From Salt-Breezed Beginnings: The Story of Our Boat House
A Storm-Driven Beginning
Our Boat House wouldn’t exist without the hurricanes of 2005. The company began after two major storms — Frances and Jeanne — struck Florida that year.
These hurricanes deeply affected the lives of sisters and co-owners Lori Auer-Smith and Karen Marcil. Their home in Vero Beach was damaged, and in the effort to rebuild and restore, a new idea was born.
As Lori explains, she’s “been a decorator all my life.” Rather than simply putting their home back together, the sisters poured their creativity and passion into something bigger: a coastal home décor store that would capture the relaxed, breezy spirit of seaside living.
Launching the Dream — From Online Boutique to Brick & Mortar. OBH Over the Years
We started small, with an online boutique, but the vision resonated. What began as a way to rebuild and reimagine our home rapidly grew into a community for lovers of coastal design. By 2011, we had opened their first physical store, Our Boat House, in Vero Beach.
Their journey didn’t stop there as our brand continued to expand, and by late 2013, they opened a new showroom in Mizner Park, Boca Raton — their “casual yet sophisticated” space to showcase their full line of signature coastal furniture, lighting, and home accessories. This showroom was spear-headed by our late brother Albert Auer.
After that, the expansion went to lively and eclectic Delray Beach, FL. In 2024 we closed our doors after a family tragedy and are seeking new locations. Operating as an online store, we still provide excellent customer service, design assistance and more.
Family, Heritage & Coastal Roots
At its heart, Our Boat House is a family story. Our childhoods shaped by “barefoot days and salty breezes” in the Hamptons — boating, surfing, clamming, and celebrating life by the sea with extended family.
It's all in the Family!
Our story is rooted in family and a deep connection to the sea. Growing up in the Hamptons, we experienced a simpler time when barefoot days and salty breezes defined the lifestyle. Our lives revolved around the waterways—boating, clamming, surfing, and celebrating life by the sea with our large, close-knit family.
Our Swedish heritage and enduring love for the ocean have always guided us. The salty air, sandy beaches, and rhythm of the tides aren’t just part of our past; they’re part of who we are. At Our Boat House, we infuse this love for coastal living into every piece we offer, helping you create your own timeless sanctuary by the water.
Why Our Boat House?
- All things coastal, nautical, rare & unique
- Design from a distance, the perfect solution for vacation home owners
- Furnishings are made to handle sun, salt air, sand, and everyday life-kid & pet friendly
- Slipcovered Furniture made in the USA
- Speak to a real person who is here to help and cares about your experience.
- All things coastal, nautical, rare & unique
- Design from a distance, the perfect solution for vacation home owners
- Furnishings are made to handle sun, salt air, sand, and everyday life-kid & pet friendly
- Slipcovered Furniture made in the USA
- Speak to a real person who is here to help and cares about your experience.
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A Coastal Home — Furnished for Real Life. We realized that true coastal living isn’t just for vacation homes — it’s a lifestyle.
Our mission: to bring that lifestyle into everyday spaces and help people create “timeless sanctuaries by the water,” even if their home is miles from the coast.
Our slipcovered furniture is made in the USA — designed to stand up to salt air, sun, sand, kids, pets, and everyday life.
We offer remote “design from a distance” services, so even those living far from their Florida showrooms can build their dream coastal home.
Our collections span everything from driftwood tables and ship-salvaged lighting to soft cotton and linen slipcovered sofas — all curated to evoke the sea while staying functional and livable.
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We're proud of our roots, and believe the sea, salt air, and tides are not just part of our past — they are “part of who we are.” That deep love for coastal living informs everything we do: from the furniture design, to fabric choices, to the nautical antiques we source. -Karen Marcil, Owner
Growing with Care — From Boutique to Lifestyle Brand
Over time, Our Boat House has matured into more than just a store — it’s a lifestyle brand built on a clear philosophy:
A mix of authentic nautical elements, natural fibers (cotton, linen), reclaimed wood, and maritime pieces
A commitment to eco-friendly practices, including American-made slipcovered furniture, responsibly sourced wood, water-based glues, and cushions with recycled fibers
A belief that coastal living is for everyone — whether you have a beachfront cottage or a city condo, their designs help bring the spirit of the sea home.
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Why the Name “Our Boat House”?
The name itself evokes more than just furniture. It’s a nod to childhood days spent by the water, to the warmth of family gatherings near the shore, to the idea of a house connected to boating, tides, and the easy rhythm of coastal life.
By shopping with Our Boat House, customers aren’t just buying furniture — they’re buying the dream of coastal living: sunlit rooms, salt-air breezes, natural textures, and spaces built for relaxing, entertaining, or simply being.
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Looking Ahead: The Future Is Coastal
From a hurricane-rebuilding project to a nationally recognized coastal décor brand, Our Boat House shows how passion, heritage, and creativity can turn adversity into inspiration. What began as two sisters reimagining their home has grown into a brand with showrooms, nationwide shipping, design services, and thousands of customers who want to bring a little bit of the sea into their everyday lives.
If you walk into one of their showrooms or browse their website, you don’t just see furniture — you see a vision of homes where driftwood tables meet cotton slipcovered sofas, where brass ship lights glow, and where every detail whispers “coast.”
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And that’s the magic of Our Boat House.
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