Tropical Escapes At Home!

19 Episodes
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By: Tom from Cerulean Bay

We will provide inspiration and ideas to help you create your very own indoor and outdoor tropical sanctuaries at home which offer the peace, relaxation, and mental rejuvenation that you would experience at a distant island resort. You can even create a tropical lifestyle that works for you, given where you live and what is possible at home. It’s about finding that perfect balance of tropical beauty, comfort, and tranquility which will help you to unwind and recharge with your own personal retreat being only steps away.

Healthy Landscaping For Tropical Escapes with Guest Matthieu Mehuys
Last Wednesday at 6:56 PM

Matthieu Mehuys, a master landscape architect and award winning author joins Tom from Cerulean Bay to discuss how to create tropical gardens and landscaping without the use of chemicals and how to keep them weed-free! Matthieu also provides tips for keeping your soil properly balanced and how to protect your tropical plants when cold weather sets in.

For those who love plants and want to learn more about how to use them and keep them healthy in outdoor spaces, join one of Matthieu's in-depth masterclasses where you will learn a lot with a community of others who...


Let There Be Light! Mastering Interior Lighting for Tropical Escapes
05/01/2025

Today's trailer is a quick peek at interior lighting for your personal tropical escape! Ready to bring that sun-soaked, breezy island vibe inside? In this episode, we’re diving deep into the vibrant world of interior lighting for tropical spaces! We will get into the details about ambient, task, and accent lighting. We will also cover lighting temperature from cool whites to warm whites and how they impact mood and style. So join us over at Patreon where you can access the full length episode!


Tropical Rugs - What To Choose & Mistakes To Avoid
04/23/2025

Who knew that there could be so much to know about tropical rugs? Today we will take you through everything you need to know about rug types, sizes, how they are made and what they are made of. We also cover where to place them, how to care for them, and what to avoid. So tune in and then after the show, get out there and find some awesome tropical rugs for your tropical escape! You can find more details about rugs and how to use them in our blogpost. You can also learn more about color palettes and...


Tropical Styling Tips - Wood Furnishing Inspirations
04/16/2025

Tropical styling is all about knowing which specific furnishings and decor pieces are needed to create the perfect tropical escape for you at home! Today we will look at a few regional influences used in furniture design along with the types of wood and other materials that are used to create different pieces. This will help you to stay on track as you plan your space and to keep things as authentic as possible!


Different Tiki Design Styles: Part 2
04/09/2025

Today we are continuing on with different tiki design styles! Of the 7 we have identified, now we are getting into the lost island headhunter look, old nautical and pirates, and the laid back surfer "flipflops under a thatched roof" look. As mentioned, we have a lot of great imagery and additional details in our blog posts about different tiki design styles and in our tiki design guide. So let's get into it and find that awesome tiki inspiration!


Different Tiki Design Styles
04/03/2025

Who knew that there are so many different tiki design styles? We have identified 7 and will share those with you in this episode and in the next one too! Tiki is awesome and we have a whole lot of inspiration just for you! We have a lot of great imagery and additional details in our blog posts about different tiki design styles and in our tiki design guide. So listen here to find out even more!


Tiki Culture: Appreciation or Appropriation?
03/26/2025

Tiki has a very interesting past and history. Along the way, there have been concerns about it being a topic of cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. We have dug into the details and can assure you that if you understand what tiki is and how it came into being, that it is an art form that can be both appreciated and celebrated. We hope you enjoy this episode! You can check out our blog post for more details!


What Is Tiki?
03/18/2025

The history of tiki and how this piece of American culture came to be is such an awesome topic and today, we are diving into it! There are a lot of aspects to this design style and fun way of entertaining, too many to cover in one episode. So come back again next week as we will touch on cultural appreciation versus appropriation and the actual design elements of tiki. These can be used to either accent your tropical space or to build a full on tiki escape! In the meantime, dive into what tiki is all about with...


Palms And Other Indoor Tropical Plants - Can They Survive Outside Too?
03/10/2025

Today we take a close look at the types of plants that are found at tropical resorts and which of those can be grown indoors to help create that amazing tropical atmosphere! We also look at different palms and their cold tolerance because eventually those will need to be moved outside once they simply become too big to keep indoors. We've got lots of info for you as well in our blog posts about indoor plants and those for the outdoors as well! Happy planting!


Crafting Your Tropical Escape: DIY Tips for Outdoor Retreats, Part 2
03/03/2025

Welcome to Part 2 of DIY Tips for Outdoor Retreats! Today we pick up where we left off in Part 1 and touch on smaller spaces such as balconies and small patios. We also have some awesome tips for using cinderblocks to create seating and planter spaces in addition to recommendations for in-ground and potted landscaping. And we discuss the need for outdoor lighting too, we loving lighting! So, yes, this show is packed full of information and you can find some really cool imagery and additional details in our Outdoor DIY blogpost. So kick back, listen, and get some great...


Crafting Your Tropical Escape: DIY Tips for Outdoor Retreats, Part 1
02/24/2025

Today we are getting into the details of DIY outdoor projects, depending on how handy you are! If you aren't that handy and would prefer to call in the pros, no worries! We split the show into 2 episodes because we have that much info we want to share, including advice about utility easements (we know, not very exciting!) but very important nonetheless. Part 2 will follow this episode and will wrap up what we have for you about this topic. We hope you will be that much more inspired to create your own outdoor tropical escape after these 2 shows!


Why Tropical Home Accent Decor Is So Important!
02/17/2025

Tropical home accents and accessories are the decor pieces that bring your home to life. In this episode, we discuss how rooms with foundational pieces (sofas, bedroom and dining room furniture) are left lifeless and on their own if you don't have the right decor elements which will complete the look and breathe life into your tropical escape! Check out our blog post for more details and some great visual examples!


Hanging In There When You Are Self-Employed
02/12/2025

Just some encouraging thoughts and words for those of you who are self-employed and are struggling or who are thinking about striking out on your own. We love the tropics and we refuse to give up. We promised to share our journey over the years and now we can. We hope what we have to share will inspire others to keep going. It's very hard and we know it. Hang in there!


The Ultimate Guide to Finding Awesome Deals for Pre-Owned Tropical Home Decor!
02/10/2025

Join us on our journey through thrift stores, consignment shops and estate sales as we take a close look at how these three sources of cool stuff work, what you can expect to find, and how you can create your tropical escape at home for a lot less money than you would think! Check out our blog post too about this money-saving topic!


Sentimental Value Makes Your Tropical Escape Mean So Much More
02/06/2025

Today we get into the definition of sentimental value and how important it really is when creating your own personal tropical space. We even share a real-life example of this so don't miss it!


The Basics Of Tropical Design Elements
01/29/2025

Explore the basics in tropical design elements. Here we cover everything from how to choose paint colors and how lighting affects spaces to plants both live and fake and how to choose textures and accents. Check out our blog post for additional details and awesome imagery!


Tropical vs Coastal Designs: Which One Really Speaks To You?
01/23/2025

Today we take a close look at what tropical and coastal designs look like and the big differences between them. Know which design styles and accent pieces are the right ones for you! Check out our blog for some great pics and details!


Bring Home The Tropics!
01/22/2025

Here is a quick intro to our new show, Tropical Escapes At Home. Let's create your own tropical paradise!


Welcome To Tropical Escapes At Home!
01/17/2025

Welcome to Tropical Escapes At Home, the podcast about creating indoor and outdoor tropical spaces and tropical lifestyles! Tom from Cerulean Bay brings the beauty and serenity of the tropics right into your living room, your kitchen, your backyard, and even onto your balcony. You will be guided through the art of creating your own personal tropical paradise, no matter where you live. You don’t need to travel to unwind in a stunning tropical setting of your very own. We’ll talk about how you can transform any part of your home, from a small apartment to a larg...