Beach Dreams

Well, now that summer is officially here, I am obligated to write about the beach.  It’s on my mind for two reasons.  The first is that once again, my family is not going to the beach this summer.  I say once again because every summer, my sweet husband promises after our non-beach vacation that we will go to the beach NEXT summer.  And somehow that next summer never arrives.  My sweet husband is allergic to the sand, somehow.  The rest of us love it, but the salty air, the sand between your toes, the wonderful hush and swish of the surf just doesn’t do it for him.  So, we are going to show our youngest guys the nation’s capitol instead.  I know it’s close to the coast, but close only counts in horseshoes.

 Which brings me to my second reason for thinking about the beach.  Here in landlocked Dallas, we still see lots of accessories and decorative touches that relate to the sea.  And in many ways, this is a Southern city with Southern traditions.  I would not be surprised to find that some of the grande dames of Dallas still use seasonal splipcovers, draperies, and pull their rugs up for the summer.  How wonderful it would be to have the resources to do that!  Of course, the current trend of neutral linens, slipcovers, and seagrass give that effect, but for most of us that is a year round look.  But I love to add a touch of the season to my home, so what’s a girl to do with 4 kids, a golden retriever, and a husband who, while very dear, would not understand the need for white linen slipcovers in every room in the house, to do? 

 I add accents everywhere I can.  Replace the firewood in my French basket with ivory and white candles that sit on top of it.  Ditch the woodsy potpourri in my huge trophy cup with some beachy potpourri from Pottery Barn.  Add sand and shells to my hurricanes instead of stones, coffee beans, and black beans.  And, do a little shopping at Mecox.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bark chargers filled with starfish, silver rimmed seashells, and bisque tortoise shells, vintage wicker flask, they all evoke summer to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I wandered across the street to Pottery Barn, and they have some fun ideas, too.  Wonderful embroidered pillows. These baskets whisper summer to me – you can put pillows, magazines, and throws in them. Or just a simple vase filled with sand and maybe a shell or two could do the trick.  Wouldn’t this tray look great with shells and candles?  Why Pottery Barn?  Well, they are affordable, which is huge right now, and they are on trend.  For a quick and inexpensive summer fix, Pottery Barn fits the bill.

 

 

 

 Well, I’ll be waiting another year before I get to feel the sand between my toes – but that’s OK.  I’ve got my beach sounds on my Iphone and Sonos system, I’ve got the shell thing going on, the faint scent of salt air in my potpourri, and hey – our pool is salt water – so what more do I need?

 

Kristin