Coastal Tropical Chinoiserie Chic

There is one Blogger that makes me laugh more than anyone else. Fact. She is high maintenance, high style, and highly opinionated. And it works for her. I think Beth, from Chinoiserie Chic, and I are distantly related because we definitely laugh and fight like family. 

The truth is, she will always give me her honest opinion. As you will see in her guest post below, she held nothing back. Any woman that has the moxie to write this post about a National Company, will always have a seat by me. I once asked her to write a post about Nantucket Chinoiserie, and to this day....people still love that post.

Please see what my on again/off again/Sister-Friend has to say about Tropical Coastal Chinoiserie:

Linda and her family will be relocating from New Jersey to Florida sometime this summer. With her upcoming move, Linda has announced that her new look and style is going to be "Coastal Tropical."

Linda's current home is what I would call Nantucket style, but she is excited about her blog and her new home having a more tropical and Floridian vibe. Will her blog, formerly known as "My Crafty Home Life," now named "Calling It Home," soon become "Calling It My Crafty Coastal Tropical Home?" We will have to wait and see.

As we know, Linda loves Chinoiserie, so she has turned to me for guidance on infusing her new lifestyle with Coastal Tropical Chinoiserie.

First, I think a new wardrobe is in order. This Greg Norman collection is called "Coastal Tropic" - what could be more perfect? These mix and match pieces will allow Linda to look like a complete dork whether she is playing golf, blogging, running errands, hanging with her kids, or wielding a circular saw - with safety goggles on, of course. Perfect for that casual, coastal, nerdy look, right?

Doesn't Linda look great in one of her new outfits from the Greg Norman Coastal Tropic Collection?

Now on to decorating her home. Linda loves driftwood furniture, but never felt it was quite right in her Northeast Nantucket style home. Not so in Florida - she can go completely adrift! And if she ever gets sick of her decor, she is one bonfire on the beach away from a fresh start.

Here are some rooms with driftwood that Linda posted about that she loves. She said that the first one below stopped her in her tracks.

Well Linda, I have found more driftwood for every room of your new home -

And Linda's Florida home at the holidays could look like this -

Oh my my my. I have the feeling I need to stage an intervention immediately or Linda's new home might become Restoration Hardware at the Beach also known as Coastal Dumpster Chic. I think we might be seeing this driftwood decor in the next Restoration Hardware catalog. Call me Gary and we can chat.

Or the next One Room Challenge could become the semi-annual One Hundred Rooms With Driftwood Challenge. Linda, just say no to driftwood. That's why I'm here. Friends don't let friends decorate with driftwood.

Now we will look at the correct way to do Coastal Tropical interior design. Did Linda call someone opinionated? I envision less of the navy and white preppy of Nantucket and less of the bright colors of Palm Beach. Instead -

*Tropical print wallpaper and fabrics like banana leaf, especially Martinique and Brazilliance.
*Rattan and unpainted wicker furniture
*Faux and real bamboo
*Potted palms
*Palm fronds in blue and white Chinese porcelain vases
*Oversized blue and white Chinese ginger jars
*The good news is that you can keep your brown wood furniture
*Ebonized wood is also perfect
*The color palette is that of nature - lots of greens and browns and blues
*Think British Colonial

 I love this style myself and I can't wait to see what Linda does with her new home in Florida.

  

The Pink Pagoda created these graphic botanicals for Linda's One Room Challenge family room and they will be perfect!

Thanks so much Beth, can you email me a link to those clothes?

I wonder how she really feels?

 

Shopping in Palm Beach

I think we should all take a moment and complain about how unusually cold it is. I'll start, I am FFFFF-Freezing!! It was 7 degrees yesterday. Why is Mother Nature treating me like my parents do, and favoring someone else?

Back to my retail stalking while I was in Palm Beach. Since my brain barely functions during normal weather, I'll just post more pretty pictures for inspiration and ideas.

I hope you guys are over brass, because I am not and I really don't want any competition.

Did you know that this existed? Now I am on the hunt, big time!!

I'm not apologizing for the blurry photo. Get over it.

Welcome to my holiday decor for next year. This year, it's at Mecox Gardens.

I need an octagonal planter. I want this one.

I love this tropical display. It reminds me of the planter
that Albertina's husband brought home.

Digging the peppermints in the ginger jar.

I loved this store. It was on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. 

I did not catch the name and since they were not nice to me, I have no guilt over it.

I am dying over this driftwood table. Every time I see driftwood, I think of Beth. She has told me in no uncertain terms that she will never warm up to driftwood. Of course that makes it my mission to convince her, otherwise. 

I definitely think that this would fit into a Chinoiserie Chic room. What do you think?

Could you ever have enough baskets?

This one is for my sponsor (aka husband) who makes this ridiculous lifestyle possible without question. A pineapple made out of golf clubs. Maybe you could donate yours, Honey?

And that, my friends, is the end of my visual tour. 

Now go ahead, complain about your weather....or anything else you want to get off your chest. 

Love ya!

 

Naples & Palm Beach

Well Hello! Happy 2014 to all of you.

This is my first post of the new year. We were traveling between Naples and Palm Beach over the Holidays and it was so hard to leave the 80 degree weather returning to the bitter cold and snow. I am also in the beginning withdrawal stages of a Candy Crush addiction. I thought it would be fun to play the game my kids were playing. WELL, let's just say that I know how to get free lives and where to find gaming tips. I am quitting cold turkey... until our next trip. 

I feel like I have so many things I want to tell you, but I don't want to drop it all on you in one post. I am going to try and keep lists of my blog posts to help keep me organized... that's the extent of my 'goal setting' for the new year. I'm actually seeking balance in my life for 2014. Does anyone know where I can buy some ;)

After two more days of driving around Naples and looking at Communities, Lifestyles, and homes....I am thrilled to report that we are all in agreement on the section of Naples we would like to live in. I am sure you will understand when I tell you that I will be keeping that private. Now we sit and wait for the right home to come on the market.

I also found some time to visit a few stores that I love. They did not disappoint with lovely inspiration in abundance.

The Ralph Lauren Store in Naples

I want to live in Mecox Gardens in Palm Beach.

Wayland Gregory Ceramics

I think I'll share more pictures with you in my next post. 
Did you see anything that appeals to you? I want all of it. Now!
I can't wait to go visit all of your blogs and see what you have been posting about.

 

Feeling Koi

I have been a fan of Osborne & Little's Derwent wallpaper pattern for quite some time. It's the cover image on my Wallpaper Pinterest Board.

Veranda Interiors

I have been enjoying all of the Chinoiserie influences that are popping up all over the net. One trend that seems to stand out at the moment is the use of Koi fish.

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

m.a.p. interiors

B.Design

Koi Stencil

Koi Pillow

Michelle Griffoul Studios

Koi Art

Via

In a recent One Kings Lane sale, even Tobi Fairley had Koi in her collection.

Tobi Fairly via One Kings Lane

Are you feeling Koi?  

What Chinoiserie elements have you added to your home? 

 

Blue and White Gifts

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? I just can't believe that it is December. Since Hanukkah is almost over, half of 'my people' on my list are done! One day we can all chat about how weird it was to have Hanukkah during Thanksgiving. Since those Holiday's won't overlap again until 2070...we won't stress about it now.

Here are some of the things I am considering for the other half of my Holiday Shopping List....and I may need to buy a few of these things for myself, too.

Stone Necklace / Ginger Jar / Chinoiserie Box / Beaker Vase / Kate Spade Reading Glasses

Navy Peacoat / Nautical Ginger Jar / Dip Dye Scarf / Blue Moccasins

  Yoga Bag & Mat / L"Occitane Hand Creams / Regal Brush Collection / Plush Robe

Personalized Wine Tote / Personalized Pet Pillow /  Block-Print Napkins

   Do you ever shop for gifts by color?

I'll be sharing this at The Pink Pagoda Blue and White Bash.

Hope to see you in the blue and white link up.

 

Some Great Bargains

Happy Monday! I am feeling really energized today, and that almost never happens on a Monday. It probably has something to do with the fact that I have no deadlines ahead of me....other than the Holiday's.

I decided to get a jump on some of my Holiday shopping (online, of course), and wound up finding some fantastic bargains....for me...and you. Since I love when we are 'twinsies', here ya go

I am in love with this place setting, and can NOT get over the sale price

Available Here

I have this steamer and used it just the other day on my drapes. There is an extra 40% off at check out on this one, but you only have 2 days to take advantage of the sale....ugh, the pressure.

Available Here

I am dying to update my everyday dishes, and think I should get these.

Available Here

For a little fun jingle jangle, the Sequin bangles that I love are also on sale at Nordstrom

Available Here

And finally, this Jonathan Adler red tray that would be perfect for the Holidays and everyday, is on clearance. This one won't last.

Available Here

Today is Veterans Day. I am sincerely grateful to all of those who have or are currently serving in the military. Because of you, all things are possible. Thank you for your service.