Well, first of all, I would like to say your home is beautiful!
My suggestions are:
-take up rug and replace with sisal
-add beachy color throw pillows....green, blue, white
-move the green chairs back more and recover the ottoman and put it in front of the two chairs.
-pack away all the things on your bookcase that you would have in your everyday home and replace them with pottery, seashells, summer reading books
-line the mantle with white candles of varying sizes
-find baskets to fit behind the chicken wire on the bookshelves and put toys, magazines or other items that you don't want out all the time.
I love beach homes and often dream of how I would decorate one, so thanks for letting me live vicariously through you!!!!
Please let us see what you decide to do. I would love to see the finished product!

I love pine wood it really warms the room up.I have sofas that color myself. I would leave the walls but update that fireplace. At least paint the brick and toss the brass.
I tried sisal on my tile floors and it felt well, crunchy.My suggestion would be to feel it first before you buy .I also think sisals texture would be good but I have only seen it in natural and I think you have too much NATURAL color going on.
Pizazz it up a bit.I think some white drapes would lighten that wall up even if they dont work you could at least take them into the corners.
Looks like fun! Hope you have a great set of Binocs to enjoy the view.
tanya

Love, love, love your view!
First thing I would do is slipcover the sectional in a comfy cotton that feels good in a bathing suit and is washable. Perhaps a indigo? Slicover the two club chairs along with the ottoman in a coordinating cotton stripe, floral, or whatever pattern you like.
Keep accessories, lamps and wall decor light in feel and tone. For example the stained glass lamp replaced with a white ceramic lamp. Use your blue pottery with found accessories from the beach - driftwood, shells, sand in glass containers topped with a candle.
Then add everything declansmom suggested.
What a great place!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sectional slipcover

I just spotted this lovely inspiration room over on coastal living's website. Since you've decided to keep the paneling, this might be a start:

I really like the two green chairs and the little table in between, the coffee table, the built-ins and fireplace, the beams, the paneling, and THE VIEW!!!

The rug--I agree it's more tropical than simply beachy. I agree on using a sisal or faux sisal replacement. Sadly, the leather sofas aren't doing it for me--they are contemporary in style and leather does not convey "beach" IMO. I'd look at slipcovering the sofas if possible. Or, perhaps trading them out at some point.

I think one main problem with the arrangement is that you've really got three focal points (the view, TV, and fireplace). It would be easier if you could eliminate one...hmmm, I wonder which one? LOL! I'd really lobby for a new flatscreen installed over the mantel. If you did that, you could scoot the sofa back to the wall, and move the green chairs in as part of the seating arrangement. Then you'd have room in front of the window for a games table if you wanted.

What is going on in the other direction, behind the loveseat?

Here is a link that might be useful: coastal living galleries

Move the furniture to take advantage of the view!!!!

If it were me, I would paint all the walls & fireplace white, sisal rug, etc. For inspiration, check out the photos of luxury vacation homes on VRBO (see Kiawah Island S.C., Seabrook Island, etc.)

Not liking the modern leather sectional in your "quaint" beach house. I would get rid of everything except the picture over the FP, and pull colors from that. I picture slipcovered sofa; painted furniture (do like the coffee table), maybe a couple of painted rocking chairs with fun colored cushions. The house looks country now, not "beachy".

I love GOOD pine panelling, and your pine panelling is definitely GOOD, so worth keeping.

But I think there's simply too much of it in the room for the space to feel 'beachy'. Pine panelling reads country and woodsy, not beachy. In limited doses, it can also read cottage, but I think your room exceeds the recommended 'cottage' dose. So much as it pains me to say it, I'm going to say 'less pine'. I'm wondering about either a pickling stain, a whitewash or white paint on the pine for most of the walls -- not the fireplace section, but most of the other walls. Lighten the color while still keeping the wonderful material and texture. (I know - it really does pain me to even suggest it -- But the conflict is 'material' versus 'location' and the location won't change.)

Then I'd agree about losing the leather sectional. Leather just isn't beachy, and a sectional is a very dominant furniture piece that dictates a room's focal point. Your room has multiple focal points and your furniture layout should reflect that.

Your green chairs are great in the room, so I'd go for more pieces along those lines -- large comfy chairs in light colors and comfy fabrics or slipcovers that could be oriented toward the fireplace, the TV, a game of Scrabble or the fabulous view.

The rug is a 'maybe' if the pine and furniture are lightened.

When I commented on your other thread I got the impression the room was in some kind of a Lodge, not beach front.

This really is "A Room With A View". Goodness, who knew?

Look at the colors in your first picture. Let them dictate your decorating choices.

Change out the shelf and mantle accessories to lighter and brighter, with shells and candles.

Replace the sofa with a fabric sofa. Perhaps in a stripe with green, blue, brown and cream?

The rug is too dark. You can get a wool sisel that's soft on the feet but looks like the real thing.

Artwork? I'd go with summery, beachy scenes and frame them in white. Something like this, maybe.

http://www.allposters.com/framestep/?CID=bf213ecfbf7e45788d4f1a9605060248&apnum=2855019&PODConfigID=0amp;FID=&IID=&Referrer=DLE

Here is a link that might be useful: fabric

The three pieces that jump out to me that are Not working are the sofa, the rug, and the large print over the sofa.

I don't know where the house is, but at one time this (or even bare studs in some rooms) were a typical beach house interior in some parts, and one that is rapidly disappearing. This dark interior would actually say "beach" to a lot of people over 40.(Actually this entire form of house is disappearing in a lot of shore towns and being replaced with gigantic rental/condo structures).

If you look at a lot of inspiration pics you will notice Absence of Pattern. In a general sense I would keep this in mind when selecting a rug, sofa, and additional artwork, and lamps. Blocks of white or washed out color.

I'm following the direction here...but something important you need to know about fabric on furniture for the living room: The house is on the water, often w/ fog rolling through the family room. Even the sunbrella fabrics on the deck have this black, spotty mold growing on it, that is not removable with any sprays or bleach -- no matter how strong or how diluted. (We call it the "smoke monster' a la Lost). The green chairs are mottled with Lysol "bleach spots"., and because they are cotton, when it's wet outside, water drops sit atop the fabric before they get absorbed into the chair itself. Dampness is the price paid for a beach house. The only thing untouched is... the leather sofa! We have gone through many couches over the years that were clearly better for the room, including denim sectionals. Wool and cotton, (rugs, curtains, furniture) given that they are natural fabrics, are the WORST for waterfront homes. Synthetic rules here, unfortunately, and even with that, it's a challenge. Work w/ the leather?? I've thrown out many generations of pillows, etc.

Here is a pic with the pine paneling. I wish I could scan photos...I got a magazine not too long ago - like Costal something - & it had a house with limed pine walls. It was gorgeous.

Could you reconfigure a bookshelf to hold a flat screen with components in the cabinet? Maybe put shirred fabric behind the wire on the cabinet doors. I like the suggestions of sisal wool rug & slipcovered furniture or going off the picture above - a striped indoor/outdoor rug (they are cheap & wear like iron). Ballard's Designs has a slip covered sofa for like 799 - have no idea about the quality. Blue/green & white/cream would be wonderful colors in there. I wonder if you could put a swivel mechanism on the pretty green club chairs so you could turn and face that gorgeous view? A pedestal style table between the chairs would not block the windows.

Maybe a game table in the corner for casual breakfast & games. We love to play games at our lakehouse.

I bet there are local artist around - a shell encrusted mirror to bounce light - driftwood found washed up on the beach. This is going to be fun!!

Smiles:)

Well the first thing I noticed about inspiration pic #1 was that the books and the taxidermy would deteriorate in real life.

Its too bad people don't think of naugahyde any more in residential settings. There are some really nice naugahydes and other synthetic leathers that feel decent and have some great colors...a light colored sofa covered in that could be bulletproof. (Much more than a white or chambray blue leather would be, for example.)

Dash and Albert makes some polypropylene rugs that would be appropriate.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dash and Albert Indoor Outdoor

Love that pine paneling! That pic from Coastal Living is wonderful.

I would also lose the rug (it is Florida-uesq) and replace w/ sisal.

Is the furniture staying or being replaced? I got the impression that it is staying.

I love the ability to sit in front of a fireplace so I would leave the sofa there. Would you consider placing castors on the chairs so that you can swivel for the view or turn them back when family and friends are enjoying the fire and company?

Frame the view w/ pale blue curtains. Use pale blue and green pillows.

Simplify the bookcases and find light colored baskets that fit the shelves to coral other items. IKEA has some great driftwood colored baskets.

I"m so jealous of your view!

Instead of going for the typical white washed slipcover sisal something gotta give kinda beach look, ever thought of doing it in California mid century beach bungalow style? Your front window reminds me of the 1960ish bungalow around here.

I would use a vintage teak frame sofa with loose cushions (easy to clean and change out - you can even use vinyl on these cushions and it would still look chic). Maybe float a couple Eames lounge chair in the middle of the room so I can swivel out to gaze at the ocean, or swivel in to enjoy the TV or fireplace. (any other swiveling chair would do but the Eames are low to the ground so it won't obstruct the view. Also, it's beautiful from the back and all angle). I would throw in the mix couple sculptural wood chair with minimal fabric. I would use some of Trina Turk graphic outdoor fabric to add some punch.

http://www.fschumacher.com/collections/trinaturk.aspx

Maybe something along the line of these furniture...you can find these on CL quite easily (usually cheaper if purchased from owner than from dealer!)

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/fud/1730249466.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/fuo/1729787634.html

You should check out Tim clarke site. His coastal modern collection may give some good inspiration.

Here is a link that might be useful: timclark coastal modern

I still think (from your previous thread) that painting the bookcases might help 'lighten' the heaviness of all that natural wood.

Your room with the view reminds me of a 40s beach cottage we rented for a week in the FL panhandle. The whole place was pine-paneled.

First off, your home is gorgeous and your view is magnificent.

I think you have too many colors going on, with the rug, the blue objects in the cabinet, the chairs, the big red picture. Although, I love the chairs and the color, but I would slip cover them in a warm neutral cream or tan.

I would paint the pine a warm cream, to make it light and airy. In fact, I would go with white on white in white. Is there anything prettier and crisper than cream and white, I think not, but that's me.

I would have slip covered sofa's in cream or tan or beige. I would even have a whipped cream colored area rug with tan floor pillows.

I think a little black in any room looks wonderful, maybe a big shabby chic cabinet or coffee table. I happen to like your coffee table and I would shabby chic it in black. I see you have black and white framed photo's in there, keep them.

How about some big antique fern prints? There not that expensive and I think they look good framed in lucite, not actual frames. You can even buy brown ferns if you like.
Decorate with tons of seashells and beautiful coral in your cabinet. Why not buy some antique plates (old white Ironstone) or buy some blue transferware and keep with the blue. The plates are not that expensive.
Buy some warm throws for cold evenings in stripped cream and beige or tan. And buy some canvas or ticking sofa or floral pillows in cream or tan.
How about a telescope in front of that beautiful window? What do you think of buying a big sail boat for the mantel? Although, that has been done so much, but it is good looking, no? Or a big canvas beachy painting or even a water color.

Oh gosh did I see that you HAVE to keep the pine? Looking at the cabinets painted in cream is just beautiful.
And I wouldn't decorate with anchors or big ropes or cheap fish.

I would use some big palms in there, it would look great.

I wouldn't think too much about drapes, just simple panels. Your view is the star!

...Jane

If your fireplace is not gas, put a few pieces of white birch wood in a basket beside the fireplace.

{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Hi Moneypitzela,
This is fun, I always dream of re-doing a beach house. I know most of us don't like to paint wood but at the end of the day, it's a building material right? I love painted wood, I think it makes any natural wood tones left in the room extra special....
My ideas are:
1. Paint the pine paneling on the walls white.
2. Paint the built-ins flanking the fireplace AND the fireplace white
3. Leave the paneling above fireplace, beams, doors, and inside back of built-in shelves wood. (leaving the paneling inside the shelves stained will make everything you put on there "pop" if the rest of the unit is white.
4. A sisal rug or something similar.
5. Keep the coffee table and arm chairs, they're perfect!
6. A new picture over the sofa or some other type of casual wall art.

Looks like you received loads of ideas, hope some of us managed to inspire you!

I don't mind the sofa, the color reminds me of the sand on the beach. I think the two things that bother me with color are the Rug, and also the picture above the sofa. It would be nice to see a sea scape or something with muted blues, greens, in it. I am not sure of the rug, I know they can be pricey. The I think that throw pillows, and maybe side curtain panels could tie in some color. Also I like to see books at a cottage/summer home. You might try to group some of the pottery together. Try to post when you are finished. It is a beautiful place!

While it does look a bit more lodge with the leather seating and the pine walls, I like them both and would work with them. Why do you have to have a beach look? Why not just have a cozy, comfy look and add some beach accents. Replace the rug as Mona said with a wool "sisal." The table looks too stark white with the leather to me. If you keep the leather, then I would paint that table a dark cream or an accent color.

Really to me the layout is the real problem. I hope that Les responds. She is so good at rearranging. I can't tell how much depth you have in the room, or if the leather piece is a sectional or a loveseat and sofa, but the chairs lined up with the TV are just too much on that side. You need another place for the TV; a flat screen could sit atop the cabinets on the fireplace wall. I would make a reading nook over by the window with one chair and a small table and lamp, all off to one side so that the view isn't blocked.
Diane

I live on an island, and your room has some similarities to mine. I painted my paneling an Ellen Kennon Cream. I wouldn't have done it if the paneling had been cypress which my MIL had and it was gorgeous. But to me, pine is not attractive unless it is on the floor. I felt like I was in a cave and it was depressing. Those who like it haven't tried to live in it.
So, I would paint the paneling and then you could begin to have a neutral scheme to work from. The second thought I had would be to take down that "curly que" board atop the bookcases and have it sawn straight. I also had to do that. It is easy and doesn't cost anything. Maybe put some more personal items on the shelves. Driftwood, shells, a couple of family snapshots. Hope this helps. Your view is spectacular.

Didn't read all of the great advice, so probably I'm repeating something. I think that you should put something in front of the windows to take advantage of that incredible view. The green chairs, perhaps or a small table? Someplace a little bit removed from the main action in the gorgeous living room. I would move the TV into a room that wasn't part of the main living room. Or place it in a darker corner (if there is one), say to the left of the cool black and red flowered pic. This would mean turning the furniture the other direction. Just a 90, not a 180. And then, lighten up the colors of the furniture, but leave the fireplace alone for now. I think you'll find that it grows on you and, imo, it's gorgeous! What a lucky person you are to live in such a beautiful home. Enjoy!

I adore beach house pine paneling, but I don't care for the rug. I think beach houses need those sisal type rugs. Also, decor should be minimal and reflective of the outdoor surroundings - shells, weathered wood.... Use the colors of the sea, sky, and sand only. And lots of white. Sheer white curtains blowing in the ocean breeze don't hurt either! That is my idea of a home by the sea.

Before painting that paneling, I'd try the pickeling or whitewash suggestions. Similar to the second pic with the seashell that newdawn displayed. As for a rug, I'd look into an indoor/outdoor rug that is easy care for your climate. If sheer white curtains work in your climate, those would be lovely as well. Agree complete with jen's suggestion to "use the colors of the sea, sky and sand."

Pls. show us progress pics.