Time for a Front Porch Redo?

It's summer!  Time to get outside and enjoy your front porch and show off your coastal home decorating style.  So easy to add just a few extra details to make your front porch come alive and ready to welcome guest to the beach or lake!

Start with an indoor-outdoor rug to define the space and then build from there!  Check out these ten ideas that we've been collecting for inspiration -


1. Classic Coastal! If you are unsure about your style or about creating a new style at your home, stick with blue and white stripes.  No way that you can go wrong with this decorating look! White wicker always says summer to me, add blue stripes and this will work perfectly for the beach or the lake.

Source - Southern Living Magazine

Our Habersham Rug in Cobalt would look great!   And it's created from 100% polyester - super easy to take care of. 

2. Color, Color and More Color with a dash of Shells! (so sorry, not sure of the original image source) Have to admit, we LOVE the cobalt blue mixed with orange to create a quintessential coastal look.

We do carry this rug on our site! Compass Rose Front Porch Rug

3. Why have boring planters outside outside your front door?  Check out this shell encrusted gorgeous planter!  And the "Beach House" sign above the front door is pretty darn fabu too!  (from Traditional Home)

Maybe create a planter with your found summer seashells? Here's an idea to try >

Need a fun beach sign?  Try one of these customizable Whales for your house! Can be Aqua or White, and can be printed with anything you like.

P.S. Outdoor pillows are always a sweet touch in your front porch chairs too - here are a few pretty seashell grey ones that are similar to the one above!

Aptos Pillow in Grey

Coastal Splash Shell Pillow in Grey

4.  Why not create an outdoor Tiki Bar?  Don't you just love this fun vintage inspired one featured in Mary Kay Andrews home on Tybee Island?  Not to mention all of her lovely bright green and orange summer shades.... (P.S. I LOVE her!)  Featured at the Lettered Cottage

SEA Wall Art - in case you cannot find any local vintage sources.. we have these in our store!

Or maybe a custom piece of Tiki Art would be the perfect touch?

5. Add a Nautical Screen Door! Aren't these fun??? 

Vintage Example at Desire Empire

(not sure of original source - sorry!)

Seaport Shutters - Double Compass Rose Door

So awesome!  Love the whale and the door - 

Source - Seaport Shutters

6. The Essential Front Porch Accessory - Add a Swing! Don't forget outdoor coastal pillows and super soft throws to cuddle up in...  (seriously, this needs to be a blog post all by itself!)

Source - Homebunch

Ulani Palm Pillow - great colors and right on trend!

Source: Lavin Label  So pretty!  Love the coastal white palette

High Tide Garden Stool

Chappy Wrap Throws at Caron's Beach House

7. Get Creative with your Driftwood Finds! Fun front porch featured in Better Homes and Garden with a diy driftwood hook right by the front door to collect your wet beach towels and other beach gear. (P.S. love the red door too!) 

8.  Who says art is only for inside?  Go crazy and add art  - just make sure that it can withstand the elements!

Source - Iron Fish Art

Source - Traditional Home

P.S. Many of our Custom Beach Art Signs can be outside in a covered area - check them out!

9. Get out the spray paint and simply redo your faded wicker - think bold colors!  Keep in mind though - outdoor pillows are still the best accessory for outdoor spaces.

Source - Coastal Living

Source - Completely-Coastal

Source - Vintage American Home

Some Outdoor Pillow Ideas to go in your newly painted wicker!

Flip Flops!

Bright Sailboats

Love the idea of hooked pillows like in the picture above, but need to make that they are outdoor friendly. We have an entire collection of Front Porch Pillows that would be perfect!

10. The Finishing touch? Dress up your front door with a new summer wreath!

My Friend Susan Fairgrieve's Front Porch

Our Front Door

Source - Finding Silver Pennies

And if you need even MORE inspiration - make sure to follow our Coastal Front Porch Board on Pinterest!

Summer Friday Cocktail - Paradise Point Cooler

Absolutely the most perfect early summer libation, the Paradise Point Cooler is loaded with yummy fresh strawberries and 100% refreshing! 

We are working (drinking!) our way through our new "Beach Cocktails" recipe book from Coastal Living Magazine,  and here's our first adapted summer drink recipe for the season!

Here's what you need for 1 drink:

• 3 fresh strawberries, stems removed 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons gin (3 oz.) - (We are big fans of our local Half Moon Bay, Harvard Ave. Gin)
• 1 tablespoon (1/2 oz.) St. Germain Liqueur
• 1 teaspoon fresh squeezed lime juice
• Club Soda
• Ice Cubes
• Garnishes of fresh strawberries and lime slices

1. Muddle the strawberries in the bottom of a cocktail shaker with a muddler or a wooden spoon

2. Fill cocktail shaker with ice; add gin, St. Germain and lime juice. Then shake it all together vigorously.  Pour into an ice-filled rocks glass and top off with the club soda for sparkle!  

3. Garnish with lime slices and strawberries.  (I love our large round ice-cube molds for these summer drinks -)

Enjoy!  Be careful, I promise that you will want more than one.....

 

Products Featured:

Go Fish Etched Glassware

Santa Cruz Mother of Pearl Trays

Lily Tropical Pillow

Subtle Waves Striped Cotton Turkish Throw (LOVE!)

National Seashell Day!

(P.S. Yes, this is a small sampling of my coastal design and lifestyle book addiction!)

In honor of "National Seashell Day" AND the official first day of summer, I thought we would show off a few of our favorite rooms, using nature's loveliness found in seashells to decorate with a definite coastal focus. Honestly, I think that these ocean beauties are just about the most perfect jewel to adorn any room!

We think these rooms are an excellent examples of shell decorating done right. Enjoy the tour!

100% Glam - Emeril Lagasse's incredible Gulf Coast Home featured in Veranda

What a great way to show off your shell and coral collections - use the built-in staircase shelving.  Source - Coastal Living

 Show off your most prized specimen shells as part of a coffee table display.  Love this room created by designer Alessandra Branca, featured in Beautifully Seaside

 Kristy's beautifully neutral sea shell inspired living room - we love all of the grey and driftwood shades mixed with just a few splashes of dusty blue.  Lovely and so beach cottage perfect! 

Source - Starfish Cottage

Love the combination of summer blue hydrangeas and seashells! Simple, but so beautiful and 100% summer.  Source - Kim Power Style Blog

Wow!  What a creative, beautiful way to show off sea shells, starfish and sand dollars - embedding them in an impressive fireplace.  (I am definitely doing this at our next house!) 

Source - Homebunch

Love this bookcase collection!  Although, I do really hope that those large corals are faux....

Source - Decor Pad

Trent's apartment featured in Apartment Therapy - I love his creative mounting of seashells and sea fans as part of his gallery art wall.  Don't miss his collection on the coffee table too!

What a fun cabinet to catch your interest in a large dining room! We like that it is enclosed, but still open - feels breezy and so much like a beach house.  See the rest of this California Coronado Island Home in Traditional Home

A pretty little setting area with the owner's collection of shells displayed under glass in matching shadow boxed frames.  Keeping the look consistent makes all the difference in this small space. 

Source - Redbook Magazine

What else to you need?   Maybe just add a chunky knit throw and a great book!

Source - Remodelista

A lovely seashell display with aqua glass bottles makes a subtle, but beautifully coastal statement.

Source - HGTV

How can you ever go wrong with a Barclay Butera look?  Always fab!

The key is to not let your space become a big "hodge-podge" of  a "beachy" decor mess. Which is easy to do, if you are not careful with your collections, just remember to edit and change things out for interest and with the evolving seasons and your lifestyle. 

For more ideas on decorating with Sea Shells - check out our Pinterest Seashell Board