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~ From Beach to Chic!

Category Archives: Eco-friendly

Oh Buoy! Color Tipped Cutting Boards

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by PEY in Dining Room, Eco-friendly, Kitchen, Shops We Love, Tabletop

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Color-Tipped Cutting Boards, Sundance Catalog cutting boards, unique cutting boards

This tablescape is the perfect mix of industrial and country chic for beautiful, casual living.  From the varnished raw steel Mid-Century Cafe Seating by Tolix to the reclaimed Pine barn planked Longmont table to the tulip inspired New Amsterdam Dhurrie it is a vignette to consider in your loft apartment to your beach cottage.  My favorite detail in this image (and one with DIY potential if you need instant gratification) are the Color-Tipped Cutting Boards on the wall!

With five sizes and colors to choose from these Color Tipped Cutting Boards from the Sundance Catalog would be great in any kitchen.  Depending on the style of your kitchen these could be an additional nod to a nautical theme, or an artisan touch in an eclectic kitchen, or a colorful pop for the country chic look.  Another great find at the Palace of Catalogs!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Etsy Pick:  Chevron Kitchen Art
Catherineholm For Less
Form Meets Kitchen Function Using Color

Ribbon Driveways: Old Green Design

14 Monday May 2012

Posted by PEY in Eco-friendly, Inspiration, Outdoor

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Driveway, eco driveways, landscaping ideas, ribbon driveway

On the recent SMCDS house tour I was inspired to rethink my zero curb appeal driveway.  The grandness of swooping gravel and seashell driveways at Starboard House, Gravel Court and Gray Craig are enough to get anyone thinking about how to improve a long asphalt driveway!  At first I was researching seashell driveways – the sound of seashells underfoot instantly whisks me away to thoughts of summer parties and exotic beaches – but what I found more practical and colorful are Ribbon Driveways.

As I was searching for pictures of this oldie, but goodie landscaping trick I discovered that before driveways were paved – like mine – Ribbon Driveways were used to eliminate cars from spinning in the dirt by adding concrete under the path of the wheels and leaving the grass down the center.

Not only is this type of driveway useful to motorists, it is kinder to the environment.  The grass catches all motor oil and other car engine drippings – not a car expert – and minimizes the run off of these toxins into the sewers when it rains.  Additionally, a Ribbon Driveway is less costly to install than an all asphalt driveway and prettier.  In the Fullerton, California Preservation Guidelines, “Ribbon driveways are encouraged to break up the expanse of paving and to provide increased landscaping.”  If a historical zoning document is encouraging Ribbon Driveways, then we should pause and consider the value of this technique.

Most homes with a Ribbon Driveway are in more temperate climates like Palm Beach or Los Angeles, but not to worry if you live in an area with snow and are worried about plowing your green away.  New technology – plastic honeycomb-like base under the grass – is available to homeowners that would like this look for more than a summer season.  And, you might agree, more green that can be designed into your landscape is a bonus.

Elemental Design, LLC

Heimsath Architects

Ribbon Driveways have evolved into a design statement that I will consider if I take the plunge to eliminate a boring asphalt driveway.  Enjoy!

Image Sources:  16 L Street, Apartment Therapy, , SWGreens, Houzz, Houzz, Houzz

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Escape in Porch Living
Architectural Details:  On the Fence
Shutter the Front Door!

Etsy Pick of the Week: Ingenuity of Zipper8Lighting

05 Saturday May 2012

Posted by PEY in Eco-friendly, Etsy Pick of the Week, Kids, lighting

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Tags

Etsy, lighting, Zipper8Lighting

Lighting is always a challenge, but Zipper8Lighting has infused a little fun and artistry into this category.  The upcycle of old book pages for the Artichoke pendant above makes this perfect for a nook in a library – a little whimsy for a serious space! – or a mudroom or a kids room.

In addition to the unique use of materials, I love the way the light is diffused.  Depending on the type of bulb you use, this could be a crisp, cool white glow for a white interior, or a warm, soft accent in a colorful space.  Allison Patrick’s architecture background is surely the key to these sculptural works of art, so be sure to visit her shop on Etsy to see more of her great lighting solutions.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Understated Glow
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Shabulous Creations
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Pelle Bubble Chandelier Revisted

Society Social Offers Entertaining Must-Haves

26 Thursday Apr 2012

Posted by PEY in Celebrations, Eco-friendly, Furniture, furniture, Outdoor

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

bar cart, chairs, Eco-friendly, entertaining, Fifi folding chairs, Pinterest, Society Social, The Dinner Party table, The Double bar cart, The Sedgewick bar cart

While on a recent pinning frenzy on looking for fun entertaining ideas, I stumbled upon Society Social.  If you are like me, then you probably don’t have enough space to comfortably seat everyone at your table – one, two or even three leaves in a dining table often requires more chairs than I own – so these Fifi folding chairs would be a perfect solution.  Not only are these available in 11 high-gloss water-based, eco-friendly paint colors, the chairs are handcrafted of plantation wood, sustainable rattan and natural cane.  So eco-friendly, space saving and a color for every decor.

In addition to great chairs, there is a selection of tables, bar carts, pillows, vintage goods, hostess attire and more; Society Social is a destination for entertainment goods.  Enjoy! Here are a couple more items on my entertainment wish list.

The Sedgewick

The Double

The Dinner Party

Torn between desiring a bar cart or needing the expandable table above . . . fun hostess dilemmas to ponder!

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Going “Green” In Style for the New Year!
Interlock Cutlery as Place Settings
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Upcycling the Office with a Nautical Touch

25 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by AMM in Before & After, D.I.Y., Eco-friendly, Furniture, Home Office, Inspiration

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

11th Hour Racing, Atlantic Cup, conference room, Coronet, Dividing Open Spaces, Domino Chair, exposed brick, office, Pallet Furniture, pallet recycle bin, Pocket Doors, reclaimed wood, Recycled Sailcloth, sail cloth, Sail Cloth Decor, screens, Sliding Doors, Steelcase

“We’ve got everything we need right here, and everything we need is enough.”
― Jack Johnson

This year I started working part-time, for my husband’s company.  The first thing I had to do was find them a new office space.  After a bit of hunting I hit the jackpot!  A newly remodeled, open space, complete with exposed brick walls and incredible harbor views! Finding the space took time but was really fun.  Trying to decorate the space to accommodate the needs of five individuals was a bit more challenging.  Thankfully I have some very talented friends, including C&B’s Sarah Fernandez.  After taking a look at the space she helped me come up with some ideas.  I took those ideas and presented them to the bosses who also had creative solutions.  Our work is all about collaboration and I think in this case, the outcome is pretty darn good.

BEFORE:

Wanting to keep an open feel and not have to be stuck in a cubical, we found this screen in the basement of my husband’s sail loft.  Our wood worker, Cody Harple, designed the feet so it would have a free-standing feel to it.

AFTER:

Using reclaimed materials was a must for our office.  We are very conscious about minimizing the use of non-essential materials and maximizing the use of old materials by re-purposing them.  This desk was created out of reclaimed wood from the Coronet.  Cody had created another version of this and we HAD to have one!  Thankfully he had some left over pieces and was able to design a desk that fits our needs.  We can easily have two people working here at the same time.

We wanted to have a large recycle bin in the office and this is what we came up with!  Thankfully pallets are very easy to come by and FREE!  The liners are recycled sail cloth from my husband’s sail loft.  They are easy to remove and have rope drawstring handles so we can easily tote the recyclables out of the office.

The conference area presented a greater challenge.  We couldn’t go up to the ceiling and we didn’t want to bolt anything to the wall or floor. Cody came up with this design that can be removed and reinstalled if we ever move, though I hope we never will!  The walls are made of recycled sails and reclaimed wood and are attached by clamping to the structural beams already in place.  The pocket doors slide easily in and out of the frame to create a private room where we can meet with our collaborators (or stash some interns). The conference table is made from wood and carbon fiber.  A homemade cast off from a friend’s former business that used to be my dining room table.

For seating, we ordered the Domino Chair from Steelcase.  They are really comfortable and we love that they can be completely recycled if need be.  It is wonderful to be in a space that is not only functional but unique and fun!  The fine detail work and design by Cody Harple makes each corner of the office a beautiful place to work.  My hope is that after viewing this post, you will challenge yourselves to re-think the norm when it comes to design. We are not all crafty or born with good design sense but we can all be creative.  When our group worked together by putting all kinds of ideas on the table, we ended up with solutions that make every day in the office a good one!

A very special thanks to Miranda Harple for the fine photography.

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Translation: Sailor Stripe Shirts at Room Decor
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Knot Nice

Interlock Cutlery as Place Settings

20 Friday Apr 2012

Posted by PEY in Celebrations, Eco-friendly, Inspiration, Kitchen, Tabletop

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

color, Ding3000, Join cutlery, Konstantin Slawinski, placesettings, purple, reusable, Turquoise

Couldn’t resist . . . the Join cutlery place setting designed by Konstantin Slawinski is beautiful for any Spring or Summer tablescape!

If you love these as much as I do, then add them to your party closet.   Found a great tutorial on the Ding3000 website in case joining them isn’t as easy as it looks.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Reusable Cozies for your Food!
Going “Green” in Style for the New Year!
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Etsy Pick of the Week: Sweet Meas for Upcycled Vintage Finds

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by PEY in Accessories, Eco-friendly, Etsy Pick of the Week, Tabletop

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Etsy, jar, Mason Jars, Skelton Key plate, Sweet Meas, Syracuse China, upcycled, vintage

Often it takes a while to navigate through all the great Etsy shops to find something you haven’t seen.  This week I got lucky and found this Skelton Key Plate and more at Sweet Meas!  This is a salvaged historic Syracuse China plate with the skelton key graphic applied for a twist.  This is one of many plates that would be great in the kitchen or breakfast nook or party closet for a little shabby chic fun.

The Sweet Meas shop has a plethora of vintage plates, jars, hand towels, signs and buttons; all vintage finds that Sarah Meas has artistically reinvented.  For our mason jar fans, there is also a varied collection from large jars to small tinted jars.  So playful and useful!

Vintage “Utensil” Mason Jar

Blue Mason Jar

The Sweet Meas shop has too many great items to show you here, so be sure to check it out when you have a moment.

If you like this post, you might like these:
Spread the Light with this Mason Jar Fixture
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Etsy Pick of the Week:  Recycled T-Shirt Pillows & Rugs

Vintage Finds in a Coal Miner’s Town

19 Monday Mar 2012

Posted by AMM in Accessories, Eco-friendly, Furniture, Inspiration, Shops We Love

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

ceramic dogs, consignment, Park City, peacock feather wreath, peacock feathers, The Exchange, Utah, velvet sofa, vintage, vintage suitcases, vntage cowboy boots

During my recent vacation to Utah I was able to hop over to Park City and visit one of my favorite consignment shops, The Exchange.  I always find something to bring home but one of the first items I found were these ceramic dogs.  They caught my eye immediately and I was instantly trying to locate a spot in my house where they could live. Perhaps my bookcase or my mantle would make them feel at home?  The dogs weren’t the only blue items I found.  From vintage cowboy boots to stacked suitcases, I found shades of blue everywhere I looked.

Peacock feather wreaths and an oddly inviting green velvet sofa are some of the unique items that make this a must stop shop for anyone visiting the area.  Looking back at these photos, I can already spot a few things I missed.  I think a second trip is in order!

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Etsy Pick of the Week: Pops of Vintage Wallpaper

14 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by PEY in Accessories, Eco-friendly, Etsy Pick of the Week, Shops We Love, wallpaper

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

antique wallpaper, Deco, Etsy, Fondue Vintage Homewares, Kitsch, lamp shades, Mid Century, Mod, sailboat regatta, switch plate covers, vintage, vintage wallpaper

It seems that wallpaper isn’t just for walls anymore.  Even with all the new amazing wallpaper designs and advancements in materials – we’ll need another post to delve into this! – there is a flourishing market of upcycled vintage wallpaper that is amazing.  The Fondue Vintage Homewares shop on Etsy has a wonderful collection of vintage and antique wallpapers decoupaged onto accessories from switch plate covers like the Deco Floral 1940′s above to lamp shades and more.

So if you crave vintage wallpaper but haven’t decided where to hang your paper, then Fondue’s pops of Deco, Floral, Mid Century, Kitsch, Comics and more may be just the inspiration you need!

Fruit and Floral 1940′s switch plate

Vintage Wallpaper Drum Shade 1950′s Tropical Floral

Sailboat Regatta 1940′s Vintage Wallpaper Triple Switch Plate

Mid Century Atomic Floral 1950′s tissue box

Mod Daisy 1960′s switch plate cover

Large Drum Shade 1950′s Too Many Cooks

1950′s Chick and Daisy Flower Country Farm outlet plate

 Measuring Spoons 1950′s vintage wallpaper switch plate

With over 677 items to choose from out of more than 10 categories, the Fondue Vintage Homewares shop has the range of fabulous vintage wallpaper accessories covered.

If you like this, then check out these:
Vintage Wallpaper
Etsy Pick of the Week:  Vintage Wallpaper Lampshades
Lobster Quadrille Wallpaper

DIY: Crate on Wheels

13 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by AMM in D.I.Y., Eco-friendly, Furniture, Kids

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

crate, diy, flooring, FLOR, storage, Sugar Scout

Image Source: Sugar Scout

I have always loved crates and have acquired a small collection over the years, (more like swiped them from my mother, thanks mom).  I have used them for end tables, coffee tables and storage for all sorts of stuff.  Now that my house is ruled by two toddlers, the contents have shifted from blankets and quilts to toys and children’s books.  I have always wanted to turn one of these toy boxes into a crate on wheels!  A quick stop to the local hardware store and my D.I.Y. project was underway.

This was the easiest D.I.Y. project I have attempted.  Four casters, 16 screws and a crate.  Down the road I may put a tufted lid on this bad boy but I don’t want to get too wild just yet.

A side note: I bought casters that have locks on the wheels.  From the moment the crate on wheels hit the playroom, the kids were in it and pushing each other around the house.  Hey, I think that’s called a two-fer.  Functional and fun.

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Stripes, Stripes and More Stripes!  DIY Stripe Walls
Sneak Peek:  Nautical Stripe Staircase Makeover
Custom Draperies for a Fraction of the Cost

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