anchors aweigh: 10 fun anchor-inspired finds for summer

I'm a huge fan of all things nautical, especially when striped, brass or navy blue and white.  Lately, I've been seeing anchors all over the place and I can't get enough-is there anything more symbolic of summer?  Makes me wish I was on a boat, anchored out in the middle of the ocean somewhere!  Here are a few anchor-inspired finds for your home (and jewelry box!) that I'm loving lately:

My love for stripes runs deep, and this striped captain's chair with an embroidered anchor is killing me!

Love this linen Scrimshaw anchor pillow - would look equally fabulous indoors or out!

Set a nautical table with these navy and white melamine dinner plates.

This delicate anchor bracelet would be a beautiful accessory to any summer outfit.

I love this bottle opener so much, I've got it in brass and nickel!

This porcelain bottle stopper is a fabulous hostess gift for summer barbeques.

This tiny brass box with raised anchor detail is perfect for holding matches!

Hand-printed, organic anchor napkins add a nautical touch to your summer get togethers.

Gorgeous rose gold anchor stud earrings are a nautical nod to summer days at the beach!

folly beach design plan

When a lovely reader from Salt Lake City emailed me for help decorating an old cedar shake bungalow she just purchased on Folly Beach, South Carolina, I jumped at the chance!  Even better?  Her only request was that the entire house be black and white with lots of texture, a beautiful backdrop for her rustic, antique furniture, planked walls and ceilings and collectibles from her travels that would create a comfy, cozy vibe but wouldn't detract from her amazing ocean view.  Done and done!  Originally from Massachussets, my client wanted to infuse a little New England vibe with subtle nautical influences, rustic lighting and lots of seagrass, reclaimed wood and comfortable furnishings.  Here is a little taste of some of the loveliness we've decided on, with lots more to come:

Please forgive me for not including sourcing information on this one - because this is a paying client, I didn't think it was fair to post!

If you are in need of decorating help and don't know where to start, please contact me at kstivers@Hotmail.com.  Happy Tuesday!

my bookshelves, restyled

One of the benefits of the occasional bout of insomnia is all the things I get accomplished around the house in the middle of the night/wee hours of the morning. To say I am unbearable without a good night's sleep is the understatement of the century, but when I see all the work I get done when I should be counting sheep, somehow it's a little more bearable.  My built-ins are a fabulous example.  We lost power for fifteen hours last night during one of the worst thunderstorms we've had in a while, so while the furbaby snored away on his bed, oblivious to the storm (lucky duck), I decided to clean the shelves on my built-ins and rearrange.  

If you're new around here, we built corner built-ins for an awkward space between our family room and kitchen.  It's been a lifesaver for additional storage, a place for our TV and also for opening up additional space in that weird spot.  Read about the before and after here. 

I added a bunch of texture - woven demijohn bottles, crusty old medicine bottles and faux coral for a nautical touch for summer.  Here's the right side and little sneak peek into my kitchen behind it:

The left side:

A few crusty old liquor and medicine bottles add a little interest:

Woven and glass demijohns and, of course, I couldn't style my bookshelves for summer without including a handmade monkey's fist - check out how I made it here:

Books, a favorite watercolor painting from a recent trip to the U.K. and some coral:

A great shot of my little lovebug and some of my favorite design books:

The hubby is a Marine and so we have a ton of books on the military, wars and sailing - it seemed only fitting to include a chunky piece of coral on top of a stack of some of his:

How do you like to style your bookshelves?  Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

mix + match

If you haven't seen Trad Home's Spring issue yet, mosey on over and check it out asap!  While the entire issue is chock full of loveliness, it's the colorful Cape Cod-style California bungalow designer Taylor Borsari transformed that really stands out for me. Borsari mixes contrasting textures, pattern, beautiful wallcoverings and a liberal use of saturated paint colors on furniture and cabinetry, this little jem is fun, fresh and so charming! 

The living room is my favorite spot in the house - pale pink walls, a dutch door, Moroccan-inspired curtain panels and oversize white furniture are so welcoming:

Contrasting prints on curtains, pillows and even a lamp are beautiful compliments to the seagrass chair, Morroccan-inspired table and bamboo Roman shades:

There is so much to love in this dining room, which lives larger than its tiny footprint, thanks to Peter Dunham's Samarkand wallcovering, an oversize pine hutch and that to-die-for brass lantern:

This bedroom is surprisingly calm and cozy, despite a liberal use of color and pattern, anchored by a beautiful iron canopied bed:

A cobalt blue La Cornue range?  So stunning!

Turquoise bunk beds, red and blue wallcovering and a striped rug all mix together beautifully in this little boys room:

To see more of this house, check out Trad Home's Spring issue here.

orange crush

Lately, I've found myself gravitating toward the most beautiful shades of orange...nail polish, dresses, bedding, pillows, even the different types of fruits and veggies at the farmer's market. From soft, muted coral all the way to bright, bold tangerine, this is such a fun, fresh and vibrant color for summer.  Like all bold, bright colors, I like them best in small doses.  While I add another coat of paint to my front door (pics coming soon!), I thought I'd share some of my picks for adding a little of this beautiful hue to your home and wardrobe this summer:

throw / Chamber's washed linen bedding / Bamboula tote / enamel cheese knife set / coral matches /

Wonki ware bowls / Coral bubble drop earrings / Resin coral / OPI Hot + Spicy / Orange striped straws /

Happy Hump Day!