A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE:
Annika Berglund:
whether its to carry, grind, paint, fix, or scrape... on days when I have Annika around, the work is both easier and more fun.
Kajsa & Kalle:
my favorite models.
Lena & Bernt:
for a lovely (if blustery) day spent at the great ship chandler on the Swedish island of land.
Agneta /Fronica & Cor/ Malin & Johan:
they opened the doors wide to their lovely homes for our photography sessions.
Kosta Boda Art Hotel:
their beautiful stone barn became our photography studio for a day.
Thomas:
my supportive and encouraging husband - year after year, book after book.
Eva:
my editor in Sweden, critic, friend, and brainstorming partner.
Monica:
she transforms visions into real books.
Marion Beijnink:
photographer and coastal explorer with a keen eye for poetical beauty.
Tommy:
photographer extraordinaire.
Copyright 2013 by Anna rnberg
English Translation 2015 by Skyhorse Publishing
First published in 2013 as Inred med marin inspiration by Anna rnberg, Bokfrlaget Semic, Sundbyberg, Sweden
Photo Tommy Durath
Graphic design Monica Sundberg
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .
Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
Cover design Eric Kang
Print ISBN: 978-1-63220-367-0
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63450-110-1
Printed in China
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE
Its ubiquitous, yet awe-inspiring. Many agree with me that water is wonderful in most of its incarnationsglinting lakes, or mighty oceans, babbling brooks and rushing rapids, over rocky cliffs or by long stretches of sandy or pebbly beaches. We are drawn to and congregate near water. It exerts a magnetic pull on us, and if we are not fortunate enough to live near it, we are certainly drawn to it in our spare timeto swim, to fish, to boat, or simply to enjoy the view from the shore.
Is it because the sun reflects and sparkles so beautifully on its surface? Or is it the sound of waves lapping delicately or breaking in over land? Surely theres something special in the air, as its difficult to feel completely depressed on a beautiful day by the sea. Perhaps it connects to our hankering for thrill, adventure, and travel; a boat is a mode of transportation, after all, and probably the only one we use for ornamental purposes in our homes. You wont find a bike or a train on too many peoples windowsillsthey just dont speak to us the way a sailboat does.
Could it have something to do with life? Water is life, after allnothing can survive without it. Perhaps we have inherited from time immemorial a gene that instinctively pulls us to water because water equals survival. My homeland of Sweden is a country that features many beautiful areas and magnificent views; living on the waterfront, however, is considered to be the height of luxury. The Swedish Tax Agency agrees on this point and has taken note.
If you love water and associate it with feelings of well-being, happiness, and delight, or even adventure and freedom, its natural to want to recreate this atmosphere in your home. You dont even have to live near water to get that beachfront feeling. It can be reproduced anywhere to satisfy the yearning in your heart.
My hope is that this book will now inspire you to build, sew, and decorate at home. This is a treasure trove brimming with ideas, tips, and instructions for anyonelandlubber or salty dogwho loves creating beautiful things.
Enjoy!
Editors note: American units have been added throughout for ease of the user. While every effort has been made to keep the measurements as precise as possible, in some cases the crafter may want to stick with the metric measurements. We leave this up to the judgment of the crafter. When working with wood and sewing quilts, its best to use exact measurements.
ONE ROOM, THREE NAUTICAL THEMES
Do you have definitive, fixed ideas about what decorating with a nautical motif entails? In your minds eye, do you see white walls, blue and red highlights, maybe in the image of what can be seen along the coast of New England?
If that is the case, let me show you several ways to decorate a space thats inspired by the sea and the ocean, but still all create their own particular atmosphere and feature different color schemes. While there are more ways to work in the nautical style than what is shown here, as an experiment, Ive chosen three main tracks and reworked a single room according to each direction in order to illustrate the wide scope of possibilities available to you.
Nothing is set in stone; the borders are fluid. Some nautical objects, surfaces, and materials can overlap without one style clashing with another. Sometimes theyll meld, and occasionally you might interpret, customize, and adapt ideas to suit your own tastes and preferences, effectively turning your home into a creative expression of you and your family.
THE BOATING LIFE
Many people automatically associate waterfront home decor with New England on the Eastern seaboard. White, red, and blueall popular and classic nautical colorsnaturally lead us toward using the Star-Spangled Banner as the basis for our decorating schemes. But if you want to use a different national flag with a different color palette, its much more challenging to make it work. My native flag in Sweden, for instance, doesnt quite fit into the maritime scheme. Instead, set aside national flags altogether and find inspiration in the many fine maritime codes, the signal-flags.
A CLASSIC BACKGROUND
White painted walls with horizontal panels
Dark brown wooden floors
There are more variations possible, but this is a safe bet.
YOUR COLOR PALETTE
White/creamy white
Redchoose a deep crimson or bright red color
Bluedark, navy, or denim blue in different hues
Select muted, slightly darker, or cloudy tones for a more sophisticated look. The trick to making it work is to add:
Beige linen, rattan/cane, sisal, hemp, etc. Beige adds style and maturity to the whole room by tempering the more vibrant colors.