Covet: Shark Tooth Ring

Shark Tooth Ring With Diamond In 14K Gold By Mary MacGill

Shark tooth ring in 14-carat gold with diamond
Designed by Mary MacGill, $460
MacGill collects shark teeth on Florida beaches when she visits her grandparents. Handmade in Tivoli, New York and Block Island. 

I love this delicate bracelet with turquoise stone she designed too.

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Design Diary: An Airy Kennebunkport Beach Retreat

I wrote about this airy Kennebunkport summer home on Goose Rocks Beach for the Boston Globe Magazine‘s Summer Living issue, published Sunday, June 18, 2017. Rob Whitten of Portland, Maine-based Whitten Architects designed the house and Nicki Bongiorno of Spaces Kennebunkport did the interiors. Photos by Trent Bell. (Some affiliate links included to help you source pieces you might love.)

Modern Beach House In Kennebunkport Maine

The interior is beachy and fresh with clean lines, done in a palette of sand, sea foam, and blues. The pearlized glass backsplash adds a touch of color, without stealing the spotlight from the view. “We tried to keep things blended, so nothing would stand out,” Bongiorno says.

View Of Atlantic Ocean From Maine Beach House

The starting point was to maximize views of the Atlantic Ocean. The hand block printed throw pillow covers are Kyoto by Serena & Lily.

Mudroom WIth Grey Tile And A View In Kennebunkport

Textured tiles by Walter Zanger runs from the front entry  back to the mudroom, in an effort to keep water and sand from straying onto the wood floors in the main living spaces. Shiplap painted in Benjamin Moore White Dove runs throughout.

Modern But Comfortable New England Beach House Living Room

Low-slung RH Modern sectionals are upholstered in Perennials indoor/outdoor fabrics, as are  the cushions on the built-in benches. The fireplace surround is bluestone.

Beach House Dining Room With Oak Table And Turquoise Chandelier

The oak dining table is RH Modern and the chairs are Janus et Cie indoor/outdoor, a perfect blend of modern lines, family friendly function, and comfort. The pair of Mini Diva glass disc pendants by Regina Andrews are the wife’s favorite part of the decor.

Bunk Room In Beach House Kennebunkport Maine

A nautical-style bedroom has two sets of built-in bunk beds trimmed with edge-grain fir with a clear finish.

Game Room With Ping Pong Table

Under the eaves of the table tennis cum, Whitten added built-in trundle beds. Those drawers aren’t for socks, they hold mattresses! The glossy white West Elm console tables with blue acrylic adjustable swivel stools are great for arts & crafts projects on rainy days.

Serene Bedroom WIth Ocean View In Maine

The master bedroom is an oasis that’s all about the ocean. I love the Seema Krish “Mahalaxmi” pillows, block-printed and embroidered by hand in India. (You can read about my visit to Krish’s former Boston studio here.) The soft blue Pine Cone Hill chambray duvet is cozy and doesn’t distract from the view. The raffia dresser is by Serena & Lily.

Neutral Clean Line Bathroom In Maine

The neutral master bath echoes look of the sandy beach. The custom floating oak vanity is topped with an Athens silver cream marble slab. The polished stainless steel Dorenbracht faucets have simple curves, as do the  RH polished chrome sconces. The taupey wall tile is also marble.

Modern Girls Bedroom In Turquoise With Swing

The couple’s seven-year-old daughter wanted a bedroom inspired by seaglass. The turquoise bed and turquoise-fronted nightstand are from Room & Board. It’s a queen size, with a twin-size trundle underneath so adult guests can sleep there. Yes, that’s the Melati hanging chair from Anthropologie, which happens to be on sale right now.

Beach House Boys Room With Ocean View And Lobster Theme

The nine-year-old boy’s requested a lobsters and buoys inspired bedroom. Those are real buoys hung above the bed.

Green & Blue Beach House Guest Bedroom

The guest room bed and nightstand are from Room & Board. An aqua Serena & Lily Pickstitch Matelassé quilt covers the bed.

Seaglass Inspired Beachy Bahroom

The round tiles in the guest bath shower—Glazzio Tile Moonstone Mosaic—were the first thing the homeowners decided on for the house. ir first decision were those round tiles. Seaglass knobs add a beachy touch to the vanity.

Modern House On Goose Rocks Beach In Maine

Whitten insisted on an expansive porch, which he considers the essence of coastal living. The exterior blends classic New England materials (cedar shingles) with contemporary ones (standing-seam metal roof). The homeowners love a contemporary aesthetic, but didn’t want to the house to stand out.

Landscape architect Emma Kelly collaborated with Whitten, adding ample storage under the porch. Lush plantings and a fire pit finish the property perfectly.

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ARTmonday: Tara Sellios

Earlier this year Boston-born and based artist Tara Sellios sent me a nice note about her work. A few days later the MassArt Auction postcard arrived in the mail, plastered with Sellios’ gorgeous butterflies I was hooked.

Sellios earned a B.A. in Photography at The Art Institute of Boston in 2010 and is represented by Gallery Kayafas in Boston’s SoWa arts district.

These images are part of Sellios’ “Testimony” series, which was in view in Portland, Oregon this spring. Many of these are details so you to appreciate just what is happening within the compositions.

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Snake Photo

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photo

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Moth Photo

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Boston Artist Tara Sellios Insect Photographs

Sunday Bouquet: Little Buds Long Branch

Little White Flowers On a Branch In Cape Cod

Photo by Marni Elyse Katz/StyleCarrot

Cape Cod in June can be quite sparse. Two weeks ago there were actually more blooms in our yard than there are now. I cut this branch from a flowering tree (bush)? I’m not sure what it’s called. The flowers lasted over a week, but now the tree has only green leaves. Maybe I’ll find something else out there tomorrow morning after all the weekend rain.

Sale Alert: 42 Summer Shoes from the Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale

It’s that time again. The (StyleCarrot partner) Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale during which thousands of items, including over 3,500 pairs of shoes, are discounted up to 40 percent through Sunday, June 4, 2017. That means you have 10 shopping days left, but don’t wait til the last minute because sizes sell out fast.

To make it easier for you, and well, because I like to shop for shoes, I sifted through most of the 3,500 plus sale shoes and distilled the many amazing choices down to just 42 goodies. I tried to include a mix of colors and styles, focusing on  neutrals, though I did through in a few brights. Most are casual daytime looks, but a few heels can play dress up.

While most of my Nordstrom sale shoe picks are summer styles—open toe sandals and plenty of espadrilles, plus a slip on sneaker or two—I also included a smattering of boots, including #7 and #22 Hunter rain boots (because it’s raining today and I desperately need some) and two winter staples—#13 Rachel Comey Mars bootie and #31 Rag & Bone Ashby bootie. Take your pick, but buy one. You will thank me come fall.

I need to make a few other shout-outs. I’m seriously considering the Joie studded bootie for a some fall/winter whimsy. I already own the Dolce Vita Loki Slide, which I actually didn’t include below, but is on sale. It runs seriously wide (go a half size down), but it works fine enough and is super comfortable.

Last year on a press trip to the Vineyard I bought #8 Toms Majorca Perforated Mule which has a chunky, not too high heel. I thought the under $100 price was a bargain, but now at under $55 it’s a no brainer.

I ordered #14 Opening Ceremony Elena Sandal yesterday as a stylish every day sandal when I’m not wearing my incredibly comfortable (but kinda middle aged lady) Skechers slip on sneakers. I also ordered #30 Vince Thalia Sandal thinking it will elevate pretty much any outfit I throw on. I got a pair of distressed marine blue Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Shoreline Low Tops too.

I was a bit indulgent yesterday. But when you see these and start browsing I think you may just have a hard time restraining yourself too. Let me know what you picked!

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots

Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots
Nordstrom Half-Yearly Sale Summer Shoes & Boots

S H O P P I N G

1 Kork-Ease Pearl Sandal, $94.90 

2 Tory Burch Shaw Fringe Espadrille, $117.25  

3 Joie Lacole Studded Bootie, $226.80 

4 Loeffler Randall Mara Espadrille Flat, $134.98  

5 Alexander Wang Devon Espadrille Flat, $243.75 

6 Bill Blass Calf Hair Niki Mule, $134.9840 

7 Hunter Original Refined Rain Boot, $110.55 

8 Toms Majorca Perforated Mule, $58.77 

9 Tory Burch Sonoma Embroidered Ghillie Flat, $177.55 6

10 Ugg Adley Slip-On Sneaker, $71.96 

11 Botkier Pilar Ankle Strap Sandal, $77 

12 Marc Fisher Vally Lace-Up Platform Espadrille, $89.90 

13 Rachel Comey Mars Bootie, $255.60 

14 Opening Ceremony Elena Sandal, $116.98 

15 Kork-Ease Amboy Slide Sandal, $99.90 

16 Rebecca Minkoff Erika Pompom Tassel Sandal, $65.96 

17 Tory Burch Patos Sandal, $130.65 

18 Splendid Julie Platform Sandal, $89.60 

19 Sam Edelman Patti Ankle Strap Sandal, $69.96 

20 Dolce Vita Casta Sandal, $59.96 

21 Kate Spade Daisy Wedge Sandal, $118.80 

22 Hunter Original Short Adjustable Rain Boot, $110.55 

23 Sam Edelman Lynda Espadrille Slide Sandal, $69.96 

24 Steve Madden Getdown Sandal, $40.16 

25 Loeffler Randall Suze Wraparound Sandal, $176.98 

26 Jack Rogers Whipstitched Thong Sandal, $79.95 

27 Birkenstock Arizona Shearling Lined Sandal, $115.96 

28 Frye Chrissy Sandal, $208.50 

29 Tod’s Platform Derby, $374.98 

30 Vince Thalia Sandal, $176.98  

31 Rag & Bone Ashby Bootie, $314.98 

32 Sam Edelman Verona Espadrille, $31.46 

33 Vince Blake Sandal, $194.98  

34 Steve Madden Fara-S Sandal, $77.96 

35 Sam Edelman Patsy Wraparound Wedge, $79.90 

36 Botkier Anna Sandal, $71 

37 Aquatalia Zaira Oxford, $296.98

38 Charles David Birch Block Heel, $202.46 

39 Rebecca Minkoff Susie Studded Slide, $74.96 

40 Adidas Stan Smith Sneaker, $60  

41 Converse Chuck Taylor All Star Shoreline Low Top, $35.98 

42 Soludos Banana Espadrille Slip-On, $52.99