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Friday, June 12, 2009

Studio on the Sand - Beach Sheik

I'm so excited about my new place that I had to change my blog layout : ) It's taken a while to settle in, but I finally have some pictures to post. Peaceful and serene is the best way to describe it...I fall asleep to the sound of the waves and I make sure I'm home every night for the sunset. On the day I moved in, dolphins were right outside my living room window...stellar. And the sailboat regattas are pretty spectacular too. Here's my sandbucket full of photos:


My eyes are an ocean in which my dreams are reflected.

My neighbor gave me this table for free...it's not "outdoor" proof, but I'm hoping it lasts through the summer! I wasn't much of a wine drinker until now...









Cozy living room...I love small spaces.















Life is Better at the Beach


A few of my favorite shells & rocks collected over the years - I bought the Oregon dolphin one on the left at Cannon Beach...still my favorite beach of all time.


A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.

I've always wanted a comfy chaise...this is an IKEA bargain with a shell embellished pillow from Target...perfect for a post vball nap : ) My silver sandals are a reminder of my Cabo vacay.


To find a seashell is to discover a world of imagination.
My IKEA coffee table is now ocean glam! I displayed my favorite travel photos with cute beach plaques from Ross, a TJ Maxx glass bowl and some gorgeous shells.

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be.

This is my favorite sunset picture so far...I love that the beach is usually deserted in the evenings.



















The best time to reflect on the course of your life is when you are near water, such as the ocean, a quiet pond, or a small stream.

I've had this dresser since I was a little girl...I painted it black, sprayed the knobs silver, and it's almost vintage now. I added a few photos of the castles of the Loire, a pink chocolate tin from France, and a mirror I found at Ross.

Maryanne Radmacher
http://www.maryanneradmacher.com/ is one of my favorite inspirational writers, and the artwork on the right is a defining life quote for me - "I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world." I always think of my time in South Africa when I look at it.


















On the beach, you can live in bliss.



The lotus flower is my one of my favorites because I'm working on a park project where the lotus beds have significant historical value dating back 100 years. I topped it off with a porcelain shell bowl ($10 TJ Maxx find) filled with beachy washcloths.

I found this super cute IKEA chair cover in eggshell blue...it definitely updated my Poang chair without looking cheap.

I finally got rid of my double bed and invested in a Queen with a REAL bed frame...it reminds me of some of the B&Bs I've stayed in. The lamp is a favorite that I found at Marshalls for $20!. The nightstand is another "vintage" piece from my childhood. Duvet - Bed Bath & Beyond Lantana with with embroidered green leaves. Botanic prints - Kohls. I also used a french liquor bottle as a vase to hold pink flowers.

These frames showcase some of my favorite castles of the Loire Valley. Ode to Marshalls, Max, and Ross for cheap sheik housewares!

I fell in love with these dishes when I saw them online. http://www.pfaltzgraff.com/beachcomber-48-dinnerware/K6705227,default,pd.html?cgid=BCOMB. Added sea blue sequined placements for $1 ea.


The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.



To unpathed waters, undreamed shores

9 comments:

Amber said...

Omg, Laura!! I LOVE your place and I'm SO SO jealous! I want to live on the beach one day!

Anonymous said...

I've wanted that chaise from IKEA for sooo long!!! I wish I had an IKEA near me.
I love everything about your place- awesome post!

No tricks really for keeping produce. I put apples in the fridge, I keep bananas out of the fridge.

I understand where you are coming from though, I buy LOTS of frozen fruit and vegetables. It takes forever for them to go bad and super easy to just heat up 1 serving etc. Frozen veggies steamed in the microwave are actually the healthiest way to eat them because their nutrients haven't been lost but rather made more bio-available for your body to use.

I also shop more frequently and buy less because that way you can still have the fresh things you want without storing for long.

You could invest in a dehydrator to dry out fresh fruits to keep them longer - but that can be expensive and time consuming.

Hope I helped!!

Carissa Thilgen said...

love the new studio!! so lucky to be right on the beach! and I love all your cheap chic finds. proves you can have great design on a budget :) but I think the view you have just completely makes the place. you could have no furniture or accessories and it would still be fabulous! congrats on the new place!

Laura said...

I absolutely LOVE it! So jealous that you are right on the beach, and get to wake up to that beautiful view every morning. I probably rode by your place yesterday on my bike ride!
(And I know I said this before but we have the exact same duvet cover!) I love your decorating style :)

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Wow! This place is amazing!!! Ikea is great for finding pieces!

Thanks for coming across my blog!

Shoshanah said...

I love your apartment! I think the coffee table is my favorite part. And I'm a fan of the new background too!

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Awesome new place you have there! The view is absolutely gorgeous. Thanks for the message on my blog!

Maya said...

What a great place you have, so close to the water! Like you I can watch the sunset every night..., over an ocean inlet though, not the wide open sea. Love the white chaise by the way!

Anais said...

Woah. Where do I begin?? First of all, your condo looks AMAZING!!! You seem to have picked the best location! You can see dolphin?? I'm TOO jealous!!

And you did an amazing job on the decorating! It looks like it was professionally done! i'd hire you anyways :) i'm glad you were able to upgrade it without spending a fortune (that's why I LOVE IKEA).