The Wild Honey Inn, in Lisdoonvarna was last weeks featured hotel in At Your Service.
The look was all about New England, Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod. Classic Americana stylings.
Some of you guys have emailed me about how to achieve this Cape Cod style look ....est voila!
Here are some hints on how to get this style right.
Firstly you gotta think about colouring.
The New England Style uses a muted palatte of natural colours, inspired by the ocean and the coastal flora.
The position of the region in terms of the type of natural light available, is a huge contributor to the smoky, sophisticated mood these colours create.
The natural daylight in Ireland and Northern Europe is very similar which is why these colour schemes are so successful and so popular here.
Lots of earthy greens and muted blues against a backdrop of stoney creams and sophisticated grey tones.
These colours are then set off by using splashes of burnt orange and coral pinks.
Furniture
Seating tends to be comfortable and squishy with a slightly worn look about it.
Big, sink in, leather sofas with tweed throws and accent scatter cushions.
Kitchens take their nod, largely from the shaker style, with minimal panelling or detail and they are often painted.
Cabinets are often painted too, in creams, greys or olive greens. Pine and oak is mainly used
Flooring.
Flooring tends to be wood, usually oak, with large rugs scattered at intervals to create definition and function as well as adding a hint of softness.
Often walls are panelled.
Bathrooms.
Tongue and groove panelling in a New England style bathroom is a key indicator of this style.
Usually this wall cladding will come up to about 1 or 1.2 metres from the floor with a small lip or shelf to finish.
This panelling would usually be painted with a darker, muted shade above it on the walls.
Fabrics.
These are usually naturally woven.
Lots of tweed, and cotton in rustic yet geometric patterns such as tartans, checks and stripes.
The Vibe.
This look is all about crossing the relaxed elements of country styles with the sophistication of an urban and often masculine palatte.
It is not for everyone, but when it's done properly it certainly does wow.
Karl