la Brocanteuse

Jan 12, 2013

Summer and Beach house hues





We are home and ready for 2013
rested 
and looking forward to what the year holds for us
It is going to be a good one!
 I can feel it in my bones





 We spent our summer break in Vermont 
at the beach house,
 where friends pop in and out
some stay over night, or a few days,
others  take the boardwalk home..




Friends from up country that visited us here for the first time, remarked that our home  was not "typical" beach house style
which surprised me..
what is typical beach house style?


old weathered painting~market find





not much has changed since we moved here in 2000
 13 years ago..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I still tuck a little olive branch on arrival behind the Oath of Hippocrates Plaque 
found years ago in Skiathos~Greece
actually, it was the first purchase for our beach house.

the olive trees, that is another story...



  
I still collect old chrystals
and hang them from the iron chandelier 
  
For us personally, 
we like to bring the colors and textures we see and feel outside here on this beautiful stretch of the coast, into our home ..
unplanned, yet in a way expected.





 old hand colored engravings in white washed frames





 the table cannot be moved,
 not a inch..it is cast on site 
from cement and sea sand..


always adding old hemp and linen of course..


 in fact, of the few items added continuously,
stones, shells, etched pieces of glass
driftwood and pebbles for paths 





 are allso the faded linen covered books
collected at  Hermanus Village weekend markets







  gift from me to our books..
new etBLANC bookends, slip cast from the originals
 found at Amboise ~ Place du Marche.



also et BLANC: French ladies plaque in Baroque frame
for the curves of the frame 
remind me of a breaking wave

shells and driftwood ..




 as for the necessary..
 simple, open and practical arrangements 
  to make it comfortable 
 for all who visit to help themselves
and to be at home here




linen and cotton throws for sudden cool sea breezes


easy and uncomplicated 
to focus on what matters when we are here,
nature, time to relax, to listen, to hear...
to do nothing important,  yet most fulfilling
making it VERY important indeed






 shell project: collecting shells on daily walks to string and add to the outside shower...





collected from here: 
BREKFIS BAAI ~ VERMONT
with kelp waving back and forth in the sea



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
visiting our friends

just over an hour's drive further south 
to the most southern point of Africa

 happy  colors of the trawlers lying in the harbour at Struisbaai next to l'Agulhas
so random moving side to side with the tide
This image appears different every day..
since it depends on the time they arrive back from sea,
how the light falls on the blue sea and the changes in the sky

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I adore how the fishermen choose 
the bright colors for their boats..
I can just imagine the contemplation when standing there at the local hardware store..
choosing what will become recognised
 by family from ashore..
 waiting for the catch of the day


time to pause...

Cape l'Agulhas
 Dd and our friends, each with their own thoughts,
below them the very tip of Africa
 where two oceans meet
The Indian  and the Atlantic Oceans




time at the beach house allow for
impromptu meals with friends...
sharing the catch of the day at a harbour cafe




and the best of all, even after years, 
the excitement on arrival , 
the smell of kelp and taste of salty sea air,
the cry of the seagulls,
the cool breezes from the sea,
 the colors, oh the colors
will always make us go back again, and again ...

Boardwalk to Brekfis Baai

to the natural hues we see here

 so many different shades
sea colors of blue and washed,
lime stone and caramel 
foamy white and pale,
misty, grey,  green,moody,
even charcoal  and loud 
unpredictable in it's sameness..


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I guess blue and white are the  "typical" beach house colors...true
then we have never had the typical beach house..
 for us it is in all it's hues taken from what we bring in as we collect from the source...bit by bit

inevitable that colors echo what is outside
and
the gifts bestowed on us from visiting  friends
 fit in perfectly with the hues here

                         LUNA porcelain t light holders




this is our beach house...
always the same, hues may brighten or lighten
but most importantly
we leave here, refreshed, loved and lucky - oh so lucky in a GOOD way


"Luck or chance is fortune (whether bad or good) which occurs beyond one's control, without regard to one's will,intention or desired result.  In the prescriptive sense, luck is a supernatural and deterministic concept that there are forces (e.g. gods or spirits) which prescribe that certain events occur very much the way laws of physics will prescribe that certain events occur."
~ wikipedia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ must be the physics of the Ocean with all it's mystical  force and spirit in it's depths that calms us as we open ourselves to it's offerings, smells and movement.
 Never the same, yet always  majestically present .


therefore we are influenced
 by it's complete palette of hues...



wishing you all a truly blessed
and lucky( in a good way)
  2013 


Colette 



more posts on our beach house:
*here,
*here,
*here,
 *here    
and *here




15 comments:

Pura Vida said...

If this were a coffee table book I would look at it and read it over and over. I loved your collections especially your linen books and crystal. Such a lovely post, really.

La Dolfina said...

This was my favorite post of yours to date!
You are very blessed indeed.
Your beach house is pure bliss.
Happy New Year my friend!!!!
Much love,
Terri

Dianne said...

A wonderful glimpse into your beach-house world .... with its comfortable and welcoming ambiance. I feel rested just from looking at it.
I'm sure 2013 will be everything you had hoped it would be.

NanaDiana said...

Colette- What a beautiful, beautiful post- xo Diana

The Blue Farmhouse said...

Welcome Back Colette
I'm glad you had a restful time with family and friends at your beach house. Honestly, how blessed are you to have a beach house....Anyway I wish for you a wonderful New Year!

Hugs~Rita

Acquired Objects said...

Typical beach house? Who wants typical when they could have what you've shown? Your beach house sounds wonderful and I love your gallery.

Wishing you all a wonderful New Years!

XXX
Debra~

Karena said...

Collette your beach home is such a welcoming and unique place; lucky are those who are your guests!

xoxo
Karena

2013 Artists Series

Sharon Lee Johnson said...

Just reading this post and looking at these beautiful pictures has put me in such a relaxed state of mind - a perfect way to start a Monday morning! Xx Sharon

Burlap Luxe said...

Hi Colette,
You have opened your home inspiring the grace and beauty to all of us who so dream of living your life. I love your open cabinets, and all your tone on tones your design around.
I could move right in and never look back in regret :)

Love those fishermen boats and there colourfull paint finishes what a sight to gaze on sitting by the hem of the sea.

Thank you for sharing your beauty.
Xox
Doré

Karen@PasGrand-Chose said...

How nostalgic you make me! Your beach house looks like a piece of heaven to me. So happy that I will be visiting Cape Town next week :)))

noreen said...

Colette, what beautiful, breezy, blue, bay, beach colours. Even DD's outfit matches. your pictures of the sea is quite something. Wishing you a wonderful 2013.

Shel said...

It's an exquisite beachhouse!
Colours so typical of the sand, shells and driftwood found on the beach and put together so beautifully in your home!
Hope to see it on the programme "on the beach" someday :))
Shel

Splenderosa said...

Colette, seeing these beautiful photos makes me know even more what a beautiful artist you are. Oh, how I wish I could meet you & Dd. The water is beautiful, your home by the sea is exactly that...a home. Sending love from Texas....

Marie-Thérèse said...

So beautiful and serene. Your words and pictures have a very soothing effect on me.

Love your eclectic décor and your relaxed attitude towards guests.

Bonne Année, M-T

Anonymous said...

I love your house!
Its pure bliss.
I can imagine wind on my face and sun ... here in Italy now its really cold!
Happy new year and happy week end my dear Colette.
Bisous, Babi