HEAVEN SEEMS A LITTLE CLOSER IN A COTTAGE BY THE SEA

I thought I'd share with you my little slice of
HEAVEN BY THE SEA
Since I've been spending time here this summer,
I had some time to
take photos of the
place I call my vacation home in the summer.
It's not big, it's not grand, but it's comfortable
and it works for me
to live a few steps from the sea.
I'll show you a few of my little

decorating projects to help give that
BEACHY LOOK to your home.


Isn't this child's Adirondack chair so adorable?
I designed the color, font and size of this saying through
WALL WORDS
and painted these cottage stripes on my
blank and boring
soffit for some visual interest
in an otherwise "dead" space

You can breathe new life into an otherwise
ho-hum shelf with
some paint, glue, shells and rope
and display your "beachy" items
in a whole new way
Then you can create a vignette around
your new masterpiece

I had a hard time finding a cream shell chandelier...
so I created my own
More paint, glue, shells, and grout turned this
HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE
basic, budget lighting

...into something a little more fabulous.
Then I whipped up a cream silk chain cover
to hide the
ugly chain and wire and give it a
more romantic look.
If you don't sew you can always buy one here
In this case, I actually liked to swag the chain
because I think it created more visual
interest here.
It was also cheaper than hiring an electrician
to center the light
over the table!
The lampshades are basic cream, silk chandelier
shades that I added the shell and hemp trim to
to finish off the look
I love to group candles together on a tray
for romantic look.

It also creates a great aroma and soft subtle light.
These candles are the sweet summer smell
of honeysuckle
...yummy
This is a great open space for entertaining


Shells can be found any and everywhere!!
I whipped these panels up, added some bullion fringe
and put loops to hang on these cute
drapery tie backs
These flowers started out as napkin rings
I purchased
at MacKenzie-Childs
on a shopping trip to NYC.
I looked past their original use for a table setting
and went right to using them on these windows...
The color was PERFECT!!
I made these little scarf valances to slip right through
the holes of the napkin rings
and added the
fun apple green rick
rack trim for a whimsical touch.
Of course I couldn't pass up the matching tray.
I knew my candles would love it!!
I found this antique tin ceiling tile to hang
on a large challenging wall
.
It measures 4 feet by 4 feet
This salvaged arched window made a great piece of art
for another challenging space

As soon as I saw this distressed,
hand painted coffee table,

I knew it was coming home with me!!
These fish were found in an antique shop.
They were just 2 lonely fish without posts or stands.
One day when our wooden fence was being replaced,
I saw all the wooden posts getting thrown in a dumpster.
" WAIT!!! "I said to the workers,
"Can you save me a few of those posts??"
I cut them down to the appropriate sizes and
added square plaques from the craft store to the

top and bottom, drilled holes for the dowels and Voila,
my fish had a new home!

Don't they look happy now????
I know, fish smiles are weird

I love these birds and this big birdhouse
The roof is just the perfect color, too!
This miniature iron birdbath was the perfect find
for the bird egg soaps I already had
I know they're a little crazy,
but I found these Mermaids and they fit in

with their shell accents and color scheme
The entry way needed a little something...different
I took an old galvanized tub and filled it with some sand
(it took a few trips to the beach)
I made some faux dune fence by painting and distressing
pieces of lattice and twisting
wire around
each slat to create the fence.

POTTERY BARN sold this dune grass
to fill in the tub
and I added some finds from
the beach: shells and a piece or two of driftwood.
A rattan beach hat propped on old shutter
with an antique buoy look great paired with these
great rope fishing balls
that create another vignette
Here's an easy one-
Why not stencil or hand paint a distressed painted board
with a beach saying of your choice?
Shell Salt and Pepper shakers a la TARGET (Tar-Jay)
grouped with other "beachy "items,
like this antique beach pail paperweight

Another "shelly" vignette


The custom pillows in my daughter's room were
inspired by

the fabulous
CAROLYN WESTBROOK HOME


Maybe you can come and be our guest
at my little slice of HEAVEN by the sea!


Comments

What a great post! I especially love your shell encrusted Chandelier, the mermaids, and the wall words in your kitchen.

Thanks so much for entering FrenchGardenHouse's GIVEAWAY for the Belgian Linen Table mats and napkins. fingers crossed!
xo Lidy
Ms. Bake-it said…
I love decorating with shells and other items from nature. Your slice of Heaven By The Sea is wonderful. I also love the female swimmers on your shelf. Great job with the fish! I know what you mean about trying to find a shell chandelier. I have been looking for one to put in the little bay window area and just cannot find one I really like. Maybe I will try my hand at making my own.

~ Tracy
It's me said…
What a great post !!! and a beautiful home to live!!......so nice decorating !! i love it !!! how many weeks can i stay???.........hahahhhaa!!


Love Ria...
Tracey said…
What a beautiful place! Fantastic ideas, you are so talented! xxx
Hi Gail, you have a gorgeous place to spend your summer! And you've come up with some wonderful decor ideas. I'm really lovin' that chandy! Sounds like you're having a heavenly summer,
xo,
Debra
Flaviana said…
Oh Gail,
your holiday house is beyond lovely! It's a dreamy place, I love every detail ..it's been beautifully decorated which doesn't surprise me AT ALL :-) You've got the best taste my dear, I adore the dining area, the chandelier, the shabby cupboard, the bedboard, well I love everything!
I so wish I could be your guest there...
Hugs from me
xx
Maija said…
It looks so heavenly, Gail!!!! You've made your beach home so yummy!! I'm going to a mermaid themed event in a few weeks outside of LA in Manhattan Beach.
Unknown said…
Loving all those rope finds and those starfish too!
Hi Gail, I really like the way your dinning room looks and the chandlier is a beautiful piece. And the vintage French window are a great find also. Have a great week and Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Summer..........Julian
charmaine said…
Hi Gail!

Your vacation home is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! And I am in LOVE with the way you DECORATED it! It just seems like a warm and cozy cottage by the beach. I love the seashell shelf you made with the swimmers, starfish and candles! So pretty! I love your use of accessories, the eggs and birds, love the bird bath and mermaids. Love the distressed painted boards and the adorable starfish. Also LOVE your dining and living room area, beautiful! Every room is just lovely! Thanks for the inspiration! What a beautiful job you did with decorating your vacation home. Love It! Hope your having a blessed week so far! Talk soon! Thank you for your comment!

God Bless,
Charmaine