Beachcomber - 5 More Styling Ideas

Presenting Five More Ideas inspired by Tim Neve's "Beachcomber" look -  remember, this is a look that incorporates what you already have in your home, and strives to not be "cluttered". Which can be a challenge with  your collection of found sea shells and driftwood. 

(it's a real challenge for me - I have way too many shells and chunks of sea glass!)

  What we are going for is a slightly-rustic beach house style for fall, but still elegant and welcoming.

Styling by Tim Neve- love that vintage wicker piece!  Image from "Sand Castles"

Neutral tones full of texture with the large seashell, white wicker table and the interestingly patterned garden stool echoing the style. Note also the grey fringed wool (cashmere?) casually thrown with the mix, creating a warmth and luxury texture in this space.

Easy to create for fall - just hide your bright colors, add a throw in soft beach tones of driftwood or grey, and then arrange your favorite summer found seashells!

Five Ideas to recreate this soft, natural coastal look:

1. Lighting is so essential when the light starts to fade earlier and earlier in the fall...
Add a Wicker or maybe even a natural rope-wrapped lamp, keeping the coastal feel with a touch of "Beachcomber" (we like these new ones!)

Hannah White Wicker Lamp - almost a vintage feel with white washing and a natural burlap shade

Add a natural textural feel with real rope - Rustic Rope Wrapped Lamp

A "fillable" glass lamp is always my go-to if you have limited space and lots of beach "finds"  The natural cork shade and chocolate ribbon detail on this Margate Lamp gives it just a little extra "oomph"

2. Add a knit throw - use pattern and texture in neutral shades to create the calming sense of fall at the coast.

Cable Knit Always works - love the classic styling for all seasons!

Stripes in pretty "driftwood" are always a welcome addition!  Love this Beach Striped throw for its' incredible knit softness and for the reversible striped look.

3. Use an interesting bowl or Large Clam Shell (can be faux!!) for showing off your summer collections.  Don't hide those special memories of time at the beach - show them off in something natural and pretty.

Large Faux Clam Shell

Coral Textured White Bowl

4. A garden stool is always a versatile furniture accessory! Add a tray to the top = instant side table

There are so many options for finding the right ceramic stool for your home, the above examples are just a few that I found for around $105.00 at Overstock.com.  The trick is to find the right one that fits your style to add some interest and functionality to your room.

5. Think about trading out your art for the season. Simple frames in beachcomber tones of warm wood, or beach washed grey.  Doesn't have to be expensive - could even frame inexpensive black and white prints,  or try my favorite idea of framing a nautical chart from your surrounding bay.

Nautical Art wall from the Coastal Living Showhouse on Coronado Island - 

image source: Nautical by Nature

Vintage artwork is always fun too!  Or vintage-like art, look for distressing and natural textures like the linen fabric backgrounds in these Calming Coral Sealife pieces.

Seahorse Prints in Rustic Frames - My new faves! 

Take a look through what art you already have hiding in another room in your home, maybe just do a little rearranging?

We are hoping to inspire you to slow down, take a deep breath and live at the beach every day of the year.

Sand Castles can be purchased at Liberty Bay Books on my Book Page!
Get the Look - Beachcomber - Pinterest Page
Beachcomber Styling at Caron's Beach House

Get the Look - Beachcomber Style!

I just hate to think about summer disappearing... but I do love the quiet and calm of Autumn at the beach. The change in seasons is signaled by rich textures found in knit sweaters, the warmer colors of fading leave in the softened sun light. Plenty time to slow down, come inside and sort through my summer beach finds.

This year, we have curated a new collection that we're calling "Beachcomber", and can't wait to introduce you all to our ideas behind the story to create this look.  Neutral, but not really "neutral", this style is created by incorporating rich textures, soft knits, natural fibers like wool and wicker, with the fabulous patterns spun in nature. Think design inspired by water tossed driftwood tones, the soft ivory shades of found sea shells, bits of coral and the myriad shades of grey in beach sand...
(image: Jenny Wolf Interiors)

It all started earlier this summer when I spotted Tim Neve's book "Sand Castles", at Liberty Bay Books while on our annual trip to the Pacific Northwest.  Added it to my stack! (I have a major issue with design books - am a very happy "addict")

And after several long conversations with my "girls" in Poulsbo, I came to the conclusion that we (caronsbeachhouse.com) needed to present some kind of West Coast style; it's a look that is a little hard to pin down - and one that we've been missing.  So, I put on my thinking cap, grabbed my notebook and started creating some boards on Pinterest to collect my ideas.

Driftwood.. bleached seashells... sea glass (my other addiction) smooth stones and natural bit of beauty from our beaches.

When we got home to Half Moon Bay, I finally had a chance to really take a look at all of the pages of ideas found in Tim Neve's Sand Castles. The gorgeous photography of Johan Palsson instantly takes you away to Tim's Australian coastline, and you are drawn to his travels creating the fabulous styles shown in these Interiors Inspired by the Coast.

His inspirational rooms and vignettes are divided up into five different sections in the book; the first one being "Beachcomber" - which is exactly how we wanted to present our Fall Coastal Style.

P.S.  I have devoured every page of this Interior Design Book!

"Celebrating the natural sunbleached tones and sea-worn textures of salvaged treasures" 

 (Chapter 1 intro "Sand Castles")

Just a tiny bit of my summer collections; I can't resist pebbles worn smooth by our ocean, tumbled sea glass and tiny shells.  We are so lucky to live where our beaches are fully stocked with nature's beauty!

Not too fussy and never pretentious, the Beachcomber style is a home decorating look that feels relaxed and carefree. A little bit Scandinavian, hints of the Nordic with more than a dash of Northern Californian, this is our Autumn 2015 go-to style to welcome our friends and family to the beach!  

Here are just a few of the things we're adding to our new curated collection....

Beachcomber Knit Grey Throw

The Maggie Lamp - reminds us of bleached, wave tossed sea shells

Soft thick, knit throws in beach faded shades of ivory, aqua, navy and driftwood. Just the right "cozy" accessory for watching a storm on the coast!

Anchor Vases
Organically shaped and hand blown sea glass green vases with tiny anchors - fabulous for filling with shells, or fall foliage.  Maybe even a "bouquet" of driftwood?  (More on that idea next week!)

Here are a few more places to check out our ideas for our new curated look for fall:
1. Pinterest Board - Get the Look Beachcomber Style

2. Caron's Beach House - Beachcomber 

Embracing Fall this September  - join us!

Coastal Pumpkins? 11 Ideas to Try!

Why not?

I have been saving images and ideas for over a year on our Pinterest Board "Autumn on the Coast", and am inspired to try out my creativity (and Tom's carving skills!)  Especially now that we have moved to Half Moon Bay - home of the World Famous Pumpkin Festival,  I think I am ready to try my hand at carving something fun for Halloween with a coastal twist!

What do you think? 

Too Cute!  A collection of Nautical pumpkins from the Galveston Daily News - templates included if you click Here

 From HGTV Gardens - looks so simple!  Just need a good glue gun, some pretty starfish (shells, or seaglass too!) and a drill. Or a boyfriend that knows how to use a drill...  Instructions Here

  A fish "Pirate"!  Love the creativity in this one - 

 Loved this idea!  Might have to "haunt" the Halloween aisle at the craft store for a skull.... 

   Coastal Living Magazine - they even have free templates that you can print out and use!

 Gorgeous Display from Sand and Sisal, this might be more work that I can manage, but they are soooooo cool.

 More cool ideas from Coastal Living - and more Free Templates!

  A party with blue pumpkins - coastal colors, but still a little "scary"!  (source unknown)

  A South Carolina Pumpkin from Southern Living Magazine... maybe I could adapt it with our California Palm Trees?

 So dang creative!  Check out the instructions at Sand and Sisal.

And of course, an adorable whale pumpkin!  Images and instruction can be found at Quaint Living - so cute, and she has a ship pumpkin on her blog too.

Have a wonderful weekend - will let you know what happens.....

Autumn at the Beach - Tablescape ideas #2

Blue and White with a dash of pumpkin orange!

You just can't go wrong with blue and white on the coast.   I actually have a cupboard full of inherited vintage Blue Willow dinnerware from my grandmother - this gives me a great idea for our guests this week!

 Adding tiny pumpkins and a dash of bittersweet just makes your table ready for fall entertaining.

(Idea Discovered at StoneGableBlog.com)

Or maybe just a few beautiful "neutrals" with white coral a rattan chargers..

From Starfish Cottage

hmmm.... wonder if I can find any sunflowers at Trader Joe's?

Autumn at the Beach - Tablescape ideas #1

This week we have friends visiting from the Pacific Northwest - perfect time to create a fun dining room fall beach themed tablescape to entertain our friends.  Putting a few ideas together throughout this month.  At the end of the October, we will reveal our actual table!

Stay tuned as we also introduce some of our new dinnerware....

Table Idea #1  Sea-Washed Natural Beach Table

(image source unknown - so sorry!)
Beautifully elegant with easy elements from your local beach and grocery store!  Keep it neutral, clean and "sea washed" for something really spectacular.  Using a natural linen backdrop with white linen napkins; add driftwood, white shells or coral, white pumpkins and natural rattan or wicker candle lanterns and you've created a beautiful relaxing sand and shore table.

Love it.

A Bit of Autumn on my Beach House Mantel

Well, it's not really my fireplace mantel,  it's my friend Marie of Sally Lee by the Sea's beach house mantel!  I have to admit I am a little bit jealous, as I do not currently have a fireplace mantel to decorate.... 

 Gone are the days where I take down every home accent in my house to replace it with something different for each season and/or holiday.  Most other blog authors may disagree with me on this – sorry to disappoint…

Am I getting lazier in my old age?  Possibly.  Do I just not care anymore? Possibly.  Have I learned that it’s more important to not stress over decorating my house? Yes!

I’d rather spend the glorious Autumn weather that we’ve been having by working in my yard or taking walks on the beach searching for driftwood and shells.  Decorating should be fun, stress-free and not just done to “do it” because every magazine and blog tells you that you should….nope.  Do whatever makes you happy.

How did I decide to decorate my shabby chic mantel? I added my favorite Beach Pumpkin onto my mantel with a few leaves.  A faux gourd was tucked into my “beach basket” (meaning it is filled with odds and ends discovered on various beach walks).  A favorite metal-based hurricane, which was a gift from a dear cousin, is filled with shells.

My Beach Treasure Basket it getting a little full…maybe it’s time for a bigger basket?  I have everything from Eagle feathers to driftwood, shells and a plastic sand shovel in it!

I used some leftover moss, gourds and burlap to throw this together…I’m still working on it (so don’t judge, lol!).

A little bit of Autumn here and there plus my beloved beach home decorating books, nautical chartsand sailboat…works for me!

I just wanted to note about using “faux” pumpkins, leaves, gourds etc.  If you want to use real ones, then please do.  These just work better for me at this point in my life.  I can easily store them, re-use each year and don’t have to worry about breakage.

Don’t forget….do whatever makes YOU happy when it comes to decorating.  I’m just here to share my thoughts with you – never to tell you what to do.

Marie