It always starts with something, doesn’t it? Sometimes bringing in a new décor pieces makes you rethink everything!
I had been noticing on some blogs (here and here) some very pretty baskets so large they were almost trays. Baskets that are big and wide, with a shallow lip around them. I made a mental note to keep an eye out for one, even though that’s no guarantee I will remember!
A few weeks ago I was wandering around in our local ‘high-end’ consignment store, and I found one! I was in their back section, perusing their 50% off section, and ‘way up there on the top shelf, there it was. If it had been full price, I may have thought twice about it, but at $8, it was a no-brainer.
It’s beautifully made, and it’s really nice and big! It’s a perfect square, with a very low lip around it, and the bottom of this basket is nice and evenly flat. I do not always find that to be true with woven baskets, so I am very appreciative of the high quality.
From this new tray, the inspiration for a summer coffee table struck! I wanted to build a vignette that included shells for a summer motif. Apart from that, I did not have any real idea about how to go.
So I started with a candleholder with a candle.
For the shells, I have a few bowls or containers that were leading contenders to display the shells. This one sat too deep, I didn’t feel like it was high enough.
This footed bowl is high enough…. but it’s visually dense and a bit formal for summer.
My last option was this open weave ceramic bowl. I like that it is footed, and sits a little high, and the open weave allows for the layers of shells to show through. (I stumble across these bowls all the time: Home Goods, thrift shops…they seem to be everywhere!)
Then I turned my attention to the candle, testing out a few different variations there. I have a seahorse candleholder (thrift shop find), and a beautiful candle with starfish decorating the sides. Since these two pieces combined have been a standard on my summer mantels over the years, I thought it was time to change it up.
I finally decided on yes to the starfish candle, but no to the seahorse candleholder.
The next step was to fill the bowl with shells. I wanted to make sure that shells would mound up higher than the lip of the bowl. So the first step was to put down a layer of wine corks to provide a lifted base for the shells.
Then, I pulled out my shells, and added them in 3 layers:
The flat ribbed shells:
Then the small size shells:
And then on top, the showy-shells:
Then I swapped out a few options for the greenery and decided on this white pitcher with some arrowhead.
From a thrift shop basket comes a coffee table vignette that is fresh, simple and easy! It is summer, after all! For some more summer ideas, please visit see these posts: 2017 Summer Living Room, Beach-y Summer Dining Table Vignette, Tutorial – How to Decorate a Summer Mantel.
From our home to yours!
Kristine
My Soulful Home-Sundays at Home
Marilyn’s Treats-Over the Moon
21 Rosemary Lane
I never drop by your blog without noticing how cozy everything is. I like the vignette, but the overall feel of everything really speaks to me. I hope that makes sense. Beautiful rooms.
Leanna – thank you and it does make sense. It’s what I hope people take away from my blog: we each define the beauty in our homes by using our own standards, not what’s current or trendy.
And working with what you have is both a challenge and rewarding. (A strong streak of creativity like yours never hurts, either!!)