Coastline Treasures

Generally when someone thinks about a lighthouse, they think of the coast.  But lighthouses can be found in places other than just next to the ocean.  Often they are found next to trafficked rivers.  Serving the same purpose that the coastal lighthouses serve, river lighthouses still warn marine travelers of dangerous rocks and shallow waters.

The lighthouse located on the St. John’s River in Florida is one of several of its kind.  Built in the 1800’s, this light house has many towers dotting the longest river in Florida.  However, like most lighthouses today, none of these are operational.  But also like many of the other lighthouses in the United States, the St. John’s River houses are all preserved for historical purposes and immortalized in lighthouse home décor.

Nautical culture remains a big part of my hometown in northern Michigan. Shipping industries began to sprout up in the 19th century thanks to the town’s strategic location on Lake Huron. The steady stream of commerce at all hours meant that the area needed plenty of operational lighthouses. This measure was meant to ensure the safety of ships and their crews as they came in to port, but the lasting effect has been much more profound.

Today, Northern Michigan lighthouses are appreciated as much for their historical value as for their functionality. They are especially treasured by older generations, and lighthouse figurines have become collector’s items in recent years. Their intricate detail and lifelike appearance serves as a testament to the quality of the craftsmanship. These figurines are the next best thing to examining a real lighthouse up close.

Through the nineteenth century, lighthouses were not functional without the aid of the lighthouse keeper.  The lighthouse keeper was the person who maintained every aspect of the lighthouse.  He, and often his family, would live in the house attached to the lighthouse.  Each day he would tend to the light, making sure that the lens was clean and not broken, trimming the wicks, replacing the oil, and winding the clocks for the clockwork-operated lighthouses.  The well-being of many sailors rested with these tenants.

But as time wore on and technology advanced, the need for lighthouse keepers diminished.  Once paid tenants, the keeper and his family would need to find a new place to live and work because the lighthouses began to operate on electricity.  Today, the lighthouse keeper is a primarily lost job.  Some lighthouses still have volunteers that make sure everything is in working order, but most “keepers” are now tour guides to those eager visitors interested in learning more about these magnificent historical structures.  Lighthouse décor brings a little of this history into the home, and every time you clean your décor, you will feel like the once very important lighthouse keeper.

Loving lighthouses from a distance is great but what about up close?  You can have your very own lighthouse in a day.  Seem impossible?  Not with the right materials, tools, and some patience.  Gather the items that you will need; sheet metal, either aluminum or steel, wood, screws, nails, hardwire cloth, and an outdoor fixture. Cut two wood round pieces; one 6 inches in diameter for the top, and one 12 inches in diameter for the bottom, both with a ¾ inch hole in the middle.  Take the sheet metal and carefully bend the metal curving it to fit the two wooden rounds.  Trim the excess metal and screw into place.  Make a 16 inch base with a 20 inch top securing the lighthouse on top.  Now make a 10 inch wood round with a ¾ inch hole in the center.  Fasten the 10 inch wood round to the top of the lighthouse screwing in place.  You are ready to paint.  Do a little research and paint it to match your favorite lighthouse.

Once painted, it is ready for the final touches.  Cut a 2 inch by 24 inch piece from ¼ inch hardware cloth and attach it around the edges of the 10 inch wood round top.  This represents the railing around the balcony of the lighthouse.  Using a standard plastic or ceramic utility light socket, prepare the electrical cords and run the wire through the ¾ inch holes drilled in the wood rounds.  Attach an outdoor fixture that has a top, to act as the roof of the lighthouse.  Once completed, set in place and build around the base with brick, stones, dirt or the like to cover the base and add stability.  For more detailed instructions, go to Ubuilder.com.  Now sit back and enjoy your very own lighthouse décor.

My mom and I share a favorite holiday, Christmas.  We both love the festivities, the cheer, the decorations, and the holiday’s spirit.  That is why my mom developed a special tradition for just us two.  Each year since I was five, I received a special plate at Christmas that has a holiday depiction on it, as well as the year.  But these plates are not to be eaten off of; they are solely for decoration.

Decorative wall plates are one way to spice up a living room, dining room, or kitchen.  There are ones specifically designed for different holidays and others are year-round.  Too pretty to eat off of; these plates look gorgeous at any time.  I will proudly display my holiday plates each Christmas season to commemorate all those years, and share that special tradition between my mom and me with others.

Lighthouses are filled with mystery, wonder, history, guidance, and warmth.  These magnificent structures were the callings that every sailor looked for.  They warned of dangerous rocks and shallow waters, but their light was a “welcome home” for all sailors to see.  Once that light was seen, a sailor was able to breathe easily knowing that his treacherous journey was complete.

To help the sailors know where they were, each lighthouse is unique in style.  Also, the architecture of the lighthouses in each of the regions around the United States is different so to tell the sailors what region they are in.  Lighthouse figurines are wonderful replicas of these structures that dot the country’s coasts.  If you have the opportunity to travel to see these historical wonders, take it.  They are truly amazing to see.

In the nautical world, there’s nothing more iconic than the lighthouse. And if you live in the Pacific Northwest, these lighthouses are completely indicative of the area. As such, they are particularly prevalent in areas such as the Oregon Coast. If you’re at all enamored with these areas or ocean décor in general, you can recreate that feeling through strategic home decoration. Whether you add subtle nautical touches to your home or go all out with the ocean theme, the décor of you house can alert people of your love for the ocean life.

Not surprisingly, one common theme within this type of decoration is lighthouse home decor. There are many different variations on this theme, but these lighthouses come in everything from paintings to lampshades. As with any home décor undertaking, you can make your home as overt or as subtle as you want. You can merely paint the walls a color reminiscent of sand, and you can add some small seashell detailing for a very understated ocean look. Alternately, you can go all out and choose one room to be your nautical area. To that end, you can adorn the shelves with ships in a bottle, lighthouse lamps, anchor figurines, and any other decorating items you’d like.

About two years ago my family and I traveled to North Carolina to visit our relatives.   We rented a beach house for a week, a two story house that faced the clear blue waters of the Outer Banks.  Each day we went for an adventure around the town, playing in the ocean, and spending quality time together.  One day, we drove to the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  My mother went crazy, falling madly in love with the tall structure.  From then on, we continued to travel from lighthouse to lighthouse so that she could see the many lighthouses that North Carolina has to offer.

 As you walk into our house, lighthouse figurines sit on our mantle, one being the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  It reminds us of our beautiful and memorable trip to the Outer Banks with our family.  A souvenir is always a perfect way to keep the family connected.

I can’t quite recall the origin of her fascination with lighthouses, but as collectibles, my mom loves to collect lighthouse figurines, prints, pictures, quilts, and lanterns.  I think it began with my aunt who had a few lighthouses scattered around her home, while she wasn’t too serious about it, I think it turned my mom on to the idea of collecting lighthouses.  Lighthouse décor is popular amongst a lot of people around the world, and despite what one might think, lighthouse collectibles are quite common.  There are even shops online and around the world that specialize in only lighthouse collectibles! 

I think more fun than purchasing lighthouse collectibles from a store is finding unique pieces from various locations.  Mom started her collection with just a few pieces, mostly from gift shops of actual lighthouses she visited.  As more rooms in her home started to feature lighthouse photos, prints, and figures, she started to become more interested in the hobby and buy all the special pieces she wanted.  She even has a bedside lamp that is a little lighthouse with a shade over it!

There are so many activities a family can do together to strengthen their bond. Many times, though, it’s hard to get teenagers on board for family time. Parents need to think of creative ways to get older kids involved in activities. Many kids don’t have the patience for board games or long talks at the dinner table, but they do like arts and crafts.

Buy some basic wooden birdhouses and several festive (yet, bird friendly) decorations.  Spend a rainy Saturday afternoon decorating your new lighthouse birdhouse. Each person can make their own birdhouse. Later, on a nicer day, get the family together and set up your birdhouses in the backyard.