Coastline Treasures

You just redecorated a room in your home and the way that the furniture fits together, there is a hole.  The hole is too small to place anything big there, but to big to just leave it empty.  This sounds like the perfect place to put an accent table.  Because they are so small, accent tables make great final touches to the furniture in any room.

An accent table is a very versatile piece of furniture.  It can be used just for display of other accent décor, or can be used as a miniature coffee table.  If the table is in the bedroom, using it as a night stand is a great idea.  You can even use it as a stand for a fishbowl if an aquatic pet is to your liking.  The possibility of ways to use an accent table are endless.

The nautical life, including nautical décor, has many stories to tell.  Some of the most interesting of these stories are those about pirates.  The objects of children fantasy, movies, and books, pirates have been prominent throughout history.  Some of the most intriguing stories belong to the most fearful pirates.  And the most fearful of them all is Blackbeard.

Born Edward Teach, Blackbeard was an English pirate that sailed in the Caribbean and Western Atlantic in the early 18th century.  Blackbeard always carried multiple pistols, swords, and knives, making him a fearsome fighter.  And for the intimidation factor, he would light his beard on fire during a fight to show he wasn’t scared of anything.  But despite his fearsome persona, there are no accounts of him actually killing anyone.  Even still, Blackbeard was not someone you would want to mess with.

Many people think lighthouses, like lighthouse home décor, are a more modern idea, but lighthouses date back to ancient history.  Deemed the most famous lighthouse in the world, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built on the Island of Pharos in Hellenistic, Egypt.  It was from these origins that many countries got their word for lighthouse.  The word pharos is the word for lighthouse in many languages, or a variation of the word.  For example, the word faro is the word for lighthouse in Spanish.

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was built in 280 BC and served the traditional lighthouse purpose of marking the port.  For centuries the lighthouse stood as the tallest structure in the world at between 383 and 440 feet in height.  It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Dolphins are some the most extraordinary creatures on the planet.  They are smart, skillful, friendly, and playful.  Not many people have the opportunity to get close to these majestic creatures, most only get as close as Sea World or the dolphin figurines on their mantel.  But a lucky few get to experience these creatures face to face in their natural environment.

Surfers are among the few who have the rare opportunity to interact with these playful animals.  From friends, I have heard stories of dolphins actually surfing alongside of them, and swimming up to them while they are waiting for a wave.  How lucky they must be to have the chance to be so close to dolphins.

When I think of the sea, I can’t help but imagine the bygone days of excitement and exploration, when maps still contained huge swaths of uncharted territory. I tried to capture that spirit of adventure while redecorating my family den. My wife and daughter made their own suggestions, of course, but we all agreed that nautical decor would make the space more inviting.

I began by frequenting antiques shops and secondhand stores. At first the going was tough, but then I discovered a life-sized ship’s helm in the corner of a local shop. I refurbished it and sanded it down myself, then set about complementing the helm with smaller decorations. My wife found some stunning lighthouse figurines online, and we added a few model ships to drive the theme home.

When I was a little girl, and even still today, I would love swinging.  I always felt so liberated when I was swinging.  The feeling of sailing swiftly towards the clouds, and then falling back and doing it again is almost beyond words.  It was the closest I could get to flying.

It never mattered what time of swing I was on.  It could be a traditional swing, a garden swing, or even a cotton hammock.  The feeling of endless possibility was always the same.  To this day, swinging is a great way to just escape.

Decorative wall plaques are a great way to show off a little.  They can be used as an accent to show off your stylish décor, or they can show off the accomplishments of a family member.  Plaques are now a common form of a trophy.  They are often given in recognition of an honor.  Its always a nice touch to any décor to exhibit the greatness that lies in your family.

Decorative wall plaques are also manufactured to add to décor.  Some of these plaques depict a landscape or seascape.  Others are a decorative way to display the surname of the family, the address of the home, or a family crest.  Any way that they are done, these plaques are sure to show off your décor.

Some people may find it odd to hang a perfectly good plate on a wall instead of using it for flatware.  Well, some plates are just too pretty to eat off of.  Also, hanging decorative wall hanging plates in your kitchen or dining room can be a much more interesting sight than framed pictures. 

By hanging plates, you also have the ability to space or shape differently than you would with a picture.  You can make shapes with the plates to draw attention.  Or, keep everything neat and linear.  Hanging wall plates are a great addition, or alternative, to your décor.

When a bird is trying to find a birdhouse, he is looking less for the nautical birdhouse, though we want these for aesthetic purposes, but for the same things we look for in a home, protection.  It is essential for the bird that the house will keep it, and it’s family, safe from predators as well as give easy access to food and water.  Keep in mind the types of common predators the birds need protection from.

Birds have many different predators, even in a safe backyard.  Dogs may get young birds during nesting season, and cats are always a threat.  Squirrels may try to eat the eggs; protective sheet metal will help prevent this.  Other wild animals, such as snakes and raccoons, are also threats.  To cut down on the possibility of predator attacks, mount your birdhouse to a metal pole instead of to a tree or hanging from a branch.

When people think of fishing, most think of the traditional angling, or line fishing.  But this is only one of many types for the fishing enthusiast.  Whether you chose to go out and fish, decorate your home with fishing décor, or both, it is important to have an understanding of what you are doing, and know that there are many different types of fishing to choose from.

Line fishing is the most common form of fishing.  Another common type is called trolling.  This is a bait less type of fishing where you run the lure and hook through the water.  To a fish, the lure looks like another fish and will try to eat it, thus catching itself on the hook.  Hand fishing is another fun way to try to catch a fish.  Now you may be thinking, “How am I going to catch a slippery, wet fish with my bare hands?”  Well, hand fishing is most common when catching lobsters or going pearl diving.  If you live in colder regions, or are vacationing, give ice fishing a try.  There are many different types of fishing, its never just one option.