Thursday, July 9, 2009

"waterside" inspiration


Yesterday my pre-ordered & personalized copy of Waterside Cottages by Barbara Jacksier arrived: GASP! It is the most beautiful and beachy book. The text and awesome photos inspired and motivated me to give my beach-house-inspired living room, a renewed dose of ... beachiness.


First I removed the the faux cherries from the green bowl and replaced them with sea shells and postcards.


Click to enlarge
I removed the garland and picture frames from the wooden screens, and returned touches of orange to the room.


This whimsical goodie was from Roberta Laprade's aptly-named Fairhaven shop, Enchanted Treasures. Roberta's swoon-inducing home is featured on pages 62-73 of Waterside Cottages.

back door

My "water-near" cottage is less than 2 miles from a beautiful pond.

bathroom

Sand collected from our pond and a favorite beach


Seaglass from a real junky beach. The more trash, the more seaglass!



kitchen window

I love how this photo reveals the bright orange day lilies outside.

block island

My husband took this photo last Summer


How awesome is this border of wine bottles? (Start drinkin'!)

Tomorrow's weather forecast for RI actually says "spectacular!" I hope the same for wherever your cottage is.

xo

47 comments:

Beki said...

Ooooh, it all looks so lovely, your lounge is so inviting!
Such big pieces of sea glass, i'm so jealous and is that wine bottles turned upside down?
((hugs))
Beki xxx

Pansy Cottage Girl said...

Oh I adore the bird nest. I usually have nest or two out yearround. The living room is so cozy, nice job.

blushing rose said...

I really love that birds nest ... awesome presentation, beautiful home.
TTFN~ Marydon

Lisa said...

I would say your darlin' cottage is beachy-keen! Can't wait to but the book. It looks wonderful!

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love it, Elyse! ♥

LiLi M. said...

I love love love these colors, the greenblues and the bluegreens, the seagreyes oh I can make a poem out of that! These colors in your house qualify your place as a waterside cottage, I believe and I love it! I'll look for that book over here. I was raised by the sea. The town were I live now is an Isle in rivers, but I still miss the sea.

Lori said...

"water~near" cottage...you say the cutest things Elyse:)
the beach~like touches you added to your home are so sweet...i love the bottles of sand, and how you added a tag to them...that is just darling!!!

Anonymous said...

Oh Elyse what yummy pictures! I will have to see about getting this book- I wonder if our intersearch/borrowing library would be able to get this one.

Dr has ordered 10 in house arrest with hardly anymovement so I have time to get some good reading in!! Am trying to figure out how I can get a few of my DIY projects done for sitting on the bum but don't think there is a possibilty with the ones I have in mind!

blessings
mary

Angie Acapella said...

Such a pretty and cool feel to your home. I love the color in your bathroom, do you mind telling me the color you used?

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

I love Barbara's book! I have been drooling over my copy the past couple of days. Your home looks so wonderful! Can I come visit?
Hugs,
Penny

Jessica - Such Pretty Things said...

What a lovely book - I will have to get a copy! Your cottage looks gorgeous! Such beautiful colors! Love it!

Lisa said...

Oh I just love this! You sea-cottaged right up!!
Hugs, lisa

Wendy said...

Love all of your beachy goodness. I'm so darn sick of the rain here in NE I could scream! Hope it really is "spectacular" for you in RI tomorrow. Maybe it will be here in MA as well (not holding my breath though!)

Bethany said...

Wow, fantastic photos Elyse. I love seeing how you changed everything up. The orange is especially nice and that window with the day lilies through the screen is perfect perfect. Made me do one of your GASPs!
You're rocking the blog man.

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

Hi Elyse.. I don't know why I keep coming to your post.. maybe because you living room look so cool, calm and cozy.. I love how you decorate the room.. and the sea glass are lovely.. any idea where can I get the sea glass?

Have a great day & weekend too
xo
fitty

Anonymous said...

Morning Elyse! I think I have to go and purchase this book now!! Love seashells and how you put them in the bowl w/postcards! I especially love your bottles w/sand but adore the tags you used!!! Very inspirational visit! So I'm off to the "beach" to gather goodies (a/k/a Homegoods!lol) Have a great weekend - Sincerely, Jeannette

Unknown said...

EEK! is 110 Spectacular? This time of year is our bad weather. Your cottage is very beachy now! I love it. Perfect in the summer.

~Liz

Anonymous said...

Hey Elyse, Inspired to do a little beach cottage decorating eh? love it and thanks!
xo
Roberta

{oc cottage} said...

Well, aren't you johnny-on-the-spot, getting that so quickly! Your bowl looks so perfect next too the book!!

m ^..^

Char said...

So sweet and love the colors. I would like to come for a visit and relax, take it all in, beautiful, Char

Sarah Bradford-Burton said...

I hopped over here from Kris Kauffman's blog...love your colors! I'm finding new colors myself after being all white for quite some time.
I'd love you to visit me and check out my blog party...it's really cool!

Chris Kauffman said...

What a great feel to your home , adorable and relaxin g, love it .
Chris

Terri said...

I just love your style. The beach look is so serene and calming. I love your living room and the cute nest idea! Thanks for sharing your pics. I love looking into my favorite blogger's houses! The colors are just beautiful. I will have to check out that book. Terri

♥Mimi♥ said...

Your blog is always so sweet and pink on Saturday! Thanks so much for sharing this week.

That book is marvelous!

Hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world and that your weekend is filled with happiness surrounded by everyone you l♥ve.

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Love your decor! Just beautiful.

Anne Fannie said...

I love all your pictures! Beautiful home.
~Ann

Lisa @ Fern Creek Cottage said...

Your home looks so lovely! I love you displays with glass bottles.

Nancy said...

I stopped by for PS and was so happy to read this post even without the pink! Will have to look for that book. I really like the changes you made. Happy Pink Saturday!

Sandi said...

Such beautiful inspiration! Thanks for sharing!!
Blessings~

Sonia said...

What a beautiful post and such lovely home. Makes me cry cos my house is a disaster right now... I need to get to work. I have been looking at a lot of insprational homes lately.
Its raining here today but rain is good...
Have a great weekend.
Hugs
Sonia

Claudia said...

I have to get that book, Elyse! It looks fabulous! I love what you did in your home. It is amazing how something we see can inspire us to redo everything! Since I have been home, I want to "lighten" up everything with paint and pastels - And I have to balance that with the red that runs throughout the cottage!

Brenda Pruitt said...

I've been saving wine bottles for just such an endeavor. I have all of three. I hate wine, so collect from others. Ya know, I just love little glimpses inside your Rhode Island world. Always wondered what it was like in that part of the country. So I should order the book???
Brenda

The imPerfect Housewife said...

Wow and WOW - TOOOO cute!! What a neat, fun idea for a living room. A beach-themed bathroom, sure, but doing it in your living room is just too cute. Your bathroom is adorable, too, don't get me wrong! Glad you were inspired so we could enjoy it!! :) Have a great weekend ~

Glitter & Bliss said...

Your home looks so cozy...so R.I. I love it!!! I love your bird's nest. So precious... Sis and I are overwhelmed!! I have not posted anything in quite a while, b/c I am pooped out trying to get orders out!! I hope you are having a great weekend. Leslie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Everything looks so peaceful and pretty. laurie

Unknown said...

Oh Elyse!!! I LOVE your home!!!! You have such an eye for decor! I love all the blues and beach elements! It is so cozy and makes you feel good. Definitely cottage style!! I would love to see your whole kitchen :):)

Hugs,
Amy

Joan@anythinggoeshere said...

Hello. I will have to look for this new beachy book. I am going beach theme in my booth this weekend. Glass floats and coral and white. Have a great Sunday.

KatCollects said...

Hi Elyse,
I love your beach cottage look. I love everything beachy. My bathroom is all beach themed, lots of shells, bottles filled with sand and pebbles, and more shells collected on beach stolls. I love the beach glass, that is one thing I have never found at the Ocean. The tags I made are so fun, you get started and you don't want to stop. Nothing special is needed. You can just get the standard size tags at any office supply store. I do some other tag swaps too, try it you will be hooked.
Hugs,
Kathy

Kammy said...

Hi Elyse !
Your new look is great ! I love those decorating books too ! I just bought some used ones at the thrift store and they really get my engine started.
Thanks for visiting my blog...you had a question on those shelfs...do you have any pictures of them ? If you do, I would be glad to take a look and give you my 2 cents....or maybe I can find something.....my email is
chatmeyers@aol.com
Hugs ~ Kammy

Chris Kauffman said...

Hello again ,
Chris JUST BEACHY .

Drawn to The Sea said...

What a relaxing scene you've created. I'm loving your pale slipcovers.

Isn't the book fabulous? I've been so busy drooling over my copy I haven't gotten around to blogging about it.

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Hi Elyse,
What a soothing atmosphere you have created! I love the soft blues. The little bird nest is adorable too. My beach party is on the beach, would you like to join me? Thanks for sharing.

Blessings,
Sandi

Personalized Sketches and Sentiments said...

Wow! (are you sure that your bowl didnt arrive with "Waterside Cottages"?) Goodness...it is a perfect mate!

Beautiful, beautiful room..

I love your sand collected in the jars... hmm...wish I saved some sand from each beach we were able to enjoy...a great excuse to go back :o)...I definitely would love to do that!

love the photo your hubby took and the jars on the sill and the wine bottle borders... love it all!

what a fun beach party...

Blessings & Aloha!

(if you get a moment, I would love to have you visit my parties (yes... like my long comment here, I tend to go long, so split my parties into 2!... but if you do make it over, please leave a comment so that I know that you were there. :o)

Julie@beingRUBY said...

HI There
You're images are lovely and the book looks a treat. The colours match your bowl perfectly. Julie

Jane said...

What a lovely post! Those pieces of sea glass are spectacular. I love the sand in the decorative bottle, too. Guess where I am heading tomorrow...

It's funny that you should have the wine bottle garden border. Mr. M and I have been saving our bottles for months and just started on the border by the pool. Glad to have a photo to share with him so he doesn't think I have gone completely mad.

See you soon...by the water,
Jane (artfully graced)

Barbara Jacksier said...

I stopped by to see this post again (needless to say, I love it!)I realized my comment never appeared. Anyhow, I'm so happy to have been a small part of your makeover!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Hi,
Looks how you have decorated so beachy! I want that wine bottle broder, it's beautiful.
~Myrna