How One Celadon Lamp Carried This Coastal Bedroom’s Inspiration Through

How One Celadon Lamp Carried This Coastal Bedroom’s Inspiration Through

You’d be forgiven for thinking the yellow and white cabana stripes came first. 

Framing the twin beds in this Pine Knoll Shores beach house, they set the tone for nearly every detail that follows. But for interior designer Lauren McKay of Lauren McKay Interiors, the room didn’t begin with the canopies, the stripes, or even the yellow. It began with something much smaller: an accent pillow. (The Robert Abbey Double Gourd Table Lamp in Celadon that sits between the beds takes its cue from that pillow, too.)

Portrait of interior designer Lauren McKay of Lauren McKay Interiors, smiling outdoors in a light blue shirtdress.

Designer Lauren McKay, Lauren McKay Interiors.

A Celadon Table Lamp Starts with an Artichoke Pillow 

“The busiest pattern in the space is on the smallest element,” McKay says. “This became the starting point for the palette. Stripes, checks, waves and solids all support the artichoke print by Erika Powell Textiles.”

Built-in window seat with yellow gingham cushion, an artichoke-print throw pillow, and a folded white throw blanket beneath a window overlooking coastal homes.
A gingham cushion and artichoke-print pillow by Erika Powell Textiles establish the room's yellow-and-blue-green palette.

The yellow-and-blue-green print gave McKay the palette to work from. From there, she could decide which elements should lead and which should stay quieter.

“I like to go bold and then pull back a bit,” she says. The striped canopies are the strongest visual element in the room, while the beds and nightstand stay relatively simple. The Robert Abbey Double Gourd Table Lamp in Celadon picks up the blue-green in the pillow print in Sunrise.

Celadon double gourd table lamp on a white nightstand centered between two twin beds with yellow striped canopy headboards and patterned pillows.

The Robert Abbey Double Gourd Table Lamp in Celadon anchors the nightstand between the twin beds, its cool green tone grounding the sunshine-yellow stripes overhead.

The smaller details stay personal, including vintage suitcases, while McKay added her daughter’s copy of Madeline, now tucked onto the nightstand’s lower shelf.

Coastal Twin Bedroom Design, Without the Cliché 

The clients bought the oceanfront lot in 2020 with plans to gather there with family.

“Given that this is a beach house, the coastal influence was intentional,” McKay says. “We wanted it to fit without being overly themed. Cabana stripes evoke that feeling in a classic way.” The stripes, woven textures, light finishes, and yellow-and-white palette give the room its beach-house character without relying on literal coastal references. The canopies and window seat use Romo fabric with Samuel and Sons trim, fabricated by Dogwood Designs.

“I hope the kids feel relaxed and immediately step into vacation mode when they walk in this room,” McKay says.

Fitting a Table Lamp in a Twin Bedroom Nightstand 

The Double Gourd Table Lamp was part of McKay’s plan from the beginning.

“After I selected the artichoke fabric that pulled together the scheme, I remembered Robert Abbey’s Celadon finish and knew it would coordinate perfectly,” she says.

Round woven-frame mirror above a white dresser reflecting a celadon double gourd table lamp and striped twin bed, styled with fresh tulips and stacked books.

A round woven mirror reflects the Double Gourd lamp's glow alongside fresh yellow tulips on the dresser.

During construction, though, the wall between the twin beds came in about six inches narrower than planned. That left less room for the nightstand and the lamp sitting on it. McKay could have responded by choosing a smaller lamp but she decided not to.

“I didn’t want the lamp to feel dwarfed in the process,” she says, “so we stayed with the large scale and impactful Celadon gourd lamp.” At 31 inches, the Double Gourd has real presence on the compact nightstand. In the finished room, its scale feels deliberate rather than compromised by the tighter wall.

Color was one reason to keep it. Shape was another. “The sunshine yellow we used in the space brings such a punch that it needs a softer, cooler tone to add depth,” McKay says. “Celadon does this perfectly.”

The room also has a lot of straight lines: cabana stripes, a striped rug, checks, and paneled beds. The Double Gourd brings a softer shape into the mix.

Flat lay of coastal bedroom design elements including striped canopy fabric, a white twin bed frame, patterned throw pillow, celadon double gourd table lamp, striped rug, round woven mirror, white side table, vintage suitcases, and scalloped bedding.

 Striped Canopy Fabric by Romo with Samuel and Sons trim, fabricated by Dogwood Designs · Bassett Furniture Ventura Panel Bed in Sailcloth · Artichoke pillow by Erika Powell Textiles · Robert Abbey Double Gourd Table Lamp in Celadon · Annie Selke Catamaran Stripe Indoor-Outdoor Rug · Uttermost Carbet Round Mirror · Woodbridge Furniture Provence Drink Table · Anthropologie Cotton Marrow Scalloped Edge Duvet · Vintage Suitcases

“With many linear forms in the space, it was crucial to bring in a more organic base on the lamp,” she says. “The curves complement the linear geometry used in the room nicely.”

The ceramic adds another contrast.

“I love that lamps bring a different material,” McKay says. “The ceramic on this lamp feels approachable and softer than a metal lamp. The glaze has lovely depth to it.”

Why she specifies Robert Abbey Lighting

For McKay, the appeal of Robert Abbey is the range of finishes and forms available when a room calls for something specific. “I particularly love brands like Robert Abbey that offer so many great finishes and forms to work with,” she says.

Asked whether she considered another Robert Abbey piece for the room, McKay’s answer was simple: “This was the clear call from the start.”

The lamp also does the practical work expected of a bedside fixture. “This lamp becomes the last light turned off at night, until the kids are tucked in,” McKay says. “It serves as a reading light and also looks amazing, even when off during the day with natural daylight filling the space.”

And it isn’t a one-off specification. McKay has another beach house in progress using Robert Abbey lighting, along with a Parade home that will feature several ceiling fixtures.

Design with Confidence

It’s the piece that ties the palette together, and the last light off at night.

Order glaze and shade fabric samples to see the finishes for yourself and apply to join our Trade Program for exclusive designer pricing, personalized support, and access to our full range of customizable lighting.


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Close-up of a white desk styled with the Robert Abbey Dolly Table Lamp in Citron glaze, a green task chair, straw hat, and bowl of green apples against floral wallpaper and a teal wall.

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