I miss you all!

Just wanted to say hello and that I miss you all.

My Mother is in the final stages of cancer. Part of me just wants to dive right into my blog and design, as an outlet and get away. But I just can't muster up the motivation or creativity you all deserve.

I will be back - please don't give up on me. Just need to be with her and focus on her needs. Afterall, she dedicated her life to focusing on mine.

Thanks everyone and I miss you!

Giveaways, Shore Savings and Welcome Viewers

First, I would like to welcome Blogger back. I'm sorry to all my blog friends that lost their work last week. It looks like comments on blogs were lost as well.  Technology is such a love hate relationship, isn't it?

I wanted to share some giveaways and cool things I came across this weekend.

    

Seaside Inspired has given us 3 photos representing their Coastal Living Magazine ad, to vote on. And here's the coolest part... a random voter will be listed in the ad.  How cool would it be to say you were in Coastal Living?  If you haven't voted yet, hurry. 

Vote for the next Coastal Living Ad & your name may be in our Ad

http://www.facebook.com/seasideinspired.fanpage

Simple Daisy will be giving away one of her bangles, once she reaches 600 facebook followers. If you haven't "liked" her page yet, now is the time.

Love of the Sea is celebrating her 200 milestone of facebook followers with a giveaway. Just click here and leave a comment.  And if you haven't "liked" her page, what are you waiting for?

The Coastal Collection is offering daily facebook specials. Check out their page here.

 

Have you joined Caron's Beach Club yet? You'll receive a coupon for free shipping on your first order, just for signing up.

         
A big, I mean really BIG, HUGE, thank you and welcome to the newest viewers of The Coastal View.

The Art of Indecision

A blog about a little bit of this, a little bit of that... decor, thrifting, sewing, crafting, family, pretty little pictures.

Beach Vintage

Simone is from Brisbane Australia. Her blog shares a love of all things vintage and crafty. She lives in a beach house in QLD, Australia (you lucky girl you), and furnishes her home with vintage and second hand items from thrift stores and Ebay.

Ang's Peaceful Space 

Ang loves all things pretty, creative, deep & intuitive. She is always searching for something new and refreshing. She loves her life and wants to continue to explore new things, new ways, new people. She has a wonderful family who keeps her grounded and busy, busy. Life is what you make of it and she never wants to stop making hers better.

Passionate for White 

Diane is a lover of decorating with a penchant for anything white and worn. It's rare for her to drive past a yard sale or flea market and she's not above going through others trash. Some of her best finds have been picked up on the side of the road..... a pair of beveled glass french doors, a white iron settee, window shutters, white picket fencing...to name but a few.  She is married with one furry, four-legged "child".

The Cottage Co. 

A love of all things old and white. The proud owners of The Cottage Co in Barrie, Ontario.

Beachside Cottage 

Linda is a newbie blogger, only blogging a few weeks now. (let's give her a special warm welcome) She's originally from New England and now lives in South Florida. She loves both northern and southern beaches, and tries to include both in her blog. Beachside Cottage is about anything coastal/beachy!

Kirsty 

Kirsty loves coastal and vintage decor.

 Stephanie O'Donnell

 

Rose Petals from Heaven 

Mo has been a professional designer for more than 25 years. She enjoys the "French Shabby" look and collects antique cranberry artglass and vintage catholic relics. Each graphic she designs is like one of her"children". She loves one, and then creates another; and loves it just as much.



all white is alright by me

I love all white interiors. They are light and airy and seem so relaxing to me. You can create a beach, cottage or vintage style with white. Or even combine all three for a beautiful, comfortable look and feel. Dappling with an all white space, I personally found its all about using texture and different variations of white.

White slipcovered Ektorp Chairs and Sofa from Ikea

White Parsons desk from West Elm

White stump table from West Elm (discontinued)

Silver ball lamps from Pottery Barn (discontinued)

Driftwood Candelabra from Seaside Inspired (used in fireplace)

This was one of my white rooms. I painted the walls a light gray fog color. The contrast with the bright white trim and furnishings was fabulous (if I do say so myself). It was very relaxing. And shouldn't all of our rooms? Our home is our safe place. Our getaway, everyday.

I wish I had a picture of my winter white style. You would see what I mean about texture. I'll share a photo this year - I promise!

Atlanta Bartlett has published some great books on white interiors, including one of my favorites, At Home with White.  

Here are some of my favorite white interior spaces.

Elle Decor

Actress Meg Ryans renovated farm house in Martha's Vineyard.

The Guest Room

This home in Napa Valley, was designed by Erin Martin and was featured in the All White Now issue of Metropolitan Home in 2009 (I miss Met Home).

Metropolitan Home

The home of the Williams Sonoma designer was featured in Elle Decor. I love some of the ways she accessories.

And the blog gods rewarded us with Dreamy Whites. Here are some of my favorites inspirations.

I can't decide which I love more in this living room from Architectural Digest - the ocean view or the all white.



Have a great weekend and I hope you find your weekend includes a  little re-decorating, maybe with some white.

welcome to the newest viewers of The Coastal View

I wanted to say Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! and welcome the newest viewers of The Coastal View.

Stitchfork 

Mongram and Embroidery Designs

Beach House Living

Lisa Roy 

A designer obsessed with pretty things, beautiful spaces, interesting places and... handbags 

(a girl after my own heart)

Classic. Casual. Home

hkm

Mermaid Cottages 

adventures of living on Tybee Island

Kimberly

Aναστασία Λάλου

 

Cottage Touch 

An eclectic mix of elegance, a touch of whimsy with a sprinkle of fairytale dreams

Thank you for becoming a follower of The Coastal View.

c o t t a g e - a coastal store, wall silhouettes

Cottage, has some really adorable wall silhouettes, not only for a childs room, but for us grown ups too.

The Humpback Whale is hand-painted and distressed. He can also be hung outside in a sheltered spot. Made from classic wooden panels, each one is unique with all of the natural wood grain and texture.

Sea Maiden is "distressed" and can be hung outside in a sheltered location.

Antiqued Wooden Seahorse Plaques by Suzanne Nicoll. These wooden plaques are hand made and distressed in Connecticut. They can be put outside to weather further, or inside as a decorative accent. These are wonderfully rustic, with all of the natural wood grain and imperfections adding to the patina.

I See the Moon. Each original design is hand carved and hand lettered on Northern White Pine with a distressed antique finish. All designs are weather resistant with an exterior paint and stain. The back of each piece is signed by the artist. Wording can be customized. Fonts, image and colors remain the same. Custom policies apply.

Visit c o t t a g e - a coastal store to see their entire collection of wall decor.

And enjoy Free Shipping on your order until September 30, 2011 on

orders $150 & over. Applies only to Ground shipping. Use coupon code freeship at checkout under the Coupon Code / Promotional Code section. Please note that free shipping does not apply towards the Driftwood Mirrors, Lamps, Heart and Heart with Stand by Living Simplistically due to their delicacy, shipping materials required and total oversized weight.

resources for my subtle coastal dining table

DUH! I had a few emails wondering where I found some of my dining table accents. (hand to forehead) I should have included that the first time around.

The Pitcher, cake stand, chargers and placemats are from Pottery Barn and now sold out. The dining chairs are from Pottery Barn with the white slip cover. They don't have the white covers online anymore, but may still have them available in the store.

The dishes are just a mixed collection of white dinnerware I've picked up through the years. I like to mix up the textures and finishes.

The Ball and Atlas jars are from antique stores. Check your local antique store, flea market or eBay.

The glass floats are from Seaside Inspired. They have a great white translucent look, almost like a hint of milk rolled around inside and each is a bit different.


Thanks for asking!

slipcovered furniture

I just love slipcovers. Easy, breezy, instant Coastal Style. With two English Bulldogs, I don't dare invest in upholstered furniture. And what better way to recreate a Coastal Living room, then with slipcovers? Have you ever seen an issue of their magazine, that doesn't feature at least one room with a white slipcovered sofa or chair?

The way I see it, you have two options for slipcovered furniture. 1) Pottery Barn.  2) IKEA.

I love (really love) the Pottery Barn Comfort sofa. When they say comfort, they mean it. But, I don't love the price tag. It's not so much the cost of the sofa, which is reasonable at $999, but it's the cost of the replacement slipcovers.  I could pretty much buy a new sofa.

And then there is IKEA... They have alot of covers to choose from and lucky us, the white is the least expensive. At $49 for a sofa cover, I could just skip washing and put a new cover on. (Does that qualify as being earth friendly? I am saving water after all). And if they don't have a cover that fits your fancy, there are two companies I have found that create custom covers specifically for IKEA furniture.

Knesting.com

Bemz.com

I ordered some fabric swatches from Bemz (you can get 5 for free) and LOVE their 100% linen. I could totally get an IKEA sectional sofa (less than $1,000) and give it a custom look with a pure linen cover.

So ... you know what I'll be sketching and planning this weekend.  A sectional sofa that 2 bulldogs, Mr. CV and I can kick back and relax on.

Have a fabulous weekend!!! 

decorating with ladders

I have a ladder I've been toting around forever. It's definitely not as fabulous as these are, but it's a ladder all the same. 

I'm currently using it in the living room with blankets draped on the rungs. But I'm thinking about moving it into the bathroom for towels and to hang a monkey fist on.

So it got me to thinking... what else could I use it for?  I found some great ideas and wanted to share them with you...

Dreamy Whites uses her vintage ladder to display glass bottles.

Dreamy Whites

Dreamy Whites

Use it for towels in the bathroom.

Pottery Barn has made a shoe ladder. Hmmm.... what do you do, when all of your shoes are flip flops?

And the Pottery Barn prop department even has ladders for sale.

The Coastal Living Idea House created a ladder to a secret spot.

How cute is this?

Coastal Living Magazine Idea House

The Cappuccino Cottage gave her vintage ladder a beach christmas touch, adding a starfish and greenery.

Cappuccino Cottage

A ladder acts as a Christmas tree.  I could see doing this, using an old ladder in a guest room for the holidays.

Home Sick Designs

Country Living showcased this ladder with a wreath on it.

Country Living

Or, use an old ladder to hang stockings and lights, like shown in Coastal Living Magazine.

Coastal Living

Do you have a ladder that you use, as part of your decor? 

my subtle coastal dining table & welcome viewers

My dining table is ready to welcome spring.

Of course I had to add a few subtle coastal accents, like the glass floats and seagrass chargers.  As summer approaches, I'll accent with coral and sea shells.

And I couldn't resist using this vintage bottle to infuse a little blueberry and mint into the water.



Are you ready for Spring?  Have fun and decorate your table this weekend while sending a big welcome to Spring. 

And speaking of welcomes.... THANK YOU and WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME to the newest viewers of The Coastal View:

Cricket at the Gypsea Nurse

Beachy Rustica

Low Tide, High Style

Joe Ruggiero, Designer and HGTV Host

House of Yates

Maison de Ballard

Erin

(Erin if you have a blog, let me know and I'll add a link)

Frugal French Girl

Apple Sauce Inn

Chic Coastal Living

Also, Simple Daisy is climbing to reach 600 "likes" of her Facebook page, when she'll give away one of her fabulous beachy, bangle bracelets.  Don't miss out.  If you haven't already, you may find her Facebook Page and like it here. And visit her Etsy shop and receive 20% off a bangle bracelet until Saturday the 19th. Enter "BANGLE20" during checkout.



Have a great weekend everyone!

Ready for some green?

I think everyone is ready to start seeing some green. So until those spring flowers and grass start "springing" up, I thought we'd enjoy some of these green rooms.

Modern Green Living Room

The star in this Oyster Bay, New York beach house is underfoot: a hand-painted, lily-pad pattern covers the sunken floor. Designer Christina Murphy continued the color scheme with grasscloth-covered walls and the upholstery on 1950s bentwood chairs.

Green Gingham Ceiling

New York kitchen designer Gideon Mendelson created a pea-green gingham ceiling that was first painted on canvas by Silvère Boureau. To further animate the room, Mendelson designed the island and painted it a custom bright green. 

Bold Green Patterned Bathroom



The oversize motifs of floral wallpaper and a geometric mirror punch up a tiny powder room by designer Meg Braff. Liberal dashes of white keep everything light and airy.

Green Garden Room

A palette of sea-grass greens transformed homeowner Frances Schultz's humble 1920s stucco cottage into a cheery, cozy retreat.

Bright Green Kitchen

Everything is vibrant green — even the Sub-Zero refrigerator — in this small Manhattan kitchen designed by Miles Redd. Cabinets are lacquered in Bamboo Leaf by Fine Paints of Europe, as is the roller shade by Manhattan Shades & Glass. 

Bold Green Sunroom



In this oceanfront Palm Beach house, designer Allison Paladino glazed the sunroom walls bright green to capture the light and painted the woodwork white to calm it down. "The sunroom is gutsy, but the room is actually quite relaxing because I restricted the palette to green and white to create calm," she says, "If I'd added another color the room would be jarring."

All of these rooms may be found at House Beautiful.