How do you design a room that suits a Labour Day soirée as much as it does a cozy Christmas dinner? The secret to creating a seasonal room that seamlessly sashays from summer to winter, says Canadian-born, N.Y.-based designer Amanda Nisbet, is colour and texture.

And thanks to the layering of textures, the room beckons all year long. Heavy linen curtains puddle luxuriously on the floor, pale mosaic tiles "cool" the fireplace, a sisal rug boasts a wave-like pattern - all serve to straddle the summer-winter divide.

Easy greens
Amanda chose the dining room's celadon green colour to accent the deep green of the room across the hall. “I wanted soft neutrals with just a hint of celadon in the chair seat cushions and in the window dressings,” says Amanda. “The palette is very soothing.”

Understated elegance
For the family of four that often welcomes relatives, a dining table large enough to seat 10 was a must. Made from reclaimed hardwood, the table has a rustic-chic look. Designer Amanda Nisbet found the cerused-oak klismos chairs to match. The look is subtly beachy, which suits Amanda's intent to not be overly cheesy in her execution of a beach-inspired room.

Shell on hearth
Subtle accents remind visitors that, though entirely elegant, this is a home that's near the water. Beachy elements like the strategically placed sculptural objets from the sea on the mantle and the tiny shell accents on the table, as well as the use of modern coral-print wallpaper, neither steal the show nor scream the theme.

Coral wallpaper
A few simple decorating ideas like this wallpaper will help you take your home from summer to winter and back again. billbroughs.com, $100 per roll. Napkin ring
This pretty but understated napkin ring will bring a touch of elegance to your tabletop in no time. Putti fine furnishings, 416-972-7652, $25.
Textured placemats
These neutral-toned placemats are perfect year-round. Classic yet visually interesting, you will want to take them out anytime you have guests over. Pottery Barn, $11.
Shell server
This server is sure to bring the beach to your table in the wintertime and bring the outdoors in during the summer months. Artifacts, $279.