After Meghan and Bill Cashel decorated the Marblehead, Massachusetts house they share with their two young sons they wanted to give the home the same laidback, coastal look they had adored while residing in San Diego.

Bright Outlook Lots of windows, exposed wood ceiling beams, and white-painted walls provide this island beach house by Martha's Vineyard Interior Design a casual, coastal feel from the get-go. An upholstered window seat and big, cushy sectional offer plenty of seating for a bunch, or for anyone curling around stare out at the sea.

Island Vibe "This Newport Beach glass shower installation frameless . California master bedroom is the epitome of coastal chic," says designer Wendy Blackband of Blackband Design. "The light-washed hardwood flooring paired together with all the painted ceiling beams give this farmhouse a modern twist. We blended soft, breezy fabrics using natural textures and tones to give away a casual coastal vibe. When choosing fabrics we looked for substances that could read as simple, unassuming, as well as comfortable. The iron canopy bed complements the elevation of the ceiling, keeping everything balanced. When designing coastal homes we also search for organic materials like jute and seagrass. Employing natural fiber rugs is a excellent way to add texture and warmth to a room, and they are the perfect rugs for layering."

Seaside Chic "Coastal contemporary" was the design concept with this open dining room, '' says designer Lisa M. Ficarra of Ficarra Design Associates. To give the space its beachy feel, the design team picked natural materials -- wood, metal, even driftwood -- and fabrics: linen in a range of soft blues and greens. The accessories and artwork reinforce the seaside theme.

Florida Room When working with Susan Trujillo Miles and Seth Miles to upgrade their Florida house, designer Maggie Cruz worked to strike a happy medium between Susan's love of "bright, quirky items" and the trendy, contemporary look the couple wanted -- while creating a casual, beachy vibe. Her success is on display in the dining room, where an easy white lacquered table balances a pair of overscale armchairs upholstered in an equally oversized beachfront print. Rattan side seats, wide-plank hardwood floors, and a contemporary pendant fixture finish the eclectic mix. Tour the rest of this colorful home.

Twist On Tradition "Coastal although not kitschy," was the design target for a bayfront home in Galveston, Texas. To make the complex look their clients wanted, designers Elizabeth Stiver and Amy Munger of Munger Interiors utilized classic coastal components -- white-painted wood paneling, white slipcovers, sisal carpeting -- in unexpected ways. The lap-and-gap wall therapy is installed horizontally to get a more modern appearance while poplar accents adds "crisp and clean impact," they state. The woven rug has an integrated pattern. The slipcovered furnishings are a backdrop for heaps of pillows in exotic designs and beachy colours. Along with a modern glass-and-chrome coffee table provides a hint of unexpected glamour.

Holiday Style, All Year Long After Meghan and Bill Cashel decorated the Marblehead, Massachusetts house they share with their two young sons they wanted to give the home the same laidback, coastal look they had adored while residing in San Diego. Hence, every room has a vacation-house feel, including the master bedroom, where light blue walls, sea-life prints, woven textures, and nautical art set a genuinely relaxing spectacle. "You understand that relaxed feeling you get from gazing in the water? That's what we wanted for our bedroom,"says Meghan. Check out the rest of the house, which was featured in HGTV Magazine.

Surf Style "Beach projects are all about contrast, feel, and incorporating natural colors that enhance your environment," says Ashley Gilbreath, the designer of this retro bungalow on Florida's Gulf Coast. "We made certain that the finishes were classic, airy and maintained a beachy feel throughout the home. One of our favourite finishes is the classic wooden browsing board. Since the most impactful finish has to be in the most impactful area we made certain to highlight the surfboard by hanging it on white shiplap walls. The effect is stunning and sets a tone to the retro, funky sense of this bungalow. The rest of the house draws the eyes outside, toward the beautiful beach and crystal clear water of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida."

Re-Defined Dining Light and air are two fundamentals of any seascape, and they're the keys to making a coastal appearance indoors, says designer Christine Markatos Lowe of Christine Markatos Design. "Install long drapes to maintain the room bright and airy and use classic mirrored panels to open the room by representing more light into the space," she states. Finish the look with lace cloth in a profound sea-green and "incorporate the sea with a statement fixture made from sea shells, stained glass, or coral, to get a delicate and breezy element."

Sun and Sand When most men and women think of a coastal shore, they flip instantly to a assortment of watery blues, but earthy, sandy tones are just as ideal for creating a beachy look. In Meghan and Seth Cashel's family room, as an example, a mixture of warm colors from off-white to cocoa create a cozy, inviting atmosphere that's perfect for household together-time. Rich woven textures add interest and flowing sunlight (readily controlled with heavy linen window remedies) finish the picture. Browse the rest of the house here.

Suite Retreat Creating a "fun yet sophisticated" look in a Palm Beach master bedroom began with the colour palette, says designer Robin Schwadron-Titus of R Titus Designs. "The room becomes little all-natural light, so we kept the colours bright," she says, choosing a combination of whites, off-whites, turquoise, and coral. Then, Schwadron-Titus mixed casual and formal accents -- like a straightforward woven sisal carpet and shiny metal drapery rods -- also added a couple ocean-inspired accessories to get a coastal-chic effect.

Keeping It Cool In warm-weather configurations (or simply to fake the look of living in a tropical locale) the appearance for dwelling spaces is "light and breezy." Here a vaulted ceiling and a pair of ceiling fans helps air flow -- while still producing an undeniably tropical impact. Pale upholstery with gentle blue and green accents and light wood flooring and furnishings complete the cool-as-a-cucumber look.

View Finder From time to time, the design of a room is more about what is outside than inside. Case in point: This breezy all-white living room on Martha's Vineyard. The designers kept the focus on the spectacular blue ocean views by eliminating color from their style, rather adding interest through organic feel: Exposed ceiling beams, built-in shelving, nubby fabrics, and woven side seats and baskets. The result is warm and inviting -- and perfectly suited to sea-gazing.

Saved After a Storm Sam and Jeff Burkhardt hadn't intended to renovate and redecorate, but Hurricane Katrina had other ideas. Following their New Orleans home was flooded during the storm, the couple needed to start over -- and the results are beautiful, using classic coastal accents making a brand new, open look throughout the home. The entry is a perfect example: Its crisp white and light blue color scheme instantly sets a tranquil, watery tone which continues in every room and the floor is a nod to the tragedy that required the remodel: The timber planks were reclaimed from houses condemned following the storm. Tour the remainder of their fully remodeled home, that was showcased in HGTV Magazine.

Clear Winner Simplicity meets luxury in this all-white master bath. Plenty of windows along with a clear shower surround mean views of Martha's Vineyard detract from every angle, including the soaking bathtub and within the shower, courtesy of a brass-rimmed porthole. The light palette and floating vanity create an awareness of space and air in the spa-like retreat and sea-inspired accessories help place a coastal tone.

Serene Setting It's easy to give your bedroom a dab of coastal trendy, even if you live miles away from the sea. "Creating this appearance just means adding the ideal colours and at least one unexpected component," says designer Lindye Galloway of Lindye Galloway Design. "In this bedroom we concentrated on using mild, cool colors like blues and whites to make the room bright and give the feeling of beachside calm. We wanted to add a pop of some thing which would give the room an announcement, and what better place to do that than the ceiling? Adding tongue-and-groove paneling to the ceiling made the ultimate coastal vibe."