How to Bring Classic Nautical Style to Your Home
By John Stevens June 19, 2012
Summertime is high season for Seattle’s booming cruise business. Welcoming nearly 900,000 travelers each year, the city’s cruise terminals are the gateway for ocean adventures to Alaska and all Northwest waterways. Marvel at a majestic vessel from a vantage point at Smith Cove Park, and you’ll dream of hitting the high seas.
Want to bring some classic, cruise-inspired style to your home? Start with a few ship-worthy staples, such as Dedon’s sleek SeaX chair and a white lacquer side table from Masins (Bellevue; 10708 Main St.; 425.450.9999; masins.com). Next, add nautical touches, with a fabulous French linen footstool and original Grace Line ice bucket, both from Susan Wheeler Home (Georgetown; 5515 Airport Way S; 360.402.5080; susanwheelerhome.com). Bring antique wooden accents on board with a ship’s wheel, oval tray and charming small cabinet, all from Star Center Antique Mall (Snohomish, 829 Second St.; 360.568.2131; myantiquemall.com/starcenter).
Serve drinks with deckside drama using a swank silver-plated shaker or gorgeous lead-free crystal ship’s decanter, and gaze at an intriguing vintage Dutch shipping print, all from Le Objects for the Home (Georgetown, 1226 S Bailey St.; 206.604.4958; leobjects.com). Map your route like an Old World voyager, with Authentic Models’ brass and rosewood telescope and a handsome globe, from Metsker Maps (Pike Place, 1511 First Ave.; 206.623.8747; metskers.com). Finally, a navy-blue-and-red-striped silk lampshade from Brooks Brothers’ new home collection is marvelously maritime and old-school cool (The Bravern, Bellevue; 700 110th Ave. NE; 425.462.6084; brooksbrothers.com).
With just a few such summer cruise-line touches, any home can be sublimely ship-shape. Style ahoy!
John Stevens (john@stevenswilliams.com) is a design writer and publicist.
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