Friday, December 12, 2014
Setting a Festive Holiday Table
Festive Coastal
Christmas Entertaining!
Last week we gave our secrets
to a stress free Christmas on the beach, this week we thought we’d
House
By The Shore carries a lovely collection of stoneware in a blue
crab pattern that we just love. Now
most people may look at these dishes and think they don’t really represent the
holidays but we can tell you it just takes some creativity.
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| Blue Crab Stoneware |
Just look at what Mary from Home
is Where the Boat Is did in a blog post on A
Coastal Christmas and Giveaway! She
set a beautiful tablescape for the
holidays by using a lovely red stripe quilt as a tablecloth and putting
evergreens under the plate. Add some lanterns festooned with greenery and
pretty red ribbon and a sprinkling of shells here and there and you have a
lovely coastal Christmas table.
We’ve actually
started a Pinterest board for coastal
Christmas entertaining and we’ve pinned Mary’s tablescape to it along
with some other items we believe are helpful and inspirational.
 |
| Source: HGTV - Create a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table |
The take away on setting a Christmas table is
you don’t really have to have Christmas dishes to do it. Just by adding a little greenery, ribbons and
a little sparkle you can have a holiday table in no time. Check out HGTV’s post Create
a Coastal-Chic Holiday Table . Notice
the plain white dishes but with the
addition of evergreens, burlap ribbon, shells and pretty ornaments the table is
transformed.
You don’t need much to set a festive holiday table for a
coastal Christmas. The prettiest
tablescapes are often the ones where you have to be the most creative!
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House By The Shore's Blog Policy
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Secrets to a Stress Free Christmas on the Beach
We’re sharing our tips for a relaxing Christmas in your house by the shore!
When you booked that beach rental for Christmas you had
visions of rest and relaxation dancing in your head. But those visions will quickly fade as you
begin to think of all you have to do to get everything and everyone there. At House By The Shore, we can
relate! We’ve been there but we’re happy
to share with you some tips for making this Christmas holiday a restful and
relaxing one at the beach. It really
just takes planning, lots of lists and a little organization.
Gifts
Write
it all down! The worst thing that can
happen is to pass out the gifts Christmas morning and realize that someone’s
are still sitting at home. We recommend
listing out each person and each gift.
Place a small number on the gift tag that correlates to your master
list. As you pack each gift, check it
off on your list. We find it very
helpful to pack each person’s gifts together in a plastic container or a
cardboard box. You can even place them
in a big garbage bag but we find the box or container offers more protection
and keeps your pretty wrapping from being destroyed in transit. When you go to load the car, cross off each
person’s name as their gift container is loaded to be sure you have it all!
Decor
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the holly and the
ivy. You are going to want something up,
especially if you have kids. However, it
usually isn’t practical or a great idea to take all the heirloom
ornaments. Instead purchase a tree once
you get there. Pack your tree stand and
some Christmas lights for the tree. Pack
or purchase on arrival a pack of inexpensive plastic ornaments, a box or two of
candy canes and some ribbon. Voila, you
have a
festive tree and it is a great activity the first day or night of your
holiday vacation. All you need are some
holiday tunes, Christmas cookies and hot chocolate. Oh and don’t forget the kid’s stockings – be sure
to take stocking holders (and the stuffers) as you won’t be able to tack them
up in the rental.
Menus
Plan your menu in advance and make your shopping lists. Odds are you will want to cook – not many
places are open on Christmas. If you don’t
cook – make reservations NOW or risk PB&J sandwiches for Christmas
dinner! Personally, we enjoy cooking at
the beach as a family. We’re even going
to share with you some of our tried and true, family approved recipes but first
here are some suggestions we have for making your meals and grocery shopping
stress free:
- Plan all meals for each day in advance. Even snacks – everyone is always hungry on vacation. List out each day and the complete menu for each meal. This is important so that when you make your grocery list from your menu you don’t forget something and face multiple trips to the store.
- Create a notebook to take with you. Include your gift list, yourpacking list for gifts and clothing and your menus. Include the recipes you need for each meal (place them in date order – makes it so easy to find) and your shopping lists. This is your command central and the true secret to stress-free holidays whether at home or traveling!
- Consider any specialty cooking tools or food items you need to prepare your menus. Rentals often have limited cookware and there won’t be your spice cupboard or pantry. If it is special, take it with you. Don’t rely on the rental to have a bundt cake pan or the grocery store to have that specialty item.
- Create detailed grocery lists and add them to your notebook. Look at each day’s menu and list out the ingredients you need to prepare all the meals. It is extremely helpful to create this list twice. The first time, we just jot it all down and note quantities. Then we go back and put it in order – fresh produce, canned goods, breads, dairy, meats and frozen foods. As we put in order we double check quantities. This may seem like it takes a lot of time but it saves so much time in the busy grocery store once you’re there and avoids the risk of forgetting something and making multiple trips to the store. Be sure to collect your coupons for your groceries and place them in your notebook – you’ll appreciate that when you’re checking out with a week’s worth of groceries!
- Spices – we pack them and take them. It doesn’t make sense to buy them at the grocery store. A small cardboard box or plastic container will hold lots of them. Look at your recipes and menus and make a list.
- Take your first night’s meal, snacks and drinks and breakfast for the first morning. We’ve learned the hard way that sometimes you get a late start, run into traffic nightmares or get lost and you’re exhausted and starving upon arrival. We prepare a casserole and freeze it for these first meals (recipes follow). They travel well in the cooler and we don’t have to face the grocery store until after breakfast the first morning. Don’t forget to include a bottle of wine or adult beverages to enjoy night 1!
- Take the time to jot down on your recipes what
was good,what you would change and what didn’t work. You’ll appreciate it the next time.
- Have beach bucket – will travel! We keep one packed and ready to go all the time. It is full of those items that you will need and tend to be pricey at the beach. It is a lifesaver and makes life a little easier there. We have a plastic container and this is what it includes:
· Flashlights and extra batteries
· Matches
· Dishwasher detergent pods
· Laundry detergent
· Stain remover
· Fabric softener (and the ball) & dryer sheets
· Dish soap
· Hand soap
· Kitchen garbage bags
· Plastic bags in quart & gallon sizes
· Foil
· Plastic wrap
· Roll of paper towels
· Pack of toilet paper
· Travel candles
· OTC meds – headache, heartburn, sinus,
anti-diarrheal, bandages and antibiotic ointment
Recipes
As promised here are a few of the ones we love. We hope you enjoy!
Home-Style Ground
Beef Casserole – This is the first night meal. Everyone loves it and it travels really
well. We prepare it and freeze it ahead
of time. We found it originally in Southern Living but found the recipe for you
online here: http://beef.betterrecipes.com/home-style-ground-beef-casserole.html.
Pack the frozen casserole in a cooler
with a bag of salad, a cucumber and some grape tomatoes and a mason jar full of
Creamy Italian Dressing (recipe
follows). Add a loaf of garlic
bread. Don’t add ice, you want the
frozen casserole to thaw and it will be cold enough in the cooler. Once thawed, let it stand for 30 minutes at
room temperature and then bake as directed in the recipe.
Creamy Italian
Dressing – this is yummy and
makes a salad taste so fresh!
¾ cup mayonnaise
½ cup olive oil
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
1 clove of finely minced garlic
2 tsps. Italian seasoning
¼ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. sugar
Whisk it all together and place it in a tightly sealed
jar for travel. Slice your cucumber and
toss with salad greens and tomatoes for a yummy Italian salad.
Breakfast the first morning is a family favorite. The kids adore it! We don’t actually freeze this one ahead of
time but instead just take the ingredients because it is quickly put together
in the morning. We take along some fresh
fruit, OJ and milk and we’re set.
Quick and Easy
Breakfast Casserole
8 oz. can of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 lb. mild pork sausage
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
6 large eggs
¼ tsp. dried oregano
¾ c. milk
Press the crescent
dough in the bottom of a greased 9 x 13 x 2 inch baking dish. Brown sausage in a skillet over medium heat,
stirring until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain.
Spoon sausage over the dough.
Sprinkle cheese over sausage.
Whisk together eggs, oregano and milk.
Pour over cheese and bake at 425◦ oven for 20 minutes or until the eggs
are set and the cheese is lightly browned.
Let it stand at room temperature for 5 – 10 minutes before serving.
Now we must confess.
Both of these recipes are not ours originally and we searched on the
internet to find them to give due credit.
However, they’ve been in our notebook so long we didn’t find them and we
don’t remember where they came from originally.
So to the source, we give you credit and apologize! They are delightful.
For an impressive but really easy and yummy
Christmas dinner, we prepare every year Roast
Beef Laurels. It is a standing
rib roast that is very easy to make and incredibly delicious. We found the recipe in The
Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook by Julee Rosso who owns The
Wickwood Inn in Saugatuck, Michigan.
House By The Shore's Blog Policy Monday, November 24, 2014
Thankful!
So thankful for so many things!
We, at House By The Shore, wanted to take a
moment and reflect on our many blessings.
There are so many things in life to be thankful for and we believe it is
extremely important and healthy to stop on occasion and look at how full the
glass really is!
As Thanksgiving approached this week, here are 27 things
that we’re thankful for:
- Family – because no matter where you are in life, your family is all you really need.
- Friends – they don’t have to love you, they just do.
- The good ‘ole USA – yes we have our issues but we are blessed to live in a free country.
- Our servicemen and women – who valiantly fight for the freedom we enjoy and sacrifice so much to protect liberty.
- Good health – not everyone has it and it shouldn’t be taken for granted.
- The food on our table – we didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
- The roof above our heads – we have a home to live in.
- Oceans – there is nothing that puts into perspective how insignificant our problems really are than standing beside the vastness of the ocean.
- Seasons – each one is beautiful and unique in its own way.
- Sandy beaches and the crashing of waves on the
shore – for the inspiration and serenity they bring us.
- Second chances – everyone makes mistakes and everyone deserves a second chance.
- Pets – who else loves you so unconditionally?
- Color – of the sky, the ocean, the creatures that live beneath the sea – how boring life would be without color!
- Trees – for their shade, their beauty and their strength.
- Good times and bad – without the bad, we wouldn’t treasure the good.
- Faith – no matter what you believe in, optimism, courage and determination come from faith.
- Little pleasures – a piece of chocolate, a great glass of wine or a bubble bath – the simple little things that put a smile on your face.
- Art – it inspires and brings joy.
- Snail mail – because receiving a note or card in the mail is heartwarming.
- You – our customers who allow us to do what we love.
- Random acts of kindness – humanity makes us proud.
- Laughter - it is contagious and healing.
- Naps – such a guilty pleasure but so restorative to body and soul.
- Rainy days – the sound of the rain on the roof, the fresh scent it brings and the opportunity to snuggle up with a good book and slow down for a bit.
- Wisdom – the one good thing about getting older.
- Sunrises and sunsets – masterpieces each and every day.
- Holidays – for the joy they bring and the time
to celebrate with family and friends.
House By The Shore's Blog Policy
Friday, November 21, 2014
Fall Mantel Decor
Decorate your mantel with fall décor for Thanksgiving!
Before all the Christmas decorations come out we, at House
By The Shore, believe it is a great time to have one last hoorah for
fall. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time
to spend with family and friends and often is overshadowed by Christmas. We think it is important to pay homage to
this day and celebrate fall in all her glory as we reflect on all the blessings
bestowed upon us.
There are tons of ideas out there for decorating your fall
mantel and when you live at the shore; it really isn’t any different for you
than it is for anyone who lives inland.
If you want to have a fall mantel with a coastal flair all one really
has to do is add in a few seashells, a starfish or two or even some rope. We’ve pulled together some fall mantel décor that
we love from across the internet and hope it gives you some inspiration!
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| Photo via: Sally Lee By The Sea |
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| Photo via: Pinterest - Ashlee Eastwood |
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| Photo via: Landeelu |
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| Photo via: Sweet Something Design |
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| Photo via: Rustic Restoration |
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| Photo via: French Country Cottage |
A few pumpkins and gourds, some candles and some shells and
pretty fall leaves will turn any mantel into a beautiful fall mantel perfectly
adorned for your Thanksgiving gathering.
House By The Shore's Blog Policy
House By The Shore's Blog Policy
Friday, November 14, 2014
Beach Chic
Worried about being kitchy when you want beach chic?
How do you avoid the pitfalls that take your décor into the
land of kitch? What is kitch you ask –
think pink flamingos and tacky lighthouses.
The pitfall is never intentional it is just so easy to get caught up in
the tide. Par the pun. It all seems great when you look at it in the
store but when you get it home and all in one place you end up crossing the
line into kitch land. Why? Most of the time, it is simply too much. You’ve gone from 1 or 2 items that were fine
to 7 or 8 and it went too far.
We thought we’d offer up some advice that House By The Shore
lives by. First of all – exercise restraint. While the fun crab nightlight, lamp and
towels look really cute, you might do better just choosing one of them so that
it stands out and makes a statement – the right statement that is. When you get too many it all blurs together
and loses impact in your décor.
Think about color choices.
Now many will recommend going with bright whites and keeping it all
neutral. We don’t believe that is what
you have to do. Take this pretty dining
room we found on Decoist.com.
 |
| Source: Decoist.com |
The walls are painted a beautiful navy. White ceiling, cream rug and dark finish
furniture. The white slipcovered arm
chairs at either end of the table lighten the look of the dark wood. The rattan blinds carry the dark finish of
the wood to the windows and the white draperies soften and add light. The brass
chandelier adds the perfect hint of sparkle. The key to this room is that it is
balanced. Light and dark work together
beautifully. The room has a nautical
feel simply with the navy and white but nothing is overdone.
This brings us to our next tip – don’t overdue the
nautical. We hinted at that above but it
deserves to be stated again. This dining
room could have been overdone with a ships wheel chandelier, model ships on the
table and upholstery festooned with anchors.
See where we’re going here? You
want a chic, calming space to dine – not to feel like you walked into the local
seafood tourist trap restaurant.
Think about textures – we love to see rough-hewn wood
combined with some sparkle from shiny metals or glass. Take this room for example from Décor
4 All. The rattan coffee table
and the rough wood of the end table give depth to the light white walls and
slipcovered sofa. The sisal carpeting
gives texture as well. The sparkle from
the glass jars and the mirror help to balance it all out.
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| Source: Decor4All |
Use fabric, finishes and patterns to give a nautical,
coastal feel without taking things too far.
For example natural linens not only look great in coastal décor but they’re
extremely well suited for beach living.
So are heavy cotton twill or denim slipcovers. Use stripes and patterns that reflect the
nature around you. Pillows with pretty sea
life patterns and stripes can look nautical without being overbearing as you can see here with this pretty combination from House By The Shore.
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| Source: House By The Shore |
Choose wisely and practice self-restraint – that’s the key
to having beach chic décor!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Thanksgiving Dinner - Coastal Style
Instead of “over the river and through the woods” it is
really nice to be “over the dunes and near the water” for Thanksgiving! Celebrating any holiday with family is a
special occasion but especially when you can do it at the beach. There are so many things to be thankful for
and a house by the shore is definitely a
great place to be this time of year.
Holidays can often be stressful though and they don’t have
to be with a little thoughtful planning you can have a beautifully decorated
home for the holiday, set a beautiful table and prepare a great meal to enjoy
with your family. Here are our tips for
a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner – coastal style!
Decor
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| via Indulgy.com |
We like to keep it simple and use natural elements as much
as possible. A grapevine wreath for thedoor with fall leaves and grasses and a shell or two or we love these wreaths created from driftwood as seen on Indulgy.
Place some pumpkins and fall foliage on the
front porch to greet guests. Add some
greenery, candles, pumpkins and clear vases of seashells to the mantle like the
one seen on Starfish
Cottage. This is all you need
and it can all be accomplished quickly and easily and will look fantastic.
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| via Starfish Cottage |
Tablescape
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| via Pinterest |
Set your table a day
or two before the big meal! This saves
time and helps to keep you focused on preparing your meal and enjoying family
on Thanksgiving day.
Centerpieces are easy if you keep it simple. We highly suggest keeping it low so guests
are able to talk to the person sitting across from them. We love using candles, hydrangeas and
pumpkins down the center of the table. Use
a piece of burlap for a quick, easy and inexpensive table runner.
Holiday meals are a time to bring out the pretty
dishes. Use a charger to ground the
plate and add some color.
 |
| via Emily Post |
Holiday meals are teachable moments for kids. Use this meal to teach them proper place
settings and to reinforce good manners. Brush
up on the rules at EmilyPost.com.
Menu
Plan your menu in advance.
Know what you’ll be cooking and make a plan. Research recipes and decide if you’ll try
anything new. The
Chew has a ton of great recipes for Thanksgiving dishes. Don’t be afraid to put a little coastal flair
on the dishes you’ll be serving. Coastal
Living gives a menu for a Cape
Cod Thanksgiving you may want to check out.
Prepare your shopping list in advance. Get as much as possible prepared
beforehand. There is a ton of prep work
that can be done in advance. After all
Thanksgiving dinner always seems to call for lots of chopping and dicing. Plan your cook times and create a
schedule. Know what should go in the
oven when. Ask for help. You shouldn’t be shy. Give guests jobs to do – they’ll all be
underfoot in the kitchen anyway so put them to work!
Relax and Enjoy!
You know that there will be moments when things get
hectic. A dish won’t turn out the way it
is supposed to or you could have sworn you bought that ingredient but it is
nowhere to be found. There’s also those
awkward moments when FAMILY gets together sometimes. This is when we say, take a deep breath, look
out the window at the ocean and have another sip of wine! Then relax and enjoy your family – time with
them at the beach is time to be cherished.
Happy Thanksgiving!
For more coastal Thanksgiving ideas and inspirations, check out our Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/HousebytheShore/coastal-thanksgiving/
House By The Shore's Blog Policy
House By The Shore's Blog Policy
Thursday, October 30, 2014
6 Tips for Creating Outdoor Rooms by the Shore
Expand your square footage with by creating outdoor rooms!
When you live on the coast, it is pretty much a given that
you’ll be spending more time outside than
Focus On Your View
It is why you have a house by the shore isn’t it? The ocean is the draw here and you don’t want
to compete with it (you can’t by the way).
The ocean offers endless hours of entertainment whether you’re just
watching the clouds and waves roll in or people watching, there is always
something to see. Focus your space to it
so that the view is front and center.
Be sure that the furniture you choose allows you to see the “scenery.” We’ve all been to those hotels or vacation
rentals where there is a wonderful deck or balcony but when you sit down, you
have a great view of the deck rail! Keep
this in mind when choosing your outdoor furniture. Depending on zoning rules and regulations,
you may not be able to alter the deck rail height but you can choose different
height chairs to maximize your view. A pub
height table or captain’s
chairs may be just what you need.
Also clear glass or steel cable railings can really help improve
viewing.
Bring the Inside Out
Furnish your outdoor
rooms just like you would your living or dining room. You’ll want a mix of sofas and chairs. Include side and coffee tables for drinks and
games. Use ottomans so guests can prop
their feet up and relax. Outdoor
dining should include of course a table and chairs but also consider
pieces that allow for serving. Be sure
to consider numbers. How many guests
will you be entertaining? Be sure you have adequate seating for them – if you
entertain a lot and have lots of people in and out you may want to have more
than one outdoor dining table for example.
Decorate the Space!
Accessorize your
outdoor rooms. This is what adds that
level of comfort and makes the space even more inviting. Add outdoor rugs,
soften furniture with pillows and add
those décor items. Accessories complete
the look in outdoor spaces just like they do indoors.
Also consider adding fire and water! Fire pits make for cozy evenings in cool
ocean breezes and the sound of water from a fountain is very relaxing even in
addition to the sound of the waves.
Incorporate Nature
Use shells and
driftwood to your advantage. They make
wonderful décor accessories. Fill glass
hurricanes with sand and shells and add pillar candles for quick and easy
centerpieces. Add greenery by filling
pots and urns with plants and tropical foliage.
Protect from the Sun
During the day, the sun can be glaring and HOT. You’ll want to be sure you have some type of
protection to make your outdoor room a comfortable place to be. An awning, arbor or umbrella will protect you
from the sun’s rays and offer a cooler place to enjoy the outdoors. Remember in hot climates, the north side of
the home will be the coolest if you can take advantage of that.
Illuminate
Lighting is important and while you may not want it as
bright as indoors – you don’t want to compete with the stars; you will want to
be able to see the food you’re eating.
Candles in lanterns
are wonderful for soft mood lighting and so are Christmas or patio lights
strung through trees or across the space.
Outdoor lamps are a nice addition as well. Tiki torches can help with any bugs but be
careful where you place them because of the fire hazard.
Enjoy your time outdoors – it is easier when you have a
comfortable place to relax and great company to enjoy it with!
Friday, October 24, 2014
Mixing Patterns Like the Pros
How do you mix patterns like the pros?
House By The Shore is
often confronted with this question and many more when it comes to
patterns. How do you mix them? What is the secret to mixing patterns? How many patterns can you have? It really boils down to some fairly simple
tips when it comes to mixing patterns in your home décor.
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| Hadley Boxes - Set of Three |
It is all about odd numbers and scale. Actually this is the secret to all design but
let us explain. Odd numbers are more interesting to us visually. It is better
to have three of something rather than 2 or 4 whether it is the number of
patterns you use or how many knick-knacks you have grouped on a shelf. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the picture. We bet your answer is three.
Scale is also vitally
important. You can’t use 5 patterns that
are all bold – it will drive you crazy.
When people get patterns wrong it is because they forgot about
scale. Here are some tips and visual
cues we suggest following when mixing patterns.
Minimum of three!
Fabric number two should be half the scale of your dominant fabric and contain some of the colors used in your main pattern. We chose a lovely check fabric – Outer Banks – Robert Allen Fabrics Oasis which picks up the teal and green nicely.
Fabric number three focuses in on one color – turquoise. It is actually a plaid, Helios Plaid – Robert Allen Fabrics Turquoise. Your third fabric should be the smallest in patter and typically will have fewer colors. Now we could have chosen a fabric that has more than two colors but we would have wanted the scale to be even smaller as the colors will compete with the scale.
The more the merrier!
The more patterns you use the more interesting your look. The key here as you add in more pattern is to keep the same color intensity and you also want to be sure you spread the pattern around the room.
When we added the fourth fabric we kept it light and went with a stripe. This Ticking – Bella Dura – Aquamarine fabric brings out the creamy white and gray in fabric one.
The fifth fabric, Rowell – Robert Allen Fabrics Pool is a small scale geometric that accentuates the turquoise color.
Solids count!
When you are working
with mixing patterns, you want to remember that solid colors are patterns too
and that texture plays a role. Look at
how nicely the solid turquoise,
gray
and green
fabrics balance the patterns we have chosen.
Now we hear you, they have eight now.
We would stop at seven or pull something else in and move to nine but we wanted to illustrate the solid color choices you could go with here. You actually could have more than three; you could use the creamy white and navy as well.
Hard to get too many!
Ok, we suppose it MIGHT be
possible to get to the point where you have too many but let’s just say we
haven’t discovered it yet. That is as
long as scale is kept in mind. You’re
more than likely going to run out of places to put the patterns before you hit
too many patterns. After all a room will
only hold so many upholstered pieces, draperies and throw pillows! And remember some of your patterns will be used minimally like the piping on a chair or pillow.
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