My Beach Life….

Do you see what I see? And no…it's not a star! It's the date on this Coastal Living magazine! 2002!  That's how long I keep my favorite magazines and refuse to throw them out! Just two weeks ago we went to our beach house to replace a few things…while cleaning out I found this copy of the Coastal Living that was the inspiration to how I decorated our home at the beach.

I've always told my friends that once I decorate I hardly ever change anything! I still loved looking at this issue and I still loved how it inspired me! 

It may be over a decade old….but good design never changes!

I will never forget falling in love with antique sailboats.

 I still treasure the ones that I've collected since reading this issue!

In fact, all of my collections of  seashells, boats and even starfish are still near and dear to my heart thanks to this issue of Coastal Living.

Starfish on the window sills! 

My heart skipped a beat at this picture….

Of course I added them to my own decor!

(and I'm adding a huge apology here for the really bad quality of my pictures in this post!)

And so began my love for anything "beachy". 

Seaweed fabrics, starfish to decorate with…you name it!

My insane love for 'Seaweed Transferware' has literally made me famous! 

Or infamous, I should say! 

And it's not something that I feel like I'm being prideful about…rather, it's quite the opposite! 

 It is simply breathtaking to me!
 I think the feelings of nostalgia it evokes in me is why I love it so.  It brings back another era…and for some reason I think it is probably more appreciated by those that grew up on the East Coast.
 Not sure why I think that...

For a girl that grew up going to the beach in the panhandle of Florida I am mesmerized by the East Coast. I love the whole nature of their beach culture and their love of anything weathered! 

The pieces I've collected are so precious to me! 

And it was a lot of fun to finally have the fabrics I had picked out turned into pillows, window treatments and even chair cushions. 

All in all it was a fun combination of a dream come true as well as being able to work in my antique pieces that I hold so dear to my heart. 
We still enjoy it to this day….another decade later! 

Even my vintage collection of "Bathing Beauties" from the early 1900's are there!

As special as it was to bring all of my beloved beach collections to that house it was also fun to begin to collect some new things!~ Like art that we love from a local artist Donna Burgess. Her work is wonderful! We have several originals as well as some beautiful prints. I definitely need to incorporate some of my artists work from my shop in the near future!

No matter what you collect it should be a reflection of what you love…and hopefully that will only enhance the home you are filling.

I love that we were able to incorporate the old with new. I love that we've always collected items from places we have visited…like these shell prints from St. John. Memories were made there and will someday be someone else's treasured antiques perhaps!

For now, I'm just glad that I still love the 2002 Coastal Living article that fueled the fire so to speak! And I'm glad that my love for antiques can still be appreciated no matter what home we find ourselves in! This antique painting above is the perfect example of combing the old with the new…to me at least!

 It hangs in my daughter's bedroom at the beach and will always remind me of the time I fell in love with sailboats and all things "beachy"

Have a great rest of your week!

When Your Mother Is Jan Showers!

For many years I have admired the gorgeous work of designer Jan Showers. Now that I am sitting here in the midst of a 'Winter Storm Warning' that so far has just produced a lot of cold rain where I live I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the latest issue of Elle Decor magazine.  

Take a look at the Houston home of her daughter, Susanna Showers Moldawer. 

The very first page shows us a glimpse of the beautiful library in the distance as well as the living room that hosts this pair of sunburst mirrors from the Jan Shower's Collection. My eyes immediately were drawn to the pair of Dutch Marquetry chairs and rightfully so! They were passed down from Susanna's mother in law. I think they are stunning!

It's hard to imagine that when Susanna first walked into the home when it for sale she didn't like it at all! It just goes go to show you what two wonderful design minds can do! Especially when one of them is Jan Showers! For years I have admired her work and just recently began wanting to carry a few of her pieces in my shop. I will most definitely have to look into it! I love that she chose the sunny or "fun" yellow as she puts it because it reminded her of her daughter's personality!

Being in the antiques business I am always glad to hear that someone held on to a piece passed down to them from someone special and worked into a more contemporary setting. 

And I have learned to appreciate contemporary pieces of art thanks to our wonderful artists in my shop!  It mixes in so well here!

Here is Susanna with her daughter Eliza.

Isn't this table beautiful? It is also from the Jan Showers Collection. As pretty as it is the article states that it is truly "used" everyday by her family...even for doing homework much to her mother's dismay! But...if you've got a growing family a house truly needs to be livable and not untouchable in my opinion.

I love that color is used in here as well as throughout the house. It looks so inviting! The lamps and glass ware are such a wonderful touch on the table (another piece from the Jan Showers Collection).

I'm not sure why we've never carried a bar cart in my shop but this one sure makes me want to!

We are currently trying to decide what to do to re-vamp our own pool area. My husband loves this concept with the grass going up to the pool surround. I haven't decided yet but this is certainly gorgeous!

And my favorite room might just be this bedroom! Just look at that Hermes blanket! The entire house is inviting, welcoming, charming and decorated to a 'T'. I loved it and I'm glad for this gloomy day to sit at home and finally catch up on some of what's going on in the design world right now!
I must say that there might just be ulterior motives in my search of Houston designs…will keep you posted on that! 
 Take care and I hope you are enjoying some better weather wherever you are! 

Why Should You Go To Market?

I know what you're thinking!

A vintage car full of glorious flowers?

Really?

That is not the reason to go to market!

Oh…but it is! To get inspired!

Especially when you and your husband have "debated" about it for weeks and finally he has the "vision" that you've always had. That the two of you really should go! Just go!

Even if it's just for the sake of "seeing what's out there!"

(of course I had been telling him that for weeks!)

There is so much to see!

some not so good….

 Some of it is a "step out" in my realm but I think this coral is truly beautiful! 
Can't you just see it in a gorgeous beach home? 
I certainly can! 

 And trust me…it is all the rage!

And some of it is definitely hard to part with! Like this gorgeous 19th Century French mirror for example! There are numerous places I have carried it around to in my own home already.

 But…it will be at the shop waiting on just the right buyer!

As will these antique Italian Olive Jars! I just love them!

Who could resist these antique carved wooden panels? 

I would give anything to have a shop full of them right now!

Like I said earlier…inspiration surrounded us! Even as we glanced out the window coming down the escalator! Who would've "thunk"! A ferris wheel in downtown Atlanta?

And Kalalou's showroom is always fun to see! 

It's a bit outlandish…but I guess that's why they are always packed to the brim with buyers! 

They know how to inspire!

Color attracts people just as all an all neutral pallete does. 
I've never understood how two such polar opposites could make me love them? But they do!
 I tend to gravitate toward the neutrals but the color in design sure does make me "feel" happy!

We basically just took our time and strolled ( actually, we ran! ) through market this time. It was just the right amount of time…gave me a chance to see it again and feel connected to the places and "things" that make my world go round so to speak in the design and retail field. 
It also gave us a brief chance to get away and have fun…and discuss life!

Market never ceases to amaze me with it's enormity! 

I can't wait to try out the Dallas market next year...

As you know, everything is bigger in Texas! 

I intend to explore it and enjoy it!

I was so glad that the High Design floor didn't disappoint!

 As usual, it is always the highlight of my trip!

They always have it decorated so well…and the flowers are always spectacular! 

It is such a fun place to meet new vendors as well as discover new sources.

I'm so excited about the new items they have replicated from the antiques. And I can assure you my sweet friend Tina from The Enchanted Home would've just loved this booth! 
Just look at that blue and white that she loves so much!

I can't wait to get our order in!

No detail was left unturned...

All of the High Design booths were just lovely!

I could've ordered one or two of everything if Jim would've let me!

All in all, it was a wonderful trip to Market! Short…very short…but very sweet, indeed! A quick stay at the Ritz, dinner out and time spent together is always worth the trip! Oh…and we watched a really good movie! I only had to nudge Jim to stay awake about 10 times! ( he was tired! ) 

No matter…I enjoyed it…and cried! That's always a good sign, isn't it? Anyway, thanks for looking at our speed trip through Market 2015! I barely remember it but made lots of notes!

Until next time…let us know what you are looking for these days in terms of design? Do you like color or neutral? Do you like antiques or modern? Or, are you like me and you like the simple mix of both. It's really not a complicated decision. My advice has always been to buy what you love and design according to your own lifestyle…after all…it's you that will be living in it!