Coastal Living is one of my favorite magazines; the day it arrives on my doorstep is always a good one. With their endless interior inspiration and examples of how to bring the beach into your home, I pore over each issue and the latest is no exception. So: I have decided to feature their covers as part of my "Monday Makeover" series and today I begin with the June, 2013 issue: 

The issue's cover features a bold and beautiful interior by designer Laura Motley of Rooms & Gardens in Santa Barbara. Motley used China Seas fabric on the chairs from Rooms & Gardens. The beautiful blue patterns help the Summerland, California cottage blend with its beachy backdrop. Motley completed the coastal cottage look with the addition of textures such as bamboo, sea grass, and wicker.

The cover:  

Photo by Lisa Romerein

The following affordable pieces will help you to recreate this room on a budget:

A pair of statement chairs:

$159.99 from Target

Other beautiful, bamboo-like options that would work with a bit of reupholstering:

$1695 from Belle Escape

$349.99 from Bed, Bath, and Beyond

$449 from Pottery Barn

A comfy couch:

$499 from Ikea

A heavy coffee table to ground the space. I chose this beautiful rustic chest because it adds a casual and coastal angle to the sophisticated space, and also provides storage!:

$299 from American Furniture Warehouse

Stools, ottomans, poufs or a bench:

$193.91 from Lamps Plus

Other options:

$259.99 from Target

$440 from Inside Avenue

$359 from Horchow

One Kings Lane

$349 from Land of Nod

A sea grass rug:

$169 from Pottery Barn

$299.95 from Pier1

A garden stool:

$110.99 from Overstock

$129 from Oriental Furniture

Wicker trunks:

$76.99 from Target

$99.95 for larger size, $79.95 for smaller size 

from Crate and Barrel

Some pretty pillows to tie the room together:

$60 from Dwell Studio

Pop O' Color on Etsy

$50 from Pop O' Color on Etsy

Bamboo blinds:

$26 from Wayfair

Orchids, of course!:

$39.95 from Crate and Barrel

A lantern:

$9.97 from Walmart

$39 from Pottery Barn

Some shells!:

$24.95 from Z Gallerie

Here's how it comes together:

Enjoy!

Emilie

School's out for the summer! My last day of work was Thursday and I am ready to celebrate the official start to my summer! I am convinced these bamboo beauties are the prettiest way to get the party started: 

Bar Cart in Jennifer Bole's home

Atlanta Homes

Mrs. Lilien Cart by

Society Social

Hayworth Cart by

Society Social

Sedgewick Cart by

Society Social

Sedgewick Cart by 

Society Social

via Jennifer Latimer at Gilded Mint blog

Society Social's Sedgewick 

by Ashlina Kaposta

South Seas Bar Cart 

by Serena and Lily

Raiana Shwenker Atelier on Etsy

Catherine Sheppard at The Life Styled Blog

Sedgewick Cart by 

Society Social

via Jennifer Latimer at Gilded Mint blog

via Ashley Pennell on Pinterest

And last but not least, a beautiful lucite bar cart:

Photo by Peter Throsby

via Pinterest

And, of course, no bar cart is complete without the fixings for the following classic cocktails:

Gin Fizz

Tom Collins

Sidecar

Old Fashioned

Manhattan

Enjoy!

Emilie

I have decided to spread some local love today. In the midst of the tour de weddings, I have spent the last two weekends in Nashville and will spend next weekend in Seattle, so while I have a moment at home to catch my breath, I wanted to show off my beloved Boston. Boston had a hard spring, but the events in April have brought us together and shown the rest of the world just how resilient we are, and also how much good we got going on! 

So where do I begin? There are endless destinations, boutiques, and decorators to explore in and around Boston--many of which I hope to share with you on shell & chinoiserie--but today I am featuring one of my favorite area boutiques in the town of Belmont, about 20 minutes outside of the city. 

Located in Belmont Center, Bells & Whistles is a charming space chock-full of finds ranging from furniture to fragrance. Manager Kristyn Meech has stocked the store with an extensive selection of household items and gifts. Beautiful linens, tabletop pieces, books and lighting are in abundance at Bells & Whistles! They also specialize in stationary and even have an in-house Graphic Designer to help you personalize the perfect stationary suite from lines such as Crane and Co. and Boatman Geller! 

Bells & Whistles is my go-to gift shop for weddings, stationary, and showers of all kinds (they carry a great baby line!). Luckily they offer a registry to help shoppers filter through all of their fabulous finds!

Here are a few of mine:

Beautiful bamboo Savannah Bed by Somerset Bay covered in John Robshaw
And check out the bamboo chandelier above!

Also available via Bells & Whistles is a bigger bamboo chandelier:

 Mini Ginger Jars!!!
I may have nabbed a few...

Chinoiserie Ice Bucket--Party Perfect!


Juliska Monkey S&P Shakers

Chinoiserie Tissue Box!

Chinoiserie China

Lattice Lanterns

Mother of Pearl Pens

Gorgeous Mariposa Glassware

Blue, White, and Beachy!

Blue Ikat Toiletry Pouches

Bells & Whistles Baubles!

Check out the Bells & Whistles website for more fabulous finds, and sign-up for their newsletter to stay in the loop!

Enjoy!

Emilie

Nothing says summer better than a bit of Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis wallpaper in treillage and ivory. This bright and preppy 2005 design by Wearstler for Schumacher beckons fond summer pastimes of the pool, the courts, and the stable. As soon as I have a house to decorate, I am hopeful this elusive paper will be the first to go up on my walls: 

Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis wallpaper 

in treillage and ivory

Chloe Sevigny's entryway 

via House and Home

via Better Homes & Gardens

via Lynn Chalk

via Lynn Chalk

via House and Home

Lynne Scalo Design via Decorators Best

Sharnel Dollar Designs via The Party Dress Magazine

Perhaps an easier way (and temporary--although this look is timeless!) to incorporate Imperial Trellis into your home is with curtains or a pop of upholstery:

I love it against the grasscloth!

via Lynn Chalk

via Lynn Chalk

via Lynn Chalk

via Samantha Pynn Inc

Enjoy!

Emilie