Not So Close To The Sea Shore....

I am 1,324 miles from the Hamptons, a four-hour flight to Malibu and half a world away from the south of France. But these are the places that consume the mind of this landlocked Midwesterner who is longing for azure waters, soft white sand and bleached homes that have been perfectly kissed by the sun.


So as I find myself in the thick of summer, I want to translate my interiors to a coastal vibe that allows me to escape to a destination that is not so far away. Some designers swear off using beach or nautical themes in homes that, well, aren’t on the water. And while I tend to agree that authenticity should play a central role in design, a bit of the outdoors can certainly be fun to bring indoors for the season. Short of throwing sand on the floors, give it try.



BEACHCOMBER
I love the beauty of items that the ocean delivers from the deep. Placing sea fans, coral and driftwood in crusty antique garden urns and vintage silver loving cups makes for instant impact. I also arrange old sea glass balls that escaped from fishermen’s nets into old wood trencher bowls. I recently turned a pair of weathered wooden buoys into lamps. I find that using these simple installations can create visual interest without trying to pretend my home is 50 feet from the shore.



BIG SPLASH
I recently found a fantastic vintage locker shelf unit complete with baskets — it is fashionably filled with towels, books, art supplies and host sundries that need a place to call home. This is where form and function meet in earnest, and to a Type A personality like me, that’s pretty swell.


ROW YOUR BOAT
I have a large collection of boat oars and constantly find a new way to install and display these in the store. For this season, I have placed a dozen of them — paddle side up — in a large, white Nantucket basket. It’s as if they were just hanging out in the boathouse waiting for the rowing team. Another fun display is to suspend them from the ceiling or place them in pairs on a large wall for instant artwork. I have also used them over windows to hang sailcloth panels.


INDOOR HAMMOCK
On hot summer days I like to retreat inside to the comforts of cushy furniture with cool fabrics. One of my favorite spaces is our family room, which is filled with white slipcovered furniture and arranged on an over-scaled sisal rug. I will officially go on the record and say that not only is this a timeless look, it gets the wear-and-tear of my three active children, who are often in possession of chocolate chip cookies. The effect of washing them over time makes them all the more appealing. Toss some bold, striped accent pillows in place and grab a book — nothing is more refreshing than that after a day in the sun.

Happy 4th of July!

Best wishes for a safe and happy Independence Day everyone!

This Land Was Made For You & Me

Words: Steve Rogers
Photo: Roy Inman
Kansas City Star: 5/15/11

Baseball, apple pie and Route 66 — it doesn’t get much more American than that. Many songs have so aptly penned the beauty of our native land in words and verse. Our rich heritage, our treasured freedom, the vast topography from west to east and the melting pot that makes us one nation.

So it got me thinking about those things that are unique and influential within the American landscape. From the signs that beckoned travelers to the carnival games that lined the midway at the state fair. A handmade soap box derby car, ice cream from the local drug store soda fountain or weekend camping at the lake — these are the things that made my childhood, and bring a smile to my face as I associate them with the past.

There are many things that can fall into the classification of Americana, often with patriotism and nostalgia playing defining roles. The latter seems to be cropping up in recent finds I’ve made for the store in addition to design playing out in the homes of my clients. We all like to identify and connect to our past (think Facebook). Here are some elements of Americana that can play center stage right in your own home.

ROAD TRIP
Remember when “vacation” was an overnight at the Holiday Inn or sleeping bags in the Grand Canyon? I bet there are a few of you with a stash of ashtrays or hand towels monogrammed with the Ramada crest (you know who you are). Remember that flashing neon “vacancy” sign? Wouldn’t that look terrific over a fireplace mantle to perk the room up a bit?

SODA JERK
Although I’m not quite 40, I did make many trips to Palace Drug Store in my hometown for a cherry cola (three cherries, please). I can still picture the old apothecary bottles that lined the store shelves, holding the various compounds within reach of the drug store pharmacist. Today I use these bottles for an artful arrangement on bookshelves and in the bathroom for all the small catchalls.

OLD HOLLYWOOD
“Wizard of Oz” is part of my earliest memories. I spent countless summer days tucked into a sumptuous velvet theater seat for an afternoon matinee. I recently hauled some away for a client’s home theater. Next up are classic movie posters to line the wall. Popcorn, anyone?

WOOD SHOP
Well, I can officially kick myself for never taking shop class. I am always on the hunt for great wood boxes, carvings and crude furniture that is best defined as outsider art. If you were an American boy growing up in the ’50s or ’60s, there is a good chance you made your share of it.

CARNIVAL
There is something magical about the transition of summer to autumn and the opportunity to visit the local fair. Funnel cakes, ring toss and balloon-dart throw are within reach of every fairgoer. As a test of my skills, I knocked down countless punk dolls and shot many crossbows only to haul away a new treasure. These relics are turning up as great touches in home décor and are especially fun in a kid’s room.

So whether you grew up rural or urban, humble or affluent, chances are you have experienced a little bit of Americana. Woody Guthrie put it best: “This land is your land, this land is my land, this land was made for you and me.”