Starfish Cottage

Vase with Palm Fronds- No Cost Decorating!

I was recently looking for something to fill a tall vase on the coffee table in my Living Room.  I LOVE to add height and a little drama to a coffee table and these large palm fronds from our yard fit the bill...

 

They are natural, sculptural, coastal...and FREE!  They thrived for weeks and all I had to do was change out the water occassionally.  These would look great just about anywhere, but I loved having them on my coffee table!

Make every day special- Kristy

 Check out Good Life Wednesday at Beach Cottage

...make everyday special...kristy

 

Key West Cottage Details- RePost for Centsational Girl

Every year, in the Spring, my husband and I take a wonderful trip to Key West, and every year, I rent a bicycle and explore the streets and back streets falling in love with the beautiful cottage architecture, and every year, I find a new "favorite" cottage...

 

But THIS YEAR, I decided to make notes of the architectural details I particularly love...sort-of "research" for our future Starfish Cottage, here are a few of my favorites-

1. Beautiful PORCHES- wraparound porches, two story porches, balcony porches- filled with white wicker, and palms and pots of tropical flowers and plants

 

 

2. Shutters- Bahamian-style shutters, custom cut-out shutters, operational hinged HURRICANE shutters...

 

 

3. Gingerbread-style woodwork-

 

 

4. Bright Colors- 

 

5. Lush landscaping- "jungle-like" courtyard pools and fountains-

 

6. Haint blue painted porch ceilings (a color said to ward away unwanted bugs)-

 

7. Flags- I LOVE when homes fly various national and state flags-

 

Hope you enjoyed my quick architectural tour of Key West Cottages...seeing these photos again makes me want to go back again!!!

...make everyday special- WHEREVER you live...kristy

Vineyard Vines Style...

It's summertime and I love nothing more than all things nautical and preppy and pretty...just like the clothing and lifestyle of Vineyard Vines, run by brothers Shep and Ian Murray.

Natives of Martha's Vineyard, Shep and Ian built a company on the preppy, coastal lifestyle- cotton polo shirts, button-downs, neckties, khaki and seersuckers, and plenty of pink embroidered whales as their logo.

 

Their catalogue is pure coastal eye-candy!  And I can't wait to flip through it when it shows up in my mailbox.  If you haven't heard of Vineyard Vines- you can check out their blog here.

Fun, easy, summer fashions for men, women and children that look great on everyone...check them out!

...make everyday beautiful...kristy

Swinging Daybed

You can find inspiration EVERYWHERE and at a recent trip to an old bed and breakfast, we happened upon this amazing swinging daybed...

 

Besides the fact that we were at a beautiful bed and breakfast, when we opened the french doors to the upstairs porch and found THIS- we thought we had gone to heaven!  Right there outside our room was a wonderful swinging daybed- perfect for a late afternoon nap (or in our case- little rest).

 

 

We had always thought we wanted a place for a hammock at our next home, but now I am thinking a huge swinging daybed is the way to go!

...make everyday special...kristy

The Herlong Mansion, Micanopy, FL

 

This this a photo I took of the Herlong Mansion in Micanopy, FL where we spent our "Girls Weekend".  My mom, my daughters and I had so much fun and it was really great to show the girls one of Florida's architectural treasures!  It was also nice to "unplug" a little- our rooms had no tvs or phones.  It's always a thrill for me to see old houses, but this was a GRAND old house.  The grounds and gardens were beautiful as well.

 

 

...make everyday special...kristy

Trip to Micanopy, FL

 
 
My daughters and I recently took a wonderful "Girls-Only" Weekend trip with my mother to the Ocala/Gainesville area of Florida.  We stayed in a gorgeous old "rumored to be haunted" mansion, visited an amazing butterfly garden and took a horse-drawn carriage guided tour of the world famous  equestrian capital of the world, Ocala, FL.  We also took a stroll "back in time" when we walked around the quaint downtown of Micanopy- truly a town that seems "untouched" by time and progress!  The spanish moss and the large oaks and the old shops and cafes were refreshing...here are a few photos from that trip-

 

 

 

 

 

I love exploring "Old Florida" and Micanopy did not disappoint- it is the 2nd oldest city in Florida after St. Augustine.  A wonderful time, if you ever get a chance- you must visit!

...make everyday special...kristy

Paper Covered Books...

If you are joining me from Beach Cottage's Good Life Wednesday- "G'Day"!  If not, be sure to cruise over there and check out all the wonderful posts...

Here's a super-easy, inexpensive way to update any bookshelf...paper covered books!

 

I have always loved using paper covered books for bookshelves, somehow it gives bookshelves a neat, coordinated look.  I covered all the books in my office with solid white and craft paper then wrote the titles on the sides with a Sharpie marker.  I love the way it looks mixed in with collected white coral, seashells, and starfish...I also added a few coastal bird prints and topped the shelves off with my favorite old pond yacht.

This gorgeous library by the designer, Charles Fraudree was my inspiration (on a MUCH smaller scale)...

Charles covered his books with a coral patterned wallpaper- I chose a simpler paper- but I love the whole look!

...make everyday special...kristy

Low Country Shrimp Boil

If you are joining me from Centsational Girl's Fair Weather Forum Linky Party...Oops on my Link Party photo...you were supposed to see this photo...not MY photo!  Anyways, thanks for checking out my Shrimp Boil Post

 

Nothing says "summer" to me more than an old-fashioned shrimp boil...and nothing could be EASIER to prepare:

(In typical "Starfish Cottage" fashion, this is not a TRUE recipie with measurements, so GOOD LUCK!)

One LARGE pot of boiling water, add an Old Bay" seafood boil seasoning pouch.

Add: halved red potatoes, corn on the cob, large slices onions, bite size sausage, and extra large shrimp in the shell (or anyother shellfish of your choice).

When everything has cooked drain and serve with lemon wedges, cocktail sauce, and melted butter- sprinkle with Old Bay Seasoning to taste!

YUMMY and MESSY...Enjoy!

...make everyday special...kristy

Coastal Accents: Lanterns!

What is it with me and lanterns?  I guess you could say they are a "go-to" coastal accessory for me and I love using them all around the house.  These nautical black lanterns look great on my coffee table (and even better when illuminated at night!)

I love simple glass hurricane lanterns and use them often...they make such an impact when clustered together on a table top, besides candles you can fill them with other things such as sand and shells!

Another fav was this white "Morroccan-style" lantern I used on my coffee table this spring...what a statement!

 

One of my all-time favorites are the exterior lanterns from Carolina Lanterns...so classic and pretty- this is the "Charleston" lantern available in several sizes and finishes.

Hanging lanterns make a beautiful statement at any evening event...I want to "steal" this idea for an outdoor event someday.

Ahh...so many lanterns...so little time (and money)!

...make everyday special...kristy

Nautical Tablescape Ideas...

I recently updated the cottage with a "nautical" style...navys and whites, with lots of lanterns and hurricane vases.  My tablescape in the Dining Room was simple- just crisp navy napkins with a cluster of glass hurricane vases and my antique pond yacht on the buffet.

In the breakfast I used some batik-patterned navy and white napkins with woven rattan chargers and clustered coral and another hurricance vase.  Easy, breezy, crisp and "summery".

 

...make everyday special...kristy