Wrap Up at Sunset - Introducing New Cuddle-Worthy Throws

Nicole (one of our fab employees!) took these amazing beach sunset images to show off how soft and cuddly our new Silky Fleece Beach throws are. But the pictures turned out so incredible of our Moss Beach, California location - we had to share them with all of you.   

Plus we had a little help from Stella! (our newest model!)

Pics all taken at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Park - about 25 minutes south of San Francisco on Hwy 1, and about 15 minutes north of Half Moon Bay.  

A wonderful protected beach location perfect for exploring tide pools full of urchins, starfish, periwinkles, limpets and so many other tiny sea creatures. If you're lucky, you might even get to catch a glimpse of a harbor seal or a sea lion lounging on the flat rock formations. If you are REALLY lucky, you might even get to see the blows from passing humpback or grey whales!

Still can't believe that we actually get to live here...

Stella was definitely a trouper! And I think she has a new favorite super soft throw to wrap up in when her mom makes her take California sunset pics for us.... lol

New Silky Fleece Throws

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!

7 Ideas for A Coastal Fall Entry Way

Now that we've moved to the beach and have a "real" front door again, it's been fun to scour Pinterest for ideas to create a welcoming front door, and foyer area again.

Here' my collection of fall entry inspiration plus a sneak preview of what our porch is starting to look like....

From Better Homes and Gardens - because an Autumn front porch doesn't always have to have only traditional fall colors.  LOVE the fall foliage in bright purples and deep greens..

So pretty!  Fill a basket with fall leaves and tuck in a starfish, simple idea - I could probably even pull this look off.  Now to find a basket.... (both images from StarfishCottageBlog.com)

For those of us (me) that did not have time to carve their pumpkins, this looks like a great idea from Southern Living Magazine.   Simply hollow out a space for hurricanes and fill with a candle.  Might try this with "flameless" candles at our house...

From WorthingCourtBlog.com; fabulous mix of colors for the beach!  My fave of course, turquoise and tangerine. Fill tin buckets and baskets with fall elements and mix in some pretty shells - voila'!

From HGTV.com - the fall art gallery wall is so cool! Can just imagine these frames filled with pictures of our family mixed in with the leaves and I would also add pics of beach-washed shells.

From LetterCottage.net - cool idea for our non-traditional fall location!  We don't really have the "normal" kind of fall leaves here, maybe this kind of green leafy wreath would be perfect!  I do have sea urchin shells and lots of starfish that I could add.... hmm.

Gosh, I wish our porch was large enough to add chairs!   One of my all time favorite homes from New England Home Magazine.

I wish...... from Inspired Room

Really bad lighting, but you get the idea of where I am starting...

  

Hopefully it will stop raining before the trick or treaters get here!  

P.S. Yes, the rug can be found on our site - LOVE these colors for fall!  

Neptune Shells Entry Mat

Coastal Starfish Door Mat

Welcome with Pineapple Entry Rug

Coastal Decorating Tip for Fall: Add Knit Layers

No need to completely redo your living space for fall; stick with your nautical design, just add layers of softness with cozy throws and pillows.  Knits are so darn versatile! Soft, cozy and often times knit throws are created with reversible sides for another coastal look without changing a thing.

Like these pretty knit throws and large pillows in wide stripes of blues, red, ivory and grey.  Perfect fall decorating compliments to mix in!

Rope and Anchor Throw

Traditional nautical designs work too!  Can't really go wrong with dark navy blue and ivory, as I think navy almost acts like a neutral backdrop to most other colors; pairs well with fall orange shades, driftwood shades, warm wood tones, seagrass and natural elements of the coast. 

Don't forget about knit pillows! Super soft and perfect for lounging on the couch with a cup of tea...

Timothy Throws from Surya 

Cable Knit Throws

Simple knits work great too, you probably already have a throw stashed in a closet. Bring it out and enjoy it for this fall! An ivory cable knit throw is one of my essentials to add in our living room for every season, goes with everything and just makes me feel a little extra special. 

No need to always add pumpkins or orange shades to make it seasonal, just warm up your room with extra layers. Then get ready to watch seaside storms with a great book, a cozy fire and with your special somebody.

Autumn at the Beach #5 - Sonia's Dinner Party

There are times when I really am homesick for my "brick and mortar" store.  I miss our quaint Norwegian fishing village, I miss my fellow merchants... mostly I miss my customers; I miss their stories, and being part of their celebrations and redecorating projects.  During the five years that we were open in Poulsbo, I was so lucky to have met so many wonderful customers, many that actually became my friend.  Sonia is one of those special people.

Last weekend, I had a few minutes to catch up on my personal Facebook page, and Sonia had posted these beautiful pictures of her dining room table for a special Sunday night dinner party.  Of course they caught my eye right away - original and fun fresh design!  They were planning dinner for eight, and she was incredibly gracious to send me the photos and her menu.

Gosh, I hope we get invited sometime!

Sonia's Tablescape Ideas...

"For the tablescape, I collected curly willow branches, maple leaves, moss and cedar branches from the woods near our home. Then added white pumpkins, candles, and colorful fall gourds. To add a little coastal flair, I also added antique glass, aqua fishing floats and starfish!"

For us Pacific Northwesterners (not sure that was a word?), this is a perfect example of using nature's bounty; cedar, moss (goodness knows that we definitely have enough moss!) and curly willow branches from our backyard to create something that is so special!  Love the pretty aqua blue vintage fishing floats, adding that extra special panache.

Sonia's Menu:
Panko crusted Dungeness crab cakes with a light lemon & dill sauce, roasted garlic and rosemary smashed reds. A fall salad which included mixed greens, pears, blue cheese, candied pecans and a real maple vinaigrette. Accompanied by garlic roasted asparagus and homemade Manor Farm Inn Bread* (time consuming, but to die for) I learned how to make it when I worked there in high school!  For dessert I collected winter apples from my yard and made a crispy apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.  

Oh mi goodness.... I might have to beg for an invite!   I am drooling while I am typing... not a pretty sight.

*The Manor Farm Inn, is just outside of Poulsbo, Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula