How To Bring Vacation Style Into Your Home, According To The Experts
As vacation season winds down, our thoughts are turning to how we can evoke the spirit of a getaway in our everyday lives – starting with the spaces we spend the most time in. Here, three interior designers who specialize in creating dreamy hotels and vacation homes share their tips for bringing wanderlust-worthy interiors into your home. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Zone in on effortless relaxation
“My dream vacation interior is a blend of relaxed luxury and understated elegance,” says Karolina Wierzbicka, head of design at August, the luxury real-estate brand specializing in shared vacation homes throughout Europe. “It’s a space that feels airy, inviting, and effortlessly comfortable. Think natural materials, such as linen, rattan and stone, with a color palette drawn from nature – soft greens, muted blues and sandy tones that evoke the beach. Overall, it’s a space where you can exhale and feel at ease, surrounded by beauty and thoughtful details.”
Prioritize natural light and decluttering
“There are a few key elements people can incorporate to create that vacation feel at home,” says Wierzbicka. “Natural light: maximize natural light with sheer curtains or large windows to create a bright, open environment. Textiles and materials: use soft, natural fabrics like linen or cotton, and incorporate textures such as woven baskets, jute rugs and wooden furniture. Simplicity and minimalism: keep the space decluttered and open, with functional yet comfortable furniture. Too many things make a space feel busy rather than relaxing.”
Think about the flow of the space
“One property I designed that perfectly captures the essence of vacation was the South of France home from August Signature Collection. It has open-plan living spaces: the living room, dining area and kitchen flow seamlessly into one another, with large sliding doors that open out to a view of the pool. This openness mirrors the casual, unhurried pace of vacation living. I used a soft palette of whites, blues and sandy tones throughout the home, which instantly evokes the feeling of being by the sea. And it has an expansive deck with a comfortable seating area. These outdoor elements provided opportunities for leisurely afternoons in the sun or quiet evenings under the stars, which are the essence of vacation for me.”
Lean into your favorite type of vacation
“My ideal vacation style is very much based on the location,” says Francis Sultana, the renowned interior designer behind properties such as Hotel La Palma in Capri. The Capri and Amalfi ‘look’ is all about whites and pastels and the lightness of the materials; and for winter, St. Moritz is the inspiration – with its snowy mountains and the warmth of the woods that are used in a chalet’s carved furniture and interiors. It is all part of the experience of traveling that makes you feel you are embraced in these places.”
Experiment with evocative motifs
“At Hotel La Palma in Capri, we had the most wonderful frescos and wall pieces made especially for us, paying homage to the hotel’s artistic heritage,” says Sultana. “The palm tree was also prominent: I love palm trees, they really are the ultimate vacation tree for me – they are such an instant visual reference to being on a holiday somewhere hot and far away; and I love them for their form and texture.”
Weave in storytelling
“My ideal vacation home has the feel of laid-back luxury, with great attention to detail, and with a sense of a story linked to its location and history. Somewhere that feels truly authentic, created by individuals, with lots of their individual personality,” says Sigrid Cragoe, designer of boutique beach hotel The Gallivant. “A hotel I want to stay in doesn’t feel different [to a residential property]. It’s somewhere you are drawn back to because you connect with it.”
Incorporate meaningful mementos
“Create spaces that remind you of your happy memories when you were away – perhaps with some nostalgic pieces or images that capture the less obvious moments of happiness,” says Cragoe. “When I started the design process with The Gallivant hotel in Camber Sands, I spent a lot of time researching the area and its history and discovered how the beach at Camber had such an incredibly glamorous backstory. Collecting period bathing suits from the 1930s, and then ‘heroing’ these by beautifully framing them, helped to connect The Gallivant with both the history of the location and the fun and happiness that has been experienced here for generations.”