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Houzz Tour: A Maine Beach Cottage Evokes the Sea
Salvaged dock finds, nautical motifs and family heirlooms keep coastal charm flowing all around a Scarborough home
Interior designer Tyler Karu and her husband, Brendan, are year-rounders in a tiny coastal community peppered with summer visitors — and Karu, a Maine native, wouldn't have it any other way. "Our house feels very Maine to me. Believe it or not, walking along the beach by our house makes me feel Maine in my soul," she says. The designer expresses her connectedness to the area by sprinkling her home with elements from her and her husband's history — and of course, filling each room in the house with nautical tokens that evoke the rhythms of the sea.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tyler Karu, Brendan Ready and their dog, Haddock
Location: Prouts Neck, Scarborough, Maine
Size: 1,700 square feet
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Tyler Karu, Brendan Ready and their dog, Haddock
Location: Prouts Neck, Scarborough, Maine
Size: 1,700 square feet
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| A vintage life preserver and a fishing float hang on a post by the dining area, a symbol of how the homeowners' lives are connected to the goings-on by the docks. Dinners are punctuated by the crashing of the waves nearby. "The brutal winters make the summer and fall that much more enjoyable for us year-rounders who live here," says Karu. |
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In the living room, Karu tempered the formality of a gray tufted sectional by layering in splashy throws, pillow fabrics and a striped custom-upholstered wingback chair. The bamboo blinds and chevron-pattern jute rug add warmth to this light-filled area.
Sectional: Bludot; rug: Serena & Lily; lamps: Portland Architectural Salvage; wingback: Hudson's Bay
Sectional: Bludot; rug: Serena & Lily; lamps: Portland Architectural Salvage; wingback: Hudson's Bay
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The corner reading nook's theme is Maine nautical meets '70s glam — a great example of Karu's penchant for quirky pairings. The designer inherited the rocking chair from her family home; the glass ball is a vintage fishing float, a nod to the home's coastal context and her husband's seafood business.
Fishing float: Portland Architectural Salvage
Fishing float: Portland Architectural Salvage
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| A vintage cabinet in the dining room houses serving pieces. Some are family heirlooms; some are collected from flea markets and even from Target. The white skull, by local artist John White, was a gift from an aunt. |
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The kitchen island is made from an old railway cart. Karu added the bar extension after bringing the cart inside, so the entire block no longer fits through any of the doors.
A look through the kitchen window reveals a backyard within walking distance of the beach. "It's always a nice sight to see friends and family relaxing in the living room or completely wiped out in the guest room after a full day at the beach," says Karu.
A look through the kitchen window reveals a backyard within walking distance of the beach. "It's always a nice sight to see friends and family relaxing in the living room or completely wiped out in the guest room after a full day at the beach," says Karu.
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A portrait of the family's beloved Brussels Griffon, Haddock, by a Maine Art College student hangs above the muse and model on an antique settee.
Art: Laura Alexander
Art: Laura Alexander
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The guest room, dubbed "Haddock's Room," hits a nautical note with its navy blue walls. "This room is where Haddock hangs out. He just sits on the bed or side chair and watches people come and go from the window," says Karu.
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Karu's great-uncle, Leon Levonstein, was a well-known urban photographer. "Some of the framed photos are his, including the little one of my father as a young boy," says Karu.
Other framed photos are from Karu and her husband's wedding. The print is by illustrator Hugo Guinness.
Other framed photos are from Karu and her husband's wedding. The print is by illustrator Hugo Guinness.
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The couple's bed frame is a piece from Karu's childhood; the wood detail on the bed resembles both a compass rose and a ship's wheel. Although the bed frame and the throw pillow evoke a nautical theme, plantation shutters, an antique Persian rug and vintage bedside tables lend the room an eclectic touch.
Art: Gary Copeland; bench: Calypso Home; side tables: eBay; wall paint: Ice Cube Silver, Benjamin Moore
Art: Gary Copeland; bench: Calypso Home; side tables: eBay; wall paint: Ice Cube Silver, Benjamin Moore
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A captain's mirror above a refurbished vanity that was left in the garage draws the eye — but look closer at the master bath and you'll see a less obvious piece that conjures up that boat-on-the-dock feel: cleats from a marine supply store that Karu uses to hold her bangles.
Wall paint: Smoke Embers, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Smoke Embers, Benjamin Moore
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The second guest room stays flexible with twin beds from Karu's husband's childhood.
Wall paint: Steep Cliff Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Steep Cliff Gray, Benjamin Moore
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The designer once called Manhattan home; she pays homage to the Big Apple with a framed subway map print by Triboro Design that leans against the wall. She dressed her home office table with an old Williams Sonoma duvet cover.
"Although I feel more productive in my Portland office [about 7 miles away], I'm a lot more creative in this room at home," says Karu.
"Although I feel more productive in my Portland office [about 7 miles away], I'm a lot more creative in this room at home," says Karu.
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| When Karu and her husband moved into their beach cottage, they set the goal of restoring its original look and feel. "We inherited a home that was reeling from a few dated renovations, and we've been chipping away at it slowly ever since," says Karu. More: Dip a Toe Into Modern Nautical Style |
Ideabook updated on Aug. 12, 2012.
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Great use of space and openness feeling in the interior design of this house. Really liked it. It felt very warm and inviting, very relaxing. Especially loved the kitchen island made from the old railway cart and the mismatched antique bar stools (favorite part).
Some seaside homes make me feel like, Enough with the fish/portholes/shells/lighthouses/coral/boats/fishing nets/blue; I get it already. With this decor, somehow it feels like Maine without being overloaded with the hackneyed 'nautical theme'. I love the deep, bold colours and the homely feel.
http://www.pendleton-usa.com/product/Home-Blankets/Blankets/JACQUARD-BLANKETS/SAN-MIGUEL-BLANKET/166639/sc/1694/c/1821/pc/1816.uts
@rrobinson0819 The art is by Greg Copeland and I found it on etsy for very little cash in comparison to what I have seen on 1stdibs, etc. Again, I would suggest stalking ebay or etsy for his work or some variation of "paper, art, framed". Frequently, sellers don't know that they have something worth more than what they are really selling it for.