I HATE COMPUTERS

Imagine you log in to a Live Chat and for some mysterious reason,'acess is denied'. Pretty frustrating, right?

Now imagine the same thing happens when you are the Live Chat's guest and you are one of the two folks who are supposed to be ready to help moderate the chat and answer questions. My ship was sailing and I wasn't on it. XX#&~!@#$%^&*()_+!!

There I was sitting with my Mac, my laptop, my friend's laptop, paint color fans and a few favorite sources of inspiration and for 20 minutes I couldn't get online.
I could read all of the questions coming in ...but I couldn't answer. My office was not a pretty place to be from 11 AM to 11:20! Words that normally don't cross my lips came spewing out.
Then, thanks to the savvy tech crew at The Post, a lifesaver was found, and it worked!
I could publish my answers instead of just thinking about them. It was fun after all.
A great big thank you to everyone who participated in the Washington Post's Live Chat -- and to those who posted, re-posted, re-twitted and spread the word.

There were so many questions and comments that Washington Post editor Liz Seymour couldn't post even half of them in our allotted time!

Please accept my apologies if you were left out. If the Washington Post doesn't mind, I'll try to answer some of the coastal related in future posts.

If you missed the chat and want to read it online the perma-link is:
http://live.washingtonpost.com/home-front-07-08-10.html

For now, I'm going to brew up a pitcher of iced tea and try to stay cool. It's another scorcher here today. I photographed the gull and ship murals at the fabulous train museum in York, England. If anyone knows who painted them please let me know. I'd like to credit their creator.

*** BLOG DU JOUR ***

I'd be remiss if I didn't share this great European ruffled table linens giveaway from Lidy at French Garden House. I know it dilutes MY chance of winning but I owe it to all of you who have been so nice about sharing my recent news. Go ahead and enter, I won't mind a bit.

SEAGLASS STYLE

Waterside Cottages strikes again!

It all began when I got a Friend Request from Jura Koncius, the Washington Post's lead writer on Home & Design and the DC area's go-to design guru.

Whether you want to find an obsure piece of hardware for your Civil War era house or a coffee table for your funky bachelor pad, Jura can help. Her Twitter feed is legendary.

Several days later, I received a 'heads up' e-mail from my publicist at Gibbs Smith saying that Jura wanted to get in touch with me about a story she was working on.

It was too early to break out the champagne, but I WAS pretty excited. Over the next few days, Jura and I exchanged emails and chatted on the phone about one of my favorite topics, Sea Glass.

Then, I kept my fingers crossed.

TODAY, Waterside Cottages is mentioned in THE Washington Post, the DC area's oldest and most distinguished newspaper.

With a circulation of over a half million, The Post, as locals call it, has covered The White House and its inhabitants, and goings on in Maryland and Virginia since 1877. Today, the newspaper is also alerting readers on how to enjoy Summer In Style.

While working with Jura on her Summer In Style feature, I created several palettes inspired by sea glass with colors that can be mixed and matched beautifully. Dive right in!


Have questions? Jura and I will be having a Live Washington Post online Q & A on Thursday July 8th from 11 AM to noon. Let's chat!

(Photo by Dan Mayers)

Benjamin Moore- Pale Tones:

Aqua: Barely Teal 2048-70

Green:Crème de Mint 2036-70

Blue: Bashful Blue 2065070

Benjamin Moore - Medium Tones:

Aqua: Jamaican Aqua 2048-60

Green: Marina Bay 20136-50

Blue: Caribbean Coast 2065-60

(Photo by Dan Mayers)

Sherwin Williams:

Aqua: Pool Blue sw 6944

Green: Kiwi sw 6737

Blue: Blu Click sw 6952

(Photo by Dan Mayers)

Martha Stewart:

Aqua: Sunken Pool

Green: Sea Glass

Blue: Statosphere

Behr:

Aqua: Aqua Breeze 500E

Green: Palm Breeze 420E

Blue: Morning Breeze 560A

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: ALOHA

One of the little known pleasures of writing a book is that you rediscover old friends.
A month ago, a very talented Virginia decorator who I had lost touch with saw my book and sent me an e-mail.
She was living in Hawaii for the past six years and had recently opened a home boutique called Nest. She wanted to stock my book.
From experience, I knew that everything that Sandi Wickersham does, she does well, and I asked her to send me a few photos of her shop and recent work. Above is a bedroom she redid for a client. All of the other photos in this post were taken in Sandi's shop in Kihei on Maui.
When Sandi told me that my book, Waterside Cottages, was perfect for her shop, she wasn't kidding! Perched on a shelf, it really does look right at home at Nest.
Here's a closer view!
Born on a farm in Washington State, Sandi grew up surrounded by green hills, apple trees and a host of horses, cows, and chickens. For some reason, she always dreamed of living by the sea.
Her father encouraged her to draw. As an adult, Sandi gained recognition for her primitive style paintings of daily life at her family's farm, country fairs and other country scenes. She also painted her Caribbean fantasies filled with flamingos, frothy surf and stacks of shells.

Despite her success as an artist, Sandi has worked as a dental hygienist in California, opened an antiques shop in Texas and designed quilts and bedding for a company in New York City. Today she frequently incorporates Hawaiian quilt patterns into her design work.
Sandi and I met in 1993. She was living in a rustic log cabin in rural Virginia, raising horses and painting, and running two home design shops.
Her life seemed practically perfect but moving to Hawaii was her dream come true. To see more of what she's been up to visit www.wickershamdesign.com
If you are in the neighborhood, please drop by Nest and tell Sandi that Barbara sent you.
Of course, you might want to call ( 808-269-3228) first to be sure Sandi's not taking a break.

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: TABLE TALK

(Available from Williams Sonoma)

Although it's more common at this time of year for decorating to take on a red and green hue, coastal decor is always in-season.

(Photo by Dan Mayers)

Shells are never out of style... especially as part of a shorescape.

(Photo by Dan Mayers)

Custom tables are the perfect venue for showing off nature's finest.

(Photo by Fifi O'Neill)

Company coming for the holidays and time running short? Try a simple tray instead.

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: COLD SEASON

This week the watery things most on my mind are my eyes and nose! Like many fellow bloggers, I've caught my first cold of the season... and it's a doozy! I'm coughing so much that I can barely type, so this week's entry will be a short one.
Please enjoy the view from Cadillac Mountain on Mount Desert Island, Maine.

And in case you're blissed out by last week's beautiful bedrooms, I've done the math for you (if you mentioned two numbers I counted them both.)

Number 3: The Kinghams' master bedroom--whites with a killer view --won by a landslide.

Number 4: Tulle and tropical pastels came in second.

Bedrooms 1, 2 and 5 were tied for third place.

I thought you'd enjoy seeing a few more photos from the Kingham's home. Here's one of the light-filled living room.Below is their Caribbean themed guest room.
Last but not least, a hallway sitting area feature's shells and retro motifs.
All photos by Dan Mayers.

WATERSIDE WEDNESDAY: BEACHY BEDROOMS

When decorating a coastal bedroom some otherwise "perfect" couples suddenly find they are incompatible. Photographer Dan Mayers and I first discovered this surprising fact several years ago when were photographing a waterside home for a magazine.

The house had 3 guest bedrooms. The wife suggested we shoot Bedrooms #1 and #2 because "they were the serene and pretty ones." The husband disagreed strongly and lobbied us to shoot Bedroom #3 instead.

Dan and I went out to the car to get a light stand and discuss the situation. He agreed with the wife. I agreed with the husband. In the name of harmony we shot all three. Disclaimer: none appear in this post. However, all of the photos were shot by Dan.

The bedrooms below were photographed at several different houses. Under each one I've jotted a few reasons Dan or I think the decor works for a waterside bedroom. I'd love to hear what you think. Which is your favorite? Why?


Bedroom One: The Coffey's coastal bedroom is fun and casual. The soft blue and white color scheme, nautical striped pillows, beachy artwork, and sand pail hanging from the ceiling fixture keep things bright and breezy.

Bedroom Two: Jeff West's coastal bedroom is more than just a place to sleep. Here, a pair of oars, an oval fish rug, and jute wrapped ship's jugs make the room a place to daydream of sun and surf on a rainy day.


Bedroom Three: More than any other room in your home, a beachy bedroom depends on your personal vision of bliss. With a view of the dunes, the Kinghams' chose a limited neutral color palette and spare beauty in harmony with the surroundings.

Bedroom Four: Cottage decors win points for doing more with less. You don't need an expensive antique bed or glamorous headboard. Claudia Martin used yards of tulle and a tropical pastel palette to create a budget-wise island fantasy.

Bedroom Five: Vacation cottages are often decorated over a period of years by different family members. To get that look, Missy Asen's opted for nostalgic style window toppers, a cozy quilt, and painted pieces shown off against a backdrop of pickled tongue-and-groove paneling.



Bedroom Six: Bright Caribbean colors give this guest room a "The Party Starts Here" vibe. The rattan ceiling fan, sea theme rug, mint green wicker chair and fabulous glass lamp all contribute to Brooke Steuart's great guest room.


Love the lamp!

Bedroom Seven: Last but not least, a blissful bedroom need not be indoors. Brooke's outdoor sleeper takes advantage of warm days and a water view.

CHANDELIER HEAVEN

Do you get weak in the knees and start hyperventilating at the sight of a gorgeous chandelier?

If you do, this post is for you! Back on August 12th, I left off sharing photos of my trip to Europe with a post about hand-painted ceramics.


Today I'd like introduce you to the chandeliers I met.


The Palazzo Reale (Royal Palace) in Naples, Italy was built over a century starting in 1738. When completed it rivaled Versaille for magnificent gardens and lavishly decorated salons.


There was so much to look at -- antique furniture, priceless paintings, world famous sculptures, gilded carved mouldings and ceiling frescoes. It was so overwhelming that I decided to focus on one feature...the stupendous chandeliers.


The metal casting on the one above is superb. It's positively architectural.


I was almost blinded by the reflections from the thousand or more crystals on this French delite.


This one won my heart for the sheer abundance of candles it could hold.


It probably weighs a ton but this huge fixture looks light and airy.


This one was one of my favorites. The arms resemble branches with dozens of golden leaves.


A blown glass chandelier by American artist Dale Chihuly caught my eye at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Let me know if you'd like to see more Chihuly's. I've shot several of his exhibits, including one of floral shapes at the NY Botanical Gardens.



In Brussels, these silk lanterns were for sale in a chic boutique. Of all the chandeliers I saw on my Grand Tour, these were probably the only ones I could afford!

*** BRAGGING RIGHTS***

I hope you don't mind, but I'd like to share some of the nice notes that I've received about my book, Waterside Cottages. Keep those e-mails coming ladies, they really make my day. And, if you get a chance stop by Amazon and write a review, too.

"Got your book and loved it!!!!! You did a great job. It's beautiful!"

Joni

Cote de Texas

"I received my book yesterday and it's absolutely gorgeous. What a cool job you and Dan have traveling around the country selecting adorable cottages and photographing lovely coastal homes then sharing the beauty. The end result is breathtaking!"

Carole

"Your beautiful book arrived today. Thank you so much it is sensational."

Alison Gibbs

"One of the best checks I’ve ever written! Congratulations on the book."

Judith

"To put it simply, your book is a masterpiece. It has been a long time since I've enjoyed a new decor book this much. You and Dan did a magnificent job."

Linda

"I received my Waterside Cottages and am in total AWE… & in heaven reading your words & looking at Dan's magical photos!! Unbelievable talent on this book-you deserve to become a zillionaire!!!!! Truly a collectible! I LOVE it & LOVE the sweet autograph. I can just imagine in 50 years having my ancestors look through this with its oldautograph from a very talented lady."

Chris

Tutti Chic

"The book arrived. It’s positively gorgeous, says my daughter. I am waiting for her to look at it and then she will let me take a peak. She loves loves loves the book. Thanks so much."

Sarah