Tuesday Inspiration: Seashells

Traditional Home

Following yesterday's post about cottage living by the sea, what could be more fitting for Tuesday Inspiration than seashells!

Seashells aren't just for nautical decor. Case in point is this lovely grotto located in Texas of all places! The homeowner, Emily Tracy-Haas loves incorporating shells into her home and the result is magical!

Traditional Home

It's like an art form. Some call it tramp art. The French call it coquillage. I call it beautiful!

Traditional Home

A close-up of Emily Tracy-Haas's fireplace. She transformed it by setting shells in the concrete.

Shells On Twelfth

I'll admit, this isn't for everyone, but I do appreciate the organic beauty of this fireplace.

Shells On Twelfth

A faux bois, shell studded garden mirror!

House Beautiful

A couple of shell encrusted obelisks looking regal in this dining room

House Beautiful

Annie Selke used this console in a master bedroom for her clients. It is from Currey and Company.

How fabulous is this bathroom mirror?

And this powder room mirror?

Barclay Butera

I know, I've shown this room before, but I love this mirror most of all!

This mirror was one of the many incredible shell art objects I saw last year at The Roundtop Antique Fair.

There was so much of it, I could have gone crazy. But I've learned, a little goes a long way with this art form.

I have managed to collect handful of seashell treasures over the years, like this antique shell studded box. I like it because the shells have an amber color. Notice the black stripe shells?

The box lives next to the vintage lamp, also encrusted with amber shells.

They all form a little vignette in the corner of the living room.

Close-up detail of my cherished antique seashell crucifix.

My latest find is this seashell tramp art lighthouse night light.

It's really quite funky and homemade, but I love it!

A few more pieces in my collection are a not-so-vintage frame from Z-Gallerie with a photo of my Mom and Dad...

...a pair of book ends on a nightstand in Asti...

...and a small shell framed mirror in the bathroom.

Then there is this! A summer centerpiece in Asti. I have the matching candlesticks too, and can't wait to do a tablesetting with this three piece set.

I love the earthiness of seashells. Ever since I was a kid, I've collected seashells. Shells from the beaches of Oregon, California, Hawaii and Mexico.

I love the idea of making something permanent out of them. Perhaps I'll attempt to create a little "tramp art" myself!

For more inspiration, buy this book! Shell Chic is the "bible" of shellaholics!

Be sure to check out Emily Tracy-Haas's website, Shells On Twelfth here.

Currey and Company has a wonderful collection of seashell chandeliers and accessories here.

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

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Design Bucket List #6 - Decorate a Beach Cottage

Campagne Decoration

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a little seaside cottage?

House Beautiful

Imagine going to sleep with the sound of the waves, or waking up to ocean breezes.

House Beautiful

Imagine how much fun it would be to decorate a little cottage with a nautical theme like designer Gary McBournie did above.

Imagine looking out the window of this living room and seeing the blue ocean! It makes me go "ahhhhhh."

Campagne Decoration

More "ahhhhhh!"

Are you saying "ahhhh" yet too?

Coastal Living

Back inside, I am asking myself and you too, "how would you decorate your seaside cottage?"

I would find vintage oil paintings of the ocean or ships and hang them on white walls.

Definitely white walls....

Barclay Butera

Yup, white walls, vintage oil painings, and the color blue!

Although I'm not a "blue person," blue just makes sense in a beach house.

So do stripes!

Phoebe Howard

Of course, I would succombe to all the cliches of nautical decor!

The proverbial model ships....

....nautical lanterns

....driftwood

....kitchy wallpaper!

....old life preservers

And duh, a sea shell chandelier!

I think it would be so much fun visiting flea markets and antique stores looking for the perfect accessories, filling the cottage with treasures.

Ultimately though, it's all about the ocean. And the sunsets. And the beach!

"We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch - we are going back to whence we came." ~John Kennedy

I couldn't agree more!

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Collecting Shell Art

I have been collecting shell art for many years, but didn't realize it. I have always been attracted to little trinket boxes made out of shells to hold earrings at bedside. One day I looked around and realized that I had more than a few items of this art form. Here are a few of the pieces in my collection.

The shells on this vintage lamp have turned a lovely amber color. It sits on a desk with the box above and a sea shell frame that is new. There is a big difference between new and vintage.

This frame from Z Gallerie is new.

However, these bookends are definitely vintage.

A rare example of vintage shell tramp art. I was told this is French.

This wonderful old lighthouse night light was a recent find. The shells are glued on cardboard.

Another recent find is this shell mirror. It probably started out as a picture frame. Also known as a "Sailor's Valentine."

This shell art lantern arrived today from Wisteria. It is much larger than I thought! Although it isn't vintage, it will be great up in the wine country on a warm summer night.

This is the first in a series I am doing about collecting, featuring my own collections, as well as others. I am fascinated by what people collect and am always interested in learning about what makes something desirable as a collection.

So.....What do you collect?

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