Last week I took a look at the beauty of shells. Today I thought I’d take you around my house to show you all the seashells we’ve put on display.
The photo above features our nature bowl which almost always has shells in it. The big round one is actually the shell of a dead sea urchin– David found it while abalone diving up north a couple of months ago. Since we are always bringing home new finds, the shells we find get periodically moved out of the nature bowl and find a new home elsewhere…
In my front bathroom
Jars of shells (mix of found and bought), a framed greeting card (thanks, Mom!), more shells in a jar (mostly found), and a candle from my friend’s seashell-themed wedding (with local beach sand).
In my living room
A necklace, collected shells and a candle in a handmade basket (made by women in Mexico).
A jar of random collected seashore bits and pieces from a recent trip up north.
This one of my favorite (unfinished) projects. I took a garage sale spice jar rack and decorated with shells (using hot glue). The idea was to fill each jar with sand and maybe a couple of shells from various beaches we visited. I never filled the last two jars (guess I need to!) but I love that I have sand from our honeymoon location along with a couple of favorite local beaches and a few Caribbean cruise destinations.
In my bedroom
Classic Hawaiian shell necklaces hang on our headboard.
Shells collected over the years and a couple of broken necklaces have been in this jar for years, definitely since before I was married.
Outside
A double clam shell sits up top (can’t remember where we found it) and a beautiful conch (this photo doesn’t do it justice) that we found and carefully brought back from the Bahamas sit on our porch.
Succulents have such an underwater quality to them, so it only makes sense to drop a few shells in with them.
In my jewelry
I bought these earrings while studying abroad in Santiago, Chile. So I didn’t find the shells myself, but they are a lovely reminder of the sea just the same.
Every now and then a shell will wash up on the beach with a perfectly placed, perfectly formed hole, like it was just made for a necklace. I strung this one with beads the color of the deep blue sea back when I was in high school.
Thanks for taking a peek inside my seashell-loving home! Next we week we hope to share some more inspiration and specific ways and you can bring the outdoors in.
About Nicole
These are beautiful pictures! I love shells, but never seem to decorate with them. It would certainly bring a beachy feel to my home though!
Williams-Sonoma is having a great sale of “seashell” items – some as much as 75% off. I have bought some candles and am looking at other items.
Do you know what? I had completely forgotten about these small wonders. I know I have my own collection and I didn’t even know it; the shells that my husband and I picked up on a beach walk from when we were teen-sweets, the shell necklace my daughter can’t get enough of and the odd ones dotted around the bathroom from our last family holiday. So many memories, so many shells! Thanks for the reminder,
Claire
Nicole…this was just what I needed for a little decorating inspiration today! As I was organizing my basement, STILL, 9 months after the move, I found a few boxes of shells and sea glass. As we live in the mountains now, and though I spent most of my life on the shores of Lake Michigan, the shells I’ve collected over the years will be just what I need to switch out the patriotic decor and pleasantly remind me of the beaches I miss.
Thanks for all your inspiring photos. And for sharing your beloved collection.
So pretty, Nicole. I have a sparse collection in my bathroom that we collected in Maine. I love the blue candle tucked into sand!