Decorating Trends for Spring 2023

I am not a trend follower, per se, BUT when a prediction falls in line with my aesthetic I like to embrace it. I've shared my thoughts on the whole what's in and what's out thought process before (if you like it in your home and it works for you then trendy or not - you do you!!)

I piled one of my huge blue and white fishbowl planters with shells and coral last summer and I enjoyed walking past it in my entry way many times a day. A nod to the sea doesn't have to be a whole themed look. It can be a few shells (or a bowl full!)

BUT the reason I'm excited about this Spring trend forecast is that Veranda mag has predicted "Under the Sea" as a major design player moving in to Spring 2023. I am here for it. Already. And it isn't seasonal for me. I've shared my nod to coastal and shell decor many times before here and here. We can count on Veranda to share some beautiful, elevated coastal looks to inspire us. 

I can't stop looking at this amazing room from the May/June issue of Veranda. It has so many amazing details and confirms my thought that you don't have to live at the beach to embrace your love of the ocean. This home is in the French countryside and belongs to designer Thomas Boog and his wife. 

via Veranda

So many great design ideas to use in your own space. Another great source of inspiration for me is Amanda Lindroth. I just finished her Create Academy course and I can't wait to go through it again. She has just decorated a show house room that has everyone oohing and aahing. I wish I had seen it in person. 

via Veranda

This pile of shells was on a concrete boat dock in the Bahamas about 10 years ago. I couldn't stop looking at the colors, textures and the sheer beauty of these rather large conchs. The meat had been harvested by divers (this was their livelihood) for the restaurant industry and the shells were a by-product they were hoping to sell for extra income. Yep, I helped them out. It cost me some overweight luggage fees but I have enjoyed those shells every day for over a decade. Pretty good investment if you ask me. I knew "under the sea" wasn't a trend for me so the investment was worth it. 

I have moved them around through the years. They are currently lined up on top of some bamboo cabinets in my family room. The cabinets are filled with blue and white, coral that I've thrifted and some lighthouse replicas including Morris Island Light in Charleston.

Vintage shell boxes are a favorite of mine. I rarely see them when thrifting but I snatch them up if I do. The marbled clay pot is holding some pieces of a large vintage coral piece that I accidentally dropped and shattered. It was so fragile. I rescued the bits and I'll enjoy them this way now. 

I'm slowly reclaiming the porch from the pollen and that is where I love to use seashell decor year round most of all. I've sorted a lot of my shells in to this old and worn three tiered silver serving piece. I had this one and it had a few worn places in it so I didn't mind putting it on the porch. I see pieces like this at thrift stores all the time. I love the juxtaposition of the silver and the textured shells. 

Shells and palm tree and sandcastles. All thrifted. 

As always I am a big fan of using items that are personal and memorable and not just purchased. Most of my shells have come from trips we've made. I have shells that I collected as a child mixed in with all the others. I've been a beachcomber since day 1!

What about you? Are you a shell collector?

Coral - I Love It!

I expressed my excitement on Instagram

when I heard that the Pantone Color of the Year for 2019

 is 

Living Coral!

It was right before the holidays 

and I just hadn't had a chance to 
gush any more about my love for this color!
But now it's gray, dreary January in Atlanta so we need to talk about color!!

I did recently paint my Foo Dog thrifting find a delicious coral color. 

There were some doubters out there but it's only paint

 and I personally think he looks pretty fab.

Before 

and 

After!

My fabulous china cabinet turned bathroom storage extraordinaire 

was painted coral for my Fall 2016 One Room Challenge 

(a little ahead of Pantone's announcement)

I can't imagine painting it any other color! I love it so much.

I love blue and white chinoiserie in a big way 

but I fell in love with a coral-y orange lamp while working on this bathroom

 and now I can't pass this color chinoiserie up!

And this china pattern is gorgeous.

No surprise - it's by Mottahedeh who brings us the much loved Tobacco Leaf among other patterns. This coral design would be beautiful mixed in with almost any other pattern.

And look at this coral lampshade on this fun monkey lamp! 

Just that one spot of coral in this colorful room adds so much.

I Suwannee

Summer Thornton went allll the way with gorgeous deep coral walls.

I have a Pinterest Board called Color It Coral.

 I'm sure I'll find a lot to "pin" this year!

Here is a favorite image already on the board:

I could happily live in this coral house with it's fabulous potted topiaries! 

What about you?

And since Pantone's color is called "Living Coral" I can't pass up sharing this picture

 I took a couple of years ago while I was on site in SC for post- hurricane debris clean up. There was devastation all around and we worked incredibly hard all day long 

but this sunset was our reward!

So will you be using more coral in your home this year!
I will. I always do and I feel like this Pantone choice is license to go coral crazy!!

"Fall"ing For Orange

Fall is officially here!
Orange is big in nature in the Fall.

I personally don't use orange mums in my Fall decorating or garden.
And I prefer white pumpkins over the orange ones...

But, apparently, I do love a little orange Chinoiserie here and there!

This chair is what orange Chinoiserie dreams are made of!!

It's nice how the color orange moves around the room.

And these bamboo side chairs? Perfection!

All images above from Honey Collins portfolio.

I  have a little touch of orange Chinoiserie going on in my Master Bathroom.
If you followed along during past One Room Challenges you may remember this fabulous lamp.

And a couple of gorgeous orange Chinoiserie jars in the china cabinet 

that I use as a linen closet in my Master bathroom.

Happy Fall!