National Seashell Day!

(P.S. Yes, this is a small sampling of my coastal design and lifestyle book addiction!)

In honor of "National Seashell Day" AND the official first day of summer, I thought we would show off a few of our favorite rooms, using nature's loveliness found in seashells to decorate with a definite coastal focus. Honestly, I think that these ocean beauties are just about the most perfect jewel to adorn any room!

We think these rooms are an excellent examples of shell decorating done right. Enjoy the tour!

100% Glam - Emeril Lagasse's incredible Gulf Coast Home featured in Veranda

What a great way to show off your shell and coral collections - use the built-in staircase shelving.  Source - Coastal Living

 Show off your most prized specimen shells as part of a coffee table display.  Love this room created by designer Alessandra Branca, featured in Beautifully Seaside

 Kristy's beautifully neutral sea shell inspired living room - we love all of the grey and driftwood shades mixed with just a few splashes of dusty blue.  Lovely and so beach cottage perfect! 

Source - Starfish Cottage

Love the combination of summer blue hydrangeas and seashells! Simple, but so beautiful and 100% summer.  Source - Kim Power Style Blog

Wow!  What a creative, beautiful way to show off sea shells, starfish and sand dollars - embedding them in an impressive fireplace.  (I am definitely doing this at our next house!) 

Source - Homebunch

Love this bookcase collection!  Although, I do really hope that those large corals are faux....

Source - Decor Pad

Trent's apartment featured in Apartment Therapy - I love his creative mounting of seashells and sea fans as part of his gallery art wall.  Don't miss his collection on the coffee table too!

What a fun cabinet to catch your interest in a large dining room! We like that it is enclosed, but still open - feels breezy and so much like a beach house.  See the rest of this California Coronado Island Home in Traditional Home

A pretty little setting area with the owner's collection of shells displayed under glass in matching shadow boxed frames.  Keeping the look consistent makes all the difference in this small space. 

Source - Redbook Magazine

What else to you need?   Maybe just add a chunky knit throw and a great book!

Source - Remodelista

A lovely seashell display with aqua glass bottles makes a subtle, but beautifully coastal statement.

Source - HGTV

How can you ever go wrong with a Barclay Butera look?  Always fab!

The key is to not let your space become a big "hodge-podge" of  a "beachy" decor mess. Which is easy to do, if you are not careful with your collections, just remember to edit and change things out for interest and with the evolving seasons and your lifestyle. 

For more ideas on decorating with Sea Shells - check out our Pinterest Seashell Board

Coastal Color Palette: Sunshine, Blue Sky and Jade

Raise your hand if you're ready for spring?  Even though we live in California, it has not been very "California-like" this winter. We have been assaulted with ocean storm after ocean storm - sideways rain and mighty winds. Really not very fun, we are so ready to be outside in the Sunshine and Blue Sky!

As we've been adding to our coastal design collections online, I ran across the color palette of sunshine yellow, sky blue and aqua jade in Cottage and Bungalow Magazine and thought that it might be an inspiring color combination to try out this spring!  I just love yellow and am always looking for ideas of how we could incorporate into more of our beach home products, and in our own beach home.

Here are a few room ideas that we've collected to showcase these colors together - enjoy!

From our Half Moon Bay deck - this was my color scheme last year, and will be again this year! Love these colors together to create a sense of warmth and welcoming on our deck that just enhances our coastal lifestyle. So fun to mix and match - More info here

What do you think?  Are you ready to give this a try?  All images can be sourced on our Sunshine Yellow Pinterest Board!

P.S. Inspired by Jolene Nolte's Extra Color Palette article in the April/May Issue of Cottage and Bungalow Magazine, featuring our Surya Acacia Cobalt Blue and Ivory Lamp! 

Why do we love In2Green Coastal Throws?

Oh my… let me count the ways!

  1.  Creative, Innovative design is knit into each one of these thick, rich throw blankets.  Seriously, the patterns and designs created by the team at In2Green every season is unique to them, and never the same “tired” look of seashells, starfish and palm trees.  Which we are incredibly grateful for. 

 We have worked with the team at In2Green for almost four years and every season they come up with something even more fun, color-drenched and always with a luxury touch.

Nautical Signal Flag Throw - love these bright colors!

       My new favorite design for this spring is their Nautilus Swirled Throw collection. Fab coastal colors and the large knit nautilus shell images make these really fun!

Nautilus Throw in Silver

Have a BIG Crush on the new Sea Turtle Throws too!

     2. Each one of these throws is hand crafted in America.  Lori, Jill and Stephanie have worked tirelessly with small family textile mills to make products that are simply outstanding.  Plus, the yarn is eco-friendly! 75% recycled washed cotton and 25% polyester, which adds to the soft, warm cozy feel. 

 Blue Coral Throw

      3.  Believe me when I say that we look at, touch and wrap up in a lot of different textiles when we are shopping for our website. There is nothing quite like the feel of these throws!  Maybe because of the unique knitting process? Attention to detail?  These super-soft throws are generously sized and are thicker with an extra rich touch –  more than most other knit throw blankets on the market.

Nautical French Striped Anchor Throw

     4.  Many of their throws have reversible designs –  two great looks for the price of one!  What an easy way to switch out color and pattern with changing seasons.

     Spice Orange Reversible Throw

    5. The new Indoor-Outdoor collection, created specifically for a lifestyle beside the sea!

       Every inch is made domestically with 100%recycled plastic (aka polyester). This new line of

Throws is UV resistant and quick to dry, making them perfect for boating and picnicking at the beach. 

Besides, what a beautiful way to help save our coastlines – 78 recycled plastic bottles = 1 gorgeous throw!

New! Breaker Waves Throw

  6. These coastal throw blankets are Super practical!  Although they are fine knit, all are easy care. Just throw in the washing machine on the gentle cycle and dry on low.  More than important to a coastal lifestyle - lots of sandy and salty fun requires durability and wash-ability! 

                                    Sailing Away Throw - Great Nautical Color!

(P.S. Did I mention that they are beach girls too?  - Lobster Throw)

 Our customers have loved these knit throws, and we are excited to show off all of the new designs, textures and colors.  Adding throws to your coastal room, will give it an extra layer of richness, warmth and color without having to change the entire look of your space.

Come See - In2Green Throws!

10 Ideas for Coastal Decorating with Oars and Paddles!

Decorating your home with painted vintage (or not so vintage) oars and paddles is one of my FAVORITE ideas for coastal and nautical themed rooms. Have to show you 10 innovative room ideas that I have been collecting for inspiration!

1. An adorable lake cottage entry featured on the Lily Pad Cottage - complete with paddles used as wall decor to create a real lake shore feel and welcome guests to Kelly's home.  (very cute blog - LillyPadCottage.com)

2.  Colorful oars coordinate well with nautical style bedding and pillows. Fun, bright look for a kids' room. (sorry - not sure of the original source!)  ...super cute life ring pillow!

3. An innovative handrail - this is such an awesome idea!  Discovered at "This Old House", homeowners Sue and Burr McKeehan unearthed "found" vintage oars underneath new beach bungalow in Newport Beach, California and simply gave them an extra polish.  Voila' - amazing new stair hand rail with a piece of their home's history preserved!

4. Create an unique way to display treasured family framed memories using two oars and hooks.  Too cute!  (so sorry - not sure of the original image source!)

5.  How adorable is this kids' bathroom idea?  So cute, and absolutely practical!  Add a few hooks and pretty stripes to coordinate and you can create a kid-friendly place to hang towels, bathrobes and other fun bath time essentials (super whale in this pic!) Idea created by Pawleys Island Posh - click to see the rest of her adorable blog! 

6. More hooks and paddles - this beach cottage entrance idea from Sarah at Abeachcottage.com.  Welcome guests with a place to hang coats, bags, and beach towels too!  Simple add of larger, sturdy steel hooks to hold heavier items.  If you want to avoid rust, a constant coastal issue, I would use stainless steel.  If you don't mind creating an even more "rustic" paddle look then any heavy duty hook ought to work.

7.  Super cute idea for displaying your cottage house street address!  Paint a vintage paddle (or a new one)  in colors to coordinate with your front porch and add fun house numbers. Maybe even your beach home's name? This idea created at TheHappyHousie.com

8. Another great idea for oars from The Shabby Shak - painted oars with the year that you "moved in", and your name or your "house" name.   (P.S. She has super fun beachy stuff on her etsy site!)

9. Outside Art! Sorry not sure of the source, but thought this was an innovative way to display rustic oars - just build a rack and hang them up.  Think about a constant changing art display by trading the paddles around for different occasions or grouping colors together.  Hmmm.... possibilities are endless for summer fun!

9.  As "wall art" to highlight more beach art and bring an art wall gallery some cohesiveness.  Pretty aqua room and oar from Breezy Designs, as featured on BeachBlissLiving.com.  Her home is beach cottage pretty!

10.  How about creating a one of a kind idea with just a part of the paddle?  Such a fun idea at Coastal Living Magazine in their 2011 Ultimate Beach House Tour home in Norfolk, Virginia.  "Fanned-out paddles are a sculptural, cheeky take on the classic round mirror."  Not sure that I am that crafty, but it's a neat idea.  Polished mirror idea and fits perfectly into this gorgeous East Beach home.

Would love to know what you think!  For more decorating with oar ideas - pop over to Pinterest Board: Coastal Decorating with Oars

Have a wonderful weekend!

P.S.  If you need an oar or paddle, we have added a ton of new options on our site!  Come see our new re-vamped Painted Coastal Oars and Paddles