Starfish Cottage

Brown and Cream for Fall...

Right now, I am obsessed with the color scheme of brown and cream...maybe it's my longing for fall, and I'm not very fond of the "traditional" fall colors, orange and rust.  I have always loved this photo...I love the brown and cream transferware, the large check fabric, the rustic textures...

Southern Accents

 

Brown and cream can be VERY Coastal...afterall, that's the color of most seashells!

photo from Treehugger

Another favorite is the Spode Woodlands pattern.

One of my all-time fall favorites are white pumpkins- there is something so elegant and chic about a cluster of creamy white pumpkins- perfect for my all-white house!

Forever...Wherever!

Anyways...while contemplating my fall color scheme for Starfish Cottage...I have a feeling many of these elements will be "popping" up all around!

 

Plain White Gift Bags (Ordinary to Extraordinary!)

One thing we really love to do at Starfish Cottage is take something very ordinary and transform it into something EXTRAordinary...I also love a beautifully wrapped/packaged gift.  I like to buy simple white gift bags and "dress them up" a little...

I have a whole collection of colorful tissue paper, ribbons, tags, etc... I use to create beautiful and unique gifts.  Here are a few ideas...

 

Classic, coastal, crisp blue and white... 

Sassy and sophisticated for a wedding or shower gift... 

 

Cute blues and greens for a little boy's birthday gift...

 

Pink and green for a little girl...

Black, white and khaki for a sophisticated baby gift... 

 

Colorful and tropical pinks and greens for a Lilly Pullitzer- inspired gift bag.

The possibilites are endless and I have a lot of fun decorating and making special gifts for friends and family...all of the gifts in these photos are handmade using decorative papers, stamps, and ribbons.  Most of the items can be purchased at a dollar store and embellished- gifts don't have to be expensive to look great or let someone know you care!  Think outside the box next time you are looking for a gift and make one yourself!

 

this post is shared with:

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorpheses Monday

Hurricane Irene

photo credits

To all our "East Coast" friends and readers, you have been in our thoughts and prayers all weekend.  As a "Florida Girl" and hurricane veteran, I personally know the stress and destruction a hurricane can inflict.  Stay safe!

 

Plain White Pillar Candle- Ordinary to Extraordinary!

As I have said many times before, I absolutley LOVE to take something small and ordinary and transform it into something special...case in point- a simple white pillar candle...

With some decorative colored paper, inspirational quote/stamp and a beautiful ribbon...it makes a beautiful gift!  The possibliltes are endless!

 

I like to put it in a matching gift bag with other co-ordinating goodies...the whole gift cost less than $5 and looks GREAT!
 

What do you like to do with pillar candles?  Please share your ideas!

 

Guest Post at Coastal Blue Ocean

Hi everyone!  It's Kristy from Starfish Cottage- Coastal Blue Ocean asked me if I would do a "guest post" on her blog today so go check it out...she always has the most beautiful photos, here's one...

Anywhoo, Coastal Blue Ocean asked if I would introduce myself and my new blog, Starfish Cottage, so here it goes...

My name is Kristy and I live on the West Coast of Florida with my husband and two beautiful daughters.  Several years ago, we decided to leave the fast-paced life of a land-locked big city and move back to Florida to raise our family.  As a professional interior designer for over 15 years, my portfolio includes all kinds of houses across the Southeast click here - but I personally prefer the simple, laid-back coastal cottage style for our home.

We are currently renting, but on the "lookout" for the perfect coastal cottage of our own, like this one I snapped a photo of from a recent trip to Key West...

Here at Starfish Cottage, I love to update our decor seasonally, here is my most recent, Late Summer Decor... to view all of the cottage's seasonal transformations so far this year, click here

I like to cook yummy things like my Coastal Cupcakes...

I like to suprise my family with special moments like this Beautiful Breakfast Tray...

I like to thrift and do DIY projects like this Thrifty Seashell Mirror

and I like to have fun with family and friends, like Boating and Beaching

Basically, I love all things coastal...so come visit me over at my Starfish Cottage Blog to find out more!

...make everyday special...kristy

Back to School Tea Party

Well it's "Back to School" this week for the Starfish Cottage kids... and we are ALL excited about the beginning of a new school year.

So while the kiddos were at school today, and the house was eerily QUIET, I decided to plan a little suprise for them when they got home this afternoon... 

 

A "First Day of School Tea Party"!

I used my "new" thrift store teacups and saucers, as well as a borrowed teapot from my mom.

I made two cute gift bags filled with things for their backpacks, like sanitizer, tissues, lip gloss and bandaids. 

We had yummy snacks, like cupcakes, cheese and crackers and fruit as well as "lemonade tea"...

I re-purposed some soup cans and made a cute "vase" and pencil cup... 

I love to make tags for gift bags, and these little apple tags were perfect for my "back to school" theme! 

Everything was delicious and we had fun hearing about everyone's first day! 

...make everyday special...kristy 

this post is linked to:

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Beach Cottage Good Life Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home Friday

Late Summer Decor

While the rest of the country starts preparing for fall, we in Florida prepare for "late summer" also known as "indian summer". Even though I love living in Florida this is my LEAST favorite time of the year. It can sometimes be hot (90+ degrees) into November...that said, it's hard for me to get out all of the traditional fall accessories and colors. In fact, I want my home to feel as light and airy as possible this time of year, so I tend to lighten up my colors even more- virtually all white! So, my home is now officially ready for "Late Summer"...I will bring out the pumpkins and fall foilage later in September! Family Room

Living Room-

Dining Room-

...make everyday special...kristy

this link is shared with:

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorpheses Monday

Boogieboard Cottage Masterpiece Monday

Faded Charm's White Wednesdays

No Minimalist Here/On Sutton Place's Open House Thursday

Shabby Creek Cottage's Transformation Thursday

French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home Friday

Breakfast Tray

It's not often that we have a lazy morning around Starfish Cottage, and with school starting up next week, things are about to get even busier...so I thought I would take a few minutes to make the morning special today with a pretty breakfast tray!

 

The best thing about this tray is it is "no cook" food!  Just assemble a few favorites breakfast items from your local market take and a few minutes the night before to decorate the tray with some pretty dishes and linens, then wake up and put it all together!

 

What a treat to wake up to something like this in the morning!

 

Here's a shot of my new thrift store white teacups and saucers...I have a collection of pretty mismatched pink floral ones, but needed some plainer white ones too- a set of 6 for $10!  They are so versatile, you will be seeing these guys a lot I am sure!

 

The only thing better than setting up this vignette was EATING it!!!

 

 
this post is shared with:

Boogie Board Cottage's Masterpiece Monday

Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday

Beach Cottage's Good Life Wednesday

Faded Charm's White Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday

Egmont Key Trip...

We interrupt this home/decorating blog for a fun family day post...

Recently, we decided to take the boat on a day trip to Egmont Key!  The only thing more fun than going to the beach is taking a BOAT to beach! 

So we packed up our gear and took a picnic lunch and headed out early...it was a busy day at Egmont and we were glad we got there early to get a good spot!

 

There is a beautiful old lighthouse there that is fun to explore...

People bring tents/umbrellas/chairs- it's so fun! 

The Coast Guard were there too! 

It was a long hot day...but lots of fun...two little girls were VERY tired on the way home...so were their mom and dad! 

...make everyday special...kristy 

Late Summer Al Fresco Dining

So this afternoon, I thought it might be fun to set a pretty table for an "al fresco" meal overlooking the water for me and my hubby...this probably doesn't sound that crazy to most of you, but I live in FLORIDA and it's AUGUST, so we don't do this alot in the summer...because it's 100+ degrees most of the time.  Oh well... 

So I selected a simple but rustic burlap-look table cloth, with a white linen runner.  I used rustic woven chargers and my blue and white Spode plates.

For my centerpiece, I used a glass hurricane vase in a woven holder and filled it with sand, seashells and a candle.

 I also used white roses in a simple mason jar and a few pieces of coral and conch.

A favorite seashell bowl holds a few fresh green apples.  I love the rustic elegant look of this late summer tablescape...now all I have to do is decide what to fix for dinner!!

 

...make everyday special...kristy

This post is linked to:

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday

At the Picket Fence Inspiration Friday

My Romantic Home Show and Tell Fridays

The Charm of the Home Home Sweet Home Fridays

The House in the Roses Show Off Your Cottage Monday