After a move to Westport from Los Angeles in April 2022, this family with East Coast roots and West Coast flair quickly embraced the area’s coastal lifestyle. Enthusiastic about her new town, Meg Young, founder of Cailíní Coastal, says: “We love Westport! It feels like a little California infused in New England. My husband and I both grew up in the New York City area and met while living in Santa Monica. After a combined 18 years of living in California, we decided to move back to raise our girls closer to our families.”
Their new-construction home—architecture by Donald Fairbanks, built by Rick Benson with interiors by Lynn Morgan Design—turned into a semi-custom build, evolving into a style that Young calls “New England coastal meets traditional.” She notes, “We changed just about everything from the original plans, aside from the interior floor plan. It’s inspired mostly by New England, with influences from California.”
Interiors are awash in a palette of blues complemented by pops of rattan—natural and painted—throughout the home. “I have a distinct style that is influenced by three key regions: New England, California and a touch of the islands,” says Young. “I really like to use natural materials like rattan, sisal rugs and bamboo to capture the coastal atmosphere. The antiqued rattan console in the entry is a vintage-inspired piece we sell at Cailíní Coastal. And I have a large collection of about 40 ginger jars that remind me of summers in the Hamptons, where blue-and-white chinoiserie is mixed with corals and shells giving this very traditional porcelain a coastal flair.
Goldendoodle George awaits guests at the front door, which is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Porcelain Glaze.
In the entry, a tabletop tree with handpainted oyster-shell ornaments tops a vintage-looking rattan console, all through Cailíní Coastal.
In the living room, homeowner Meg Young puts finishing touches on blue velvet stockings. The Christmas tree is from Balsam Hill.
Nautical nutcracker giftwrap and oyster shell gift tag are through Cailíní Coastal.
In the dining room, place settings complement the berries and blooms in the Winter Floral tablecloth. The hurricanes and garland are from Blossom & Stem.
The Nutcracker King reigns supreme over the dining room.
In the kitchen, John Street lanterns are from Lantern & Scroll. The home’s interior design is by Lynn Morgan, while interior finishes are by Shawna Feeley.
The Christmas Cottage design was inspired by a home on Nantucket.
Jeweled ornaments, Tinsel Trellis ribbon and Bottle Brush trees are through Cailíní Coastal, which is opening a store in Darien in 2025.
When it comes to decorating for the holidays, Young goes all out. “We put up six trees each year,” she says. “I grew up with parents who also loved the holiday season: We had three trees growing up, each with its own theme. I’ve continued that tradition with my own family. Two Charlie Brown trees go in my daughters’ rooms, and they love decorating them with plush ornaments.”
A casual and festive vibe flows through the living room, which is where the family spends the most of their time. The blue-and-white striped rug and framed signal flags provide a backdrop for a tree filled with jeweled sea creatures, shell ornaments and two different ribbons—an ivory linen and a seafoam with gold lattice. A live garland from Blossom & Stem is finished with dusty blue velvet ribbon, while dark blue velvet stockings by the fireplace are paired with handmade oyster ornaments. “We commissioned an artist to paint these natural oyster shells,” says Young. “I gave her four designs: Christmas Tree, Boxwood Wreath, Brant Point Lighthouse and Chinoiserie Nutcracker—inspired by the actual nutcracker we also sell.”
Dining room decorations center around a traditional Christmas table. “Each year, I select linens for the holiday season, and I create new tablescapes inspired by them,” says Young. “The Winter Floral linens are green and magenta, lending themselves to a more traditional look than my go-to blue. Young stacked a simple white dinner plate and a scalloped gold trim salad plate on her green Summer Scallop placemats. “Our six-inch wreaths with navy blue ribbon were the perfect topper to this layered look,” she notes. “Leaning into a traditional Christmas, I added tall tapers and a custom cedar garland running down the center of the table.”
Small wreaths and greenery are sprinkled into spaces where there are no trees, like the mudroom, bathrooms and extra bedrooms. She says, “I typically add a few tabletop trees or a festive holiday house to the countertops or nightstands to add a pop of holiday magic.”