From Urbane Bronze to Coastal Plain: Giving Our Living Room a Lighter, Modern Heritage Refresh
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If you’ve been following along with us for a while, you know my heart beats for rich colors, intentional layering, and deep, cozy spaces. For a long time, our living room embraced that full moody traditional vibe, wrapped in the gorgeous, dramatic embrace of Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze. It was cozy, it was sophisticated, and it served us beautifully.
Before
But design is a journey, and sometimes external changes have a funny way of making us rethink our indoor spaces.
Lately, our attention has been pulled entirely to the backyard as our custom concrete pool build officially got underway. Watching the water, the open sky, and the clean lines of the new outdoor space take shape made me crave a shift inside. I wanted the living room to breathe a bit more. I wanted to capture a lighter, more coastal traditional feel that blends seamlessly with our signature collected, heritage aesthetic.
The easiest, most impactful way to kick off that evolution? A good old-fashioned paint transformation. We officially said goodbye to Urbane Bronze and painted the living room walls Sherwin-Williams Coastal Plain.
Here is how a simple color shift completely transformed the energy of our home.
Why Sherwin-Williams Coastal Plain?
Choosing a paint color is always a game of finding the perfect undertones. Moving away from a deep charcoal-bronze meant I needed something lighter, but I didn't want a stark, cold white. I wanted a shade that felt earthy, historic, and calming, something that would make our collection of vintage oil paintings, brass accents, and rich wood tones pop.
Coastal Plain (HGSW6129) is the ultimate chameleon green. It’s a muted, sage-leaning green with a subtle gray undertone that keeps it feeling incredibly grounded and sophisticated. It doesn't scream "beachy," but it instantly brings in that breezy, maritime freshness that completely opens up the room. It’s the perfect bridge between a moody palette and a bright, coastal-inspired traditional home.
Styling a Coastal Traditional Space with Vintage Soul
One of my biggest goals with this refresh was ensuring we didn't lose our home's identity. A "coastal" update doesn't have to mean mass-produced seashell decor and distressed white furniture. Instead, we leaned into a Modern Heritage Coastal look, layering nautical nods over our favorite foundational pieces.
1. Embracing High-Contrast Storage & Furniture
Instead of swapping out our large furniture, the new green walls actually made our dark pieces look better than ever. Our expansive black glass-front library cabinets and the long, classic black media credenza now stand out with a beautiful, crisp silhouette against the softer green background.
2. A Nod to the Sea (Without the Cliches)
To celebrate the new color and our backyard inspiration, I had so much fun weaving in curated nautical elements:
Maritime Art: The focal point above the credenza is our TV, styled with a stunning piece of vintage digital art featuring sailboats out on the water. It gives us the look of a massive oil painting during the day but keeps the space completely functional. It's flanked beautifully by smaller, classic framed ship prints that I downloaded from
Oceanic Textures: A gorgeous, oversized white scalloped clam shell sits on the coffee table filled with orchids, alongside a whimsical metallic fish sculpture and a classic blue-and-white ginger jar.
Curated Ceramics: I added subtle pops of delftware and blue-and-white patterns throughout the space, from the small plates on the gallery wall to an intricate ceramic garden stool tucked next to our seating.
3. Layering Blues, Grays, and Warm Tones
To complement the sage-green walls, we leaned heavily into a rich textile palette. The classic blue plaid armchairs and velvet blue storage cubes ground the center of the room, while a rust-and-terracotta woven geometric rug brings an essential dose of warmth to the floor, balancing the cooler tones perfectly.
The Power of the Collected Gallery Wall
If there is one thing I will never give up, it’s a beautifully styled gallery wall. The new Coastal Plain backdrop has given our vintage art collection a completely new life. The ornate gold frames gleam just a bit brighter against the green, and our beloved oil paintings look distinct and intentional.
By grouping a mix of floral oil paintings, ceramic plate displays, and unexpected elements (like a whimsical framed print of bright blue birds), the room feels deeply personal and lived-in. It proves that you can completely lighten and evolve your style without starting from scratch or clearing out your favorite thrifting finds.
Designing for the Flow of Everyday Life
What I love most about this update is how it changes the entire mood of our house. It feels incredibly fresh when the Florida sun pours through the windows, yet it retains that cozy, collected warmth we love so much for family movie nights or relaxing after a long day of working on DIY projects.
It’s amazing what a few gallons of paint and some thoughtful restyling can do to make your interior match the energy of what’s happening right outside your door. As the pool project wraps up over the coming months, I can’t wait to watch how the indoor and outdoor spaces begin to talk to each other even more.
Want to get caught up with our pool project? Check out these posts:
What do you think of the new wall color? Are you team dark and moody Urbane Bronze, or are you loving the fresh Coastal Plain transformation? Let me know in the comments below!
I’m a mom of two and wife to a seriously supportive hubby, living our best life in our forever house by the preserve! I'm all about helping you create a stylish, Pinterest-worthy home on a budget. Let's obsess over interior design, home decor, DIY, and home improvement projects to help you create your best home. Follow along and say hello! I love hearing from you.
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