My Beach Bucket Lamp

Weeks ago, I had mentioned wanting to put a lamp in the second bedroom that was inexpensive, yet beachy and different from some of the ones I have seen. A fairly tall order. Well, I was able to put together the lamp to the right for $15-- it was extremely easy to do and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.

I took a beach bucket (or pail...whatever floats your boat), a plain lamp that was on sale at the hardware store for about $10, and a variety of different beach rocks, sand dollars, and beach glass. How easy was it? I just stuck the lamp in said bucket, filled with cool rocks and things (mostly found on the beach itself, and looped the cord back behind the bucket's handle. Totally simple.

You can see in the picture to the left, it adds a little something to the second bedroom's lobster theme...the real Rock Lobster! Ha! I suppose if you prefer you could use a lamp kit (you can get them at the store for around the same price as the on-sale and put-together model that I selected) and make it more permanent by adding plaster inside the base. I chose not to do that though....I like to move stuff around, and who knows what this little bucket has in store for the future!

Dish it Out-- Coastal Style

My plates from CB2 have arrived, and I am not opening the box until I complete all of the tasks on my "To Do List" (there are a total of 2o items, so this will be a busy week!). In looking for some fun dinnerware, I also came across these octopus plates from Anthropologie, featured in their From the Deep Collection. This collection houses an assortment of plates, from kissing fish, to boats and more, all ranging from $14-$24. Check out their Life at Sea tumblers as well, and their Sea Creature Tea Set for a funky tea party even Alice would love!

Bathroom Pics

Thought I would share this picture of the main bathroom. As you can see, it has beadboard walls, tile floors, and there is also a fabulous skylight above the bathtub (you can see the light filtering through). The lighthouse rug was another housewarming gift-- I love the bright colors, so I picked out towels that match that same color scheme...and coordinate with each bedroom! This system also helps me keep things organized when guests are over-- if your designated color is blue, don't let me catch you with a yellow towel!

More Livingroom Pics

Thought I would share a few more pics from the livingroom-- the couch has been great, it's actually a pull out, and I love that all of the covers are machine washable. The white tables are also courtesy of IKEA-- I love the fact that the coffee table has a drawer that pushes through both ways with different compartments. Right now, I've got my blue starfish and some sand dollars in there, I'm still thinking about what beachy stuff I can house in that drawer!

The sofa table also has a glass top with open shelves...yes, more starfish! They seemed to bring the least amount clutter while giving things a bit of a coastal touch. I found them on quality shells, a discount shell store that enables you to purchase seashells from all different parts of the world. Montauk does have a number of great shells, but I thought it would be fun to bring in a few that wash up naturally on other shores.

Of course, with a glass top table you need to be careful-- I received one of the best housewarming gifts to help me with that-- these gorgeous blue coasters made out of geode rock. They are the perfect platform for any cocktail!

A Beach House for Your Fish!

I saw this post on Live Modern and I had to share! This little beach condo was created by Teddy Luong, a student at Carleton University's School of Industrial Design. I believe Unica Home is taking advanced orders, so have Mr. Bubbles' real estate agent call his people to get things ready for this season! I love it, totally a fun twist on that plain fishbowl I had growing up! Check out the original article on PrarieMod.

Lighten Up !

One of my favorite coastal accents at the Blue Gull Beach House is the lantern hanging in the foyer in the picture to the left (it's a small foyer, so maybe I should just call it the spot where you kick your flip flops off!).

Lanterns are a great way to add to your beach shack vibe, and Pottery Barn has a wide selection of them to choose from this season, in varying price ranges, shapes, sizes and colors. You don't really need to be using them as functional pieces, you can have them in the background on your shelving or use them to brighten up the great outdoors (PB is also featuring a special: free shipping on all lanterns). I'm liking this red one but the image is not posting (technical difficulties!)-- picturing a fun table setting for July 4th!

Table Tauk

While I was not able to finish my larger project: painting the bedroom furniture, I did manage to give this little side table a quick and easy update.




I needed a sidetable for the second bedroom, which was previously a kids room. I liked the idea of keeping this second bedroom more playful and fun-- I wanted it to continue to be a place where younger guests would love to stay. So, I brought in some blues and whites via those shark print sheets I was telling you about, and some lobster sheets, to keep the overall vibe sort of funky.

As you can see in the picture on the left, with the help of a little white paint, there is now a cute side table that matches the blues, whites and yellows that accent this bedroom. I found a pillow to keep with the ocean critter theme, and a metal bucket that I absolutely love (It was only $5). Originally, I had no idea what to do with this bucket, but I have decided to transform it into a table lamp for the room. With an old lamp kit (or older lamp), a new shade, and maybe some stones from the beach, I hope that the "lobster lamp" will be a cool addition to the room.

Gone Local

I had a great time in Amagansett, and came across a really cool store: GONE LOCAL. The owner, Susan Seitz-Kulick, makes 70% of the items in the store herself (that's a lot!).

I will admit, I heart small businesses, and naturally, I had a fabulous time poking about in Susan's store. She has a little bit of everything in there, for everyone's taste, and everyone's budget, which is pretty cool. Many of her items are creatively displayed in wicker baskets and vintage beach pails, which adds to the funky atmosphere.

I wound up leaving with some Hampton Basics Kiwi soap, that came in handy following a trip to the beach (I used it for washing shells!). Some people go to garage sales and estate sales when they seek undiscovered treasures: I hit the beach. You can find some interesting stuff, from shells, to driftwood, to you never know what. Nature's best fire sale, and the price is always recession-friendly.

My most recent trip uncovered a number of shells, some beach glass, and a few items just too large for me to drag home! Probably a good thing in the long run. I have no idea what I will use these shells for, but, I'm always thinking...and whatever I can't think of Susan will be sure to have in her fun store! Thanks again Susan!

We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Lara (not sure if you go by Tina as in your post) on winning the first-ever Blue Gull Beach House Giveaway! Thanks to everyone for participating in our little contest, we look forward to hosting more as the summer months approach.

A special THANK YOU to black & light for being so generous and for making such fabulous candles for us all to enjoy. If you have not yet checked out their website, make sure you do-- they have amazing handmade candles that are perfect for setting a fun tablescape. Have a great weekend everyone!

Holidays at the Beach

Having grown up close to the beach in Rocky Point, NY, I know firsthand that you can give any holiday a seaside touch. It doesn't necessarily need to be literal-- for example, you can incorporate soft blues and whites into your normal holiday decor, or add a few natural elements like seashells, driftwood, or whatever you like (just have fun).

This past Sunday, in honor of Easter, I made a few table centerpieces that incorporated a modern twist on that green grass you might remember seeing as a kid-- I took a few simple bowls and added grass, jellybeans and a few starfish and sand dollars to keep things light and fun.

I also made "Easter Buckets" instead of baskets, with some great metal beach pails that I found at World Market. I alternated stuffing these with candy, swim tubes, water guns and other beachy stuff. This was an easy way to make personalized favors for guests of all ages and to get everyone excited for the upcoming summer months.

The Hamptons had a number of great events for young and old alike, and in Montauk Mr. John's Pancake House served up "Bunny Pancakes" all weekend (delicious). While we did not take part in any of the more formal egg hunts or bonnet parades, we did host an egg hunt on the beach. The weather held out long enough for us to charge the dunes in search of easily-spotted plastic eggs filled with money (hey, a bunny's gotta eat), seashells, and other assorted treasures!

I know, you're thinking "no way I would run like a fool on the dunes." Well, after you've had a few of the Blue Gull Beach House's special mimosas, you would be hopping along like the rest of us! Besides, ten minutes worth of fun can create a few memories that will last a lifetime. Thank you all for an awesome time-- it's good to be young, in spirit and at heart.

For those who could not make it out to the End (or the beginning, I don't know) I hope you enjoy the pictures, and if you have some fun shoreside pics or stories from this weekend please feel free to share!

Before and After

Thanks to all family, friends (and new friends!) who came out to make this Easter extra special! I truly had a fabulous weekend, and I am not sure where to begin to share a few highlights, but I will try.

As promised, here are a few more before and after pictures of the Blue Gull Beach House. Since I recently posted a picture of what the master bedroom used to look like, I thought I would show you all where it is now-- it now looks a little something like this. The hardest part was the painting of the furniture, which as you can see did not get done this trip! I did make it all the way to Becker's Home Center, but as things came up, there were not enough hours in the day to paint. However, we did manage to get all new linens, pictures, and of course, my i-pod i luv radio which I am crazy about! It has a little attachment that you slip under your pillow to wake you (should you choose to keep to your schedule) and you can rise to whatever tunes you crave. I downloaded some beach music in various folders on my own i-pod, some music for waking, some for dinner, et cet.

This picture to the left is the old livingroom. The furniture had darker green tones, and I wanted to bring in furniture that really made you feel as though you were at the beach, on a boat, or somewhere else in paradise. I wanted it to be comfortable, and the couch that I picked is just perfect for kicking back on after a long day at the beach or about town.

In the picture below, you can see what the livingroom looks like now-- I brought in some navy blue couches with a variety of different pillows accenting different shades of blue. The tables are all glass topped, some with drawers to showcase more beachy stuff, and others with an island-shutter feel to them, in lime green. I also added some very natural accents, which I will show you in future posts. More to come!

Shelling Out

One final post before the weekend!-- as I need to focus on getting some work done and entertaining guests at the Blue Gull Beach House, I will be offline for a few days, but I promise to return with more pics and tales of any new adventures (I hope there are some new adventures)! I saw these adorable seashell measuring spoons at Anthropologie. They have some cool sea-inspired stuff worth checking out, including plates, curtains(with an octopus print), butter dishes shaped like sea life, et. cet. All of this kitcheny- ware makes me think...what will I be serving?

CB2...2CUTE!

Could not pass up these little appetizer plates, they had me all smiles today at work! As you can see, Oliver is ready to party! These are available at CB2-- they have some great stuff for summer entertaining, including table linens, barware, and even outdoor furniture, all at affordable prices and in modern styles.

If you're looking to spruce up your surf shack, check out their galvanized planters (available in different sizes), their sol pendant lamp, and their igloo chairs which were also featured on coastal living's blog (Sarah Latta has a great post on their store). As you can see in the pic to the left, the clean geometric lines help to add interest to an otherwise boring patio.

The Original Beach House Bedroom

I wanted to share a peek of the original master bedroom. The previous owners were a really lovely couple, and took great care of this little beach house. They had some amazing times at the house with friends and family, and we look forward to continuing where they have left off.

This is what the bedroom used to look like. They left behind some awesome vintage furniture from the 1960's that I am working with. The only thing that will probably look the same once I am done is the paint on the walls-- the cool green color is really relaxing! The one change that I will not likely get to finish is switching out the ceiling fan. I found one online that has a more modern feel to it, so I am going to eventually replace this one. The goal this weekend is to balance work on the house with some play in my new area. I am going to do my best to remember to bring my camera everywhere with me, and hopefully the ducks will be out again on Montauk Highway- Main Street! They are too cute! The picture below is the fan that will likely serve as the replacement once I get down to it on my to do list.

Coastal Furniture Find

In my search for some funky and unusual furniture pieces, I came across these beds and headboards at Cottage Home Maine. They have a huge selection of tables, chairs, upholstery, wall decor and more! Their furniture is custom made, and it comes in a variety of paint colors to perfectly match your beach shack (they have custom paint available as well). Not sure if these will be making a splash at the Blue Gull Beach House, as this coming weekend I will be trying my hand at painting the house's original headboard in the master bedroom. But, if the project falls flat, I may be giving Cottage Home a call!

Cottage Home also features design services and can help develop a "color package" to compliment any design package you might have. Check out "The Ledges Showhouse" and the "Dover Bluff Showhouse" on their website.

These beds (to the left) are from their Carolina Collection and come in a variety of sizes. I can see them fitting perfectly as a fun accent piece in a room for younger beach guests (or in my room, who am I kidding!). They also come topped with flamingos, palm trees, pelicans, whales and other beachy things.

Light My Fire! (And Win Our First Giveaway)

Join the Blue Gull Beach House's first GIVEAWAY! We have partnered with an amazing candle store called black & light to provide an opportunity for you to win a free candle (YES, I SAID FREE!). This family-owned business makes unique candles (designed by Holly Eve)-- they even design custom candles, like the ones that they created for the 2008 Obama Presidential Campaign and Mariott Resorts in Scottsdale, Arizona. Black & Light is dedicated to helping those in greater need, and they encourage us all to share the glow, which is why the Blue Gull Beach House is happy to shine a little light on them!

So this is how you can win (See Rules Below as Well):

1. Visit the black & light website, and browse their stuff! You will thank me.

2. Describe your favorite candle and tell us why you like it best.

3. Double your chance to win by mentioning the Blue Gull Beach House's site on your blog.

4. Triple your chance to win by booking with the Blue Gull Beach House for Summer 2010! For more information, please contact:


MaryAnn Peluso: 917-992-2251


Rules We Can All Agree With:

Please make that sure if your comment does not link back to a blog or a website that you provide an e-mail address so that we can contact you if you win. This contest is open to all and will end at Midnight on April 7, 2010. The winner will be announced on April 10, 2010.

Paper Chase

I came across this great paper at Paper Source. They have various locations and some good online shopping for all different types of paper, notecards, and other stuff. Not sure exactly what I will be using it for, but I am envisioning invitations, place cards, and I may try to use this blue fish print (my favorite) to to add a twist to one of the lamp shades currently in the house. If you combine this paper with plain note cards and beachy decor (like starfish, seashells, et. cet) you can make some great handmade cards and things. I am including this next picture-- mind you I do not have a green thumb, or whatever color thumb you need to master this kind of stuff, but I think I at least get points for effort. My tombstone shall read: She Tried So Hard. Yes, that is also some ribbon that you see, in some great paisley prints. I cut out one of the fish from that paper and mounted it (think placecard or decoration for an outdoor party). The starfish card does require a little assembly (don't try this at home, expert at work here) and I would not recommend sending it via mail! The edges of the paper were cut with pinking shears, and the hearts and other cut outs are from Paper Source.

Two Sheets to the Wind!

It's the little things that count...and also add up when you are trying to jazz up a beach house. Starting off simply, with just one main color has helped to point me in the right direction when picking out furniture and bedding, but it all can get very expensive quickly. In order to add some character to the house, (I opted to keep the exposed beams in their natural hue and to leave the original paint for now), I brought in some funky sheets and pillows to make things interesting (Life is too short, you gotta keep it interesting). Changing sheets, pillows and smaller accessories is a great way to give your pad a new look both quickly and inexpensively. Overstock.com and Amazon.com have a great selection of beachy sheets that will not break your bank (and at 200 thread count won't break your back either!). The Tommy Hilfiger Collection is great, and features bright stripey patterns, hula girls, little lobsters, and these cool "shark attack" sheets to the left. Given Montauk's long history of shark tournaments and its connection with the movie JAWS, these sheets were a must for me. They come in all the sizes you need-- out of the pool and into the bed!

What's Your Sign?

Beach houses, shacks, cottages and bungalows have some of the best signs, from nautical, to rustic, to funky. There are several shops in Montauk where you can pick one out if you are sans sign, such as Haven, and there is even a small shop where you can have your sign made to order. This one to the left is at the Blue Gull Beach House, right above the outdoor shower, a perfect spot to plan your escape from the Real World.

Win a Rug for Your Beach House!

Completely Coastal, one of the latest beach blogs "Making Waves" has a free giveaway from Outer Banks Trading Group. Outer Banks Trading Group has a ton of cool beach-inspired home furnishings, and you could win one of their "jelly bean indoor/outdoor rugs." To enter, go to the Completely Coastal website and follow the instructions-- entries are accepted up until midnight on Thursday March 25. My favorite is the one to the left, called "Little Fleet." Check out their other styles and sign up to win!