shell and chinoiserie: Seaside style with an Eastern accent

monday makeover: my childhood bedroom!

9.30.2013

Well, I kind I shot myself in the foot with my proclamation to recreate the covers of Coastal Living, seeing as the cover has not featured an interior since the spring, so instead I am going to start to share a real life makeover series with you today!

Try not to be jealous, but my husband and I are currently camping out in my childhood bedroom. Up until about a month ago, I regret I had not spent more than a week at a time in that room since the summer after my senior year in high school. And because I went to a boarding school, my bedroom began to serve as somewhat of a storage space throughout my high school and college years. Other than an occasional adolescent attempt to redecorate, my bedroom has become somewhat of an over-stuffed time capsule.

As you can imagine, there was lots to be done before my husband and I could unpack our suitcases and get temporarily settled here in my childhood home. Good thing I had lots of practice purging my belongings over the summer! My first few weeks in South Carolina were spent donating old prom dresses and text books and throwing out way too many awkward photos...talk about a long walk down memory lane! But alas, my childhood bedroom can finally breath again, and so can we. Now it is time for the rest of the revival!

Right now this is home, but when we find a home of our own, this will become a beach retreat, so my goal is to bring the room from blah childhood bedroom to sophisticated sanctuary. The space should be an extension of its lush, natural surroundings and reflect the island community's philosophy of living in harmony with the habitat. I also want to continue to display some mementos and memories from my younger years, but in a more mature way...

Here is some of my inspiration:

by Meg Lonergran from LeSueur Interiors

see more photo of this room here!

Alan Henderson's (of Night Owl Paper Goods) Birmingham, Alabama home

Peter Dunham
via House Beautiful

Mark D. Sikes and Michael Griffin

via House Beautiful

Alfresco Emporium

Peter Dunham

Lauren Liess

via House Beautiful

Amber Interior Design

Elements of Style blog

What do you think?

Stay tuned for project and progress posts--if I get up the guts, I may even post some before pics ;) But in the meantime...

Enjoy!

Emilie

thursday at page's thieves market

9.26.2013

Just a quick post for this Thursday! Today I returned to one of my local hunting haunts, Page's Thieves Market in Mt. Pleasant. I have found many a fabulous and affordable piece of furniture at Page's over the years, including a huge shabby chic dresser and a cedar trunk which I used as a coffee table through college. Here's what I found upon my long awaited return today:

Pretty porch at Page's Thieves Market:

One day I want to try to turn a ship's wheel--such as the following one--into a wine rack:

Some oversized planters and jars:

Interesting piece with some Chinoiserie detail. If styled right, this find would be a fun addition to an office or bathroom:

Set of...creamers? $5 each!:

Some small silver shells to dress up a table setting?

Charming jars:

A bamboo placemat could be repurposed in sooo many ways!

Enjoy!

Emilie

coastal living 2013 showhouse

9.23.2013

While living in Boston, one of the things I missed most about life in the Lowcountry was the summer storms. You know the ones--they roll in in the late afternoon with their ominous wall of dark clouds and bang around for an hour or so before they head out over the ocean. Much to my delight, we had one of those storms the other day, so I took a break from ~~the beach~~ job hunting and headed down the road (and over the bridge) to Daniel Island, a newly--and beautifully--developed community right outside of downtown Charleston. The idyllic island community was the perfect place to put the Coastal Living 2013 Showhouse, which is where I was headed.

Now, I know I promised to post budget-friendlier makeovers of the Coastal Living covers, but the last two covers have made it hard for me to keep that promise! The July/August issue featured a beach scene, while the current cover features India Hicks in front of her family home. Both are beautiful, but a bit hard to recreate ;) So, I hope you will indulge me while I feature one of the magazine's other creations.

The publication's annual home design project brings the magazine to life, especially in my case, as I got to see it with my own eyes! So I have decided to share it with you. The project took a team of local and national experts to pull-off, with Interior Designer Ginger Brewton using her talent to perfect the finishing touches. Brewton managed to keep it coastal while using bold color combinations and textures to make this beach house anything but boring!

The architectural plan for the Showhouse is one of many beautiful ones from Our Town Plans and is representative not only of the Daniel Island island community, but also of the greater Lowcountry community. To learn more about traditional Lowcountry architecture, visit my post from June featuring the style.

I took a ton of photos on my tour, but will try to stick to featuring just a few of my favorite Showhouse finds for this post:

Curb appeal by Our Town Plans

and

Azek Building Products

Surrounded on three sides by sweeping water views, this light-filled dining room is right off of the kitchen...and the Cooper River! I could spend all day sitting at that table:

Coverall Chairs by Lee Industries upholstered in Sunbrella Flagship Persimmon

"Sanibel Dining Table" by The Old Wood Co.

design collaboration with Hoss Haley

The blue guest bedroom was my favorite of the three I saw, in particular the chairs with their baby blue stripes flanked by bold studs (but then again, everything is better when flanked by bold studs, right?):

Chairs by Lee Industries

upholstered in Cotillion Seabreeze by Lee Industries

wall paint: Rain Washed by Sherwin-Williams

sisal rug by Designer Carpets

The fabric on the chairs in the master bedroom reminded me so much of China Seas Java Grande, but alas, it turned out to be a different--perhaps more affordable?--fabric:

Chairs by Lee Industries upholstered in Mia Fuschia

painting by local artist, Cindy DeAntonio

wall paint: Incredible White by Sherwin-Williams

The beadboard walls and framed nautical charts gave the living room a laid-back, beachy feel, while the stylish upholstery keep the room sophisticated. I often decorate my walls with nautical charts because they are a bit more unexpected then paintings and a wonderful way to show some local love.

Swivel Glider Chairs by Lee Industries

upholstered in Cortez Gold

sisal rug by Designer Carpets

As far as I am concerned, no home is complete without a bar! But it was really the beautiful, beachy built-in that I was after in this photo...

wall paint: Hearts of Palm by Sherwin-Williams
cabinets: "Nantucket" style by Smithport Cabinetry
cabinet paint: Sea Salt by Sherwin-Williams
tile Handmade Ceramic Tile in Bronze by Hollingsworth Showroom
countertops: Verde Wild Sea Granite by MultiStone Enterprises
Coverall Barstools by Lee Industries upholstered in Mimi Navy

With its festive patterns and colors, the lounge was ready for a party. Those pink and purple pillows really pop against the greens and grays throughout the rest of the room:

mirror Oliver by Made Goods

Adjustable Floor Lamps by Circa Lighting

Apartment Sofa by Lee Industries upholstered in Milly Cactus

coffe tables custom Birdwell Bunching tables by Lucy Smith Designs

The house had lots of fun pairs of accent chairs:

Chairs by Lee Industries
sisal rug by Designer Carpets
side table by Lucy Smith Designs

Chairs by Lee Industries

wall paint: Smokey Blue by Sherwin-Williams

I'm a little obsessed with apron front sinks, so I was beyond pleased to find one in the Showhouse kitchen:

Kohler Apron Front Sink
countertops: Statuerietto Marble by MultiStone Enterprises
Cabinets: Smithport "Kensington" Door Style, Maple Beaded Inset by Authentic Kitchen Concepts
cabinet paint: Lattice by Sherwin-Williams
faucet Arbor by Moen

A soft, seaside bathroom:

mirror Jules by Made Goods
Refined Rib Sconces by Circa Lighting
countertop: Statuerietto Marble by MultiStone Enterprises
cabinets: Smithport "Kensington" Door Style, Frameless Full Overlay by Authentic Kitchen Concepts
cabinet paint: Quietude by Sherwin-Williams

I wasn't the only one excited about the extra storage space! My husband was quite impressed, although if this were our house, it wouldn't be his stuff stored in those stealthy shelves:

And, as there should be in any Lowcountry home, there was almost as much outdoor living at the Showhouse as there was indoor living!

The front porch:

Low Country Settee Loveseat by Lloyd Flanders

The Fairhope Furniture Collection by Lloyd Flanders on the porches is beyond inviting and creates the perfect place to sit with some sweet tea and watch those summer storms roll in!

pillow fabric El Greco Calypso by Sunbrella

Upstairs porch:

Diamond Sprout/White Indoor/Outdoor rugs by Dash & Albert Rug Company
roman shades: Manhattan Fog fabric by Sunbrella
lanterns: Nautical 18" on Original Naval Brass Bracket in Electric

by Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights

Just a little terrace between the main house and the Carriage House. NBD:

furniture: Low Country Collection by Lloyd Flanders

uholstered in Spectrum Daffodil by Sunbrella

firepit by Low Country Kettles

This outdoor shower is quite the stylish way to wash away the salt and sand:

Cowart Services

tile by Melcer Tile

Charleston has its own scents! Battery Park is just one of six scents in Colonial Candle's Charleston Collection!

Colonial Candle Battery Park

Such a simple and beautiful way to style your soap! Definitely doing this in our future home:

wall paint: Mountain Stream by Sherwin-Williams

countertop: Kashmire White Brushed Granite by MultiStone Enterprises

Some beach reading?:

This little lantern hanging in the laundry room gave it a boost of sophistication to match the rest of the house:

Cranbrook Entry Lantern by Circa Lighting

If you plan to visit Charleston between now and October 20th, be sure to tour the Showhouse yourself! Tickets are $15 and proceeds go to the Greater Carolinas Chapter of the National Multiple Scelorosis Society.

Enjoy!

Emilie

wednesday wishlist: built in bookcases

9.11.2013

There is nothing I love more than a wall of books. Books always add character and warmth to a room and can offer a reflection of your family. Not too mention books are easy to acquire and much so fun to style! Check out House Beautiful's tips on how to dress up your books and look on for more beautiful bookcase inspiration: