Decorating & Design
February 16, 2018
Peace Out! Why We’re Craving Serene Spaces Right Now
In our January 2018 issue, we identified 10 top trends for 2018, including Peace Out: an amalgam of Scandi minimalism and Japanese zen. Consider this serene look an antidote to the round-the-clock stimulus blasting from phones, computers and wearable tech. Representing a confluence of earth and sea, this style seems so at home in coastal areas. The quiet beauty of handcrafted items and a nature-inspired palette give the eye and brain a spot to rest. Click through to learn how to bring this look home.
Humble, natural materials, a tone-on-tone palette, and a polished concrete floor put the focus on the world outside. In designer Carrie McCarthy’s Pender Island cottage, visual distractions are kept to a minimum so the purity of form and beauty outside the walls can be fully appreciated.
The flow between the indoors and outdoors is blurred in the Peace Out trend. In this space, the french doors to the patio were made extra large, so the sight lines of the trees are maxed out.
Whitewashed floors give the loft area in Carrie McCarthy’s cottage a Scandi vibe that’s key to the Peace Out aesthetic. A handcrafted wall hanging made from collected pieces of driftwood is a coastal nod, and an appropriately rustic adornment.
A glass-walled pavilion at this waterfront home beautifully illustrates the spirit of the Peace Out look. The interiors flow seamlessly into the outdoors, and the furniture is low slung, so it doesn’t obstruct the views.
In this British Columbia holiday home on Pender Island, a natural stone fireplace is one of the most impressive features, while a white oak table and benches are a modern take on the classic picnic table. The decor offers instant respite; it’s comfortable without being fussy, with sleek, well-designed minimalist furniture and practical surfaces.
The neutral palette in this bedroom is instantly relaxing. The oatmeal bedding, floor-to-ceiling linen drapes and a textural rug all contribute to a restful, cocooning effect. An antler-like wood chandelier is an easy fit with the nearby branches.
Sculptor Martha Sturdy’s cottage on Preston Island, near West Vancouver, is a true confluence of earth and sea, and nails the look with a mix of cedar, flagstone and a breathtaking view of the water.
Peace Out relies on the healing power of nature as a foil for an increasingly technological age. The raw beauty of this coastal outdoor living room has all the comforts of the indoors, including a fireplace and kitchen, without the screen time.
Glazed artwork in the bedroom recalls Japanese pottery and adds a graphic counterpoint to the creamy walls. Martha Sturdy’s resin cube tables and headboard echoes the variegated stone that surrounds the cottage.
There’s no point in trying to upstage these sea views, so this deck relies on subtle, durable materials like wood, steel, glass and even cowhide (on the pillows) to drive the natural theme of Peace Out.