give it a refresh? Either way, visually tidy is key to creating a dreamy bach that is easy on the eye and relaxing on the mind.

A colour that achieves this soothing aspect well is the clear-skies blue of Resene Cut Glass. It brings to mind glistening sea waters and rippling waves. The tongue-and-groove wall in Resene Kumutoto lends a more aqua tone, adding a fun, retro element to the blue scheme, enhancing its relaxing feel.

If you can handle a sand-hued couch – with children, this is not always a possibility due to endless grubby fingers and shoes – then do so. It gives the varying tones of blue a fresh contrast.

While everyone needs a place to sit, don’t overload your living area with too much furniture. Keep it simple with a couch and a couple of stand-alone chairs, ensuring your friends and family aren’t too crammed in, but have room to stretch their legs and enjoy their own space. This seating arrangement is tidily contained on top of a rug, speckled in blues and sandy-hues – bringing together hues seen elsewhere in the room, unifying the space.

Natural fibres bring the sky-blue theme down to earth by way of the side table legs, chair, pendant and plant pot. Their presence prevents the blue tones from making the room visually too cold. Oh-so soft cushions and tactile throws in blue or sandy tones achieve the ultimate sanctuary in which you'll love lounging around. Painting additional touches of colour on your side tables and vases with tone on tone or complementary Resene paint colours will enhance the coherency of the room too. In winter, bring in candleholders in hues that tie in with the palette, and throws in thicker, woollen weaves that you can really snuggle into. You could even add a lamp to add to that cosy feeling, a blessing when the sun sets earlier in the day.

Note how there is no television in this space? With summer days spent on the beach and nights spent outdoors on the deck under the stars, there is no need for one. Instead, a majestic coastal-themed artwork takes centre stage. Within it, you can spot almost every hue across the room, from sandy neutrals to pale blues and glistening azures. Resting on the cabinet, it unites the room, giving every colour a sense of belonging.

Finally, lift the room’s atmosphere with a pot plant. Not only will it filter toxins in the air, it will balance the energy in the room. Make use of the cabinet and all its storage, keeping clutter away. Remember, this is a place to keep things simple and get back to basics. Just step inside… and relax.

Accessories: Rug, sofa, chair, candleholder and Brad Malyon Framed Canvas – Bondi Ants from Freedom Furniture, Home Republic cushions and throw from Adairs, books, dipped coffee cup, plant potholder stylist’s own.

Project by Vanessa Nouwens. Images by Bryce Carleton. 2021