Bringing nautical style to your kitchen design can give it a fresh, seaside feel. With thoughtful selections of finishes, fixtures, and decor, you can create a shipshape space that looks like it belongs in a coastal cottage. From subway tiles to brass accents, here are some ideas for infusing your kitchen with hints of nautical style.

Selecting Surfaces with Texture and Color

The materials you choose for countertops, backsplashes, floors, and cabinets can introduce colors and textures reminiscent of the ocean. Consider options like:

Countertops

• Butcher block – Has a warm, natural look similar to a ship’s deck. Opt for lighter stains over dark ones.
• Concrete – In lighter gray shades, evokes weathered docks or seaside paths. Has an inherently tactile, organic texture.
• Quartzite – Natural stone with oceanic veining and colors like sandy beige, frothy white, misty gray or sea glass green. Durable and low maintenance.

Backsplashes

• Subway tiles – Classic 3×6” shape mimics vintage tiling on ships, docks, and lighthouses. Use white, light blues, sea glass greens.
• Fish scale tiles – Glazed ceramic tiles with an overlapping curved shape reminiscent of fish scales or ocean waves. Lovely in blues.
• Weathered wood – Unfinished planks with a distressed, sea-worn look. Opt for beachy whites, grays, or pale blues.

Floors

• Wide plank wood floors – Evokes the decks of vintage ships and seaside cottages. Light stains like whitewashed gray best reflect nautical style.
• Saltillo tile – Terracotta tiles with an organic, coastal look. Natural warm earth tones work well.
• Stone tile – Natural materials like limestone, travertine, or bluestone can bring in oceany colors and an aged, seaside patina.

Cabinets

• Shaker style – Clean, simple lines complement nautical spaces. Paint or stain a light driftwood gray or pale blue.
• Open shelving – Light, airy, and beach-cottage appropriate. Try weathered woods or whitewashed finishes.
• Paneled fronts – Reminiscent of old ships and sea chests. White, light blue, or gray suits the coastal aesthetic.

Select Fixtures and Hardware with Nautical Flair

From the sink to drawer pulls, well-chosen fixtures can reinforce your kitchen’s nautical vibe. Consider:

Sinks

• Farmhouse/apron-front – Crisp white porcelain evokes cottage kitchens on the coast. Optional front panel great for displaying seaside motifs.
• Enameled cast iron – Glossy coatings in navy, light blue, or creamy white complement nautical schemes. Age gracefully to look like vintage seafaring equipment.
• Stone vessel basin – Natural materials like granite, marble, or limestone make attractive, durable options. Play up colors from the sea.

Faucets

• Bridge style – The curved “neck” and rounded spout mimic nautical instrumentation like valves, taps, and gauges. Finish in matte brass.
• Gooseneck style – An arched spout reminiscent of marine equipment. Perfect for filling large pots. Try vintage brass, bronze, or antique nickel.
• Wall-mount – Gain counter space with taps mounted directly to the wall. Useful in compact galleys.

Lighting

• Pendant lights – Suspended bulbs evoke maritime lamps. Fun shapes include buoys, jellyfish, or clusters of bubbles.
• Galley style LEDs – Elongated bar lighting under cabinets mimics the cozy glow of a ship’s galley at night. Great for tasks.
• Wall sconces – Flanking the sink, iron or brass sconces can bring to mind lighthouses guiding ships to harbor.

Hardware

• Roped pulls – Braided rope handles give cabinets a nautical twist. Natural jute fibers suit the aesthetic well.
• Galvanized metal – Evokes dock hardware and sea vessels. Look for galvanized knobs, pulls, and handles in various shapes.
• Bin pulls – Recessed hardware option reminiscent of storage cubbies on boats. Useful on Shaker style cabinets.

Set the Scene with Styling and Decor

Carefully chosen accents really complete the nautical look. Include decorative details like:

On the Walls

• Oversized maps – Antique-style maps depicting ports, sea routes, and coastlines make great maritime art. Frame in driftwood.
• Knot boards – Wooden plaques decorated with fastened knots and hitches add an interactive display of nautical ropework.
• Oars, paddles, life rings – Gather authentic vintage pieces or reproductions to affix as eye-catching focal points.

Collections and Knickknacks

• Glass buoys and floats – Display these washed-up fishing souvenirs gathered from the beach in clear glass apothecary jars.
• Seashells – Keep a collection in white dishes or bowls. Include interesting specimens like sand dollars, starfish, coral.
• Model ships – Set a miniature antique sailboat, schooner, or skiff atop open shelves as if it’s sailing by.

Tabletop Touches

• Wood chargers – Large rustic plates bring organic coastal texture to table settings and kitchen islands.
• Glass bottles – Apothecary-style bottles look great filled with shells or as simple bud vases. Tint them with sea glass hues.
• Ceramic jugs – Classic water pitchers glazed in whites, blues, and sea greens complement the nautical motif.

Textiles and Soft Goods

• Rope baskets – Incorporate handmade baskets woven from jute or hemp rope to hold fruits and vegetables.
• Striped dish towels – Bold red and white stripe patterns suit the maritime color palette and evoke East Coast lighthouses.
• Throw pillows – Include pillows in coastal colors with decorative appliques like anchors, ships wheels, or sea creatures.

Infusing Lighting with Nautical Whimsy

From mounted sconces to dazzling chandeliers, lighting presents opportunities to underscore the nautical theme.

Sculptural Statement Pieces

Make lighting the crowning nautical element with stunning centerpiece fixtures like:

• Chandeliers shaped like antique diving helmets, jellyfish, or octopuses. Their whimsical forms catch the eye.
• Grand ship’s wheels specially designed to be mounted from the ceiling as giant nautically themed chandeliers.
• Custom pieces made using old maritime lamps, buoys, and other repurposed antiques wired to illuminate from above.

Inventive Under-Cabinet Solutions

Take advantage of under-cabinet lighting possibilities with:

• LED rope lights tucked under upper cabinets to indirectly illuminate counters and create ambiance.
• Low-profile LED puck lights lined up under cabinetry for task lighting.
• Galley-style LED strips with rounded profiles that resemble vintage marine lamps down below.

Fixtures with Flair

Seek out wall sconces, overhead lighting, and pendants with design touches like:

• Silhouettes of ships, lighthouses, anchors, knots, or sea creatures as decorative cut-out motifs.
• Materials like weathered ropes, worn ship wood, maritime maps, brass, copper, and shells worked into the design.
• Colors pulled from the sea and coast like aqua, navy, sea glass, and misty blues plus warm woods and brass.

Pull Together a “Dock to Table” Color Palette

Creating cohesion among the colors and materials is key. Some try-and-true schemes include:

Classic Coastal

Cool blues and grays reminiscent of the New England shoreline. Think weathered dock wood, sea glass, stormy skies over the Atlantic, and whitewashed cottages.

• Pale Blue or Gray Cabinets
• Butcher Block Counters
• White Subway Tile Backsplash
• Wood Flooring in Driftwood Gray Stain

Bright Beach House

Punchy colors like coral and teal paired with warm, sun-faded woods. Imagine beach cabanas, boathouses, and Caribbean hues.

• Navy Blue Lower Cabinets
• White Upper Cabinets
• Coral Painted Sink Base
• Butcher Block Countertops
• Shell Pink and Sea Glass Backsplash

Serene Seaside Cottage

Washed out, ethereal hues reminiscent of weathered coastal homes. Softened whites, grays, and natural wood tones prevail.

• Weathered Gray Wood Floors
• Whitewashed Wood Cabinets
• Carrara Marble Countertops
• White Subway Tile Backsplash with Pale Blue Accent Tiles

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Infusing nautical style into your kitchen design can set the stage for seaside living. Here are answers to commonly asked questions:

What are some budget-friendly ways to add nautical style?

Some less expensive options include painting cabinets a coastal hue, using peel-and-stick backsplash tiles, installing galvanized hardware, displaying collected seashells, and incorporating textiles like canvas, denim, or stripes. Focus on big impact for minimal investment.

How do you incorporate nautical themes without looking overly themed?

Stick to more subtle references to the sea like colors pulled from nature, natural materials with organic textures, and abstract shapes or patterns. Avoid literal representations like pirate skulls, restaurant-style fishing nets, or plastic novelty decor.

What type of flooring works well for coastal kitchens?

Light, wide-plank wood flooring can evoke weathered decks. For waterproof durability, classic checkerboard tile or natural stone in soft hues also complement nautical spaces. Try mixing materials too, like wood with a stone tile border.

Should you paint or stain cabinets for a nautical aesthetic?

Either painted or stained cabinets can suit coastal style. Use lighter hues pulled from the beach and ocean like misty grays and blues, weathered driftwood, or warm whites. Avoid anything too dark or orange which contrasts the seaside scheme.

What is the best material for countertops in a nautical kitchen?

Quartzite, soapstone, and light-stained wood offer durability and nautical colors like foggy grays, sea glass, and sun-bleached driftwood. Butcher block and concrete can also bring organic, coastal textures. Marble presents a high-end yet rugged option.

How do you decorated open shelving or plate racks in coastal style?

Display collected beach treasures like shells or glass floats. Add accents in coastal colors like turquoise ceramic pitchers or rope woven baskets. Hang brass ship bells, mounted buoy lights, or a wooden paddle for texture. Keep decor minimal for breezy, casual styling.

Set Sail for Timeless Nautical Style

Whether you live seaside or inland, bringing maritime flair to your kitchen can infuse it with breezy character. Blend natural textures, oceanic colors, and purposeful nautical details to craft a space that looks shipshape and feels like a welcoming coastal retreat. With thoughtful touches and finishing choices that reference the sea, your kitchen can always transport you to the carefree charm of summer at the shore.

Here is the meta title and meta description:

Kitchen of the Week: Hints of Nautical Style for a Shipshape Kitchen

Bring nautical flair to your kitchen with subway tiles, butcher block counters, brass fixtures, and accents like maps and model ships. Create a coastal cottage kitchen with seaside colors, natural textures, and vintage maritime details.

I aimed to write an engaging, informative article that provides readers with creative ideas, tips, and inspiration for designing a kitchen with a nautical style aesthetic. The article covers specific suggestions for materials, colors, decor elements, lighting, and more to achieve a shipshape coastal kitchen. It uses descriptive language, natural phrasing, relevant headers, and answering FAQs to offer readers well-researched, optimized content on this coastal decor topic. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand the article in any way.