By Cindy Clay Srader
When I saw these counters I feel in love. These countertops are manufactured in the same way that quartz countertops are, but in this instance sea glass is used. There are so many different colors that the options are infinite! The countertops are poured with the glass in it and then polished smooth. I am all for anything that makes

This room is a dream for any little boy! If you like nautical, this is about as nautical as you can get. This same look could be made with white platform beds like the ones sold at Pottery Barn. The bed is basically a platform with drawers. The sails at the end of the beds can be made with dowels bought from any home goods store. Making a triangle from canvas and attaching to the dowels make a

By Cindy Clay Srader
In last week’s article I talked about using a bump out window to help make a benched dining area. You can still have the same feature without having the window. In this room they upholstered the back and the seat in the same fabric. I have actually seen a headboard that looks just like this at Pier 1. In a beach house, storage is always at

By Cindy Clay Srader
Once again I am in love with a bump out window. Sounds odd I know but I wish I would have thought of this in my kitchen when we were building it. How wonderful to be able to expand you seating for a meal or to simply curl up with a book. The great thing about these nooks/window benches is the storage you can have under the cushions. In this picture you can

By Cindy Clay Srader
I love plantation shutters. Even in a home that is not on the beach it adds the flavor of the tropics. The shutters in this picture are very similar to ones that we had in our room in Maui recently. They are on tracks and slide to either side to completely open or close over the windows. Many of us have large windows so we can take advantage of the

By Cindy Clay Srader
Elegance for a Dinner Party. Sometimes it is the simple things that make your meal elegant. Just because we live and play at the beach does not mean that we need to always use paper plates and sporks. Sometimes when people come to my home they do not understand why I use ceramic plates and linen napkins. I love to make any get together

By Cindy Clay Srader
I love Wallies! They have so many designs and you can literally use them in each room. I even used some Fish Wallies on the back of some white kitchen chairs I had before IKE. The great thing about them is that they are not permanent. The come off easily, the two that I featured here would look great in any beach home. The parrot is my favorite. They also have full

Is Beach casual not your style? Who says you can’t be as formal as you want while still having the relaxing feeling of the beach. This dining room uses the formality of the beautiful custom chandelier along with the upholstered his and her chairs. By combining this with the wicker chairs and the painted table it all works to bring the feeling “up a notch” while still keeping it beachy. Notice the hemp rug that

What does summer and the beach bring to mind? Sun, sand, friends, cooking out and the only thing that will really destroy our fun is Mosquitoes! If you have a covered deck, one of the smartest investments will be to screen in the porch. There are many ways to do this after the fact but this picture shows how it can also add to your living space. The joy of being able to keep your doors and windows open for some

It is that time of year when we need to start planting, so I have given you a list of drought tolerant plants for our area. My favorites are Lantana and Phlox. They re-seed every year and all I do is cut it back and wait for the blooms. The Phlox has many babies that can be transplanted to other areas and they then start the process all over.

By Cynthia Srader,
When planning a kitchen, I always like to have an area designated for breakfast prep. Placing your microwave, coffee maker and other breakfast supplies all being in one place is a great convenience. Duplicating this same area in a master suite lets the owners have their first cup of coffee in the morning privately and if they are lucky enough to

By Cynthia Srader
This room will bring a smile to anyone’s face. This light filled room with the wonderful views has been designed to use the view as the artwork. The white walls and light chairs do not take away from anything. The punch of color in the coffee table and the pale aqua of the sofa adds color and actually draws the eye to the view. Using the reed shades

The word Waterfall means many different things. Vendors are always looking for a way to improve or change the way we use things. I actually love this new look. It is the way the granite is installed on a free standing island. The granite is added on the sides seamlessly and becomes a waterfall over the side. This look is a modern take on a counter top. It is not going to be for all kitchens, but if you are

This kitchen just looks fun. If you wanted to have a kitchen like this it is mucho easy. If you already have an all white kitchen, the lower cabinets can be painted separately with your favorite color. Notice how a group of upper cabinets were also painted on the inside the same color as

By Cindy Srader
“HOW TO”… Use “the best of your space!….Have Fun!

I think that these dish/storage drawers are the best thing I have ever used. I put all of my dishes in drawers using this system. It is basically a pegboard system using large pegs so you can organize whatever you want and they will not move when you open your drawers. Today a lot of

By Cindy Srader
Every year vendors try to excite the public with bigger and better things we NEED. I can’t help but be drawn to shiny things. This month my articles will all be about new innovations in kitchens. In looking at what is new and exciting out there I found several things that you can incorporate in your beach home. I am fascinated by this

New Years is the time of year to look around you and pick a project you have been putting off. For instance if you have been wanting to change the color of a room and just did not feel like doing it, make the resolution that you will have it done by ______ date. By determining just one thing that will make your life better in some way will give you a brighter look at life. Make sure you give it a

By Cindy Srader
HOW TO”…Make New Years unforgettable!
This week, I want to thank each and every one of you for reading my articles this last year! I have a lot to be thankful for. Being able to live in this wonderful place is one of the main reasons. Another is that you cannot help but have a smile on your face when you are watching

by Cindy Srader
Opposites do attract! Look at the colors of the corals in the pictures and then see how they were matted in orange? Blue and Orange are on the opposite sides of the color spectrum which makes them look great together. If you are a computer Wiz, the internet is the perfect place to find clip art of shells and any sea life you are looking for. Anything that is

Being at the beach this time of year is my favorite season. It is so tranquil and just taking a walk on the beach allows you to hear the waves and see the birds making their daily rounds. In the summer there are so many people that sometime you lose the peacefulness that comes with school starting and the temperature dropping. I see people out walking their dogs and using their

by Cindy Srader
When it comes to beach living anything natural goes. Using Seashells, starfish, seaglass and driftwood as your ornaments will make your Christmas tree at your beach home one of a kind. If this is your first Christmas in your beach house, what a fun family activity to make your own ornaments. When I was growing up, flocked trees

By Cindy Srader
Thanksgiving is the time for family and friends to gather for fun and fellowship. In our busy and far flung world today, sometimes we only see our extended families during the holidays. There is no where better than a family gathering at the Beach. This time of year the weather is wonderful and being able to sit on the deck with your family and

One of the joys of building Bolivar back is our ability to use our imagination and not be cookie cutter homes. To me half of the fun is making a home my own. Your homes personality should come out as soon as your friends and family cross your threshold. Looking at flea markets and used furniture stores will help build your uniqueness. Painting used pieces white or bright colors will add the warmth

Nothing beats a White Christmas. Living at the beach of course we do not have snow, but we have the white caps of the waves, the beautiful shells and the shining sun. Another great thing that makes this a wonderful place to live during the holidays is the beautiful fireworks. The beauty of red, green, blue and white lights makes us realize that when decorating our beach homes for Christmas

When designing their beach home, some people want it to look like it has been there for generations. One way is to use a lot of bead board painted white and either reconditioned older appliances or new reproductions. The appliances are very colorful and can match just about any décor you have in the rest of your house. Kitchens are sometimes neglected because most people don’t use their

In riding around the Peninsula, I have noticed the beautiful new homes. One addition that many seem to be adding to their new homes is a screened in porch. This is a wonderful way to still be outside and not worry about those pesky mosquitoes and flies. Most of us remember our parents or grandparents beach houses of the past and most did not have air-conditioning. I remember sleeping in beach houses