We promised to share our Savannah shopping finds and we’re back to deliver the goods. After dropping in on virtually every decor store in the city (with our camera in hand- we’re such tourists) our favorite shop by far was The Paris Market & Brocante on Broughton Street. Their pieces were more inspiration than reality (we don’t exactly have $1600 for a side table) but the sheer creativity of their displays and the diversity of their offerings kept us swooning (and dreaming up some DIY versions of our own). Here’s what we loved…
This insanely gorgeous oyster shell chandelier had me ready to buy a bunch of oyster shells online to string up with wire and make my own. And the $1,800.00 price tag confirmed that the only way I’d get one of these babies would be to make it myself. But seriously, isn’t it amazing?
We felt another surge of DIY inspiration when we feasted our eyes on this lovely driftwood framed mirror and the amazing basket + casters + glass top = coffee table. I instantly added a humongous order of driftwood to the oyster shells on my mental gotta-find list.
We also really adored this twig pendant drum shade. I don’t even have to order a supply of twigs online- I can grab them from the backyard- and use either wire or Liquid Nails to hold them in place between two metal shade hoops to create a natural and oh so interesting DIY pendant. If only there were more hours in the day to execute all my new decor projects! Oh look, here I am pawing a few of my favorite beachy finds- a gorgeous huge nautilus shell and a giant ostrich egg (yes it’s almost as big as my awkwardly small head). I felt like I was standing inside the coveted coffee table book The Cabinet of Natural Curiosities. Heaven.
It was seriously devine intervention that I walked out without bags full of goodies and an empty wallet. But I took lots of photos and now have a ton of projects on my mind, so that must have tided me over for the time being. As we continued down Broughton Street we also ran into the most charming little specialty store: The Savannah Bee Company’s Honey House.
Inside we found row after row of gourmet honey in delicious flavors like orange blossom and tupelo. There was even a little honey bar where you could squirt samples into a spoon- and even try some raw honey comb with cheese and crackers. Needless to saw we left with sticky fingers.
Probably one of the most intriguing places that we stumbled across was an amazing old shop called V & J Duncan crammed with old maps, botanicals, illustrations, and prints- many of which were guaranteed to be over 100 years old. There were some pretty great fern and orchid drawings and of course some fantastic antique world maps but probably our favorite thing to do was sift through the baskets, drawers, and shelves labeled with locations that meant something to us. It was so interesting to find ancient post cards with illustrations of Times Square and super old prints and photographs of the state capitol here in Richmond – and although we left empty handed we spent about an hour just poking around and meeting the owner’s adorable Cocker Spaniels who stood guard by the door.
This fabulous souvenir shop discovery just had to be included in our little shopping roundup because it harkens back to this tongue-in-cheek post from April. We especially appreciated that someone took the time to put photos of cats inside the cat-themed frames (except for the dog picture in the frame with the feisty cat with his tongue out). Excellent attention to detail. And yes, we’re kidding about them being some of our favorite finds, but they were certainly entertaining in their own right.
Then we hit up Whitaker Street (which was chock full of more furniture, accessory, lighting and antique shops), where we dropped in on One Fish Two Fish, an adorable boutique with an amazing wall of sunburst mirrors (it’s such a great idea to collect various round mirrors and display them en masse) and gilded and hollowed out tree-trunk planters (which I totally want to make with some spray paint or even some gold leafing supplies and a few backyard stumps). So many projects, so little time.
And speaking of projects, this oyster shell votive holder carried a hefty $225 price tag, but my immediate goal is to recreate it (I am ordering my weight in oyster shells, right?). I love the ruffled texture that it adds and of course natural objects like shells are some of my favorite accessories- especially when they’re used in unexpcted ways. Here’s hoping I find the time to take it on soon (and you know I’ll take pictures every step of the way).
These are the items that almost got me to whip out my wallet. At forty bucks the round white ceramic palm leaf platter (bottom right) was hardly a steal, but even the next morning I woke up with pangs that I left without it. We’ll just have to head back down to Savannah someday…
So that sums up our Savannah window shopping spree. We’d love to hear your favorite finds of the bunch and of course any and all Savannah shopping info or experiences that you’d like to share with the masses. We thoroughly enjoyed out little vacay and can’t wait for our next big road trip.
Jennifer says
One Fish Two Fish is one of my all-time favorites!
Paula says
So many lovely ideas. I really like the shell candle holder; seems like it would be gorgeous with plain white shells around a simple votive, too.
Lindsay says
Did you guys bring anything home for your house? Something to add your you collection of vacation memories?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lindsay,
We like to make little vacation time capsules (they’re free except for the dolllar we spend on a little glass jar to hold all of our collected items). So we grabbed some coral and a few shells that we saw in the sand on Tybee Island as well as some complementary matchbooks from a favorite restaurant in Savannah and we’ll be assembling a little vacation memory jar soon.
xoxo,
Sherry
Olive Rue says
Hi Sherry. I’ve been following your blog for a month or so and I have just now figured out how to leave comments. I was looking down at the bottom DUH! Okay. Glad I found it. I love all your Savannah photos. I just blogged about an adorable beach cottage on Tybee island. I’m about 4 hours from Savannah and I’m so ready for the sea and sand! Thanks for sharing the wonderful photos.
Amanda says
Love the new picture at the header of the website! It’s amazing how much it brightens up the site.
Adrienne says
this oyster encrusted fireplace was in the now defunct cottage living a few years ago. check it out.
http://homegiveawaydiary.myhomeideas.com/home_giveaway_diary/2008/08/you-say-oyster.html
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Adrienne,
Thanks for the link! I’m loving the fireplace as well as the lamps! Still so sad about Cottage Living. Sniff.
xo,
s
Amy @ Renovation Innovation says
Not sure I completely share your enthusiasm for the oyster shell decorations (hey, each to their own!). I admire your enthusiasm for creating the decorations at home on a budget! Great post.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
I definitely have some quirky taste. Have you seen my obsession with ceramic animals? Crazy!
xo,
Sherry
Beth says
So much cool stuff! Those white platters are sooo you. I can’t believe you didn’t buy anything! You gotta splurge on vacation right?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Beth,
Yeah it was kind of uncharacteristic of us not to spring for a little accent or accessory to remember our trip, but as you’ll see from our post tomorrow, we’re working hard to cut our expenses without feeling restricted- and our vacation already felt so fun and decadent without that platter so we were ok with leaving it behind. Maybe when the economy snaps out of this funk we’ll go back for it!
xoxo,
Sherry
Amy @ Renovation Innovation says
LOL Sherry. Being a lurker on your site for the past month or so, I have come to notice your penchant for anything white ;o) In fact, when I was out shopping at World Market this weekend, I noticed a set of white nesting tables on sale and thought of you!
Go to http://www.worldmarket.com/ and search for “Floral Cutwork Nesting Tables”
Do they have a World Market store near you? Are you a fan? I’ve just recently found their store – ironic because the one near us is closing down (hence the sale prices).
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Amy,
Those tables are lovely! They actually remind me of Brocade Home (which always features an abundance of items with gorgeous cut-out details). I do swing through World Market now and again, and I always find something amazing there- even if it’s just a tin of gingerbread cookies of a fun kitchen accessory. And John loves all the specialty sodas. Thanks for the link!
xoxo,
Sherry
Amy @ Renovation Innovation says
Being from the UK, I was especially excited when I saw they had a stock of English chocolate. Yippee! Crunchies, maltesers … I was in heaven!
Kristal says
Wow. Amazing finds. You’re right, it’s a miracle you left empty handed! I can’t wait to see what you guys DIY…
Kimberly says
I’m really enjoying your Savannah posts! I did a double take at the oyster chandelier pictures as I have almost identical pictures from our Savannah trip to attend a wedding in April. It was one of those, “How did they get my pict–oh, wait…I’m an idiot, they took their own…”. And I didn’t find out until I got back how close we had been to the Honey House, so seeing your pictures made me groan one more time at the missed opportunity. I, too, am just going to have to get back to Savannah one of these days. :)
Sherry says
Hey You Two,
I’ve been following your blog now for over a year and absolutely love it! I look forward to reading it every single day. Just want to say that I live in the Hilton Head area, which is about 30 minutes from Savannah. I’d be happy to pick up anything you can’t live without from your visit :). Seriously, if you change your mind, let me know and I’ll DRAG myself to Savannah LOL!
Thanks for all your inspiration!
Kristin says
I love The Paris Market & Brocante!!! Did you try any of their citrus water? I mean, so something you can make at home, but nothing like walking around Savannah on a hot day and drinking that!
YoungHouseLove says
Booooo, Kristin. We missed out on the citrus water. And I always love unique drinks. Next time!
Jenny, sorry to say that you must be dog-dreamin’. Burger’s our one and only (and tiny). But you could be thinking of my sister’s dog Tuck that’s been featured before, or maybe even the neighbor’s dog who escaped into our yard during last spring. He broke free and began swimming in the little pond we had at the time. But if we do ever end up with canine numero dos, you guys will be sure to know!
And Lindsey, thanks for the lovely award! What good company we’re in.
-John
lindsey says
I gave you guys a lovely blogger award! :)
http://newlyb.blogspot.com/2009/05/im-lovely-im-really-lovely.html
layersofmeaning says
The Paris Market is my all time favorite store!
I go to Savannah just to shop there (not a huge trip since I’m only 2.5 hours away)
Averill says
Great post guys! I always love to see a “can’t miss” list for home decor shopping — next time I’m in Savannah, I’m definitely going to hit these places up for some fabulous and beachy window shopping!
Jenny says
This is so random and off topic, but is it just me or did you used to have another (or maybe 2?) dogs? I’m not sure why I think that, but I honestly think I remember (or possibly made up in my head) that you had a larger dog that used to get out of the yard. Did I imagine that? What happened to him/her, I’ve been meaning to ask for awhile..
Christen says
I loved reading about your trip to Savannah! What amazing finds (and the honey bar looked so cute and yummy). I have a rather random question: would you mind sharing what type/brand of camera you use? All of your pictures are always so magazine quality perfect and I’m in the market for a new digital camera myself and was curious. Thanks so much! Love the site!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Christen,
Good question! The camera that we currently use to take every single picture that you see on the blog is a Canon PowerShot SD1100-IS Digital Elph. It’s a small 8 megapixel camera that has great little features like a macro setting, an image stabilizer, and a manual setting (which we use 100% of the time so we can turn the flash off- pictures look so much better without it!). We also use a fair amount of Photoshop to lighten or crop here and there. Hope it helps!
xoxo,
Sherry
LINDZ says
OH SHERRY SHERRY SHERRY!
Do I have the idea of a lifetime for you! Before I let you in on a juicy secret I must say I’m completely in luuurrrve with the oyster shell frenzy happening in the pix! So here’s your “kill (enjoy rather) two birds with one stone” idea! I know that you and are both fans of sea food and oysters happen to be my personal fav. I did an oyster roast for my engagement party over a firepit and they are incredibly cheap and indulgently delish! Get a bushel of oysters from a good seafood place. Call your friends and throw down in your back yard – helloooo kick off to summer (Memorial Day weekend is headed our way!) 1) You’ll have a blast having your friends over! 2) You’ll chow down on some insanely wonderful seafood and lastly and best of all 3) You’ll have PLENTY of shells left over for your projects!
BTW if you’ve never done an oyster roast before I’ve got a quick tip on a fire pit that’s super cheap if not free to do! So let me know and I’ll fill you in!
Hope you enjoy!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so funny because one of our good friends (Kristen we’re talking about you if you’re reading!) does an oyster roast each year here in Richmond and we were thinking about the bounty of shells we could score just by attending and calling dibs. But having one on our own soil might be even more fun! Thanks so much for the idea!
xo,
Sherry
LINDZ says
Oh just a quick thought in case oysters aren’t you’re fav to eat….call around to a couple of sea food places and see if maybe they have some left over. Most places sell them in the bushel shells and all for you to cook but they also shell them too for you to buy w/o shell.
I’ve just picked up the strangest urge for oysters! lol
Heather says
Oh man, I’m so happy you did a Savannah post. I live here and I covet things in Paris Market all the time. Savannah Bee Co. is heaven. I’m so glad you found it!
Glad you enjoyed the city. You must have been in town for another blogger’s wedding. ;) I absolutely LOVE it here. I wouldn’t know so much about stores as I would about restaurants. There is A LOT of good food!!!! And don’t forget open container!
By the way, you mentioned the abundance of carriages in your previous post. I happen to drive one of them, and just to let you know, the horses at my company are very much loved, treated well, happy, and spoiled rotten! We have the luxury of not having to deal with too much traffic like those in NYC.
Glad you had fun!
heather says
Sorry forgot something…
those oyster shells can be found in great abundance. There are lots of barrier islands before you get to Tybee. If you can get access to them, you can find whole mini islands made of nothing but oyster shells. They’re everywhere! It wouldn’t be too hard to collect enough arm fulls to make your own chandelier.
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the oyster shell tip Heather! We actually brought home a big bag collected on Tybee Island and I’m cleaning them up for my little candle holder project right now. Here’s hoping it works out! Pics to come…
But I still need more for my chandelier project so it might just be back to Savannah for us! I wish.
xoxo,
Sherry
Madeline says
I live (well kind of, in the process of moving) in Savannah, and L.O.V.E Savannah Bee Company. You have to try the Winterberry honey….it’s devine.
While I like the shopping in Savannah, some of the stores are WAY overpriced (this coming from a girl who grew up in LA). One thing I will spend money on in Savannah is the food! So many fun places to eat!
AnnaMae says
ah Savannah! I visited my sister in law a few years back when they were living there and my brother was deployed. she took me to several of the stores you mentioned. anyway just had to say I’m so in love with that basket on casters coffee table!!! I’ll have to start looking out for something similar as I continue the search for a coffee table. we’ve been without one for a few years now I just keep holding out for the perfect one.
Katie says
It’s true, I tell ya–you can find oyster shells for a song if you make a new friend at a seafood restaurant. I did a beachy bridal shower for one of my fellow Southern girlfriends displaced to Colorado. A quick call to my dad back in Augusta, GA, and he was en route to our fave local spot: Rhinehart’s Oyster Bar. When he told them he needed oyster shells, they handed him a bucket and sent him out back to have at the heap. I think they were more amused to watch him than he was to collect shells! We used them for a unique memory box: guests wrote well-wishes on them with metallic pens and dropped them in a kitschy little chest filled with plastic pearls. Voila, y’all!
Kim Hannemann says
Right. Well, when you go back to Savannah, be sure to make a stop in Charleston SC – http://novarealestate.wordpress.com/2009/01/22/charleston/ . Rivals Savannah for local color and arster shells!
YoungHouseLove says
Sounds like a plan! Charleston was originally going to be a part of our little vacay but we decided to cut our little trip a bit short to save some moolah. Good thing there’s always next time…
xo,
s
Natalie says
I have been using oyster shells as decorations forever now! I thought I was the only one. The first time I ever witnessed oyster shells decor was from my boyfriends stepmother. I totally stole the idea and now claim it as my own! All over my house I have natural clusters of oyster shells (unbroken) that I sat in a bath of hot boiling water and bleach. Now they are a gorgeous white and I feel beachy (just like home) looking at them here in Atlanta, GA.
Sara says
I love your Savannah pictures, it looks like such a charming place. I’ve always wanted to visit there and Charleston. Being in the Midwest, all the places I want to go are loooong drives away. I’m not sure I like the oyster decor, but I’m sure you’ll make it look chic and stylish in your home.
heather s. says
I don’t care for the oyster shells but I did love the white platters. Your post made me miss Georgia though (we moved from sunny, warm Powder Springs when I was 12 to cold, grey Michigan).
Chelsea says
I am really loving this driftwood decor trend that’s everywhere! That chandelier is so breezy and cool! I also love that basketweave industrial coffee table with the wheels. I’m really dying to make one from wooden box risers. That will probably be a project for our new living room in the near future!
michelle says
I’d love to see your tutorial when you make the chandelier! I fell in love w/ one at Anthropologie which had aqua blown glass ornaments hanging from the same type of base.
Holly Mathis says
Next time be sure and check out the SCAD student store..they have great student art, interiors. and jewelry..very inspriring..and across the street from the yummt Gryphon Tea room.. I **HEART** Savannah!
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Holly,
We actually checked out both the Gryphon Tea Room and the SCAD student store! They were both fabulous (we just couldn’t fit all of our tourist pics in one little post). Thanks so much for the suggestions!
xo,
Sherry
christy says
Love that wall of sunburst mirrors…the twig lampshade made me think of the Flintstones though. Perhaps in the right room? Perhaps I’m not creative enough to picture it?
But those oyster pieces? The chandelier and the frame – not my style at all. I simply can’t believe how expensive they are! I am curious to see how you could recreate them…I wonder what they would look like painted? Like all different shades of blue – that might be neat.
But love the post overall…and I liked John sharing all your money saving ideas in the earlier post. Pretty awesome that your refi is saving you the exact same amount as the paycut!
Baba says
Thanks for this. It was so much fun window shopping with you! I love all the DIY plans you make. You have to keep us up on how well you do!
Tom says
REALLY cool ideas with the shells! NOW I know what to do with that bucket of shells I always seem to collect from the beach trips! Thanks!
Tom
Becka says
OMG did you miss the store @home? http://www.vintagegeneral.com/ I went back like three times when I was there last month! You must go next time. You would love it. I kept thinking how much you guys would love it. I bought this awesome large squirrel for my yard, wonderful bags, and there was so much more to be had. :) Thanks much for the reviews of the other stores, I shall visit next time I go.
Stephanie says
Thank you for all your inspiration over the past several months. I can tell we have similar design taste as I’ve spotted a few things in your home that I have in mine as well. Talk about a coincidence! Anyway, I want you to know we’ve been inspired to take on a large project too–renovating a cottage in France. I introduced the project last week on my blog and am going to start posting about it. Thanks again for sharing this project with us all!
kc says
I just visited Savannah (I’m from Phoenix) for the first time this month. What a beautiful city–with great shopping and even better food! Another fun shop we came across was the SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) shop, full of students’ designs. They also have a web site.
http://www.shopscadonline.com/
YoungHouseLove says
Hey KC,
Yeah, we loved SCAD! My favorite part was the big metal pillar in the back of the shop covered in magnets made from scrabble pieces and other odds and ends (tiny plastic animals, jacks, barbie shoes, etc). Such a fun place to poke around!
xo,
Sherry
Andrea says
Hey Sherry and John! I just found your blog, and I’m loving all the great inspiration and tips so far. I ran across this post and I laughed because my (new!) husband and I just honeymooned in the Apalachicola, Florida, area, which is known for one thing: oysters. Oysters are a big deal there. Everywhere you walk in the area, the streets are just lined with shells – I think the restaurants throw the shells outside after they’re shucked. I looked at a photo before reading the blog entry and thought, “I wish I’d brought some shells home… I could SO make that!” Anyhow, if you are in fact wishing to DIY that chandelier/table/votive holder, check out the Florida Panhandle, an amazing treasure trove of material for this project. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Andrea,
Good to know! We’ll definitely bring an extra suitcase (or three) if we ever find ourselves in the Florida Panhandle…
So glad you found our blog!
xo,
Sherry
Tara says
Hi Sherry! I was just reading some of your archives from before I found your blog. (Love it by the way!) Anyway, I found these two smaller but similar oyster shell votive holders and wanted to send them your way. This one is a nice size- and quite a steal compared to the one you found above. It’s just $49. See it here: http://www.wisteria.com/Oyster-Shell-Candleholder/productinfo/W2950/ The second one is even more of a budget saver! At only $16.50 you could buy 2 or three! http://www.angelicalgifts.com/store-products-ST-OC-Oyster-Shell-Votive_41720816.html Enjoy!
YoungHouseLove says
Off to check them out… thanks!
xo,
s
Debbie Summers says
I have the same photos from The Paris Market & Brocante [my favorite Savannah Shop] – We visit it on every trip… Found your blog while googling for a oyster shell chandelier, you’ve inspired me to make my own! Love what you are doing here!