Coastal Decorating Inspiration at the Alameda Flea Market

It has been nearly a year since I have been able to go to the Alameda market.  I have missed my once a month Sunday forays into the search for vintage nautical, beach treasures! Haven't mentioned this, (don't want to look like a big baby or complainer!)  but for over a year I have actually been recovering from a horrendous case of plantar facetious and haven't been able to walk very far, or for a very long time.  Frankly, it has really put a BIG cramp in our style, and shortened our beach walking adventures.

Then in August, after we went to the Atlanta market, (3 days of walking non-stop) I seemed to have miraculously recovered and haven't had the uber-painful issues that I faced for nearly a year before.  YAY and Double Yay!!

I was so excited to go to Alameda, that I even bought myself new pair of bright pink, neon orange, and lime green running shoes! Now to just convince Tom to go...the promise of  fresh donuts at the market seemed to have worked.

Here's just a taste of what we discovered at the market! (well, besides the donuts...)

Was very tempted.. but I can't draw worth a darn! (hmmm.. maybe these would have helped?) 

 Antique bottles galore - in all kinds of colors!

 Even more to choose from!

 Tom said no....

 If only I could figure out a good way to ship these!   

Need.  By the time we got to this booth, they were all sold - dang it!

 Probably should have bought a few of these - they are about 8-10 inches in diameter.  

Really cool, and absolutely authentic!

Loved this headboard!

Lots of fun painted furniture and coastal accents!

Fragile, stunningly beautiful vintage coral pieces (really hope that they were truly vintage - can't bring myself to buy any of these)

So many beautiful vintage glasses - I only took a few pictures, but there were oodles to choose from.  One of my weaknesses is collecting vintage cocktail glassware....

And finally, have to show one vendors very unique way to display her vintage dinnerware and tabletop pieces. Love the way she put the whole table together with fresh veggies, white pumpkins and bright colored fruit. Pretty darn creative ideas!

My find of the day!  I started collecting US Navy dinnerware pieces several years ago...and like a dummy, sold most of them when I moved to California and when I closed my store in 2007.  Now that my son is joining the Navy, I thought I could start collecting again. (it's a good excuse!)

 Starting with these four little espresso cups...

Caron's Fall-Thanksgiving Dining Room

Hope you like our creation!

We had so much fun rearranging our dining room furniture and creating new vignettes of beach art on our

walls - hope that we can give you a little inspiration for your coastal fall dinner parties too.  

I created this Fall-Thanksgiving tablescape as an excuse to show off some of our coastal home decor at Caron's Beach House, but it quickly became a labor of love as I found all kinds of treasures in our home that I could mix and match to create an aqua blue, light green and white color palette that compliments our small space. Perfect timing too - we had guests come for the weekend for the Ducks-Stanford game! (we don't discuss the score....)

Poor Tom, he had to put up with eating at the kitchen bar for a few days as I made a total mess (creative minds sometimes are messy)  in the dining room. I really need to think about making up an award for "Best Boyfriend"... he would win every day!

I chose to stick with these three shades found in nature, because of where we live in Northern California, and because we already have these colors in our every day dinnerware. 

  It's easy to find a plethora of green and blue tints in our natural greenery, but not so much "traditional"  fall color.  All of the greenery was found out on a walk in front of our house - you can do the same thing by just looking around your own backyard!  

Mixed in some of my found large blue mussel shells, Tomales Bay oyster shells, green sea urchins, bleached moon snail shells and sand dollars, a few white starfish and golden periwinkles. I also added driftwood pieces to reinforce the "beach" feel and natural color palette.  (goodness knows I have enough pieces collected on our deck!) The yellow-white little pumpkins are courtesy from Trader Joe's;  my go-to for fresh seasonal flowers and greenery.

And of course, my special Half Moon Bay blown glass pumpkin from last year! 

Love my Jonathan Adler Sailor and Mermaid salt and pepper shakers! Great gift from my daughter, Allison.

CBH Products featured:

Brown Shell Burlap Table Runner

Art and Pillows from My Island Art

Solstice Driftwood Mirror

Coastal Fish Flatware

Aqua Coral Linen Napkins

Stemless Sea Shell Etched Wine Tumblers

New Sea Breeze Wine Glasses

Our guests oohed and ahhed and then feasted on one of Tom's fabulous steak creations, fresh green beans with Chantrelle mushrooms that we picked up at the Ferry Building, vanilla sea salt heirloom tomatoes, and roasted baby red potatoes.  Served with Joel and Tracy's gift of  Hawley's Zin from the Dry Creek Valley.  Perfect way to host a fall dinner party!  

Autumn Table Scape Ideas for the Coast #7 - Oysters

As you all know... I am not a fan of eating oysters, but I do love their beautiful shells.  (I have the scars to prove it!)  Oyster season is at its' best during the fall and winter months - plump and juicy for Tom, pretty mother-of-pearl shells for me.

We've just added these fun Linen Table Runners with Oysters and Orange Coral  to our site this week - I think they would be perfect for a beachy Thanksgiving table!

Add some polished silver pieces, coastal glassware, pretty plates and serve some oyster stuffing and you will have a party!

Might need a few of these elegant polished oyster salt cellars for your table too.  (love them!)

Yes, believe it or not, I will eat oyster stuffing. I actually made some last year with our local Hog Island oysters. (Click here to read my recipe!)

Create the look at your house!

A shiny sea shell shaped bowl!

Oyster Table Runner

Maybe some pretty red-orange coral bowls...

or maybe just a large white faux oyster-clam shell for your centerpiece? Think about filling this with silver and orange fall decor!

Sea Shell Glassware

This could be a really fun party!  What time can we expect you?