Wednesday, May 22, 2013

My Never Ending Crush on Coastal ...

ALL of my life, I've loved the ocean ... not going IN it, necessarily (although, I'd spend hours in it when I was little), but, just how it makes me feel ... the smell of the ocean air ... the roar of the waves ... and the noise of the seagulls hunting for a snack.  It always brings back great memories of my sisters and me when we would vacation at the beach when we were young ... throwing sand at each other ... pushing each other on rafts directly into the crest of the waves so that we'd go crashing down onto the shoreline ... waiting to hear the sound of the ice cream truck ... and, enjoying fresh corn on the cob while sitting on the deck, listening to Carly Simon and Carole King.

That's why I'm so thankful I get to LIVE by the beach ... even though we don't stick our toes in the sand nearly enough, just "knowing" it's a few miles down the road makes me happy!

I suppose that's why I love adding coastal accents to our home, with our mantel being no exception.  When I spotted this pretty piece at Home Goods, I  just knew it'd be the perfect focal point for our coastal mantel:


This cute shore bird just "had" to fly the coop at Big Lots and come home with me.  He loves being perched by our mercury-based hurricane filled with sand and simple pillar candle:



Glass floats wrapped in twine (from Pottery Barn) joined the gang, too:


As did this piece of coral I had on hand:



Little starfish (also from Pottery Barn) are so easy to scatter around ... and, little mercury votive holders tie in with our hurricanes:




As I wasn't quite ready to let go of the white dogwood branches I had in place for our Spring mantel, I simply added Manzanita branches to them to give them a little "coastal" feel, too:



It all came together to look like this ...





Just a simple coastal mantel that, when I look at it, brings back great beach memories of my childhood and those that my family and I have yet to make:




So ... do memories from your childhood have an effect on your decorating styles?  Apparently, they do with mine!

I'm off to party here:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
No Minimalist Here/Open House Party

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by,


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36 comments:

  1. wow...your mantel just took my breath away when i saw it all come together...and i loooove that painting! i don't think i've ever seen that turquoise lamp by your chair but it's gorgeous.

    i do have wonderful memories of the beach but at 3 hours away i don't get there as often as i'd like. thankfully i can get to the lake in just under an hour!

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  2. So pretty. That painting is perfect. What a find. BTW, they are called floats, not weights. Your mantel and room look coastal chic.

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  3. Becca, your mantle is amazing. LOVE the panting is just gorgeous. If I lived near the beach I would not have passed it up either!!!I have trouble putting together my mantle... I need lessons... please!!!

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  4. No one does mantels quite like you do my friend! It is simply gorgeous! :-)
    Vanessa

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  5. I love it...you never disappoint! I was so excited to see your mantel...I love the painting and how simple you kept everything. And I love that it has meaning & isn't just material things you put together!

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  6. Becca, I need you to come to Georgia and do my mantels! You always have the best ideas! I have mantel envy! I love the birds and the pictures is perfect! Love your stunning mantel!

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  7. That painting is beautiful! I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for that at my HomeGoods. Your mantel looks perfect for Summertime!

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  8. If I lived near the beach I would SO decorate with coastal accents!!! I DO use alot of shells in the summer, they are all ready to come out soon:):) Your mantle looks fabulous. The painting is perfect, love it all. XO, Pinky

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  9. I always look to you for such great coastal inspiration...the painting is just perfect along with the other great finds...as always, your mantel is so beautifully decorated..I have changed out my coffee table to a coastal feel...so you have certainly given me inspiration to take that look to my mantel...Just gorgeous Becca!

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  10. I can hear the sea gulls Becca...
    I too spent every summer, and spring by the sea. My entire childhood is wrapped in sea side memories. The crash of the waves... the pounding surf, a lullaby.
    Now being flooded with sweet memories.
    Hugs, Gee

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  11. Fantastic Bec,
    love the print of the beach /ocean , love how you tie everything in together , mercury votives and hurricanes look great and the added green and white with the branches = perfection.
    love the touches you put together very inspiring xo

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  12. Oh yeah, very cool! You are definitely gifted in the mantel shelf design area! You could set up a business styling mantels!!! :-)

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  13. It's beautiful Becca! You are very gifted. I'm always amazed at your mantel design abilities ;-)

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  14. Very pretty Becca! I always love your mantels! You definitely have a gift!!~~Angela

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  15. Becca,
    Now you know that I am LOVIN' your COASTAL mantel. That painting is beautiful!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  16. Love the mantel and all the beautiful touches. Everything you purchased from PB is lovely, love that store. The painting from HG is fantastic and so coastal. I am a huge HG lover too.

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  17. Oh Becca, this is so pretty, the painting is perfect and I love the little sea gulls too. Adding the manzanita is such a great touch to the dogwood. I really think this is beautiful. Be sure to link it to Inspire Me this week. Gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  18. Such a pretty mantel! I also have a never-ending crush on coastal. I don't like real close to the beach :( But I grew up going to the beach every summer in New Jersey and have a true love for the salty air and sound of waves. love the look of your room :)

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  19. Oh my I LOVE your mantle. It is gorgeous and so calming too. I, too, love coastal decor and yours is my current fav!

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  20. Nobody does a mantle like you! Nobody! :) Gorgeous, Becca! Just simply gorgeous!

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  21. LOVE - LOVE - LOVE that lamp!! Did you make that yourself?

    Your mantel is beautiful, as well....

    Thanks for sharing!

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  22. You are killing me here! I miss my beach so much! A friend and I were talking and I just said, "My heart sings when I am by the ocean." Your first paragraph just spoke to me! Your mantle is a dream. I love it!

    I searched my Homegoods for the picture. No luck, but I will keep searching and loving your mantle!!

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  23. Beautiful as always!! I've lived near the ocean all my life until I took a job inland in my twenties. When I moved back a couple of years later, there were seagulls circling overhead as wevwere returning our rental u-haul and it was then that I realized how little I had noticed them before! But here they were, a symbol of home!! I'll never leave the beach again ! Have a great weekend:)

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  24. Becca, I love your new painting and the mantle is gorgeous. I grew up in Florida and we spent every spare moment at the beach. Coastal style has always been a favorite of mine.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  25. LOVE your blog! When ever I need some inspiration for a new vignette, your blog is the first place I look! I am in love with your coastal theme. I want to phase out my spring birds and decor and add some fun coastal pieces!! Thanks for the inspiration! :)

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  26. Oh just gorgeous Becca. That painting could not be more perfect.

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  27. I love your coastal mantle! It looks so beautiful. I'm inspired to actually do something summery with mine after seeing how lovely your space looks. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. I just got a lamp at a garage sale and was wondering what color to paint it. Wonder no more after seeing yours. Beautiful!

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  29. I have been visiting your blog for a while. I just love all your ideas. When I saw this coastal painting I new I had to paint my spin of it. I figured that since it came from Home Goods that it would be ok. Come see if you like. Thanks again for inspiring.

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  30. Becca,

    Love the mantel.... one of my favorites!

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  31. Hi Becca!

    My sister has searched all the Home Goods in the Jupiter-West Palm Beach, Florida area for the painting on your mantel, to no avail. Can you tell me who the artist is, by any chance?

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  32. Hi, where did you buy the blue floor lamp? I love it!

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I appreciate your comments!