Completely Coastal | Beach + Nautical Decor, Art, Craft Ideas, Books, Homes + more

My Kitchen Remodel Before & After -And I love my IKEA Island!

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:00:00 +0000

The before and after of our kitchen remodel. The messy process is behind me now, and I couldn't be happier. The space turned out exactly how I had envisioned it. The black stove top blends in with the granite, so does the faucet. And I didn't expect to find the perfect kitchen island at IKEA. That was so easy! Removing the load bearing wall and those lovely vintage tiles not so much. The two things you can't see in the picture are the fridge which is to the left from where I was standing when taking the photograph, and the closet that hides a stacked washer dryer next to the dishwasher.

All the way to the left, you might recognize my Seashell Door. Lindsey of Casart Coverings posted it together with their Trompe L'Oeil Shell Door that I had featured here. The two are almost twins!

A Turquoise Ship Tin Box

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:10:00 +0000

I just found this Antique Ship Tin Box while browsing Nautical Antiques on Ebay. It's made in West Germany, and the box is Turquoise too -color of 2010! I adore it, but the ornate style doesn't go with my decor, so I'm hesitating. There isn't much time to think about it though, the listing expires in less than 24 hours -current bid $14.49.

Previously featured Curiosities
Saying on a Shell
Barnacle Encrusted Bottles

Winners of the Outer Bank Trading Group Giveaways

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:20:00 +0000

Outer Banks Trading Group

Loui from Mountain Mermaids wins the signs, Tracy from Mrs Bake It is receiving the sailing pillow, and Barbara from Purple Goat Lady is the winner of the lanterns. Congrats ladies!

And a month of free ad space goes to Tara from Scarborough Shells, Kristin from Pacific Northwest Cottage and Rhonda from Shellebelle's Tiki Hut. I'm looking forward to have you here!

Coastal Living -Caribbean Island Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 07:20:00 +0000

The February issue of Coastal Living Magazine is all about island homes and island style. And for this month review, I'm showing you a few of the featured amazing Caribbean Island Homes.

First off, a Caribbean home on the island of Mustique in the Grenadines, open to the elements. "We come here to live with nature," say the owners, Gillian and Jack Diamond.

I love the modern and tropical feel here. Casual island style living, just what I would want.

And this is the home of Jamaican painter Judy Ann MacMillan. It was built in the 1800s as the "great house" for a modest cattle and pimiento farm. The wooden home has grown over time, with a series of small additions.

One of Judy Ann's paintings, depicting the magnificent view from the porch.

Step inside Judy Ann's home and you find casual rattan furnishings and a palm theme.

Then the house of Graham Davis, who is a painter also. An authentic 250-year-old Caribbean island home; centuries-old limestone to classic cedar shingles give it all the charm.

The porch is simply amazing and the Adirondack Chairs are painted purple to match the surrounding Agapanthus Lilies.

And this lovely island hideaway was for the editors! Well, it's one of the places they stayed in during their Caribbean island trip. You can check out the behind the scenes shots on Daily Catch, Coastal Living's blog, and THANK YOU CL for listing Completely Coastal as one of your favorite blogs!

More island style living inspiration:
The 15 Prettiest Island Rooms
10 Island Essentials
10 Island Style Essentials
10 Ways to Create a Backyard Oasis

Other Reviewers: Simone @ Beach Vintage.

Beautiful Seagrass

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:03:00 +0000

Picture Pics inspired by Seagrass, a recent post @ The Entertaining House.

And seagrass is not only beautiful but it stabilizes the sea bottom, provides food and habitat for marine organisms, maintains water quality and supports local economies. If you are interested in learning more, please click: here.

All images are from Art.com and available as posters, just click on them for more information and/or purchase.

Hooked (on) Coastal Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 17:40:00 +0000

These hooked coastal pillows are so cozy, colorful and charming that you just might get hooked!

And in case you missed it, you can shop at Home at Sea for less -much less! This great store and fabulous sponsor is offering a 20% price reduction for all Completely Coastal readers. Use the discount code COASTAL and 20% will be taken off of your purchase price at checkout.

Want to check out more pillows? Browse subcategory Pillows! And there's still time to Enter the Coastal Giveaway, three Beachy Items to Win + Free Ad Space on Completely Coastal!

And for more cozy, check out these Cool Products @ A Beach Lovers Place: (click image):

The Golden Boys & The Lightkeepers by Daniel Adams

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 07:40:00 +0000

If you love Cape Cod (MA), you want to watch the latest two movies by Cape Cod native and resident Daniel Adams. Both, The Golden Boys and the Lightkeepers are period pieces based on Joseph C. Lincoln novels, entirely filmed on the Cape, showcasing the beauty of the coastal landscape.

The Golden Boys (2009) sounds like a perfect feel good movie for a winter evening.

"Some of the shots of the dunes, the seashore and the lighthouses are just plain gorgeous, and the opening scenes are worth the watch alone. Taken from archival film from various Cape Cod historical collections.," says Kathleen in her Review of The Golden Boys.

The movie is set in 1905 and tells the story of three old sea captains played by David Carradine (1936-2009), Rip Torn and Bruce Dern who live together in Chatham and decide they need a woman around the house to take care of them.

So one of them has to place a want ad in a big city newspaper for a wife. Mariel Hemingway plays Martha, the woman from Nantucket who responds to the ad and when she arrives, things don't unfold quite as expected.

"It's a gentle, likable romantic comedy — innocent in the best sense of the word," writes Cape Cod Online.

Daniel Adams latest movie, the Lightkeepers, was the closing-night film at the recent Palm Springs Film Festival and is described as a 1912 Cape Cod romantic comedy.

The movie is about a lighthouse keeper, played by Richard Dreyfuss, who has disavowed any association with females, but who must deal with the unexpected appearance of two attractive women who move into a nearby cottage for the summer.

The film also stars Blythe Danner (Gwyneth Paltrow's mom), Mamie Gummer (daughter of Meryl Streep) and Tom Wisdom.

And I'm sure Cape Cod Online is right..., that the local chambers of commerce are going to love this movie, with outstanding shots of Cape Cod's natural beauty yet again!

You can purchase The Golden Boys on Amazon -the movie The Lightkeepers, released in December 09, is currently not available.

Enter the Coastal Giveaway
Three Beachy Items to Win, plus Free Ad Space on Completely Coastal!

Barnacle Encrusted Bottles

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:10:00 +0000

This modern Hawaiian Home surprised me with an unexpected coastal curiosity -on the table.

Barnacle encrusted bottles. Barnacles are small shellfish that attach themselves to any surface they can find, and I would love to come across bottles like these!

An artistic interpretation of the work's of barnacles. Lovely vases, but I do prefer the real thing in this case.

Art by RT:
And speaking of Hawaii. Raliegh Timmins is an artist who paints gorgeous Watercolors inspired by the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands.

Home at Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:04:00 +0000

I love stores with a beachy feel and I'am thrilled to have Home at Sea as a sponsor here at Completely Coastal. They have some pretty and unique items like this anchor wall mirror and starfish resin candle holder. As always, for more information and/or purchase, please click images.

A beautiful starfish platter from recycled glass and an elegant ceramic coral vase.

A fun wall art piece, and they just introduced a line of neat wooden signs.

More for you walls. Photographic resin tiles, which I adore, and a collection of frames.

Then some of my favorite little things from their servingware collection, such as bottle tags. I always bring a bottle of wine to a dinner party and to dress it up with one of these tags is just perfect!

And the best for last! Home at Sea is giving you a price reduction of 20% at checkout when you use the discount code COASTAL.

OBX Trading Group -Three Great Coastal Giveaways!

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 07:40:00 +0000

Deanna from Outer Banks Trading Group is giving away three vintage inspired beachy items!

If you don't know Deanna's beautiful store yet, it's a must stop if you are looking for sea and beach inspired home decor. The selection is awesome. An abundance of pillows and rugs, and everything else you can imagine. So go check it out and take advantage of the OBX Blogger Sale -15% off orders of $100 or more! All you need to do is enter the promo code: blog -you have until February 4th.

What you can win:

The three winners will either receive a set of 4 Hand Painted Metal Signs, 3 lovely Vintage Lanterns, or a Sailing Pillow from the Indoor/Outdoor collection. Click on the text links to learn more about each product, then let us know in a comment which item(s) you would love to win.

Second entry & free ad space:

Blog about these giveaways and you will not only double your chance to win by leaving a second comment (important!), you will also be entered in a draw for a free ad space here on Completely Coastal. I will randomly pick three winners who's ad buttons will be placed in my sidebar at the top for one month. And if you don't have a button, I'll make one for you! You can advertise your blog, or perhaps you have an Etsy store!

Feel free to use the button below. Just copy and paste the code. It links directly to this post. Thank you so much!

Entries will be accepted until midnight EST on Thursday, Feb 4th. All the winners will be announced on the weekend.

If you don't have a U.S. shipping address:
I'm sorry that you don't qualify, but you can still win a free ad space if you spread the news! Make sure you let me know in a comment if you do.

Stunning Shadow Display Boxes

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:05:00 +0000

Do you remember Sea Treasures in a Shadow Box? This is another example of using an antique printer tray as a display box for shells. And this beauty hangs in the home of Leigh from Brabourne Farm.

Monica from Crafty Nest (also featured here: An Old Window Frame Now Frames Beach Memories) shows us on her blog how she transformed an old drawer into a shadow box.

After swooning over the cubby organizer in the Pottery Barn catalog, Karla from It's The Little Things That Make a House a Home re-purposed her vintage Schweppes wooden bottle crate. A great show piece!

And isn't this spectacular! Like the first one, it's also an antique printer tray, created by Jane from Sea Breezes who writes, "Everything in it is beach themed, it keeps me going through the winter".

And there's quite a collection of Antique Printer Trays on Ebay -they do make perfect display boxes!

Shared with Thrifty Thursday.

Change of Colors -Yellow Curtains for my Dining Room

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 16:10:00 +0000

An update on my dining room. This is how it used to look like, see here.

But once we put the carpet in, the white curtains didn't make sense anymore (to me). They needed to match one of the colors in the rug (I thought).

And this is how the dining room really looks! It's the home of my laptop. Now tell me, where is your computer station?

Enter the Coastal Giveaway
Three Beachy Items to Win, plus Free Ad Space on Completely Coastal!

Shared with Show and Tell Friday and Metamorphosis Mondays.

Makeovers with an Octopus -A Nautical Nightstand and a Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:02:00 +0000

Massachusetts Artist Will Means gives old furniture a bold new personality. At The Hive, the gallery where his work is sold, the transformation of this piece is humorously described as follows: Find a solidly constructed antique nightstand, strip that sucker down to bare wood, draw a cool (albeit slightly angry) octopus and transfer to a Frisket. Then stain, mask, paint, lacquer, line the drawers, and attach hardware.

I just adore this nautical nightstand!
And have you seen my feature on artist J.P. Cook? She paints Beach Scenes on Wood Chairs.

This makeover involves paint too, high gloss black for the frame, but the octopus was found in a cool modern Duralee Fabric.

Love it!
Giveaways:
Win a variety of wonderful items from the Chesapeake Bay @ Low Tide High Style.
Planning a beach picnic? Enter to win a picnic backpack @ Shellbelle's Tiki Hut!

Inspirational Quahog -A Saying on a Shell

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:05:00 +0000

Don't wait for your ship to come in, swim out to meet it.

I started collecting sea related sayings and quotes and was absolutely thrilled when I found this beautifully painted Quahog shell with an inspirational saying at Content in a Cottage.

Quahog shells are local around here in the North East and are being washed ashore in masses. My Orange Room was inspired by one. They're large and flat, making perfect canvases, and I just painted a couple of them (nothing like this though) that I will post later. They're also the chief ingredient in chowder, and the Quahog shell is the official shellfish of my tiny state, Rhode Island!

Lamps Plus -Lighting and Home Decor

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:55:00 +0000

If you are looking for lighting and home decor such as bedding, rugs and accessories like mirrors, vases, and sculptural items, Lamps Plus is a great place to start your search. And they probably have the best price too. When doing a comparison, keep in mind that most of their pricing includes shipping. You might remember the awesome Fillable Glass Lamps from a few days ago, and the Custom Photo Lampshades they make. But enough said about their lighting products, for the category Online Stores, I wanted to show you a few home decor accessories. I hope you enjoy, and as always, please click on images for more information and/or purchase.

Stores to Sea
Featuring a coastal online store (or two) each weekend.
Previously featured:
Wisteria
Go Zazzle
Save on Crafts
Outer Banks Trading Group
Shopping New York City
Uncommon Goods
Christmas Coast
Origin Crafts
Chic Beach Cottage Style
Handmade Beach Decor
Vietri Accessories inspired by Italy's Amalfi Coast
White Flower Farmhouse
West Coast Glass Float Shop on Ebay
Treasures from Tuvalu
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville

Decor for your Door

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:30:00 +0000

Decorating a door is not something I've ever thought about, but this closet door is quite artful.

And you don't need a brush to Create The Look.

These are Trompe L'Oeil stickers from Casart Coverings, and I think they really do "Trick the Eye". Best of all, they're repositionable, reusable, and removable!

And there is more to explore:
Cavallini Vintage Stickers

Loving the Fillable Glass Table Lamps from Lamps Plus

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:05:00 +0000

Jenna from A Little Blue just left a message here: Fillable Glass Lamps, sharing the love!

She's loving her two fillable glass table lamps from Lamps Plus! And now we finally get to see them filled with beachy treasures.

Jenna went straight to Michaels and found some crushed shells and beachy potpourri.
"I think they are extra fun because I'll be able to switch out the inside as I see fit, and trust me I have plenty of ideas for other variations."

Thanks Jenna for sharing this!

For $99 at Lamps Plus!

Going Wild with Wallpaper in the Bathroom

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:14:00 +0000

I stumbled across this bathroom when I was browsing DIY-Guides, and I think pink has never looked better. The wading flamingo wallpaper by Cole and Son is so much fun (and so is the freestanding tub).

A year ago I published a post titled Falling for Nautical Wallpaper and the trend seems to continue. And I can't think of a better space to go wild with wallpaper and/or a theme than a small bathroom! Especially if you have a second bathroom or a powder room.

Many people stick maps to the walls...

... some use postcards, or Decoupage a Wall...

... others create a view with a Beach Mural. Let your imagination run wild!

Seascape Artist Anne Packard in her Cottage by the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Seascape artist Anne Packard in front of her beach cottage in Provincetown on Cape Cod, MA.

Anne (76) captures the ocean, solitary boats, empty dunes, and vast skies on canvases. In an interview with Boston Guide she describes her paintings as peaceful and her statement, "I paint what I’m not" struck a chord with me. I used to take pictures of solitary beaches (see Art.com), but inside I was restless. I'm happy to say that I'm a different person now.

Nowadays Anne doesn't go out on location much, she prefers to paint in her second-story studio. "And so, painting boats in her remote coastal home, it sounds quite like Anne Packard has found some measure of peacefulness after all," Boston Guide concludes the interview. Anne does have a particular affinity to boats. To her, they are individuals, and she loves how they embrace the sea and how the sea embraces them.

Anne's remote coastal home, featured in Coastal Living Magazine, is a cottage by the beach in which she has been living since 1975! Newly divorced, she came to Provincetown with five children in tow to make her living with a paintbrush, following in the footsteps of her grandfather, post impressionist Max Bohm.

Lastly, here you see one of Anne Packard's large boat paintings in the vacation home of Designer Paul Musso and his partner, shown in Atlanta Homes Magazine. "The accent of silvery wallpaper above the mantel is what makes this room sing; it provides a chic backdrop for the couple’s most prized art piece, a canvas by Provincetown artist Anne Packard."

And in case you missed my weekend post, scroll down or click here: Movie House Nights in Rodanthe on the Move.

The Movie House Nights in Rodanthe is on the Move

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 07:00:00 +0000

Serendipity, the house made famous in the movie Nights in Rodanthe with Richard Gere and Diane Lane is on the move -and the WRAL news crew is watching!

This is how bad the situation was just last November when a storm tide had washed away some of the pavement. After that the house was declared a public nuisance for several reasons, including its notoriety that attracted visitors who would wade through water or even ride rafts to the front of the house at high tide to take their picture in front of it. In addition, the connection to the septic tank was severed and the next storm possibly could wash the home's furnishings and other contents from it. You can read the full article here.

Then Julia from Hooked on Houses shared the happy news last Friday. A couple had purchased the famous movie house and is determined to rescue it, meaning relocate the house to a different lot in the area, put it on new pilings, then restore it and model the interior after the house's appearance in the film.

Unlike the film, the story of Serendipity seems to be headed towards a happy ending! After a week of preparation, the 45-foot-tall house was moved to the edge of the road last Friday (not without complications though, read here), and the move will continue on Monday. I'll keep you posted! And if you're in the mood for more house moves, check out People who Move Houses over at my other blog A Beach Lovers Place.

Wisteria

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:43:00 +0000

Wisteria began with a world traveling couple, eager to find interesting and beautiful accessories for the home (click here to read the story). Intriguing shell shadow boxes...

... sculptures, such as these cute seaside birds made from shells...

... selected mirrors, like this rustic beauty that's framed with miniature shells surrounded by hundreds of larger, old oyster shells...

... and an exclusive line of dressers that includes this map chest, which to me has a wonderful nautical feel.

If you have shopped in any of these online stores, I would love it if you shared your experience with all of us and gave some feedback by clicking on the store, leaving a comment. Thanks!

Hip Beach Hotels by Herbert Ypma

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:52:00 +0000

London based photographer and writer Herbert Ypma is the author of the bestselling series Hip Hotels, a collection of guide books featuring over 400 unique hotels worldwide. BEACH (one of the volumes) takes you to 40 beach resorts on the shores of six continents.

Amazing hotels like Compass Point on the Bahamas that capture the essence of its location in design, ambiance and cuisine.

Hip hotels that have become a destination!
Right now I'm enjoying the bold colors of these huts and wish I could escape the New England winter.

Another favorite, Il Pellicano in Italy, nestled amidst unspoilt nature, a hundred miles northwest of Rome.

There's a lift carved into the cliff in case you don't want to climb the winding steps that connect the seaside bathing platform to the cottages above. This location is just spectacular, and if you did climb the steps a few times a day (which I would), you could eat all the pasta you wanted in Il Pellicano's star-studded restaurant.

Hip Hotels BEACH came out in 2004, but I think it's still a good resource and would make a great coffee table book, and you could create a hip hotel inspired bedroom!

And who is Herbert Ypma?

Born in 1957, Herbert Ypma grew up in the Netherlands, US, Mexico and Australia, spent several years of his youth as a champion windsurfer and dedicated beach bum, then studied design and architecture. He worked as a magazine publisher and journalist before moving to London in 1993 and turning to book publishing. He launched his famous series Hip Hotels, in which he set out to find the world’s most highly individual places, in May 1999. More than two million copies have been sold worldwide. Ypma stays in and photographs every hotel he features in the series.

You can browse the entire Hip Hotel collection at Barnes and Nobles Here.

Previously Featured Books:
A Nantucket Christmas
Coastal Style
Wave
A Beachcomber's Odyssey
The Beach House
Knitted Scarves Inspired by the Sea
Women and the Sea
750 Designer Secrets
Beach Cottages - Cottages on the Coast - The Blue and White Room

Shellicious Steals from Etsy -Handcrafted Decorations under $20

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 06:50:00 +0000

I spent some time browsing on Etsy (introduced here), collecting handcrafted shell decorations under $20, and found some shellicious steals. I plan on doing this every once in a while now, and if you have ideas for other themes let me know! So take a look..., and as always, please click on images for more information and/or purchase.

This gorgeous multi-purpose shell box ($12.99) can hold anything from eye glasses, pens and pencils, coins, jewelry to cigars.

A beautiful sea shell mat ($12.50) that's made from quality printed scrap book cardstock.

Lovely Lavender filled shell sachets ($12.50 set of two) that are created from original artwork and individually hand silkscreened.

A beachy 6" tall terra cotta planter with a clay scallop shell ($15). Notice the hole? It's there to aid hanging the planter on a wall -so clever!

An artful wood beach sign with Cape Cod blue background, black lettering and a few seashells ($15).

A fun shell tassel ($15), dyed with natural vegetable yellow.

A beautiful shell, mounted on a wooden 4" base ($15).

You probably remember the Wine Sack Made from Sails, well, I'm loving this wine sack ($10) too. The shell detail is precious, and it's handcrafted by fellow blogger Liz from Shorely Chic.

A multitude of shells make up this neat 5.5' long garland ($15).

And lastly a sweet little shell birdhouse ($18), not for the birds, but for you to display and enjoy inside!

Winners of the Made From Sails Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:03:00 +0000

Thank you all so much for visiting Completely Coastal and entering the Made from Sails Giveaway!

And the two winners are...

Lisa from A Midlife of Privilege. She won Kimberly's sailcloth pillow from Pink Oyster Designs, and Cheryl (who doesn't have a blog) will get the adorable Wine Bag from the girls at Second Wind Sails.

Congratulations!

Turquoise for the Bedroom -More Pillows

noreply@blogger.com (Maya) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:54:00 +0000

Create the Look and feel of an island getaway in your bedroom with the color Turquoise...

... starting with beautiful Turquoise shell pillows...

... designed by Dermond Peterson and sold by Outer Banks Trading Group.

And whether you care or not, but if you love the color Turquoise, you're following the trend! Pantone, which tracks colors in the fashion and home decor industries, has named turquoise the color of 2010! "Combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters." Sounds wonderful!