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
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

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
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 Cindy Clay 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 Cindy Clay 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

By Cindy Clay Srader
This week I am combining a beautiful room and a how-to all rolled into one. This kitchen is very high end. You can tell by the appliances they used. What I want to point out to you is how this floor really is bold with the color. If you are trying to save some money in rebuilding or building your beach home, inexpensive wood can be found unfinished and when painted it looks wonderful. This floor beautifully grounds this

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

By Cindy Clay Srader
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

By Cindy Clay Srader
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 the birds on the beach and hearing the waves crashing on the

by Cindy Clay 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

By Cindy Clay Srader
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

by Cindy Clay 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 Clay 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

Cindy Clay Srader
When you have a beach home the first thing you have are tons of friends and family making their reservations! Having sleeping options makes it much easier to accommodate your company and makes it easier on the homeowner. This room just lets my imagination run away on how I would be able to use it! One of the first things that you see is

By Cindy Clay Srader
This is the first home I have featured in my Beach House Parade. Those of us that live here are so fortunate to have so many varied homes, that riding down the beach is enjoyable to just see what is happening next. I love this home, but I may be a little prejudiced. It is my Mothers and next door neighbors home. Mom has never been much of a

By Cindy Clay Srader
I am looking for people that would be interested in showing me their home and telling me their story. I would like to feature the different architecture and interior styles that make Bolivar unique. If you could send me an email and your number we can work out a time to get together. The first time will be a meet and greet and then I will have my

Cindy Clay Srader
Well, once again I found another way that when living full time in a beach home, which often means downsizing, finding extra space is a real plus. In many homes there is only room for one dining area, but by using this built-in dining nook you can actually have an eat-in kitchen and not lose a lot of space. Note how the space beneath the benches

By Cindy Clay Srader
Decorating at the beach gives you so many different views and ideas to make your family happy. When starting with white walls, you are looking at a blank slate! Whether you like a nautical look or just beachy beachy, crisp white walls give you so many places to go! This room allows a combination of the two. The blue and yellow

By Cindy Clay Srader
Are you building a beach house or do you already have one built that the door opens into the room? Either way this idea is a keeper. Many people use the sliding-in-wall (pocket) doors so they are able to get the space they need in the room. They are frequently used in bathrooms. They are out of the way but there is an alternative. In the below picture

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
Do you want a more feminine room, read pink, but your husband thinks that it is too girlie and is not something he would be comfortable with? There is an answer to make everyone happy. This room has Coral walls (a pink with some orange in it). Notice that the green headboard gives the room that outdoors feel. In a room like this I would start with

By Cindy Clay Srader
Many of the new homes have fireplaces. There is nothing better than sitting in front of a roaring fire in the winter, warm and toasty and able to look at the beautiful beach. As you can see below, you do not have to settle for a simple mantle if you do not want to. Today I have included 3 completely different looks that you can use to spruce up your