PHOTOS FOR FRIDAY: FLORIDA'S WEST COAST & THE GULF

 

Although I am very much a City girl at heart, my heart is aching over the recent events in the Gulf. I find it so difficult to believe all of the creativity in Hollywood along with all the scientists and their theories, can not come up with a solution to the oil spill in the Gulf. To make matters worse, a company whose focus is on off-shore drilling, has not even one back up plan (I'd have had 3!!) in the event of an emergency such as this. Be that as it may, and continuing my resolve to "embrace the place where I'm at"... this weeks focus for Photos For Friday are shots I captured last May, during our wedding anniversary stay on Florida's West Coast (Naples, Sanibel & Marco Islands) ... Who knows - these may be some of the last known memories of how the Gulf once was. BTW - Haven't other Gulf areas (like NOLA) gone through enough with the last spill & storms...

photo by Jeff Davids

"Thanks BP!!

 I wasn't too fond of the white beaches or my feathers anyways!!"

Struggling on the now Gulf Coast

Way to go BP... ever heard of

IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN

PLAN TO FAIL?

 

Maybe a DAWN could rise in the West?

(what a difference a year makes)

Our wedding Anniversary in the Keys in '08

We'll be married 3 years (but together for seven) next Thursday...

Have a wonderful weekend

and God bless all the Gulf Coasts...

TREND THRIFTING

Sometimes while out hunting for new thrift finds, you'll notice a repeating element, like a finish, a color, a pattern, texture or tufting. Sometimes it takes popping into a non-thrift store, like a vintage or big box store, to get your vision together. Last week while thrifting, I noticed COLOR: Turquoise, green and yellow. Another design element jumping out is caning or bamboo details...

Faith Farm Thrift going GREEN!

Decades Vintage local artist find

Decades Vintage Finds

Tufted chair at Church Thrift @15

Bamboo details & handles at Faith Farm Thrift @15

More bamboo details at Faith Farm Thrift @15

another church thrift @25

Collecting thrift happens over time

Found these table earlier this year...

Faith Farm Thrift @5

 also earlier this year

Petite bamboo side table at Faith Farm Thrift @4

(no top? no problem - can easily become a base to hold a great lacquered tray, like from West Elm)

Faith Farm Thrift @99 last week

And while thrifting, don't forget to keep in mind fab finds from overpriced retailers or maybe some clearance you've found in your travels to create a new look for you...

Great color on clearance at HomeGoods...

Thrift find like this...

Church thrift find @25

could also get transformed with paint to something graphic like this...

Pier 1 Chest  @349

Maybe you don't do the stripes, but the thrift piece could be based in black, and highlight the bamboo details in white to apply this graphic concept....

Pic on left was taken when deciding which thrift table would work in the space...

Thrifted art found in February paired with thrifted table found in December

Thrifting is all about perseverance, paint, and upholstery...

found at church thrift @10 in trending turq

It's these 'finds', either left as is or refinished by you, that can turn your house into a home, by giving it a unique style, you've gathered over time...

Happy Thrifty Thursday!

DIVE INTO TURQUOISE

Lately, I just can't seem to get enough TURQUOISE. This usually happens to me later in the year (like for Summer) but I'm seeing so many pieces and wonderful spaces using it, I just want to dive in now! The inspiration for turquoise usually first comes from turquoise jewelry. I love the to see the stone encased in silver. It's so refreshing and coastal. Then the hunt to try a new focal point begins...

British Homes & Gardens

 Macy's

Shell covered fireplace featured in Miami Herald

Coastal Living

Even if you have all white, just switch out panels for a print

as seen here in Coastal Living

I'm loving the combo Pottery Barn has done with it's sea-foam green paired with navy (and I think I've got enough stash to pull it off!) They're usually the retailer to jump the gun with the seasonal sets, and their new Farady Collection is beautiful... it reminded me of an old clipping from West Elm Summer when they were into Indigos...

Pottery Barn Faraday collection mixes seafoam & navy

Pottery Barn Faraday Collection

 

My stash of navy & coastal I could renew this year with turquoise

But then there is also the Moroccan look featured in the Australian decor magazine Belle. Colin Cowie posted inspirational photos from a recent trip while visiting a similar looking place... and I do have pierced tin lanterns to pull off this look too...

West Elm Summer 2007 did cornflower blue, periwinkle,

and popped with pale turq

British Homes & Gardens 2010

Macy's navy & turq

Photo from Colin Cowie

Photo of clippings & color chips

 

Photos of my turq jewelry with indigo pashmina

Love the look of West Elm Summer 2007 with the palm,

and I could see turquoise stemware being added.

British Homes & Gardens

British Homes & Gardens

But I've also seen some turquoise surprisingly laced with gold and pops of coral. Pier 1 featured their pillows in a similar combination. Although I don't have coral, I do have some orange, even for outdoors. And I probably could paint the planted to resemble the Crate & Barrel Bronze Tapered Planters, and paint some other pieces in the orange...

Pier1 was showing tuq with coral

 r

Macy's more organic turq jewelry with hint of coral

Photo from Colin Cowie

source unknown but love the color combination

VIVRE featuring turq, coral and GOLD

Crate & Barrel bronze planters with a hint of orange,

which would take the coral from inside out.

 

Macy's turq, coral and gold bracelet

Pier 1 rinceau detailed urn

 

Pier 1 grey-ish teal with apple green for outdoors

Pier 1 bright tropical turq with pops of apple, orange, and red

Keep turq more natural and earthy with brown & green like at Pier 1

RJI Photography found on flickr

 

Just add ONE powerful piece like shown a ELLE Decor

Four Seasons Spa Resort in Bali

I guess it all depends just which coast you want to be on and then create your look... in the meantime, keep flipping through magazines for that "ah-ha!" moment...

Australia

Miami

I know most people are just getting ready for Spring, but living in South Florida, I've been in Spring-Mode since January and I've got that itch to make a switch...

Coastal Living

What are some ways you like to bring in summertime?

Is it through pattern & pillows?

Do You add more white & blue? 

Looks like turquoise could be paired in a multiple combinations...

Pratt & Lambert  turq walls and pops of indigo

If you already have turquoise, you could just replace flowers with

shells and bamboo, to give your home the a renew...

Hope you're enjoying your day wherever you are...

Lynda