Take inspiration from Mother Nature to create a home that’s as tranquil as it is beautiful.
You should be inspired by your home: it’s the place where you start and end your day, spend time with family and friends and allow yourself to reset. Let that inspiration come from the surrounding environment by bringing a bit of the outdoors in.
Living on as diverse and breathtaking an island as Vancouver Island means there’s no shortage of design cues we can take from the natural world. We spoke with the team behind Relevant Properties’s new Colwood, British Columbia development, Two Waters, for timeless island-inspired design tips.
With miles of beachfront, views of the Olympic mountains and access to the Esquimalt Lagoon bird sanctuary, Two
1. Go green
Bring the lush greenery of the Pacific Northwest inside without the rain. Decorating with plants is one of the easiest ways to make your home feel at one with nature, plus it has the added health benefits of reducing certain pollutants and helping to decrease stress levels. Make your home
2. Choose earthy, neutral colours
The team at Two Waters wanted to celebrate the meeting of sea and sand that makes the Esquimalt Lagoon so enticing, which meant keeping the colour palette earthy and neutral. Their West-Coast-inspired design incorporates washes of colour that imitate natural elements like sand, ocean and sky. Using colours like greens and blues as focal points in a neutrally-toned space keeps the design lively and rooted in nature. Organic materials like blond wood and linen bring earthy shades into a space without the need for paint and throw pillows or rugs in shades like moss green or bright turquoise lend balance.
3. Use environmentally-friendly design principles
More than a passing trend, sustainable, eco-conscious elements not only benefit the environment but, they also make for a healthier space in the long term. Source furniture that has been developed with a limited environmental impact and prioritizes using reclaimed materials whenever possible. The cost of using energy-efficient technology like solar power may seem high at first. Over the
4. Incorporate elements inspired by the outdoors
Organic material like washed up driftwood, rough seaside black rocks. The boughs of Sitka spruce trees serve as a ready-made colour palette. They also serve as inspiration for the varying textures that make an interior design plan more dynamic. Whether you’re bringing in artifacts from the outdoors or choosing furniture and design pieces that reflect these elements, be sure to consider components from the natural world in your design. A woven jute rug adds textural interest to a living space. Decorative details like smooth stone candle holders work well in a minimalist setting.
5. Keep things simple
The beauty of coastal living is that the serene qualities of the ocean often influence your state of mind and your design choices. Quiet the mind and let the landscape do the talking with minimal design choices that lend tranquility rather than adding extra clutter. White-washed walls, crisp linens, and sleek marble furniture keep things unfussy and breezy. That is just the kind of vibe you’d want from an island home.
Living on the West Coast of B.C. is about embracing the lush rainforest climate and the fresh air blowing in off the salty ocean — a unique environment that calls for a home reflective of this special beauty. If you’re seeking out a neighbourhood that’s as committed to this way of life as you are, the serene island community of Two Waters is the perfect place to put down roots.
When envisioning your home’s design, let nature take the lead. Before you know it, your space will feel just as tranquil as the great outdoors.