Tropical Design: Mexico and Hawaii home interiors are inspired by local landscapes.

By Jenny Quill, (excerpted) Alaska Airlines magazine March 2008

“So you’ve taken the leap and purchased your tropical get-away, an idyllic, plucked from a Corona-like commercial retreat or a steps-from-the-surf Hawaiian hale that comes with endless white sand beaches, azure skies and miles of glassy ocean. Designing the interior of such an abode requires a deft hand, one that takes advantage of the lush surroundings, seamlessly incorporating the colors, textures and natural elements of the landscape. This is not the time for tiki torches and overwhelming floral patterns. Today’s tropical design is refreshingly modern, with an emphasis on alfresco living, clean, minimalist lines, plenty of natural textures and neutral palettes with plashes of bright color."

Designer Nicole Collins, whose company, Designed Living International, provides turnkey furniture packages for second homes in Mexico, echoes this sentiment.

“In Cancun, where it’s more Caribbean style, we pull from the elements outside,” she says. For Collins a color palette in a Cancun home would include crisp whites that echo the talcum-color beaches, turquoise to mimic the clear, blue water, and verdant greens and yellows.”

In Puerto Vallarta, on the other hand, Collins says, “We’ll build on tans and creams by adding pops of color – corals, a mango-stripe or siesta-style fabric with blue, green and yellow.”

Making the most of a home’s view is also very important. Designed Living International designer Collins takes a certain approach to finalizing a floor plan, ensuring that all eyes are drawn to the ocean. “You don’t want to have too many focal points,” says Collins. “Because resort homes are usually on the water, we will design around the view and out to the water. We make the layout so it is not overly cluttered, with very minimal furnishings.”

Climate-proofing is always a consideration as well and suggestions include UV-tinted windows, which keep furniture and artwork from fading. Collins recommends placing a blackout liner on the back of woven-wood blinds that roll up and down, to protect furniture from the sun when the owners leave.

Tropical design is all about utilizing one’s greatest asset: the paradise in which your home is located. Connecting your interiors to the great outdoors can be achieved using colors that echo the dazzling hues of the ocean, sky and beach; turning your outdoor lanais and terraces into extensions of your home; adding textures from natural, indigenous fibers and woods.