Everything Coastal....

Nantucket Style

2012-06-04T12:02:00.001-07:00

Nantucket...Cape Cod...the wild Atlantic coast of New England, destinations that are definitely on my bucket list. I am simply drawn to East Coast "sea faring" casual interior design. The romance of the sea, and the history of decorating from a maritime point of view.

Coastal Living

Not casual-cottage, but elegant, livable spaces. Just a few touches of nautical luxury and polish can really make a seaside home come alive! Chrome hanging lanterns or nautical style table lamps, dark rich navy blues mixed with traditional maritime symbols likes signal flags or vintage wooden buoys simply highlight a gorgeous coastal room without overwhelming your space in "nautical".

Brass details mixed with nautical chart designs, also signify a Nantucket style. Love the idea of using overlapping nautical charts, or maps from your local area to create your own special wall paper.

Can you imagine discovering an old filing cabinet like this one? I just wish I had the space for something this gorgeous in my office! Ah... next house?

The most essential element to add to your space to give it that elegant classical touch of sailing in the deep blue waters, is the perfect large scale model sail boat. Take your time and hunt for one with a beautifully varnished hull, brass fitting details, and a large white linen-like sail (think of the "True Love" in the Philadelphia Story!) Personally, I think the treasure hunt for just the right detail is the best part of decorating.

Here are a few coastal home decor ideas to help create that elegant Nantucket design that you've been dreaming about too!

: Royal Marine Tripod Lamp - Restoration Hardware

From Restoration Hardware - a Royal Marine Polished Tripod Lamp

Avon Polished Chrome Lantern with Rope Handle

Love the idea of a grouping of polished chrome or steel lanterns!

: Cape Cod Nautical Chart

West Marine carries a full selection of nautical charts, or you can always visit your favorite local antique showroom something maybe a little more colorful! (West Marine is very affordable)

: Pottery Barn Map Wall Decal $129.00

For another unique idea, Pottery Barn carries this no-fail, decal chart of the West Indies. Fantastic idea! (and easy)

: Nautical Pillows from Kevin O'Brien $98-124.00

Kevin O'Brien Studio has handcrafted a complete line of maritime themed pillows - love these linen luxury designs complete with down filling.

: "Y" Signal Flag Nautical Linen Pillow $219.95

Or these fabulous oversized 22" x 22" linen pillows created by Coletti might just be the right nautical touch with their elegant signal flag designs.

: America's Cup Columbia 1901

And of course, the sailboat. Our favorites are available from Authentic Models at select retailers. All of their selections are finely honed and handcrafted with attention paid to every single detail for the ultimate in luxury. You can't miss with one of their sailing ships!

The trick is to have fun with your new Nantucket design - keep it clean and polished, with just a few touches of nautical without overdoing it. Would love to see how your room design all comes together!

Red, White and Blue Coastal Styling

2012-05-26T09:59:00.001-07:00

I was instantly drawn to this vignette discovered while collecting images for one of my nautical boards on Pinterest. Just imagining the story of these collected treasures! Well loved pieces picked on a long awaited overseas journey; an antique painted red table found in Paris antique store, blue coral found hidden in a tiny shop along the seaside in France. Of course the black lacquered bench discovered while exploring flea markets in London had to come home for a new purpose with pretty blue linen fabric. The royal blue and white pillows pillows add just the right touch.

Classic, clean nautical style without being obvious. Perfect.

Notice the book that they are reading - "Fifty Places to Fly From Before You Die"... must be planning their next adventure!

Have a great Saturday everyone! We are off to Livermore, California to do a little wine tasting.

Happy 75th Birthday Golden Gate Bridge!

2012-05-25T10:03:00.001-07:00

Pretty exciting weekend here in San Francisco - the 75th Birthday celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge! Lots of speeches, all kinds of parties, music and a fireworks display on Sunday night.

For me, the Golden Gate Bridge represents so many things; romance, adventure, beauty, great times with my kids, and fun days with Tom.

For our Friday blog post, I thought I would share some of my favorite images of the Golden Gate that I have captured in the last few years after moving here from the Pacific Northwest. It is a never ending source of inspiration for my camera. Enjoy!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone! Hope there is sunshine and beach walks on your agenda, I know there is on mine.

(P.S. We did find Copper River Salmon at Whole Foods - can't wait to savor tomorrow night!)

On the Hunt for Copper River Salmon

2012-05-23T08:01:00.001-07:00

Just can't take the Northwest girl out of me , or the "Portland" out of Tom! We are craving Copper River Salmon , and have just a small window of time to find it and grill it up - it's only available the last two weeks in May.

Sort of a big deal in Seattle, with the first delivery chronicled in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, The Seattle Times and of course on the local news stations. It's quite the event and party! (images courtesy of the Seattle PI)

We eagerly await it every spring - but are having a tough time finding a source in Northern California. Not giving up yet, it's Tom's birthday wish....

The thing about Copper River salmon is; it's so delish that you don't want to do too much to it when preparing. It doesn't need a whole lot of extra "umph", and is so darn scrumptious absolutely naked with a little lemon-dill butter and a fabulous Chardonnay.

I did find this Avocado, Tomato and Mango recipe though at CopperRiverSalmon.org, and thought I would give it a whirl once I find the salmon! This is the season for avocados and mangoes here in San Francisco, plenty are available at local farmers markets and grocery stores, even if the Copper River Salmon is a little elusive.

Simple Ingredients:
3 Fresh California Avocados, peeled and diced
6 cup tomato, chopped (I think it would be fun to use yellow and red cherry tomatoes)
3 mango, peeled, pitted and diced
¾ cup red onion, finely chopped
6 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
3 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, chopped
2 tsp. salt, divided
3 Tbsp. olive oil
6-oz wild Copper River salmon fillets
¾ tsp. black pepper, freshly ground

Combine the avocado, tomato, mango, onion, lime juice, cilantro, and about a third of the salt in a bowl.

Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the salmon with the remaining salt and pepper. Add to the skillet, skin side up and cook until nicely browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and cook until skin is crisp and the salmon is still slightly translucent in the center, about 4 minutes longer. (see - no extra spices needed!)

Spoon the avocado mixture over the salmon and serve.

Serving Suggestion: Serve on a bed of baby arugula or spring mix salad.

Serving Options:
For appetizer or tapas portion, cut salad ingredients into small dice to complement a 2 oz. portion of salmon. Plate as directed.
For bruschetta, toast sturdy slices of baguette (brush with olive oil for a richer taste), top with a 1 oz. portion of salmon and garnish with a tablespoon of (finely diced) salad.

And then I need the perfect dinnerware to serve it on.... I confess; I am also craving the "Fresh Fish Collection" from Vietri.

And I might need some cute fish wine glasses for the Alpha Omega Chardonnay.

This is our absolute favorite white wine from Napa, with no comparison to anything else that we have found. It's a little on the expensive side, but so worth it for a special occasion. I think I can find a bottle that I have hidden someplace.... after all it is Tom's birthday!

Would Fish Silverware be too much?

Have a great Wednesday everyone!

Seashells in My Pocket

2012-05-21T09:53:00.003-07:00

Okay, this is a little embarrassing to confess. Every time Tom does the laundry, what do you he finds tumbling around the dryer? Shells, sea glass, tiny rocks, the usual flotsam and jetsam that I cannot resist putting in my pockets every time we go for a beach walk.
(tiny olive shell discovered at Half Moon Bay)

It's a little bit of an addiction (a problem?) I love bringing home those little memories of a day beside the sea.

(yesterday's pocket!)

Makes me very happy to see those little bits of "beach" gathered together in my bookends, or displayed on my dining room table in my big bamboo bowl.

Can you imagine my excitement when we found these awesome shell shadowbox art pieces? Simply perfect for me! Especially the series with one of my favorite beach quotes

"May you always have a shell in your pocket and sand in your shoes."

Natural Nautilus

Now to decide which color frame and which shell I need......

Letter Cone

Sea Biscuit

Have a great Monday!

(P.S. More shells and more Shore Sayings available too! Check our NEW Shore Elements category)

The World is Your Oyster!

2012-05-18T09:35:00.001-07:00

This is so true!

I treasure my found "pearls" every single day... love, a sunrise, summer wildflowers, beach walks, shells in my pockets, a good book, new music, good wine (I do live in California!), a new recipe to try, discovering an art gallery, exploring an antique store - the list goes on. My life has always been about peeking inside the rough, bumpy shell to find the pearls that I might miss if I didn't slow down once in a while. Amazing how much happier I am when I remember to just enjoy those simple things.

My most prized pearls?
1. My funny, loving children.
2. Tom.
3. Our families.
4. Friends. My life is so incredibly blessed to be touched by such a rich circle of incredibly talented, funny, interesting and smart, wise people that I am lucky enough to call friends.

Have a great weekend, and remember to relish your pearls too.

beach ...a book of treasure

2012-05-17T09:01:00.002-07:00

This is a blog post that is long overdue. I am incredibly embarrassed to confess how long overdue.

Two years ago (2010), Tom and I ventured down to Santa Cruz for our first ever Sea Glass Festival on the boardwalk. While looking through all of the beautiful sea glass jewelry and coastal art, we stumbled upon Josie Iselin and her array of original art photography and artbooks that she has created by gathering treasures from the sand. Many times identifying the stunning beauty found in nature and on our coasts, seeing what most of us would just look beyond.

What passion she has for life beside the sea! We connected almost immediately. Comparing notes about local beaches, sea glass and the fascination with shells, I found a kindred spirit in Josie. Recognized a new friends and fellow beachgirl in about a minute and a half!

"The beach affords us a place to breathe more slowly; there is an immense calm that rests solidly in my heart when I am there. Stresses fade to the background as I wander and pick up a stone, its weight and texture - its' "stone-ness" - is a communicator of this calm; it is a talisman for this place of serenity. Many call it "beachcombing" - I call it "the slow meander"." From "beach.. a book of treasure"

Josie is not only an artist, she's an author giving life to her images and a peek into her journeys to the coast. Turning every page in "beach" is like discovering a new delight in poetry and imagery. I have savored this book for those days when I need a brain "reset", turning the pages slowly - admiring the details that Josie has captured by examining the tiny minutia of shore life captured on her flatbed scanner.

"When I think of roaming the sandy beaches I know, my feet tingle as I imagine the initial trudge through the soft sand give way to the easier walking near the water: I visualize finding a spot to rest; the warm sand filters through my fingers as I gaze out to the sparkling ocean, children running or digging nearby; wild with happiness." From "beach...a book of treasure"

At the time, Caron's Beach House was just in its' infancy, I was thirsty to meet other beachcombers like me. While we stood at her booth at the Sea Glass Festival, I decided to be brave; asked Josie if we could come over and see her studio. So one rainy San Francisco Saturday morning, she invited us over for coffee, and we explored her art-beach world for a wonderful few hours. My biggest regret is that I had broken my regular camera just the week before....

Can you get a glimpse of what inspires Josie?

Treasures hidden in an old iron desk, just waiting for their turn on the scanner... shells, sea pods, starfish, stones with interesting shapes, pieces of kelp. All kinds of flotsam and jetsom!

Seaweed and kelp samples that Josie is preparing for future art pieces and a book idea that she has... who knew how beautiful sea plants really are? Brilliant reds, purples and greens all gathered from our local Northern California beaches.

An interesting bowl of stones - can you see the swirls of white, gray and bits of blue? On the scanner, these become amazing sea sculptures!

Just had to show you her work space (love the kid drawings!) with her prized scanner. Truly fascinating how Josie can spend hours arranging and rearranging her beach finds on the glass to create one of a kind art prints - capturing those subtle nuances and colors that most of us miss.

If you are interested, Josie Iselin's books can be found on my "Beach-Reads" page at Liberty Bay Books for ordering online, or you can also try your local independent bookstore. These fine art photography books make wonderful gifts for your beach combing and sea glass friends!

Sea Glass Hearts

When we visited her studio, she was finishing up the work for "Sea Glass Hearts". Sea Glass friends had donated so many beautiful examples of found sea glass hearts; love how the book turned out.

Heart Stones

beach...a book of treasure

I did bring a gift. Who knows, maybe one day these pieces of my beachcombing collection will become famous in one of Josie's books?

Have a great Thursday everyone!

**images for the "beach.." book used from Josie

Iselins' website.**

If you sign up for Josie's newsletter or "like" her Facebook page, you might even get to meet her when she stops by your next local sea glass festival! These shots were taken last year (2011) in Santa Cruz when Josie was a featured speaker.

JosieIselin.com.

Sea Shell Room Decorating Ideas

2012-05-09T07:39:00.002-07:00

Good Morning fellow beach combers! Have sort of a tough day ahead of me, and simply wanted to share a few sea shell decorating ideas that I've gathered over on Pinterest (SO ADDICTING!)

From http://room-galleries.myhomeideas.com like the pretty botanical prints, and the seashells gathered in a wire bowl. Such an easy look to create and enjoy!

From http://tginteriors.blogspot.com - also an easy idea to put together - how can you go wrong? Can change all the time adding and subtracting your most recent beach finds.

From hgtv.com - elegant and simple. I think the glass cloches, and the clear glass lamp really add that extra special touch.

From markdsikes.com - gorgeous room created by Steven Gambrel with dark wood and large seashells - stunning, relaxing and totally modern.

For a little glamour, from House Beautiful; mirrored chest, large clam shell (I like our faux clam shells!), shell sconces and shell encrusted mirror. Gorgeous!

From Coastal Living, love this room; the blues, the art, the shell chandelier. I suspect that the glass bowls might be from Annie Glass, one of my very favorite coastal artists. I crave her dinnerware, one day I will finally make myself buy a few pieces!

For even more ideas and examples of natural sea shell decorating ideas, just pop over to my Coastal Colors - Seashell Natural board on Pinterest. Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

Beside the Sea Tablescapes

2012-05-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

I am soooo excited about our new collection of table linens and pillows from Low Country Linens, that I just have to share.

There's just something so special about putting together a brunch, lunch or dinner party beside the sea! I love those times with my family (and with Tom!) when we can linger around a lovely table, enjoy scrumptious food, good wine, but especially each other's stories and company.

Look how creative Low Country Linens has been with combining not only coastal motifs, but also modern and zebra designs mixed with the beachy themed napkins and placemats to create something very unique! The possibilities are unlimited; mix in shells, vintage candlesticks, silver accents, your favorite china and glassware. Maybe a model sailboat? Or a beautiful piece of driftwood?

Personally, I am a sucker for vintage cocktail glasses, and think that something from my collection would look particularly beautiful!

Now to only decide which pieces I need order first for myself.... the red coral napkins, the white coral table runner, the white starfish placemats? Do I go with a coastal theme or a summer nautical table design? Hmmmmm....

P.S. These are all made in America - love supporting our small business artists!

Gump's - for Summer Coastal Inspiration

2012-04-30T08:52:00.001-07:00

Oh my! We spent the afternoon in the city yesterday - and lucky me, we went to Gump's! If you have never been to Gump's in San Francisco, you are truly missing out on a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Located just off Union Square in downtown, sandwiched between the famous Maiden Lane and Post Street, this historical landmark store is packed with unique finds, art, fabulous dinnerware, jewelry, and incredibly elegant gifts and luxury for your home.

I need to go every couple of months just to soak up the atmosphere; feel the cashmere, yearn after the china place settings, breathe in the scented candles.... Yesterday was exceptional! Gump's entrance was totally transformed with their "Lake Country" Event.
(can you see the full size restored wooden speedboat?)

"A special installation of furniture, artwork, tableware and decorative accents from artists and designers whose unique work captures the essence of Lake Tahoe in summer filled with carefree days of boating, fishing, swimming and waterskiing. Each piece reflects the beauty and warmth of the season, and the anticipation of adventures to come."

All I can say is "WOW"!

Enjoy my iphone photos - tried really hard to capture this for all of you without getting any of Gump's customers in the images.

Loved the artwork - the colors of summer!

Rope Lamp, fish plates, helm lunch bags, "water" glasses

Wharf lamp from Currey & Co., silver coral branch candle sticks, Vance Kitira unscented candles, turquoise vases, glass fishing floats.

(p.s. if you like unscented candles Vance Kitira is the BEST choice)

Bottle stoppers made of old fishing reels!

Nautical! Brass elements, tripod lamp, gorgeous model boats.

Hanging polished chrome lanterns, Lake art, pretty blue and white pillows!

Art - also liked the bright orange ceramic stool mixed in. Great color contrast with the light blue.

Oyster Lamp, driftwood art, and wicker birdhouses. (P.S. the Lamp was over $1,600.00 - but totally gorgeous!)

Hope you all enjoyed! I will be happy to be your Gump's tour guide anytime you'd like to meet in San Francisco.....

Have a great Monday.

A final P.S. Gump's a wonderful website to explore if you can't come to San Francisco www.gumps.com

Weekend Crab and Artichoke Bisque

2012-04-27T08:46:00.003-07:00

Last weekend we took my parents for a afternoon drive to the Big Sur coastline (Stunning!). On our way back, my dad insisted that we make a quick pit stop at Pezzini's. Pezzini's is a farm stand just off Hwy 101 between Monterey and Castroville, but it is not quite your average roadside farm stand. Monterey County can claim fame to the artichoke, "The Official Vegetable of Monterey County - and believe me Pezzini's has every size and shape available!

So of course, we had to bring home a bag full of these beautiful spring beauties, and a new California Artichoke Recipe Book. Now, what do make out of them?

Ah ha! Crab Bisque is on the menu for this weekend!

Step 1 - prepare the artichokes
Use large artichokes - pull off the lower outer leaves of the artichokes. Cut the stem to 1 inch or less. I like to either steam or boil artichokes, and avoid the microwave as I am definitely not a good microwave chef.

For Boiling:

Use a deep saucepan or pot, stand the artichokes in 3 inches of water. Cover and simmer 25-40 minutes depending on the size, or until the leaf near the center pulls out easily.

For Steaming:
Similar to boiling. Just use a rack over boiling water, cover and steam for 25-40 minutes. This way your artichokes do not get waterlogged, and the taste is preserved better.

Now for the Crab Bisque*:

6 large prepared artichokes
6 cups of vegetable broth
2 cups cleaned crab (we like dungeness!)
1/3 cup chopped green onions
1/2 Yellow Onion - chopped and minced
2 cups heavy cream
2/3 cup flour
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
1 pound small whole carrots - chopped small
salt
pepper

Artichokes: Scrape meat from artichoke leaves, reserve the meat. Remove and discard fuzzy centers. Place cooked artichoke bottoms and reserved meat from leaves in blender, process until smooth. Heat broth to boiling, add green onions, onions, carrots, salt and pepper and cook until veggies are tender. Add artichoke puree and crab meat. Cook five minutes.

Add cream to flour and blend; beat in egg yolks. Stir cream mixture into artichoke mixture and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.

Makes 10 to 12 servings.
*recipe adapted from the California Artichoke Recipe Book

Quite the feast! Don't you think that a beautiful hand painted tureen to serve this fabulous crab bisque would be the hit at your next dinner party?

And maybe these cute new seafood chowder bowls?

Have a wonderful weekend! Not sure where we're headed for our next adventure - but here's a few glimpses from last weekend along the Big Sur Coast.

I simply love this stretch of road - could go every single weekend....

Sailing Style

2012-04-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

I have to be honest. Love the idea of a "Sailing Style", love the romance, the mystery, the idea of battling with the wild wind and sea. But, I am not a great sailor and can't even pretend to be.

For starters, I could tell you stories of sailing in Pearl Harbor on a 22 foot sailboat with my ex-husband and with a tiny baby daughter Allison. In the dark, in the wind and then the rain began..... He thought it was exhilarating - I thought it was one of the most scary things that I had ever experienced. (all I could think about were the legendary hammerhead sharks that populate Pearl Harbor!) Needless to say, we sold the boat and I NEVER stepped foot back on board.

I digress; we're supposed to be talking about "Sailing Style" - not my fear of sailing.

Sailing Style by Tricia Foley is one of my favorite coastal design books. It's a little difficult to find now, but if you can get a hold of a copy it's well worth the space on your bookshelf. My friends at Liberty Bay Books may be able to help track some copies down...

"Combining a look backward with her own trademark and forward-looking style—fresh, simple, and inimitable—Foley offers design inspiration for all those who long for a cottage by the sea. Every chapter showcases both the practical design solutions of sailors and sailboats as well as living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and design details that express a nautical style."

For me, Sailing Style has a little more romance, classic styling and shine, unlike some other types of "nautical" decorating. Think Ralph Lauren, navy blue , crisp whites and calm seas....

It's polished metals... chrome, steel and pewter

(Overboard Lantern - Caron's Beach House)

(Caron's Beach House)

(discovered on Pinterest)

caramel colors of coiled rope

(from Johnathan Adler)

(from Caron's Beach House)

(House and Home)

combined with shades of bright whites and sea blues....

(Thomas Paul Rope Coasters)

Vietri

(coming soon to Caron's!)

One of my very favorite pillows on our site - "Sailboat at Sea"

Hope you are having a great Wednesday! By the way, I am learning to get over my fear.

We have a Beach Art Winner!

2012-04-15T10:22:00.001-07:00

Stephanie of Marin Kids Consignment you are our winner! Thank you everyone for your wonderful comments on our blog and our Facebook Page - love all of your beach inspiration.

Stephanie wrote:
"Grown up and still in N.Cal and the beach is my escape. I can sort through sand & rocks for hours and I live 24/7/365 in flip flops. Beautiful items here!"

Our Goal at Caron's Beach House and at Everything Coastal is to continually inspire all of you to relax and live at the beach every day of the year - even if it's only in your heart. Sharing your ideas and your stories is very inspiring, and I consider it a privilege to know you!

Just want to share a few of the comments left for the give-a-way!

Nantucket Daffodil:
"How fabulous! My beach inspiration and interest started as a child growing up in southeastern Massachusetts.How fabulous to pick tiny slivers of opaqued glass from the sandy coast...how glorious to run down the beach with your brothers and sisters...just trying to catch the sandpipers. Sandcastles...freckles....summer memories that will last a lifetime."

Alison writes:
"I grew up spending my summers on a sailboat in the San Juans. Years later I got married on the shore of Chesapeake Bay. Nautical, beach, and marine life is my passion."

(The San Juan Islands are my favorite place in the whole world!)

SeaLaura writes:

"What a gorgeous and generous prize!! My beach inspiration is the PAcific Coast, Big Sur. I love the windy road which has become a metaphor for my own path of living by the beach.
I am a long time followe on FB, twitter and receive your newsletter. Thanks for the opportunity".

(the image is from a Sunday drive of our last November)

Katrina writes:
"we live just a few miles from the beach and our whole house is decorated as such so we just love the beach and all the natural decorations the beach producers."

Have a great Sunday everyone! Tom and I are off to the wine country to visit our friends at Ladera Winery in Napa. The fog seems to be lifting....

P.S. Stephanie - don't forget to send me an e-mail with your info!
caron@caronsbeachhouse.com

Introducing Currey & Co. at Caron's Beach House

2012-04-11T06:30:00.000-07:00

The first time that I spotted Currey & Co.'s elegant coastal home decor pieces, we were attending our first furniture and gift show at the America's Mart in Atlanta in 2004. (forever ago!) Small town girl in a big city, and I fell in love. Have been craving their products ever since.

You may have spotted them in many of the design magazines, such as House Beautiful or Traditional Home and Elle Decor. (Can't help it, I am a home magazine junkie)

I have pages ripped out with inspirational photos on my bulletin board (thank goodness for Pinterest - now my office is a little less messy!) and now thrilled that we can offer some of Currey & Co. products that I have only seen in those magazine pages or in the showrooms!

The image on the right is from House Beautiful and is part of an article about an Annie Selke beach house design in Chatham, MA. The whole house is fantastic - this elegant, but relaxed, dining room was my favorite. Love the mix of the Dash Albert stripes in the carpet, the "seaweed-like" swirls in the Calico Corners upholstery fabric, combined with coral pieces and a pretty blue toile inspired mural.

The all-natural Oyster Shell Chandelier is from Currey & Co, and now is available at Caron's!

Or a stunning "Beachcomber" mirror in this water view Shippan Designer Showhouse in Stamford, Connecticut in Traditional Home.

Positioned just behind the an English sofa table, masquerading as a desk. (Designer: Jack Fhillips) This shell encrusted mirror is definitely a statement piece at 39" high, covered in beautiful jewel-like seashells!

Come see!

Beachhead Driftwood Mirror

New! Lynnhaven Lamp - all natural oyster shells.

Seaward 6-light coral chandelier - finished with real sand and creamy white paint.

Have a great Wednesday! It's raining here in San Francisco, so unfortunately I am glued to my desk... hope you all have the chance to get outside!

Octopus Coastal Home Decor

2012-04-10T08:40:00.001-07:00

Not sure if you all have noticed, but Octopus design is still a hot trend in coastal decorating - personally, I can't get enough of it! Last week while I was searching for coastal dinnerware to add to the Caron's Beach House site, I just kept collecting Octopus images and products and ended up pinning a ton to my "Octopus" board on Pinterest.

Have to share some of my favorites!

A hand thrown mug with Octopi on both sides of the mug - want this!

Etsy - Pirate Rose Pottery

From Anthropologie - a Octopus hook! Wouldn't this be perfect for bathing suits or towels on a beachside deck?

Octopus on Melamine Plate from The Mad Platters - also on Etsy. I liked all of this artist's designs - pretty creative!

Drooling over these Octopus glasses from Asprey. They have several sizes and colors... a little pricey, but beautiful!

Cuff links and Tie Tack from Cosmic Firefly - just one example of their Octopus designs. They have over 70+ octopus accessories. Too much fun!

Octopus fabric at Spoonflower by Lemondade Fish (caution: Spoonflower can be just as addictive as Etsy!)

Or maybe a pretty pattern from Calico Corners?

All I can say is WOW - this is incredible wallpaper from GrowHouseGrow.com. It's called "Captain Smith" and has a fantastic story that goes with it, as well as coming in several different colors. Gosh, I wish I had a wall to add this to...

Or if you want to create something of your own - thought this was a great idea from Graphicals (also on etsy.com) Download your own image and use it for a pillow, a totebag, a linen pillow case..... possibilities are endless!

And now for a few of my new Octopus favorites at Caron's!

Whimsical bright octopus pillow - perfect for indoors and outdoors. Also has a matching door mat!

Botanical Sealife Ginger Jar. It's one of my all-time favorite coastal accents - love all of the colors and the blue octopus image.

There's one cute octopus in this red embroidered natural linen guest towel set - too cute!

Or for something subtle and neutral - this new tan embroidered octopus on a bright white canvas pillow just might do the trick!

See what I mean? There are so many ways to add a little sea creature fascination into your beach house!

Coastal Modern by Tim Clarke - New Fabulous Design Book!

2012-04-06T12:02:00.000-07:00

I am going to let you in on a BIG secret - For this weekend only, you can order this new amazing Coastal Modern book featuring Tim Clarke's design philosophy and gorgeous photography from Noah Webb from my friends at Liberty Bay Books for 30% off! Originally $50.00 - now on sale for $35.00

Simply click HERE and it will take you right to the page on my list of Coastal Design Books at Liberty Bay.

Notes from Tim Clarke's Website:
"Coastal Modern shares my aesthetic of breezy elegance in more than 250 transporting photographs by award-winning photographer Noah Webb (Dwell, Vanity Fair, Travel + Leisure). These pages feature dozens of seamlessly connected indoor/outdoor spaces (many with jaw dropping views) and sprawling rooms with clean lines, organic shapes and materials, a mix of textures and colors inspired by the sea and the sand."

Designing modern contemporary coastal spaces is a true art form. I have been a huge fan of Tim Clarke's ever since I first noticed his work on the Coastal Living 2010 Ultimate Beach House in Seabrook, Washington. Love how he blended Northwest design with a modern contemporary feel without losing any of wild beauty of the Washington Coast, and while still creating a warm and inviting family home. (image courtesy of Coastal Living)

Can you tell that I truly am a Washington Coast girl?

This image at the Seabrook house is one of my faves that I have kept in my files for a a long time, just waiting for the right blog post. Can't you just imagine curling up with a good book, a glass of wine and listening to the waves and the wind just outside the window? Modern with a pop of color and comfort...

Here's a few sneak photos from noted photographer Noah Webb and Tim Clarke's blog

I cannot wait until my Coastal Modern Book arrives next week! Have a wonderful Easter weekend everyone -

Beach House Friday - The Cliff House

2012-03-30T08:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so it's not really a "house" it's a historic landmark restaurant in San Francisco. Full of romance and stories, it's perched on the point just at the entrance to San Francisco Bay. The Cliff House also means romance and many good memories for Tom and I....

It's one of my favorite places to sit, watch the rain wine and ocean winter storms.

Which is exactly what we did last Saturday afternoon. With hot toddies.... hot chocolate with whipped cream and Bailey Irish Cream and Frangelico for me and coffee with Bourbon for Tom. Yum!

Had to pinch myself - how lucky am I, to sit with a wonderful boyfriend and just enjoy an afternoon of Pacific Ocean storm from the warm and cozy Sutro Bistro Bar at the Cliff House. Love the entire wall of windows!

Enjoy our view!

Have a great weekend everyone! Don't forget to enter our give a way for Tresor Le Mer's gorgeous art - winner drawn on Monday, April 2.

Spring Beach Art Giveaway!

2012-03-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

We are so excited to host a special giveaway for our artist Rachele of Tresor Le Mer! She's created some new fabulous sea life art pieces for this spring and this 11 x 14 framed Double Black Sea Fan is one of them - I love it. The mix of the black sea fans and the 3 tiny starfish is just so elegant.

Rachele lives near the beach in Southern California, where these images were taken, and where she finds her inspiration. Lucky girl!
(Read her complete story here)

Rachele personally hand-crafts each unique coastal shell art piece with love and care. She integrates sea fans, sand dollars, starfish and other sea life with hand painted frames to create beautiful art that brings a beachy feel to any home. Rachele is thrilled that she has this opportunity to share her love for the beach through her art with people all over the world - her work now hangs in homes from Malibu, California to Spain.

These Double Black and Starfish 11 x 14 framed art pieces will be listed on the Caron's Beach House site for $199.00, and will also include your choice of frame finish. Tresor Le Mer has so graciously offered one of these pieces to the winner of our Spring Giveaway!

Giveaway Ends midnight Sunday April 1st - winner will be drawn next Monday, April 2nd. Enter today for your chance to win!

Here's the rules:
1. Leave a comment on our blog, tell us about your beach inspiration!

2. Become a new "liker" on our Facebook page - and let us know by leaving a comment that you are a new fan.

3. Become a new follower on Twitter.

3. Share our Spring Giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest - don't forget to let us know!

4. Sign up for our Newsletter (P.S. receive an instant FREE shipping coupon after signing up!)

Good Luck! Have a fabulous spring Monday.

More of Rachele's new pieces!

Steamed Salmon with Lemon Rice

2012-03-24T12:15:00.000-07:00

Friday night dates at home are my favorite! This week has been pretty tough, Tom is swamped at work (he works for Wells Fargo in their mortgage division), and I am swamped at Caron's. I have been furiously adding new products from Currey & Co., Arteriors Home, more lamps from Regina Andrew Design, a new line of cute seafood tableware accessories and even a completely brand new pillow line. On top of of all that, both of us have been so sick with terrible colds.

Not fun, and not very romantic.

By the time Friday night rolled around it was more than time for cocktails and a salmon gourmet feast. I have had this recipe for "Salmon Cooked in Parchment", pinned up on my office bulletin board for a few weeks just waiting for the right Friday night date. Carefully torn from the pages of House Beautiful...

It's pretty easy to do, and extremely scrumptious! Just follow the steps carefully for the lemon rice, and keep in mind that this meal will easily serve 4 or more people. I have been a mom for most of my adult life, and I just can't seem to get the hang of cooking for 2 people. Consequently, we have a lot of left overs!

For the Salmon:

1 lb. whole salmon filet pin bones removed, skin intact (make sure that you have really good salmon!)

1+ T. extra-virgin olive oil

3 generous pinches coarse kosher salt

6 full grinds of a pepper mill

Rosemary Sprigs (this is my addition)

1 sheet parchment paper - brown in not recommended

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees

2. Lay a sheet parchment on a baking sheet, place the salmon filet skin-side down in the center

3. Thoroughly coat the filet and an inch or so of the surrounding parchment with the olive oil, creating a slick and glossy surface.

4. Evenly season the filet with salt and pepper and optional rosemary

5. Form an envelope with the salmon tucked inside the parchment by bringing together the edges and forming a tight crease, and tucking the folded ends of the paper neatly under the fish. Your salmon will steam quite nicely!

6. Place the salmon in the middle rack of the preheated oven and cook for exactly 10 minutes. Remove and check the salmon's color by peeking carefully inside the parchment without fully opening it. It should be pale pink and opaque at the edges with a broad swath of still pink-orange flesh down the center.

7. Return to the oven for about 5 more minutes or until the translucent swath has narrowed to a 1/2 inch stripe. Be careful to not over cook it!

8. Remove the salmon from the oven, and release the steam to prevent further cooking.

9. Voila'!

For the Creamy Lemon Rice:

2 cups chicken broth

4 large egg yolks

1/2 cup fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1/2 frozen peas

1 bunch of green onions sliced to 1/2 cup

2 - 2/12 cups cooked rice

salt and pepper to taste

1. Bring the chicken broth to a simmer on the stove top in a stainless steel pot and keep it simmering as you prepare the other ingredients. It will slightly reduce.

2. In a glass bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then add the lemon juice until well blended.

3. Add a ladle scoop of hot stock to the egg-lemon mixture and whisk thoroughly.

4. While whisking, slowly add the hot egg-lemon mixture into the simmering chicken broth. Stir or whisk over medium high heat while the liquid thickens and changes color to pale yellow. Add the peas and green onions.

5. Stir gently until peas are warmed through then add the cooked rice. Stir thoroughly, then turn off the heat and let rest, covered for a minute of two.

Serve with your salmon!

Don't forget a good bottle of wine - we had Wente last night..... so good!

Have a great weekend everyone, we're off to have lunch at the Cliff House in San Francisco and do a little rain and storm watching from their towering windows.

Spring on the California Coast

2012-03-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

We are so lucky! Flowers start blooming here in Northern California early in February and I usually have my camera in my pocket.

Sending you all a bouquet - Happy Spring!

Vintage Swimming Girls

2012-03-10T12:35:00.001-08:00

How do I explain my love affair with vintage diving girls and vintage swim suits? Sounds a little weird, I know...

The first time I ever spotted these vintage swimmers from America Retold, I knew I was a goner. I think I bought 40 of these candle holders in every color and shape imaginable, for our first store in Poulsbo. These black, white and red ones gracing my office bookshelf might be the only ones I have left...

And then there were these girls, we could not keep enough of them in stock for our store customers or our online customers. (photo taken on my old deck in Manchester, WA)

I think you can still find these bathing beauty girls online and locally (if you live near the beach) I spotted them a few months ago in the Cliff House Sutro Bar in San Francisco.

Just a few more of my favorite vintage bathing beauty finds -

most spotted at the Alameda Flea Market, my go-to for inspiration!

Framed image spotted at the Cliff House, former Sutro Baths competition swimming venue in the 20's-30's. The entire restaurant is covered in these fun images! I snapped this one a few months ago when we took Tom's mom out to dinner there.

1920's California Girls (online for less than a day!)

French Flea Market Umbrella - LOVE!

Kicking myself for not buying this photo!

I did buy the Jantzen ad! Could not resist it - and now it takes up a big corner on my messy office bulletin board, along with the vintage Chris Craft ad.

Now to give you some ideas for using vintage swimming suits and vintage swimming girls in your beach house! Spotted at Houzz and on Pinterest earlier this week:

From Beach Vintage - I first spotted this cool idea at Completely-Coastal months ago, and kept it for future reference. How simple, but such a great mix of modern and vintage! Why did I give away my favorite red and white striped bathing suit????

Check out this cool framed vintage bathing suit mixed with a framed black sea fan, bright lime greens and MORE zebra stripes. From Kate Jackson Designs.

Or how about this bright aqua green and turquoise living room? I am simply nuts about all of the bright happy colors, and that The diving girl pillow caught my eye right away!

Where can you find your very own vintage bathing girls?

Ebay has quite a few different options for prints and bathing suits.

Found quite a few of these vintage bathing girls at InsideOutCatalog.com, and also on TheFind.com or you can go Google search using the terms "Dr. Livingstone - bathing beauties" and some other ideas will come up too.

Or there is lots of fun stuff at Etsy! Like all of the prints at Vintage Beach shop

Or there's always Caron's Beach House.....

Diving Girl Pillow

Cute polka dot bathing suit lamp

Vintage Inspired Pillow with Blue Striped Ticking!

Surfing at Waikiki!

See, I told you I have a little bit of an obsession. Have a great weekend everyone!

Snow at the Beach and a Cup of Hot Chocolate!

2012-03-08T10:41:00.001-08:00

My mom sent me these photos taken from her beach house by my brother, just this past week when the Puget Sound and the Kitsap Peninsula were once again the coated white with a late winter snowfall.

Blake Island in the background - look how the water is just like glass!

Looking Southwest towards my old house in Manchester with Bainbridge Island off in the distance. Cannot deny that these are beautiful shots, even though I am cold just looking at them!

Maybe a cup of gourmet hot chocolate is in order?

Here's an interesting recipe that I need to try next time we're home with my mom and dad.... Found at Best Bites.com (the blog post is full of great ideas!)

Raspberry Truffle:
A couple of chunks of dark chocolate on the bottom of the mug, hot chocolate or white hot chocolate, raspberry syrup, whipped cream, raspberry drizzle, chocolate sprinkles. For the raspberry drizzle either puree fresh raspberries or mix a little raspberry jam with warm water until smooth. (sounds VERY doable!)

Now to wander over to Etsy - Look at these fun mugs I found for hot chocolate! (dang, etsy is dangerous!)

Wild Card Pottery - Blue Ring Octopus Mugs

Beyond Jordan Studio - Totally darling! Sea urchin tea pot and matching seahorse mugs (I want these!)

The Red Mill - so gorgeous with aqua inside and a delicate sea shell on the outside. Pretty pretty pretty!

Wishing you all a terrific Thursday - hopefully you are inside and staying warm!

Coletti Luxury manufactured by Barclay Butera

2012-03-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

Meet the creators of our new luxury line of pillows! The Coletti's -

In 1984 Russ Coletti was one of the first artist to be on a new music channel called VH1, Morgan Fairchild was his co-star. Music magazines such as Billboard and Cashbox lauded him as the next big thing.

Unfortunately his record went "wood", and Russ ended up working with musicians from Madonna's band to members of the band HEART, along with many others. During that time he met his now wife, Diane, his soul mate. Diane, as it turned out had a Environmental Degree from UCLA and was working at ABC Television with an in-house design firm and was also learning to become a metal smith.

Fast forward 25 years and two beautiful sons later, Russ retired from the struggle of the music business and was lost creatively. One day while strolling the streets of Little Italy in San Diego, Diane suggested he buy a starter painters kit, Russ had never painted a thing in his life.

Three years later he had sold over 300 paintings world wide and to many celebrities. When the economy went south so did art sales. Again, Russ found himself without an outlet for his creativity. Diane on the other hand was doing well with her jewelry making and was in many prestigious galleries such as The San Diego Museum of Art.

Diane suggested that they use the culmination of their life experiences to create unique, high quality linen pillows. That was January of 2011.

In less than a year they had partnered with world famous Designer Barclay Butera, been chosen as a premier resource for Architectural Digest, and secured a handful of Reps across the country, including being selected by Caron's Beach House as a featured vendor of pillows.

2012 is looking like a banner year so far and the Coletti's are filled with a new sense of purpose and are excited to see what's next!

Russ and Diane have so much passion for their pillows, and it shows in every single detail of these fabulous linen and down creations! I LOVE mine, created just for Caron's Beach House. My nautilus pillow has a special spot right on my bed...

For more details - see our blog post at Everything Coastal Style too!

Pier 23 - Lunch!

2012-03-03T10:05:00.000-08:00

Have I ever told you how much of a Food Network admirer I am? Cannot tell you how many Saturday mornings are spent watching Paula whip up something that I know that I should never eat, or watching Ann Burrell coax her ingredients into something fabulous, or catching Guy Fieri roaming the streets in his fire engine red Camaro (I WANT one!).....

Last week Tom and I happened to catch Guy hanging out at a local restaurant, on the show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives - one that we had never tried. Pier 23, in San Francisco, just off the Embarcadero before reaching Fisherman's Wharf.

Sounded like a fun place to take Alex after his plane landed from Seattle this past Friday. It was an absolutely stellar day on the Embarcadero. Around 60 degrees - not a cloud in the sky, no wind. Felt like 70!

Here's us, waiting for a table - someone walking by was nice enough to offer to take our picture!

Here's our view, how exciting we got to sit right next to the rail. The sunshine was absolutely magical! Especially for Alex, as he has been suffering through a very long, rainy, cold, yucky Pacific Northwest winter. (Can you tell that I do not miss one single day of it?)

Alex opted for a seared ahi tuna sandwich. He claims that it was the best one that he's ever eaten.

(check out his t-shirt!)

Crab and Shrimp Louie Salad for me! Piles of seafood...

And of course we had to have calamari.

Thanks Guy for the recommendation - we had a wonderful afternoon lunch in the sun at Pier 23.

Alex and I are off for more adventures today - a twisty drive up to Pt. Reyes for Cowgirl Cheese, and maybe a stop out at the lighthouse. Hmmm... too bad Tom went skiing.

Zebra Stripes and Coastal Decor? hmmm...

2012-03-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

Image from Mary McDonald
Hollywood Glam Designer on Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators

Okay, maybe I am coming around to embrace the idea of zebra stripes. As many of you know, I am such a design and decor magazine junkie - but I had not seen this vignette until today. Zebra striped rugs, pillows, etc. are just not a new idea any more, I am kind of "over" the whole stylized look. But I might be changing my mind. Love this mix from Mary McDonald,;blue, orange, silver glass modern lamps, and a completely gorgeous collection of specimen sea shells mixed with coral displayed so elegantly on a simple black lacquered console table. Somehow the zebra striped ottoman and mirror work perfectly!

We are very excited about our new advertising partnership with Emily Clark Interiors, which is where I found this beautiful image. I think you will love her style too!