Want the Bahama look?

by THE CUOMO TEAM Kimberly Cuomo 08/11/2019

Blissful breezes, palms sweeping the heavy air, waves rolling onto warm sand—whether you're looking to take a vacation or trying to create a relaxing space in your home, the islands’ siren song calls. Recreating the island look in your space can be an elaborate enterprise or a simple changeup. Either way, bringing the islands home adds character and timeless tranquility.

In the bath

By far the simplest room to add Caribbean flair, the bathroom easily lends itself to touches of palm trees on shower curtains or a cluster of shells on a shelf above the tub. Paint the cabinets a deep blue-green to mimic the ocean, the brush on a pale blue faux finish with soft blue-white barely-there clouds sponged onto the upper reaches. Add a tropical floral arrangement to give the splash of color it deserves.

For the bedroom

To give your sleeping area that island look, swap out heavy drapes for breezy, gauzy linen or cotton chiffon or georgette. Hung from antiqued wooden rods, let the curtains drift across the floor. Change out regular fan blades for a basket-weave or banana-leaf style. Use whites or creams in varied textures for bed linens to offset the heavy colonial-style furniture.

Living the dream

Move the tropical into your living spaces with lighter oversized, overstuffed rattan furniture and mother-of-pearl framed mirrors. A sandy-hued area rug on wood or terra cotta tiles evokes the beachy shores. Indoor tropical plants and sea glass collections give that punch of color to conjure up rum punch and dancing on the beach.

The exterior

Changing out your exterior for the island-style is a brave move unless you're located on the coast. Nevertheless, the serenity it brings to your environment might make it just the right move for your home. Start by painting the wood siding or brick a soft pastel, cream, or white. Great color choices are mint green, pale blue, creamy yellow, and sandy beige. Create an outdoor living space with clusters of tropical trees, colorful bougainvillea, and other islandy-flora if your climate allows for it. Sago palms in pots that you can move indoors in the winter will give you the look if you're in a colder climate.

Extend the design to your windows with Bahama shutters. Also called Colonial or Bermuda shutters, these window coverings fit within the exterior window frame and tilt outward from the bottom to allow breezes in while keeping the bright rays of the sun out. Paint the shutters a contrasting color to add that casual island-style palette. Shutters come in natural wood construction, aluminum versions, composite, or fiberglass versions. During inclement weather, drop the shutters down to protect your windowpanes.

If you're not sure how to bring the islands to your home, seek out a professional decorator. And if your island-happy home is on the market, let a certified home stager advise you on which furniture pieces to keep and which to store during showings.

About the Author
Author

THE CUOMO TEAM Kimberly Cuomo

The Cuomo Team - 24 years experience serving South Florida's Real Estate needs!

Specializing in Residential and Commercial Real Estate Services - 

I am a dedicated Realtor specializing in Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. The commercial division of our team covers Central Florida, and all of South Florida including Broward and Dade Counties. 

I pride myself on being honest and professional. I have been committed for the past 24 years to have all of my clients 100% satisfied with my services, at all times- from the first time home buyer, luxury client, to commercial property investor- and everything in between! In this ever-changing marketplace, it is imperative to have an experienced Realtor. It can make all the difference in the world in your transaction! I have been successful in accomplishing this based on a long list of satisfied clients! I would be honored to help you buy or sell your next property! 

I have lived in the local area for over thirty years. After college, I worked as a paralegal for five years before deciding to go into the real estate profession in 1998. My husband, John, and I have resided in the Town of Jupiter for the past thirty years and consider it a great place to live, and have raised a family. We have two sons, 22 and 25.

One of my sons, Matthew Cuomo also works on our team, along with my daughter in law, Tasianna Cuomo. John, a retired firefighter from the Town of Palm Beach, works in the Commercial Division. My sister in law, Christine Cuomo Georgeou, also is part of our team, so that someone is always available to service any client, any time, 7 days a week! 

You can contact me directly anytime at 561-339-3002, and I will be happy to assist you with any of your real estate needs! I look forward to hearing from you!

Kim Cuomo

Keller Williams Realty

KW Commercial