Set Adrift: Driftwood Projects For The Nest

There’s something nostalgic about driftwood. It’s already lived a whole other life before it was uprooted from the ground and set adrift to sea. The sand, wind, water and waves have a way of uniquely weathering the patina of fallen wood like no manmade finish can do. Driftwood Rack

The DIY Driftwood Rack from Sunset is simple, beautiful and free. It’s the same idea as this coat rack.

Driftwood Headboard

This rustic handcrafted headboard lined up next to the linen bedding, created by artisan Trisha Rose, sets a calming bedroom mood. Doesn’t it?

Driftwood Table

This one-of-kind table made from a piece of driftwood we found along the shores of the Hudson River (see, you thought I was only partial to the ocean), sports a slab top of black walnut from a downed tree found on our property. Here’s a tutorial for making driftwood tables. We left out the polyurethane and used Gorilla Glue, which is non-toxic after it dries.

Driftwood Wall Art

My Uncle Danny was a master of reuse. His renditions of eco-art could be found all over the nooks and crannies of his seaside home that my cousin, Amy and her family now live in. He created this piece in the 1960’s, and it is still displayed on an outside wall of the home.

Note: Before you head out beachcombing for driftwood, check your local state beach authority for regulations about collecting scavenged wood.

Credits: All Driftwood Furniture, Sunset, Cabin On The Water

More beach-inspired projects: Beachcombing With a Purpose: 2 DIY Shell Projects DIY Decorating With Nautical Knots What The Sea Left Behind Sun Senses: Beach Inspired Home Decor

Trim The Waste: Zero-Waste Design

Here’s a quick Q&A: 1. Do you eat organic food?

2. Do you bring cloth bags with you when you go shopping?

3. Do you recycle?

4. Do you compost?

5. Do you buy clothes that are made from leftover scraps of fabric?

If you checked the first four in the affirmative, and puzzled over why you are even answering number 5, you’re not alone. The question never even entered my eco-radar either. What's it all about?

“Zero-waste design strives to create clothing patterns that leave not so much as a scrap of fabric on the cutting room floor. This is not some wacky avant-garde exercise; it’s a way to eliminate millions of tons of garbage a year. Apparel industry professionals say that about 15 to 20 percent of the fabric used to produce clothing winds up in the nation’s landfills because it’s cheaper to dump the scraps than to recycle them.”

Want to find out if zero-waste fashion is coming to a store near you? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Is A Lake House A Beach House?

My husband and I have been having this debate for years. It goes like this: Ted: "When I was a kid, I spent my summers at our beach house." Ronnie: "That's not a beach house because it's on a lake." Ted: "Well, it's got a sandy beach, waves, and as far as you can see there's water." Ronnie: "But, I grew up near the ocean and beach houses are situated near ocean beaches, not lakes."

We could go on and on, but I think you get my drift.

A few years ago we rented a boathouse on Lake Rosseau in the Muskoka region of Canada. I fell in love with the area. In many ways, it's similar to the Adirondack Mountain region of New York State. The natural beauty of the landscape is highlighted by Muskoka's culture of pristine lakeside living. There's no mention of beach houses in Muskoka. The folks call their homes "cottages" (like the one above).

Maybe you can help settle this friendly marital debate. Is a lake house a beach house?

Main credit: Domino

Assaulted By Noise? Try Quietude

“Silence is a source of great strength.” ~ Lao Tzu Sound is constant. Whether it’s in the background or in your face, there our culture produces a lot of noise. Finding slices of silence are few and far between for many of us with complicated lives (myself included). Noise becomes yet another byproduct of a busy life.

If you’ve decided to slow down, treatment how do you deal with the constant barrage of noise? I believe we need to be attentive to how noise affects us and design our lives to coincide with our intentions. If you choose to live more simply, have you reassessed how you deal with noise? CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Beachcombing With a Purpose: 2 DIY Shell Projects

DIY Shell Curtain

Want to give beachcombing a purpose? Colorfully-toned shells come in so many unique shapes and sizes. Set out to find the perfect shells to complete these shell projects. The image above is a sweet and simple shell project from Sweet Paul. Create this Shell Curtain with shells, ed a hammer, physician nails and twine.

DIY Shell Chandelier

This Shell Chandelier tops my list of creative reuse of junk. Underneath this stylish number wrapped carefully in twine and adorned with shells, is a tacky old lighting fixture that was headed for the landfill. Reused, recycled and reconsidered, the Shell Chandelier created by Lindsey Cheney of the Pleated Poppy via Completely Coastal is a thrifty and creative reuse project.

For more beach-inspired projects check out: DIY Decorating With Nautical Knots What The Sea Left Behind Sun Senses: Beach Inspired Home Décor DIY Stone Knobs

Credits: Sweet Paul and Lindsey Cheney