A Beach Chic Room

Happy belated Fourth of July!  I hope everyone had a great holiday.  We spent the week in Topsail Island, NC with my family and had a nice, relaxing time.

Being at the beach just kept me thinking the entire time of how I'd like to decorate a beach house that I hope to have one day (waaaaay down the road).

So, I did a little mood board that I call Beach Chic from my inspiration this week.  Don't you want to come visit?

Bolt House Textiles

I am so ready for summer.  And ready to decorate my beach house.  Oh yeah, I don't have one...yet.  But, if I did, I would put lots of Bolthouse textiles in there!  This company is so cool - you can mix and match the fabrics and colors to make your own whatever...bolts of fabric, pillows, custom light fixtures, etc.  I'm in love with their photography.  Doesn't it just make you crave going to the beach?!

Beach buys

Another year's gone by and I still don't have a beach house.  Wait.  I still don't have a regular house.  But, whatever.  It is cold, the week has been long and I am in the mood for summertime, margaritas and the beach! 

Shop for the (pretend) house with me, will you?

Coco mirror from West Elm

Aqua Glass Lamp from Island Home Palm Beach

Bamboo trays from the Mermaid Hut

Beach glass from Rosanna

Buoy ottoman from the Mermaid Hut

Octupus hooked pillow from OBX Trading Group

Mare shell bowl from Vietri

Rope towel hook via Material Girls Blog

multi-stripe buoy from the Mermaid Hut

Coral bowls from OBX Trading Group

silver shells from the Mermaid Hut

(note: I actually found some cute ones for waaaay less at TJ Maxx a week or two that I went ahead and bought...you know, just in case I get my beach house anytime soon)

Oval Ring Side Table from OBX Trading Group

White Pagoda Sconce via Island Home Palm Beach

door mat made from recycled flip flops from CS Post and Co.

weathered wood table lamp (can't find the source...)

Home again, home again.

And not overly excited about it!  Had a wonderful time at the beach with my family and friends.  Hope you all had a safe and happy 4th of July!  More to come - still unpacking and getting organized for work tomorrow!

Here are a few pics from the beach...

Topsail Beach, NC

Topsail Beach, NC

Emerald Isle, NC

Emerald Isle, NC

Battleship North Carolina, Wilmington, NC

Now do you see why it was hard to come back?

Drift Away

Insane day at work today.  I'm exhausted.  Partly because it used up a lot of brain power, partly because I did a lot of running around and partly because my friend Liz is a bad influence and insisted that we have A glass of wine last night.  Riiiight.

Anyway, one thing I was thinking about when I was driving home from this long day of work was my pretend beach house.  You know, the one I started decorating here.  I don't know when I'll get said house or where it will be but man you better bet with all of these years that I have to plan out my decorating regime, it is gonna look GOOD.

I love when designers use driftwood in design - even if it isn't in a beach house.  Here are a few pieces I've seen recently that I'd love in my pretend beach house.  Or any house for that matter. 

awesome driftwood table with glass top from Pieces Store in Atlanta, GA

Coat and hat rack from Viva Terra

Fish made of driftwood from Outerbanks Trading Company

Driftwood leaf tray from Outerbanks Trading Company

I'm dreaming of a white (sandy) Christmas

They're now calling for 15 inches of snow. It is cold. It is snowing. We live in a rental house. So, at this point I am forced to do what any normal girl would do to keep her sanity: I will decorate my (pretend) beach house.

First, I will decorate the front door of my beach cottage. After all, it is Christmas time.
(photo from Coastal Living)

Next, I will continue with the Christmas theme by adorning my mantel with beachy Christmas garland. (This garland is from one of my new favorite sites, The Mermaid Hut.)

I will mix the shell garland with this gold moss garland and top the mantel off with a zillion beautifully lit candles (above my roaring fire in the fireplace). It will be stunning.

I adore this barnacle vase (although it is VERY out of my price range). But then again, since this is my pretend beach house, who cares.
Finally, I'll dot the surfaces of lots of tables with these lovely silver seashells. Sure, I can beachcomb and get shells for free but nothing says sophistication like silver. These are gorgeous and I love how the natural bits of the shell still shine through.

Who wants to come visit me at my beach house?