beach-cottage-style-chairs

I love a good house tour with friends.

Seriously.

There’s nothing like it.  All the oohing and ahhing and turning to each other and telling each other….”Girl…..that would look perfect in your guest room.” And, “What do you think of the paint colors and the planked walls.” And discussing between ourselves that we always wanted to paint a floor a brilliant turquoise and that we were never really sure how it would look….but now that we have seen it we are totally inspired….and by the way….

….let’s have some sweet tea and fresh strawberries after the tour.

With extra chocolate for dipping. 

beach-cottage-style-bookcases

And when I toured this cottage on Tybee Island…..

….I totally wish you could have been there.

Truly.

If you were there……I would have told you that there was something missing in my life….

…..and that something was a parrot picture.

Just like this one.

And you would have told me that you just saw one at the Goodwill in town for only $2.99…..

…..and you would race me to it.

beach-cottage-style-living-room

And we would pledge our undying love for green zebra paired with green and blue tropical print and white slip covers.

And turquoise dressers.

*sigh*

And ceiling fans with actual fans.

beach-cottage-style-front-door

And then I’d tell you that if I ever was lucky enough to have a beach cottage….it would have a pink front door…..

….with a pink flamingo on the screen.

And you’d tell me you’d help me paint it when you visited and help me walk the beach in search of rocks to hot glue on a mirror

…..and a giant clam shell to hold my keys.

Because we all know that what this world needs….

…..is a few more sea shells and pink flamingos.

beach-cottage-style-porch

And I’d tell you how much I love screened-in porches and how I always wanted to make a pallet swing and hang it from the rafters of my back porch and decorate it with indoor-outdoor in fabric in bright colors but I was worried that my swing would be used as a launching pad for a basketball games and water balloon fights….

….so I never made one.

beach-cottage-style-room

And you would tell me that you thought that pallet swings were so over-rated anyway and why didn’t I just add a nice day bed and paint it turquoise instead.

And I would tell you…..

….that you were brilliant. 🙂

beach-cottage-style-staircase

And then we would walk up the staircase and wonder about adding plank walls to a room and what kind of wood we should use and how would we attach them…..and then totally forget what we were talking about and stop mid-sentence

…..when we saw this room.

beach-cottage-style-patriotic

And we would stand there for a moment in silence….just taking in the sunshine streaming through the windows and the sun beams dancing across the beds.

beach-cottage-style-quilt

And then…..you would tell me that you bought that pillow at Pottery Barn outlet when it went on clearance and that you wish you had a beach house to put it in.

And I would tell you that it would look perfect in your room with a trio of beds and white coverlets and faded quilts and striped rugs…..and who really needs a beach house anyway….

….when you live by a Pottery Barn outlet.

beach-cottage-style-blue-and-white

And we’d turn the corner and see this room.

And I would say, “Seriously.”

And you would sigh.

And the sea breezes would gently blow in through the open window and we would smell the ocean.

beach-cottage-style-desk

And then I’d ask if you would think I was silly if I found an old typewriter and put it into the gatehouse next to that old-fashioned phone.

And you would tell me retro was in and I was brilliant and typewriters were amazing and that we should stop by the yard sale we saw on the way over in case they had one…..

….and could we please stop for some sweet tea along the way?

And I would say of course….

….because house tours and sweet tea?

That’s exactly what friends are for. 🙂

PS  This post was brought to you by a little Georgia sunshine and the Mermaid Cottages of Tybee Island.

Want to know how to decorate your home for free?
Click here to get my FIVE BEST secrets.

Posted On: February 24, 2014

Written By: KariAnne Wood

Comments

  5. Image for Stephanie Brown Stephanie Brown

    Oh I love the beach! I hope to take some of these wonderful Ideas and place in our new farmhouse as it sits by a sea of green corn instead of water. Our new home is going to Preserve old memories...and some of our best memories as a family were on the beach. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  7. Image for Sharon H Sharon H

    And the funny thing is, Miz karianne......while "we" were lost in all that reverie I heard the natives whispering behind our backs....they were saying things like, "isn't that our Thistle? you know... you know...that cute redhead from Thistlewood Farm!" And her friend said, "OMG! I think you're right.....oooh, I absolutely adore every room in her house! Genius, that woman.... Seriously. And boy, if they stop for sweet tea.....I'm gonnaa be right there with them!" LOL.....

    Reply
  15. Image for Dawna Dawna

    You had me visiting Tybee Island after your last post...what a great place, did you stay there when you were away? Love all the colorful accents and the bright sunny rooms! Thanks for sharing, Tybee is on this Alberta girls list!!

    Reply
  18. Image for Yvonne Yvonne

    As I was reading this it was as if I was that friend you were talking with! I'm inspired to get gingham slip covers for my old chairs and paint my front door. Maybe not pink, but colorful! You have a way with words, girlfriend!!

    Reply
  20. Image for Dotti O Dotti O

    I loved this post! If I were along, I would tell you that even though I don't live on Tybee Island, I do live on Wilmington Island, so I can go to Tybee every week day during the summer (weekends are too crowded!) and meet you there. And we can sit (or lay) in our beach chairs, read our books, watch the people go by, look at the ships coming and going, drink our Cokes, watch the sea gulls flying around looking for a crumb someone left or threw to them, and then we could walk to Fannies and get a home-made pizza, and then go to Seaside Sisters and find some really good stuff to take home....................and I could go on and on. Thanks for making me think about all the reasons I love Tybee...........(or, we just call it "the beach.")

    Reply
  21. Image for Norma Jean Norma Jean

    Karieanne, your photos are gorgeous! I could almost feel the sunshine and cool breezes. Is there anything that you cannot do and do well?

    Reply
  24. Image for Kathie Kathie

    When I was growing up my aunt had a small 3 room cottage is South Hampton Long Island. It was a magical place. Not fancy just fun .One large sleeping room with 2 sets of bunks couches that folded out , day beds and all our beach found treasures. Clay backs after spending a day digging clams, sun burned after spending all day at the beach , sand in everything we owned . It was wonderful

    Reply
  25. Image for Jerry Stocks Jerry Stocks

    You must come for the tour of the Tybee cottages and I'll meet you there. I went on the tour two years ago and was fortunate enough to meet the decorator Jane Coslick. She soooooo talented.

    Reply
  27. Image for Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger Cheryl at Snaps of Ginger

    Sigh... This is making me long for St. Augustine. I'm only a couple hours away from it but it's just not warm enough yet. Maybe I should redo my bedroom like this house so I could have it all year long too. ~Cheryl https://snaps-of-ginger.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  28. Image for Kathy R. Kathy R.

    You could so be my new BFF except for I don't like tea. But, we would chat and I would tell you what it does to me and you we would laugh and you would be sure never to serve me tea. LOVED the post! I have already been on the Mermaid Cottages website looking at the videos with the background music ....and dreaming of being at Tybee.

    Reply
  29. Image for Arleen Arleen

    Loved the tour. Thanks. I love white. My husband thinks there should be a white paint named after me. Yes, and I often mix my whites. Colors are fine, but give me something white, and I'm a happy camper!

    Reply
  30. Image for Cece Cece

    Love this cottage! What is its name? My family would love to stay there sometime. We go to Tybee almost every summer.

    Reply
  32. Image for Regina Regina

    "And we’d turn the corner and see this room. And I would say, “Seriously.” And you would sigh." Ahhhhhhh . . . . . I'm sighing right NOW! :) What a perfect, perfect house tour. I will be packing my imaginary bags now . . .

    Reply
  34. Image for Winnie Winnie

    Thanks, KariAnne - you just took me back to many such 'tours' enjoyed by me and my dear, inseparable buddy of many, many years who is now departed and missed so much every day of my life! I loved being back there with her again, even if only in my mind . . .

    Reply
  35. Image for Izzy Carpenter Izzy Carpenter

    Thank you so very much Kari Anne for your post today! It brought me much needed happiness and warmth on this dreary snowy Monday in Montana. I think I'll have a cup of ("warm") tea in your honor!

    Reply
  38. Image for Msshe Msshe

    I love all of it, including that pink refrigerator! But...and this may seem strange...I want that typewriter! I have this Walter Mitty idea of being a newspaper woman trying to meet deadlines. Well, I sort of do that with my little blog. ha! A girl can dream. Sheila www.mykentuckyliv.com

    Reply
  42. Image for Marisa Franca Marisa Franca

    Oh what fun decorations!! That's what beach cottages are for -- to have fun with color and style and whimsy. You could put anything in there and it would be absolutely perfect. Love the South and I can't wait to get back to Saint Simons Island. The place is magical!!

    Reply
  43. Image for Colleen P Colleen P

    Very sweet house! I love the ticking look of the bedskirt in the master. I was also thinking about strawberries and chocolate the entire time I was browsing this post, haha. My Girl Scout cookies arrived today though...I'm in trouble, just sayin'.

    Reply
  45. Image for Regina Regina

    This is the first time I've ever seen an old refrigerator on a porch that I thought was classy!!! That pink refrigerator just made me giggle. Now I think I need to find an old working refrigerator, paint it turquoise, and put it on my covered porch. How classy would that look with my turquoise and lime green decor? We could keep drinks in it all summer long.

    Reply
  47. Image for Trish Trish

    .......and I'd tell you that this post was the best post of the day in my inbox because you know just how much I love beach cottages and dreaming of warmer weather.......Thank you......

    Reply
  50. Image for Ann C Ann C

    I was just in Savannah for the first time last week. Fell in LOVE! Thank you for a reminder of how much fun my girlfriends and I used to have going on home tours. I like the gingham slip overs and the room with 3 beds! Gave up my lake house so I wouldn't have to do stairs anymore, but want to decorate this ranch so it feels like you expect a lake out back. Thanks for lots of ideas.

    Reply

Comments are closed.