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Highlighted in Monmouth Health and life
If we were to crown a “coastal queen” of Monmouth County, it could be Nicole Rice. She owns the home décor store Coastal Décor & Design in Fair Haven, and prior to returning to her roots in New Jersey, she spent a decade as a model-home designer on the California coast. So when the clients of a Long Branch home walked into the shop seeking a beach-inspired yet not over-the-top Shore vibe for their living room, Rice knew she could make it happen.
The homeowners moved to their home along the beach in Long Branch a few years ago after their kids moved out of their house in Colts Neck. They wanted to retire their old, traditional furniture and enliven the new residence with a fresher, airier feel. “They asked for an upgrade from what they had and a casual space that could entertain, since they have grown children and a grandchild who visit,” Rice recalls. “The daughters bring their dogs too.”
That inspired Rice to choose a large navy blue sectional—“you can have a party of 20 in here,” she says—in a performance fabric that can stand up to kids, pets and the summer sun. Instead of “random upholstered chairs,” Rice chose a duo of organic-inspired string chairs made from actual rope, which she says “stand out and are beautiful. They really draw the eye in.”
Organic and natural elements are seen throughout the space, in fact; the woven shades and light fixture ground the room, Rice says, and the wooden coffee table adds warmth. “Previously, this room was designed with blue-and-white seahorses,” Rice notes. “We did a large blue sofa but wanted to keep everything else neutral and natural to give it that coastal feel that’s not in-your-face.”
Rice furnished and accessorized this room from top to bottom with custom and off-the-rack items from her store; the only piece from the previous space that was incorporated into the new design was the gold drapery rod, which was reimagined with off-white drapes. “For some reason she didn’t want to part with it!” Rice says with a laugh.
This project is proof that the “California coastal” aesthetic doesn’t have to include coral, shells or nautical symbols. Says the designer: “It’s all about that serene, casual vibe.”
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Coastal Decor highlighted in Long Branch City Lifestyle Magazine
For a Long Branch couple who wanted to refresh their home along the beach to make it more comfortable, they turned to Nicole Rice of Coastal Décor and Interior Design in Monmouth Beach.
“My clients wanted to update their family room to a more comfy and coastal style that would work with their lifestyle,” Rice says. “They are empty nesters with adult kids who have families, from dogs to grandchildren, coming to visit and spending time at the Jersey Shore.”
Rice always asks her clients to not only describe their lifestyle, but to show her looks they like so she can get a sense of how the space should not only function, but how it should feel. This room was designed for family gatherings when the whole family is in town, including movie night since this is their TV room. But it’s also multifunctional. “Although I designed the space as one large family area, my client is an avid reader, so she has her corner with a lamp to read.”
Their older and traditional furniture was replaced with more modern pieces accessorized with neutral and organic details, resulting in a fresh look. “Everything is new, except the drapery rod and TV,” Rice says. “We reused the rod for the new drapery panels, and we mounted the TV to the wall above the new entertainment unit. Requests were a navy sofa and for it to look coastal, but not with shells and starfish pillows.”
“I believe that Coastal is more than just water, sand and seashells,” she adds. “It is the feeling you get when you go to the beach and breathe in the ocean air—or the calm that you feel when you listen to the waves crash.”
Coastal Decor highlighted in Long Branch City Lifestyle Magazine
For a Long Branch couple who wanted to refresh their home along the beach to make it more comfortable, they turned to Nicole Rice of Coastal Décor and Interior Design in Monmouth Beach.
“My clients wanted to update their family room to a more comfy and coastal style that would work with their lifestyle,” Rice says. “They are empty nesters with adult kids who have families, from dogs to grandchildren, coming to visit and spending time at the Jersey Shore.”
Rice always asks her clients to not only describe their lifestyle, but to show her looks they like so she can get a sense of how the space should not only function, but how it should feel. This room was designed for family gatherings when the whole family is in town, including movie night since this is their TV room. But it’s also multifunctional. “Although I designed the space as one large family area, my client is an avid reader, so she has her corner with a lamp to read.”
Their old traditional furniture was replaced with more modern pieces accessorized with neutral and organic details, resulting in a fresh look. “Everything is new, except the drapery rod and TV,” Rice says. “We reused the rod for the new drapery panels, and we mounted the TV to the wall above the new entertainment unit. Requests were a navy sofa and for it to look coastal, but not with shells and starfish pillows.”
“I believe that Coastal is more than just water, sand and seashells,” she adds. “It is the feeling you get when you go to the beach and breathe in the ocean air—or the calm that you feel when you listen to the waves crash.”
She achieved this vibe with the color palette and the suggestion of the beach: The artwork is an abstract piece that bears resemblance to water, and the rug imitates waves and sand. The room’s showstoppers—the string-back chairs—add a natural texture with a rattan base and bundles of natural abaca rope wrapped along the sides and back. “We kept them in a neutral palette with an off-white performance fabric and added a pop of color with the throw pillows,” Rice adds.
The large sectional in a navy performance fabric was chosen not only for maximum seating space but the ability to withstand the beating it will get from use and the summer sun. Other neutral and organic touches include the natural-wood coffee table, rattan TV stand, off-white curtains, side tables, rattan light fixture and woven shades.
There are many styles of Coastal that you can choose to bring into your own home. “From a more relaxed style of Shabby Chic to a more traditional style of Coastal Glam, each have the same concept,” Rice says. “That open and airy feeling you get when you are by the coast. Think of the colors, the textures and the smells when you are relaxing at the beach, river or lake.”
Rice is no stranger to the Coastal vibe. After growing up on the Navesink River in Fair Haven, living in California, and now back in Monmouth Beach, she works out of her design studio and retail boutique at 36 Beach Road. You’ll find everything from candles and décor to furniture and full design services—all the touches needed to bring the Coastal style into your own home.