Tapas on a Sunday Afternoon

When our daughter was studying abroad in Barcelona, one of my favorite events was enjoying the many tapas bars in the city.  Everywhere you looked there were people socializing over their favorite beverage and tapas.  As dinner is served so late in Spain, tapas became a kind of appetizer before the 9-11 dinner hour.  I found that I relished tapas so much, that I did not even need dinner after that. 

We found a wonderful tapas restaurant in Chelsea called Tia Pol within talking distance of the High Line Park.  They serve a delicious array of tapas with my favorite . . .  aoli sauce, which, I might add can be used on just about anything!  Although no one can make empanada like my Cuban mother-in-law, I appreciate the empanadas served as tapas.

Tia Pol Restaurant

Aioli Recipe

Papas Fritas Recipe

Tapas Empanada Recipe

Entertaining at home with tapas can be a great experience.  Ask guests to experiment with making a tapa or two to share.  Pair tapas with a Rioja or Tempranillo wine to get the whole vibe.

Our small plates are perfect for your small plates!

Starfish Appetizer Plates

Natural Shell Plates

Room For Two!

Southern Living Magazine

Coastal Living Magazine

Double up . . . need some design inspiration for twin-bedded rooms?  Here's a few to get you thinking!

Coastal Living Magazine

Love the pale comforting palette of this room.  RELAX

Coastal Living Magazine

Chocolate brown and crisp white.  A sisal rug, a few nautical accessories and a touch of aqua.

House & Home Canada

Guests may never leave this vacation-inspired space.

Sunset Magazine

Feeling like you are visiting the Florida Keys?

Coastal Living Magazine

You may feel like you are sleeping on a cruise ship with these hanging rope beds.

Coastal Living Magazine

A sunny tropical yellow and white island-inspired space.

Coastal Living Magazine

A rainy day reading nook.

Coastal Living Magazine

All of the amenities a guest room needs.

Coastal Living Magazine

Retro bungalow appeal.  Wood paneling and all!

Coastal Living Magazine

Can't help but smile at these coordinating flamingo prints.

Coastal Living Magazine

The captain's quarters!

A guest bedroom is a fun place to experiment with your decorating style.  Comfy bedding, the right accessories and your hospitality . . . your guest may never leave!

Pillow Talk!

Is there an easier and rather inexpensive way to update your look or experiment with color choices than adding decorative pillows?  We think not!

Square Feathers Coral Pillow

Square Feathers Coral Pillow

It is simple to use unusual pillows as a decorating piece, and you will not have to make too much of a commitment in decor.  One or two pillows that step outside your decorating comfort zone can bring your whole room together.

Trina Turk at Home

DL Rhein Classic Pillow Collection

Trina Turk Triptych Turquoise Pillow

Add pillows of different textures and color to draw attention to them.  We love this elegant mango link linen embroidered pillow from DL Rhein paired with a more rustic hook pillow in blue with shades of mango.

DL Rhein Mango Link Pillow

Starfish Hook Pillow

Take a vacation in your own living room by displaying some of your favorite beach scenes or sealife.

Sealife Hook Pillows

Turquoise Coral Pillow

Retro Diver Hook Pillow

Decorate with artwork pillows.  Choose from your favorite colors and artists. 

Isola Bella Linen Pillows

Betsy Drake Artwork Pillows

Eco-Art Pillows

Change your pillow decor with the seasons.  With the holidays fast approaching, we have added a few holiday coastal pillows to bring the season to your seaside space.

Holiday Tree Pillow

Trina Turk Green Links Pillow

Holiday Starfish Pillow

DL Rhein Grey Scales Pillow

Have we inspired you??

The Coastal Dining Room

A formal dining room conjures up images of friends and family sharing a meal and conversation together.  With Thanksgiving approaching, we wanted to share some of our favorite coastal dining rooms.  Perhaps you may be able to take an idea or two and incorporate them into your Holiday setting.

Coastal Living Magazine

A white palette is the perfect backdrop for the dark wood dining table and floors.  Think perfect white cotton shirt. 

Coastal Living Magazine

The colors of the coast . . . turquoise and lime green.  Perfect dressing for the painted white wood table and chairs.

Coastal Living Magazine

Casual blue and white stripe chair covers can give your room a new, relaxed look.

House Beautiful Magazine

Like a little more formal look?  Love this deep saturated navy texture against the lime green walls.

Coastal Living Magazine

Beautiful architectural ceiling details and a view out to the sea would make anything in this room shine.

Coastal Living Magazine

More lime green, a capiz shell chandelier and an intimate gathering space open to the sea.

Coastal Living Magazine

Coastal chic for the sea . . . a wall of treasured seashells, simple cotton chair covers and a splash of turquoise and brown. 

Your table is waiting!

Thanksgiving By the Sea!

The gathering holidays are fast approaching.  We have gathered a few of our favorite Thanksgiving table ideas to add to your holiday by the sea. 

Brown Woven Placemat Set

Orange Woven Placemat Set

Seashell Napkin Ring Set

We love a table mixed with shades of orange and brown to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Add shell napkin rings to bring you right to the beach.

Faux Lister's Conch

Decorate your tabletop with your favorite finds from the sea, add a few candles and a simple fishing net. 

Starfish Dinner Plates

Starfish Engraved Glassware

Reed & Barton Seashells Flatware

Set your table with Starfish dinnerware and glassware, along with Reed & Barton's Seashell flatware.

Ring the dinner bell!