Style Secret: Beachy Treasures
What did you bring home from your last trip to the shore? Odds are, you filled your tote bag with shells, sea glass, bottles, maybe an old ship's cleat or two. Take inspiration from these finds in choosing small accents. The key word is restraint. One or two starfish on a shelf look striking and sculptural; baskets and vases full of them can be overkill.
Something different: Bring in a few objects that have a foot in coastal design but venture into broader territory. French glass wine jugs or Japanese fishing-net floats, for instance, hew to the look yet aren't cornerstones of American coastal style. Or experiment with new ways to display old favorites — instead of filling a lamp base with shells, frame them solo or in pairs and hang them in a grid.