If you’re dreaming of your next holiday but can’t find the time to get away, then bring your ideal tropical paradise to you and live the lifestyle year-round.
In the daily grind, we are all dreaming of our next vacation to a balmy beach resort or a lush rainforest retreat. Rather than just dreaming of travel, you can make everyday a holiday by styling your home with the tropics in mind.
For a traditional, eclectic look, we take our inspiration from the Bahamas, where the beach meets the tropics. This look is full of character, fun and eclectic style, with a stunning mix of tobacco rattan, pops of black and palm fronds swaying in the breeze to create a casual sense of holiday bliss.
With open-plan living, this style can be transported to almost any environment and it works best when the flow of your home brings the outdoors in. From ornamental plantation shutters to cross-style balustrades and lush landscaping, a Tropical Hamptons-style home delivers incredible first impressions.
This look has its roots in the Classic Hamptons, with wainscoting, coffered ceilings and walnut woods, but can be heavier and more layered than that. Coffered ceilings now feature Hardie Grove inside the square with a smaller moulding detail. Wall layers are created with simplified wainscoting and vertical linear boards. Plantation shutters adorn all the windows, with soft cotton sheers flowing in the balmy breeze. Practically, a woven-raffia blade ceiling fan helps keep a room cool while adding a layer of texture and interest.
Kitchens are pared back with a casual atmosphere created by a soft off-white hue. A dark timber island with basket pendants and brass hardware and taps are charmingly eclectic. For the cabinetry door fronts, a rattan insert works well to enhance that tropical feel. A geometric splashback tile, a strong-vein marble benchtop and oversized woven pendants command a bold presence.
The bathrooms should similarly incorporate natural textures. Opt for a rattan door vanity cupboard, or a timber benchtop with brass hardware and taps. A small powder room or bathroom space doesn’t mean it needs to lack personality — Hardie Groove half-height wainscoting with a tropical mural above can create the same effect, or an antique map framed in dark bamboo over a bath is sure to be a conversation starter.
Tropical Hamptons décor
A Tropical Hamptons home is where the beach meets the Bahamas. This look is heavier and more layered than its coastal counterpart yet remains relaxed. Rattan pieces in a finish of both tobacco and kubu grey should be littered throughout the home in the form of footstools, lamp bases, occasional chairs and coffee tables. White linen slip covers over roll-arm sofas lay the foundation for a plethora of patterns including stripes, geometrics and animal prints. A pop of black on a neutral palette brings an element of drama and unexpected glamour.
The colour palette can vary from a warm neutral base with accents of olive to a fresh and vibrant green with pops of black. This is where you can embrace animal prints such as zebra or leopard, mixed with geometrics rather than floral fabrics. Alternatively, to incorporate the coastal influence, duck-egg green with warm caramel and tobacco rattans make a fabulous combination.
While busy and layered, this look is calming, almost meditative. Square-arm sofas dressed in natural linens, with deep-walnut coffee and console tables add a hint of vintage colonial. Furniture pieces made of cane and rattan keep that Bahamian holiday feeling flowing from front to back. You might wonder whether blue and white ginger jars belong in a tropical home, and they certainly do, however they should be filled to the brim with fresh foliage and palm leaves. A full-wall mural depicting a luscious jungle landscape would pack a punch in a small powder room or, for a traditional plantation look, add it above white wainscoting to elevate a formal dining room.
We have seen a recent rise in the more modern tropical look, modelled after Palm Springs, California. Light and bright, with a touch of mid-century coastal, this take on Tropical Hamptons is sure to bring that holiday at home vibe. Blonde rattans, lots of white linen on jute rugs, natural timber furniture and earthy accent patterns make up this relaxing aesthetic.
This article originally appeared in Hamptons Living #1