Everything Coastal....

Beach House Fridays - Romance on the Terrace

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

The March issue of House Beautiful arrived in the mail last night, filled with all kinds of lovely images, using every shade of green imaginable. So, after I had completely devoured the magazine and ripped out all of my favorite pages for my inspiration bulletin board in my office, I thought I would go online and see if any of the images were posted to add to Pinterest, and before I knew I was lost in "pinning" coastal room images and ideas from their website.

Fell in love with this outdoor veranda, overlooking a sea blue bay. Can't you just feel the ocean breeze with just a slight hint of chill in the salt air? Good thing that they've included a cozy throw on the end of the Restoration Hardware wicker sofa!

Maybe a Diana Krall CD playing in the background? (love her!) Champagne chilling, candles about to be lit as the sun begins its decent into the bay. The only thing missing is a beautiful cheese tray....

I need to win the lottery.

Here are a few ideas from our site that could mix into this romantic setting!

Hand Painted Red Coral Pillows

Perfect for indoor-outdoor use!

Pretty etched seashell ice bucket to chill your champagne... and an assortment of champagne flutes or wine glasses if you prefer chilled white wine. I particularly like the stemless wine glasses!

Let's not forget the cheese tray! Love the polished shells, and the nickel accents of this seaside serving set - modern coastal with a twist of glamour.

If you are not already a SeaLaura blog fan - make sure to pop over there, and check out her new adventures on the Texas coast. We also want to thank her for featuring our pink octopus pillow for her Valentine's wish list post!

Have a great weekend everyone! I heard a rumor that we may go to Concannon winery for their chocolate and wine pairing event....

Beach Chic Style

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!

I've relaunched Everything Coastal Style! It's a work in progress so be patient with me. I wanted a second blog to be able to feature more guest bloggers and focus on coastal and beach style, but still be able to write in my voice on Everything Coastal. I love taking you all to the beach and sharing fun recipes and tips, but there's so much more that I'd like to share that I have revamped Everything Coastal Style, to focus more on style ideas for the coast.

Pop over and take a look - today we are featuring a fun blog post from my friend Susan from InStyle Swimwear. I am drooling over swimsuit #2 in the post today - just 40 more pounds to lose and I might be able to fit into it. (ah, I can dream, can't I?) They have a HUGE selection - many fun beach items under $100.00!

P.S. If you'd like to be a guest blogger - let me know!

Seashell Natural Decorating

2012-02-07T11:31:00.001-08:00

Now that you've collected all the seashells, what to do with them?

Here's 5 of our favorite ideas!

1. Display them in a glass lamp, so easy to change with the seasons. Add your most prized shells, mix with sea glass or driftwood to create an ever changing display piece. (Caron's Beach House)

2. Make your own shell mirror. So easy to create something that can easily be the focal point of your room, by using a large scale frame and large scale shells. Keep it all natural with sand and shore colors, or mix in tropical shells for an island feel. Love this vignette, with the beachy blues and creamy white shells, not to mention the fabulous tall polished lantern! (image found on Pinterest)

3. Create a wreath, starting with driftwood. Collect your own driftwood to create a wreath base, or better yet, start with one that is already pre-made especially if you don't live near a beach where there is ample driftwood to take home. Get creative with not only shells, but other flotsam and jetsam!

From Everything Coastal (used to be my front door!)

Driftwood Wreaths - Bases Only

4. Create your very own special shadowbox with your most precious shells. Love this simple beautiful idea from Danielle Oakley Interiors. The blue background with bleached starfish is just stunning!

5. Use large glass jars, with interesting lids filled with seashells for bookends. So simple, functional, and the shells are protected from dust.

Stay tuned for 5 more ideas!

Sunday Shorelife - Great Blue Heron

2012-02-05T16:42:00.000-08:00

Superbowl Sunday calls for a long beach walk before settling in on the couch.. Giants? Patriots? We are not that invested in the game this year, as Tom's favorite teams didn't make the cut... no Packers, no Forty-Niners and no Seahawks... but we've cooked up some fabulous ribs and corn muffins!

The tide was the farthest out we've ever seen at Half Moon Bay - lots of tidepools to explore, not only for us, but for this beautiful California Great Blue Heron.

Lunch caught!

And then, I got a little too close and the heron had enough of my camera and my in-elegant splashing.

Can't believe that I actually got this shot of him/her taking off with the fish!

Hope you all are having a wonderful Superbowl Sunday!

For your very own blue heron....

Coastal California Vintage! Love this pretty coastal pillow with striped blue and white ticking.

From the Eastern Seaboard... Beautiful Blue Heron Pillow

From the Pacific Northwest.....Great Blue Heron Indoor-Outdoor Beach Cottage Pillow

Beach House Friday - Film Noir

2012-02-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

Another confession... I am a total sucker for 1930's - 1940's era movies. My perfect Sunday afternoon (when I can't go to the beach) is turning on Turner Classic Movies and catching Nick and Nora sleuthing out some crazy situation while drinking martinis and wearing shimmery satin gowns and jewels.

Or, maybe getting lost on stormy Key Largo with Humphrey Bogart and the timeless beauty of Lauren Bacall. Not to mention Cary Grant (my dream date!), Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in "The Philadelphia Story" - I have probably watched this movie 20 times, and it never loses its' luster for me.

This month on TCM is the best because it's 31 days of Oscar! That's right, when I am working in my office, I am sneaking peaks of some of my favorite movies. Don't tell on me......

P.S. I only wish my office looked like this! Love the big bookshelf with space for coral and shells - and the lamps the remind me of ocean reefs.
(pic from House Beautiful)

So, I got to thinking this morning. I created a board on Pinterest that is all about Black and White Inspiration, and I thought I would share some of my collection with you.

Think luxury of bygone eras, film noir, elegance, evening gowns, sexy martinis..... Can't you just see yourself gliding down this fabulous staircase, dripping with jewelry to join the party? Love!
(pic from Houzz)

Can you imagine stopping to check your lipstick in this glamorous bathroom?

Breakfast on the veranda after the party? I can see wearing those sexy feather slippers and sipping on a lovely mimosa cocktail. I know, a little dramatic....

That's the fun with black and white decorating. Alluring, bewitching and just slightly dazzling!

Some of our favorite essential elements to add a little film noir glamour to your beach house!

(pic from House Beautiful)

1. White Coral - NOT real.

2. Black and White Linen Pillows

(including one that has an image a little like Humphrey Bogart!)

3. Coral Lamps

4. Hints of silver and gold

Would love to hear about your favorite movies from the film noir era - I don't think I am alone in having this secret passion for those enchanting movies!

On my list this weekend (if we can squeeze it in with Superbowl mania!) is possibly a trip to the movies to see "The Artist" have any of you seen this yet? What did you think?

Have a wonderful weekend!

New Zealand Jewels from the Sea!

2012-01-30T09:59:00.000-08:00

So excited to feature a guest blog post from my good friend Judy! (See my post from last winter - Just Beachy) Judy and her husband Gordon invited Tom and I over for a Christmas brunch. Not only did we get a fascinating sea lion show from their dining room, I got a first hand look at her gorgeous shell treasures from New Zealand. Judy is one lucky lucky lady, to have the opportunity to travel and pick up seashells from around the world! Can you tell, I might be just the teeniest bit envious?

Confessions of a Shellaholic....

OK, I confess. I am unashamedly a full-blown shellaholic. And I know I’m not alone. Many of you reading this know what I mean when I say I love everything about shells – how they feel in my hands, how each one is different, how incredibly they travel thousands of miles before I find them and how, even with broken parts and rough edges, they are truly beautiful.

Show me a beach and while I’ll admire the sea and the setting, my eyes also will be cast downward in search of one of God’s treasures. I’ve collected shells on every beach I’ve ever seen, so when I had the chance to explore new beaches while attending a conference in New Zealand, I was in beachcomber heaven.

I was particularly excited to learn that New Zealand has what might be called a “national shell” that is used in beautiful jewelry and is an iconic design in many other forms of art from pottery to silver. It’s the Paua, a small, particularly colorful abalone, so not only was I on the hunt for such a shell, but I was determined to bring home a piece of Paua jewelry.

When I’m in a foreign country, such as New Zealand, I try to be a discreet sheller. I’m never sure how the locals feel about my taking shells off their beaches or what they’d think about some of them finding their way to Gig Harbor, Washington. So – no pails or buckets for me. Instead, I’ve got a lightweight jacket with a ton of inside pockets, plus long sleeves that zip off to become a vest for warmer days. I line those pockets with plastic Ziploc bags and I’m ready to discreetly collect my treasures … that is, after I’ve checked the local laws to make sure it’s OK.

New Zealand’s north island has beaches on both the South Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea. Playing hooky from meetings one day, we took the train east to Paraparaumu, a small beach town on the Kapiti Coast that faces an island wildlife reserve. We hit the beach on a windy but sunny day and had it to ourselves. We oohed and ahhed over the driftwood until we began to find beautiful striated shells that my shell encyclopedia says are Pacific Tritons. There were other colorful shells – clams and scallops and cones as well -- and before long, my jacket was bulging with shells that never would have found their way to my beach in Gig Harbor except in my pockets.

Other memorable shelling beaches were up north in the Bay of Islands, an archipelago where we spent five days with the Maori, the indigenous people of New Zealand who still practice their native culture. Each day, I wandered a different beach in my vest, finding flat scallops, colorful umboniums, terinas, terebras, augers and portions of pen shells. On one beach, almost every shell bore shades of blue; on another the shells were striped orange and white. I tried to be selective, but it was hard to resist them.

Shelling on a group tour can be problematic because shells need to be washed to eliminate unpleasant odors. So every afternoon I washed, sorted and dried my shells anywhere I could in our hotel room – the counter, the tub, the back of the toilet. But this wasn’t work – it was like sifting through a box of jewels.

We stayed with friends near Auckland before coming home, and I took that opportunity to soak my shells in bleach and dry them in the sun. But wait – they live at Snells Beach, so there I was, gathering more and more because our hosts helped me fill my pockets.

While all this shelling was fun, we still wondered how we’d get all these little gems home. We’d collected nine pounds all told, and both our suitcases were already very close to the 5pound limit. What to do? We decided to divvy them up – put some in our checked bags and some in our carry-ons. We didn’t have to declare them – they weren’t fruit, vegetables, meat or living creatures, so the trip home was without incident.

Now I have shells that I will simply admire for their beauty and also use in my shell art for Just Beachy. And I revel in the knowledge that these aren’t shells I bought from an online shell store in Florida; I picked these myself (my sore back was proof positive!), washed and sorted them, and will forever remember the wonderful beaches of New Zealand where I found them.

Yes, I’m a shellaholic and like another “aholic” we hear about, I found New Zealand’s beaches to be my own personal “open bar.”

Easy Elegant Scallops

2012-01-26T10:58:00.000-08:00

Bacon, scallops, sea salt, and garlic - how can you go wrong?

Scallops can be tricky if you are not careful, they need to be fresh, large and cooked only until they are done or they can be more than a little "rubbery" (is that a word?)

Bacon Wrapped Scallops are incredibly easy, and can be presented so elegantly, your friends will know that you are a graduated gourmet chef!

Ingredients:
Large Sea Scallops - plan on 2 or 3 per person
Thick Sliced Bacon
Sea Salt (or Kosher Salt)
Fresh Ground Pepper
Chopped Garlic

1. Liberally salt and pepper your scallops, then "sprinkle" on your chopped garlic

2. Use 1 bacon slice per scallop and wrap them completely - use a skewer to secure

3. Place under broiler until bacon is crispy and done, it's just enough time for the scallops to also be done without getting overcooked.

A suggestion for you - serving these scallops with a lovely balsamic reduction sauce would be a beautiful final touch. So easy to do; simply cook your favorite balsamic vinegar over high heat 12 -15 minutes,until it becomes syrupy and bubbles begin to form.

Or you can cheat like me and use prepared balsamic salad dressing! I served our scallops with an avocado, heirloom tomato salad, dusted with fresh rosemary Asiago cheese and a Tuscan balsamic dressing. Our Pinot Noir is a favorite from the Oregon Willamette Valley, Domaine Drouhin.

Yes, we eat and drink well around here.

Cheers to a Happy Weekend! We are headed up to Sonoma County to see our friends and celebrate a birthday. I have heard a rumor that there might be wine tasting involved....

Happy New Year! The Year of the Water Dragon

2012-01-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

How thrilling! Not only is it MY year on the Chinese New Year Lunar Calendar, but it is also the year of the Water Dragon - how lucky am I??

The Water Dragon occurs only once every 60 years on the Chinese lunar calendar, and is expected to bring prosperity, luck and exciting transforming changes. I am ready for whatever this year may bring! How about you?

Now to add some traditional red and water elements into my coastal decorating to celebrate - and to encourage the good luck!

Red coral always makes me happy and it does have a beautiful organic shape. (reminiscent of a dragon!)

Hmm... and it does come from the sea....

Maybe a few new pillows to toss on my couch?

Could not resist this one - it's already on my bed! Just a touch of red in my sea aqua room....

Or a beautiful red bowl for my ever-growing collection of seashells? I like this one for the sea grass type of etching on the base. Can you imagine this filled with bleached white shells? I can, it would be so gorgeous!

Wishing you all a very Happy Chinese New Year! Special wishes to my fellow dragons... you know who you are.

Oh Yum... Salmon with Lemon Caper Sauce

2012-01-09T14:42:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning started out with a picnic breakfast and a gorgeous beach walk at Montara... it's a new beach walk that we discovered just a tiny bit north of Half Moon Bay right off Highway 1.

Completely awestruck! Clear blue sky, roaring waves - amazing, powerful, soul restoring, with fewer than 10 people (and a few puppies!) on the beach to share this incredible experience.

Worked up an voracious appetite after our walk in the sand. So, of course we had to stop at our favorite fish market in Half Moon Bay on the way back home for some local fresh caught salmon for a seafood dinner feast.

To die for - Salmon with Lemon Caper Sauce

Ingredients:

Fish + Marinade
1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
2 large shallots
3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3 Tablespoons of olive oil
4 salmon fillets

Lemon Caper Sauce

2 1/2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
14 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fish stock (or 2T each water and clam juice)
1/4 cup half & half or light cream
1 anchovy fillet or 1/2 tsp. anchovy paste
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 Tablespoons capers, drained

salt
cayenne pepper

1. Fish: Mince parsley, basil and shallots in food processor or by hand; place in plastic bag with oils and salmon. Seal and turn to coat salmon completely; refrigerate 2 hours or overnight; turn occasionally.

2. Sauce: Simmer lemon juice, wine and stock until reduced to 2 T, about 12 minutes, add half & half and boil until reduced to 1/4 cup (2-3 minutes)

3. Mix the anchovy paste and the mustard together thoroughly, then add to the already reduced lemon sauce.

4. Whisk butter in over low heat, 1 Tablespoon at a time, letting each piece melt before adding the next. Set aside, then add capers, salt and cayenne pepper to taste.

5. Keep Warm - but not too warm!

6. Finish: Place salmon on aluminum foil if grilling or on broiler pan, skin side down. Grill or broil until opaque, about 8 minutes (be careful not to overcook!) depending on thickness.

7. Plate and spoon the sauce over each fillet and garnish with extra capers or parsley if desired.

Make sure to serve your elegant dinner with a really good wine! And don't forget the pretty wine glasses too -

We've been saving a bottle of Alpha Omega Chardonnay (Napa Valley 2009) for a special occasion. Luckily for me, every Saturday with Tom seems like a special event, even if we are just hanging out at our dining room table....

*vanilla-sea salt tomatoes recipe courtesy of the Walrus and the Carpenter

Have a great week!

Beach Fossils on a Winter Coast

2012-01-05T08:07:00.000-08:00

Beverly Beach, Oregon Coast.

We left Portland early on New Years morning, driving through the gorgeous Willamette Valley - I was so excited to get to Lincoln City that I could hardly stand it! (picture of Mount Hood taken from a hill in Dundee while were searching for our favorite Pinot Noir winery)

Tom has the patience of a saint, I made him pull the car over several times when we started driving along the coast to Patti's. Thank goodness he understands my need to actually hear the roar of the ocean and breathe the salt air...

First of all, I have to say that I am EXTREMELY lucky that my friend Patti took a leap of faith and bought her beach view cottage just above Beverly Beach a few years ago, and she was nice enough to invite Tom and I down for New Years Day. She and her husband Michael live an incredible beach life, walking their pretty collie dogs on the beach, writing and playing music, searching for agates, hanging out at the Newport Aquarium, and scooping up fresh crab off the docks in Newport. (Can you tell that I am just a little jealous?)

Second of all, a winter beach is so much more interesting to me than in the summer. The sky is filled with fascinating colors and clouds -not seen in summer. The beach takes on a whole different flavor and shape, revealing treasures and tidepools.

I like that I have to wear my scarf, an extra sweater, and my furry jacket with big pockets... I was practically skipping when we finally got to Patti's!

Beverly Beach was littered with agates and jasper. Michael and Patti know exactly what to look for, I simply pick up pretty rocks and put them in my pocket. When my pockets are full, I put my rock finds in Tom's. (he is the BEST boyfriend)

I love the winter sky on the Oregon Coast...

The sand had shifted to reveal ancient fossil rocks that don't show in the summer.

I don't think I have ever seen fossils like this before....

Tom spotted this beautiful heart shaped shell fossil near the surf, it might be my favorite find of our day at Beverly Beach.

It's exactly how I feel about the Oregon Coast.

I am so excited that we will be going back this summer! Our reservations have already been made for a weekend trip in August with Tom's family near Cannon Beach. Can't wait.

The Argonaut - Decked out for the Holidays!

2011-12-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday night we decided to play tourist in our own town, San Francisco. (I LOVE living here!) Hoping to see lighted boats in the harbor, and holiday decorations, we left our car at home and rode the CalTrain into the city, and then navigated all around the Embarcadero and down to Fisherman's Wharf on the historic trolleys.

It was great fun. Christmas shopping (and people watching!) on Pier 39, stopping for holiday Irish coffee warm-ups, after having a good laugh at the sea lions fighting for dock space. Although they are slightly stinky, and a little loud, they are pretty cute!

Then onto dinner with a view of the bay and decorated boats, at the world famous Franciscan Crab Restaurant. It was hard to capture this picture right, but I think you can get the idea. They have the most fantastic etched mermaid mirror behind the cocktail bar!

Yes, those clams were my dinner! Totally delish. Oh.... and my wine was pretty good too.

After dinner, we decided to wander down Fisherman's Wharf window shopping and then the Argonaut Hotel. It's right on the corner of Jefferson at the end of Fisherman's Wharf, by the cable cars and Hyde Pier. The hotel enjoys a really unique partnership with the San Francisco National Maritime museum, setting aside over 9000 square feet "dedicated to the West Coast maritime history and the story of Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco". We've been to the museum several times - great history lessons about the Goldrush and the ship wrecks just at the mouth of the San Francisco Bay.

Kinda went crazy taking pictures in their lobby. Everything was so beautiful, and so Coastal!

Close up photos of the tree decorations - loads of real starfish, shells, silver accents, elegant ribbon and coral-like decorations. Absolutely stunning!

And now for a few shots of their fireplace and mantel...

Maybe next year I can talk Tom into staying here for the weekend?

Maybe if I ask really nice, and promise to be good all year long?

P.S. Don't forget to enter our $100.00 gift card giveaway at NauticalCottageBlog.com!

$100 Giveaway from NauticalCottageBlog.com!

2011-12-12T11:42:00.000-08:00

Have you entered yet?

We are giving away a $100.00 shopping spree at CaronsBeachHouse.com - hosted by NauticalCottageBlog.com during their 24 days of Coastal Christmas. Hurry, giveaway ends on Thursday, December 15!

There are several ways to enter - complete rules can be found at NauticalCottageBlog.com, but here's a preview: (Remember to go back and leave your comments on NauticalCottageBlog.com)

Six Easy Ways to Enter to Win $100 Gift Card

1. Visit Caron’s Beach House Store

Come back, leave comment letting us know what your favorite product is!

2. Visit Caron’s Everything Coastal Blog

Come back and leave a comment telling us you became/or are a follower of their blog

3. Become a follower… Caron’s Beach House on Facebook

Come back and leave a comment telling us you became/or are a follower {liker} on Facebook

4. Become a follower…Caron’s Beach House on Twitter

Come back and leave a comment telling us you became/or are a follower on Twitter

5. For additional entries advertise this giveaway on your blog, Twitter account and/or Facebook page

Come back and leave a comment telling us where you shared.

6. For one more entry…become Sally Lee by the Sea’s Google Friend or Subscribe to Email

Happy Holidays Blogging Friends - Good Luck!

Dungeness

2011-12-09T07:39:00.001-08:00

Please don't be mad, I just can't write about anything to do with the holidays today. I have taken about 100 pictures of my tiny coastal tree in my bedroom and nothing looks right. Pictures are blurry, lighting isn't right, it's just is not working. So I give up on a coastal holiday decorating post for today....

See, I am already wishing for next summer, and crabbing season with my family on the Kitsap Peninsula. Maybe it's because I miss my kids, maybe it's the dungeness crabs that I am craving?

Maybe it's because I am planning out our Seven Fishes dinner for Christmas Eve? Thinking about paella....

Last summer when we were up visiting our families in Seattle and Portland we had the best time taking out the crab pots in the Gypsy Miss dinghy on a stunningly gorgeous Puget Sound day.

Cute boyfriend, getting ready to dump the pots in the bay!

(I just take the pictures, and let everyone else touch the crabs!)

Here's Tom and my brother Jeff, heading out to check our haul of dungeness in the crab pots!

It's imperative to throw back the non-keepers; girl crabs and crabs that are less than 6.25" have to go back in the sound.

Looks like we caught some crabby keepers!

Kristy is so brave! Here's one big guy before he goes in the pot for cooking....

And now for the cooking! Everybody gets a turn.

Boiling actual clean saltwater really is the best. Throw the crabs in the pot of boiling water, and then cook for 15 minutes. Flush with cold water rinse immediately. We use a garden hose in the backyard - much easier and less messy than in your kitchen.

(This is my dad's secret crab success, other crabbers may have different ideas)

Alex

Allison

Dad

Tom

Done. Ready for cleaning and eating - get out the crab crackers!

I have lived at the beach for most of my life, growing up crabbing, clamming, beachcombing - had not realized that we had not taught Allison the finer arts of cleaning crab.

She was pretty darn funny, and took this job with all seriousness...

Kristy, giving Allison a few tips and lessons.

Now, for the hard (gross) part...

She eventually got the hang of it, between she and my mom, cleaned our haul of crabs for the day!

(Geez, now she thinks she's Crab Queen.)

All in all, a pretty fabulous day. Salmon on the barbeque, courtesy of my dad and Tom (with a martini or two!) and tons of dungeness crab. A veritable Pacific Northwest feast.

All topped off with s'mores and a lovely beachfire....

Well, that was fun, now I had better get back to shipping and ordering for our customers at Caron's.

Sure was great though to relive our summer day!

The Trees Must be Cold in Seattle...

2011-11-29T09:31:00.001-08:00

Just kidding! Well, kinda kidding...

I flew up to Seattle last week to spend Thanksgiving with my kids, it was cold, and wet, and damp, and windy.... (can you hear me whining?) In spite of the not-so-great weather, I had a wonderful time hanging out with them.

Allison, my daughter, is living quite the urban-girl life in downtown just upstairs from the Uwajimaya "Emporium" store, (Fabulous place to visit!) in the International District.

We ate at fun new restaurants, went to the movies, walked all over downtown Seattle to window shop, and down to the waterfront. After a day of exploring in the heart of downtown for black Friday and picking up some fun gifts for Tom at the Pike Place market, Allison and I took a short side trip through Occidental Park in Pioneer Square on our way home.

The trees and the light poles were wearing brightly knit striped sweaters!

(Allison is in the picture, tweeting out the sweater tree pics too!)

From the Seattle PI blog: "The Alliance for Pioneer Square and Center City Parks have teamed up with artist Suzanne Tidwell to re-decorate the park and mall for the holidays."

Personally, I think this was just simply fabulous. What a great way to end our day, stumbling upon these bright shots of color on a gray, damp afternoon.

Love this shot of the historic Smith Tower, next to the Columbia Tower, just at the beginnings of twilight.

Maybe Seattle isn't so gray after all.....

For some more information and details about this art project, check the Pioneer Square.org website!

Friday Beach House Photo - Christmas at the Coast #1

2011-11-25T09:26:00.001-08:00

I am spending the day in Seattle with my daughter, and surprise, surprise the sun is actually shining! There has been a steady downpour for most of the time that I have been here. We are skipping the whole Black Friday thing, but are headed into downtown Seattle via the lightrail to do a little window shopping at some of my favorite haunts... Anthropoligie, Sur La Table, Watson Kennedy, Pike Place Market, Urban Outfitters.... will post the pics on my Facebook page if we see something that Allison thinks is Facebook worthy!

On my list: new oyster glove for Tom, maybe even a special salmon tool that he has been requesting, snarky t-shirts for Alex, Fran's salted caramels for me, (hey, maybe they're on sale!) ... cute things for Allison apartment.

Enjoyed spending the last few days with my kids, hanging out, stuffing ourselves silly with Thanksgiving, and watching a lot of bad movies. Needless to say it's been good to be a little off-the-grid. Mainly because I didn't bring my own computer. And then, just before the big "black Friday" the Caron's website crashed big-time yesterday. All fixed now, but was a little panic yesterday.

Also because I am computer challenged this week, it's a little difficult to do my usual Beach House Friday posts. So, am simply posting a couple of my photos that I have been collecting at Pinterest.

Have a great weekend, hope you are enjoying friends and family and are not getting trampled at the mall!

Thanksgiving and Technical Difficulties

2011-11-24T07:50:00.001-08:00

Posting a very quick note before I start on the turkey and stuffing.... I have many many things to be thankful for, including technology. Which most of the time works great, unfortunately this morning, it's not working great. Our website, Caronsbeachhouse.com is completely inaccessible to the world wide web. Should be fixed soon! Wishing all of our blog readers and blogging friends a wonderful holiday weekend! Think I see a break in the clouds here in Seattle, so maybe Allison and I will just go for a walk...

Beach House Inspiration #8 - Indigo Part 2

2011-11-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

Last week, I found this image on Pinterest from Highstreetmarket.blogspot.com. Am in love with this vignette! Dark deep indigo wall, vintage nautical oil painting, bamboo folding bar table, and an assortment of beautiful barware. I simply love the how the gold painted frame just stands attention against the rich blue, don't you?

I might even be able to pull this look off in our tiny apartment. (poor Tom, he will come home one day, and I will have painted our dining room indigo blue!)

Get the look!

Spotted at Lamps Plus - from Arteriors Home. "Antiqued Brass Side Table" Of course I like this one, I like everything from Arteriors Home! t's a little pricey for my little apartment, but I LOVE the idea of the bamboo look and the glass shelves

This might work. From Bailey Street, "Ebony Bamboo Butler Table" Found online pricing at $110 and up. Cute, but still not quite what I need....

Ideally, I think I want a vintage bamboo butler tray table. You know something like this one from that dangerous website 1stdibs.com (I could spend all day drooling scrolling through their vintage furniture listings!)

Or maybe this vintage dark bamboo idea? (discovered at Houzz.com)

Then I would need an interesting nautical, coastal lamp....

maybe like this "Regatta" style?

or simple clear glass and a pretty white linen shade?

(love the bubble glass on this one from Regina Andrew!)

(Both of these lamps can be found on the Caron's Beach House website)

And now for a vintage nautical oil painting. There are two places that I would look first.

1. My friends at Cuttysark in Pioneer Square in Seattle.

2. The Alameda Flea Market is LOADED with vintage nautical paintings and prints.

Here's also just one image that I caught at the Alameda Flea Market last spring. Any vintage or thrift shop might turn up a real find too!

And now, to choose the cocktail glasses.

I have a thing about vintage glassware. It's kind of a problem.... bought these etched sailing ship glasses over a year ago at the Alameda Flea Market, and just can't bring myself to part with them. Hmmmm... maybe that means that they need to go on my new bar?

Or, new nautical style cocktail glasses are always an option!

Like these classy cocktail and wine glasses from Rolf Glass with etched compass rose designs. (love!)

Or this etched sailboat collection, also from Rolf Glass? (love too!)

(P.S. Yes, you can find the glasses on our site!)

Maybe one final touch to complete your nautical bar - a cocktail napkin box!

Have a great weekend everyone! I have promised Tom a day-trip up to Tomales Bay, or maybe even Bodega Bay for oysters. We'll probably go to Nick's, in Marshall and sit at their oyster bar, staring out over the view. Tom will get fresh oysters, I will get the crab bisque. Yum.

November Beach Walks - An Afternoon at Cowell Ranch

2011-11-12T12:50:00.001-08:00

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend - I caught these stunning views last week on a late afternoon beach walk at Half Moon Bay, thought you might enjoy!

New trail discovered between Cowell Ranch and Purisima Farms, gorgeous views from the cliff walk.

Beach House Inspiration Friday #7 - Indigo Blues

2011-11-11T07:35:00.001-08:00

To be honest, this is my dream one day.... to have with a nautical chart covering one accent wall in my house. I found this inspiration photo at House Beautiful almost a year ago, and am still in love with the idea. Not only does the chart wall scream "nautical" and "sea", but I am crazy about the dark indigo wall.

Indigo is rich, dark, cozy, enveloping, I need this color in my next house. Blues can be fresh,clean and almost a "cool" color, indigo says something else entirely.

..luxury
..tradition
..mysterious
..romance

Get the look with these accessories!

Etsy has lots of vinyl wall decals that would work until you could actually sketch out your chart - great ideas.
This compass rose is from Empire Studios on Etsy., I want this one, as I cannot draw and could probably figure out how to get this up straight!

Like the idea of a dark based lamp, linen shade with a botanical appliqued sea creature. Sort of traditional with a twist!

Or maybe the idea of a simple clean lines of this Regatta Lamp? Classic nautical style with dark blue piping and rope-like accents.....

And of course you must have the right luxury pillows....velvet, linen, down-filled

My room would need a throw to complete the look. I like to be a little cozy with my glass of wine and a favorite juicy romance novel!

Have a wonderful Veteran's weekend everyone! Please thank them for all of their service to our country and for not only their sacrifices, but for their families.

Think about supporting a Veteran's Family Organization this weekend, I know that Tom and I will be discussing it. A simple Google search will bring up a variety of options. It's such an important mission to our First Lady, Michelle Obama.

Here's one to start with - United We Serve

Coastal Fall Holiday Ideas - Use the Good Glasses

2011-11-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

Before you know it, Thanksgiving will be here. This really is the best holiday. (and is my favorite!) Get out the best serving pieces, polish the silverware, now where did I put my white linen tablecloth??

I usually begin my planning with paging through stacks of saved magazines, and pulling out my well-loved cookbooks to find a a few new recipes to use as "experiments" on my family and friends. Lately my I find myself using my Ipad in the kitchen too. No one seems to complain about what's on the menu, in fact we don't normally have too many left overs....

This year, I am starting a little early because I still really don't know where I will be on Thanksgiving... San Francisco or Seattle?

One thing that I do know is that we will be using the good glasses. And, we are going to be whipping up some new fantastic Thanksgiving cocktails! Get your blender ready.....

(Our new Sea Grass etched collection - love them!)

Pumpkin Pie Cocktails
I found this recipe on Rumshop Ryan. Leave it to Ryan to have good cocktail ideas! I added a few twists, and spent the afternoon whipping up this yummy concoction up in in our "Caron's" kitchen .

*1 oz. Rum
* 3/4 oz. canned pumpkin pie filling
*1/2 oz. Kahlu'a
*2 oz. cold milk
cup of ice
dash of cinnamon.
dash of nutmeg
crumbled graham crackers and sugar

Mix all ingredients in blender with ice and blend until frothy. Rim your glasses with the crushed graham crackers and sugar, then pour your drinks in. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and toast! Yum...

Oh, what is Tom going to think when he gets home?

Tom: "Caron, what did you do all day? The kitchen is a mess!"
Me: "Made pumpkin pie cocktails - you know how important it is to be an "authentic" blog writer. Honest, I even saved one for you!"

Do you think he will believe me?

Here's a few more that I found that might be fun to try out on the kids! (Don't worry, I am not corrupting them, they're 26 and 23)

Pear and Rosemary Cocktails
Discovered at Martha Stewart, so of course, there's a few tricky steps in this. But, they sounds delish! After I get done writing this blog post, I think I will start "infusing" my vodka with pears....

Ingredients:
6-10 Seckel Pears
4 cups vodka
1 cup sugar
12 sprigs fresh rosemary + extra for garnish
1 1/2 cups (12 oz.) pear nectar
4 cups sparkling water

Directions:
1. Put enough pears into a 48-ounce glass jar to fill. Add vodka. Seal jar, and let stand at room temperature 2 weeks (or up to 2 months)

2. Heat sugar and 1 cup water in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add rosemary; remove from heat. Let stand 30 minutes. Discard rosemary. Let cool completely. Syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

3. Fill cocktail glasses halfway up with ice. Add 4 tablespoons of the infused vodka, 2 tablespoons of rosemary syrup, and 3 tablespoons of pear nectar to each. Top with 1/2 cup sparkling water. Serve garnished with rosemary springs.

Cannot wait to try this one!

Holiday Mojito (my mouth is watering reading this recipe!)
Discovered at Coastal Living, could work for Christmas, but since it's loaded with marinated cranberries, I think it would be perfect for a Thanksgiving party.
-Recipe makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients:
Lime Wedges
Superfine Sugar
Marinated Cranberries *
3 lime wedges
3 orange wedges
3 fresh mint leaves
1 1/2 oz. rum
1 oz. orange bitters
1 oz. cranberry juice
1 oz. orange juice
1 oz. mint syrup**
cracked ice
Club Soda

*To make cranberries - soak for fresh cranberries in orange flavored rum for 2 days, up to 2 weeks
**Mint Syrup
-1 cup water
-1 cup sugar
-1 1/2 cups fresh mint
Combine water, sugar, and fresh mint in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, and let stand 30 minutes. Strain and chill until ready to use.

Directions:
Rub a lime wedge around rim of glass, and dip in superfine sugar. Place 3 rounded teaspoonfuls of marinated cranberries in the glass; muddle until berries are crushed. Add the lime wedges, orange wedges, and mint leaves; muddle. Stir in rum, orange bitters, cranberry juice, orange juice, and mint syrup. Add cracked ice, and top with club soda. Serve on a beautiful serving tray to your guests!

Don't you think these drinks would look so festive in our etched starfish glasses,

or maybe the new school of fish glasses?

What's on your agenda for Thanksgiving? Do you have a special recipe that you'd like to share? You are all invited over to my house (if I am here) we'll get out the blender and make a mess in my kitchen!

Beach Decor for Fall Tip #2 - Candlelight

2011-11-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

We are pretty lucky to live right on the edge of so many wine regions here in Northern California; Napa, Livermore, Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley, Russian River Valley, Mendocino (on my birthday list!), Monterey Bay County, Los Gatos (in the Santa Cruz foothills) and the Sonoma Coast.

Needless to say, we have spent some time doing a little wine country exploring. (wine barrels at Concannon during their Fall 2010 Release Party)

Two things that our friends want to do when they come to the Bay Area; go to the beach, and go wine tasting.

(picture taken at Gourmet Au Bay in Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast)

This is us with Suzanne and Cami on our whirlwind tour of Ladera Winery on Howell Mountain in Napa this past April. It's one of our absolute favorite places to take friends, you have to belong to the winery to even get a tour.

Fabulous day - we even got to see Robert Redford!!!

P.S. our family likes to go too! At Concannon with my kids, Allison and Alex, last November for Thanksgiving.

We don't mind. In fact, we have joined more than one wine club and have become pretty good tour guides! It's been great fun, and we've created some wonderful memories with friends when they've come to visit.

Now, what to do with all of the corks that I have saved? I can't bear to simply throw them out, most of them have designs from the wineries, and for me it's a way to keep those memories of fun times with friends and family, or romantic occasions with Tom....

Ah ha! Saw a cool idea on Pinterest - using the corks in a candle hurricane vase, and thought I could probably recreate it with a coastal twist, adding sea glass and a few shells.

Ingredients: (pretty darn simple!)

*1 large glass vase

*1 small glass vase (I used a skinny jar - recycled!)

assortment of wine corks

*sea glass - I kept mine to green, amber and white for fall

*small seashells

*candle

Simply place the smaller glass vase inside of the larger glass vase

and start layering with the corks and the sea glass.

Voila'!

So easy, even I could do this project!

We'll be linking over at Boogieboard Cottage today!

Beach House Photo Fridays #6 - Tangerine

2011-11-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

This week, I want to show you a creative approach to combining different color combination for beach house decorating. You have to be a little brave to pull it off, but I really like it - Tangerine Orange and Turquoise Aqua. (heck, I like aqua mixed with anything - I treat it almost as a neutral color at my house!)

The colors of the sea, and the varying shades of sunrise and sunset. Perfect coastal mix don't you think? Bold, bright, and not one bit shy!

Here's a few examples for you - maybe even something you could try at your house?

Check out this entry hallway from my friend Driftwood Interiors. Don't you just love her gorgeous coral aqua prints, matted with tangerine, and white frames? Especially lovely the way that they are so artfully arranged (geometric) against a chocolate brown wall.

I love the whole composition of this space, the driftwood branches in a simple large clear vase, the natural sea fan... I just wish I had the right space to recreate this look!
(photo courtesy of Driftwood Interiors and Richard Rymwid Photography)

Or how about this cottage look?
Bright orange round coffee table, I am willing to bet it's from Maine Cottage.
Tangerine pillows, a pretty linen lamp shade and hints of yellow with pops of aqua in the bar stools and in the fun mirror behind the kitchen sink!
(Image courtesy of Coastal Living Magazine)

P.S. What a great way to have the view of the outside reflected in the kitchen!

Can't help it, I just think that this is such a happy beach house space! Pretty painted orange wall, highlighted by bright white storage pieces, and a fun mix of pillows and aqua accents.
(image courtesy of House Beautiful)

Where to get started? Must decide which pillows, and which accents I need.....

Pillows!

Beach Wall Art

One of Driftwood Interiors Prints - so many to choose from... Check out her Etsy Shop for even more ideas!

Or maybe one of these gorgeous frames natural sea fans, in a distressed turquoise frame from Tresor Le Mer? (found at Caron's)

A Lamp or Two...

Coastal Decor Accents:

Think about fun ideas for kitchen accessories ....

Vintage Mason Jars full of shells...

Distressed Oars.... I especially like these with the little rope accent.

Bright Orange Glass...
Found at Arful Home

An accent stool for the front door....
Zgallerie.com

or a cute orange accent table!
Worldmarket.com

Possibilities are endless! What do you think?

Have a great weekend - we will be headed back down to Santa Cruz, a little whale watching and the Santa Cruz Sea Glass Festival will be on our agenda!

Beach House Photo Fridays #5 The Window Seat

2011-10-28T09:01:00.000-07:00

I had a difficult time trying to decide what beach house photo to feature this week - finally decided that I would pick something from Coastal Living's 2011 Ultimate Beach House in Norfolk, Virginia. Then to decide which room to show? Decisions... decisions....

Maybe it's just because I am seeking a little respite from crazy pre-holiday rush, I was drawn to this window seat view in the Master Bedroom.

Can't you imagine it? Snuggled in with a pile of fluffy pillows, a cozy warm throw, a pile of your favorite magazines, or better yet - that juicy romantic novel that you just can't wait to start (although you know that once you pick it up, you won't put it down!). Ah.... the perfect spot to spend a Sunday afternoon. Not sure how much reading I would get done though, might be a lot of daydreaming while watching seabirds play in the wind and listening to the constant strum of the incoming tide.

I really need a day off.

I would need a bigger side table for my hot chocolate and cookies (hey, it's Sunday - I am allowed!) Arteriors is one of my favorite home decor accent companies - love their driftwood tables! When decorating a coastal beach house it's important to mix in natural elements to bridge the gap from the outside to the inside. Beautiful driftwood accents can do that without detracting from what the real attraction is - the VIEW.

Piles of Pillows!

Can't help it, I am still wild about our eco-art pillows - and they have a NEW lower price. (The crab is a brand new design!)

maybe our new soft, cuddly knit pillows? Love these with the seabirds on them.....

And now for a cozy throw.... the Camelot collection from Bedford Cottage is still a go-to favorite of mine! We could not keep these in stock in our store in Poulsbo...

... or maybe one of our new luxury "snuggle-factor" throws?

Now for a classic brass telescope - wow! There are so many to choose from -

From Stanley London

From Brass Binnacle

My favorite place to look for interesting nautical telescopes and binoculars is Cuttysark, located in the heart of Pioneer Square, downtown Seattle. You never know what you might find there! (They even have a website - http://www.cuttyantiques.com)

My book choices? Well, I am still savoring my French Seaside Style, and my new Southern Living Style books.. (kind of romantic?)

Have a great Halloween Weekend everyone! We have friends coming down from Portland, wine tasting and being San Francisco tourists is on our agenda.

Make sure to enjoy, and take some time out for some essential day dreaming time. I promise I will too.

Beach House Photo Friday #4 - Nantucket Dreams

2011-10-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, while having morning coffee with my friend Wendy at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo I was introduced to a seriously dangerous blog, "Little Emma English Home". Really, her posts are an "Oh My" moment. I only say dangerous, because I could get lost all day in her posts and photos! In fact, I was almost an hour late to get to my friend Maggie's house on Miller Bay. Thank goodness Maggie is also a beach girl, and totally understood....

Nantucket, definitely on my bucket list. I am West Coast girl through and through, but I just can't help myself, I am drawn to East Coast "seafaring" casual interiors. I love the blues and whites, the sailing ships, the whaling history, and the mix of nautical done right!

What do you think? Here's a few things that you can add to your decor to get the look!

A Driftwood Bouquet

(Photo courtesy Completely-Coastal)

Nautical Indigo Pillows from Kevin O'Brian (found at Caron's)

Thomas Paul Melamine Nautical Plates (they really don't look like Melamine!)

(discovered at Remodelista.com)

A Rustic Iron Lantern or two...

(New -from Caron's)

Palaceck Wicker... (I LOVE their styles - hard to choose just one!)

(photo and product found at CarolinaRustica.com)

And of course, a model sailing ship is a must!

Have a fabulous Friday - and don't forget to stop by Little Emma English Home, you will fall in love too!

Confessions of a Professional Beachcomber

2011-10-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about our new holiday collection from Chris, I think you will be too! I asked her if she'd like to write a guest blog post explaining her inspiration for her designs, and she was more than gracious to stay up late one night, typing, when I know she'd rather be painting! This is her story, in her words sent over to me. As a fellow Pacific Northwest girl, I can totally understand why she's inspired by the scenery, and lifestyle in the Puget Sound.

These stockings are only a small selection of her fabulous holiday collection!

Guest blogger: Crabby Chris

It’s true, what they say about self-employment: When you work for yourself, you only have to labor half a day; then you can do whatever you want in the remaining twelve hours. Aside from the requisite six hours of sleep, I must have my recommended daily allowance of beachwalking – for research, of course, for my handpainted beach-inspired pillows.

The R&D process takes me to water’s edge; here I draw inspiration from the fascinating life forms, colors, sights, scents and sounds of the place where the ocean meets the land. Living on an island in Puget Sound, I am sensitized to the rhythms of nature, the water’s ebb and flow, the angle of the sun, the calls of the seabirds. I love to paint images of the creatures with which I share this beautiful locale, and also those that populate the exotic places I have yet to experience.

When our amazing shrinking family moved to our beach house a few years ago, I began doing lots of “beachy” activities – assembling Adirondack chairs, sewing crustacean quilts, and painting pillows for our sundrenched deck. Soon our neighbors noticed our bright-colored crab pillows and wanted some of their own. One day I asked a local shop owner if my painted pillows might help market her colorful outdoor furniture. They did, and suddenly I was painting and sewing pillows six days a week. You can usually tell what I’ve been working on from the color of paint under my fingernails.

I have a few things to confess... with the sincere hope that the reader will not judge me too harshly

I paint in my jammies
When on the beach I sometimes lose track of time.
I prefer Dungeness crab over lobster
I've never seen a piece of driftwood I didn't like.
On really busy days, I forget to apply makeup - sorry.
I am compelled to photograph as many sunsets as possible
The squawk of a great blue heron sounds like music to me
I sometimes awaken at 3:30 am with a fabulous design idea
I have collected more seashells than I can count

They say confession is good for the soul. I must admit I feel a little better coming clean, but I sincerely hope that others not become unduly burdened by these disturbing revelations. The next time you see a sunburned blonde with paint under her nails, please be kind. She doesn’t get much sleep.

(I think she looks pretty great for no sleep, and no makeup!)

I put together these collages of coastal holiday decorating ideas - all featuring Chris' awesome tree skirts. I have never seen any beach house decor done like her designs, all finely finished - they will last a lifetime, and will become treasured family favorites.

Traditional red and green colors, but with a decidedly "beachy" flair! The tumbled sea glass ornaments are also products from another Pacific Northwest artist.....

I call this collection Nantucket - with the nautical touches of miniature striped buoys and bright green lobsters, and candy cane striped lighthouse stockings.

Blues, Aquas, seashells and a more than a few mermaids! (P.S. The Mermaid stockings can be customized with different hair color shades)

Highlighted with corals, red and white decorations - this would be an easy look to complete for your shore holidays!

All of these coastal holiday decorating ideas can be found online in our Beach Coastal Holiday Category!