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Window Shopping At The Art Of Simple In Seaside

I’m currently hanging and shooting the canopy that I made for over Clara’s bed (ahh! it just might be cute!) so I’ll be back with those photos and the whole rundown for you tomorrow. I was actually thinking about writing about September 11th today. I lived in NYC at the time, and it was one of the most life-changing days that I’ve ever experienced, but for some reason, even 12 years later, I just can’t put words together about it. So I’m sending out lots of NYC pride and love to everyone affected by such a horrible day and trying to drum up the courage to talk about it (I’m reminding myself how healing it was to share Clara’s birth story). Maybe this afternoon.

So I have a window shopping adventure to share with you guys this morning instead. It’s been way too long since our last virtual shopping spree. As most of you know, these aren’t paid or perked or anything – we just walk through a store with a camera and take pics of whatever inspires us for you guys. And I especially love discovering small, tucked away, one-of-a-kind places like this. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you: The Art of Simple.

Window Shop Logo Card

I stumbled across this sweet little store while we were on vacation in Destin (it’s in downtown Seaside for any interested locals) and I had to break out the camera the second we walked in. The shopkeeper was so nice, and everything in there was so inventive and inspiring. So if you’re a local – dude, get in there! But even if you’re nowhere near Florida, I’d imagine you can give them a call if you fall in love with something in the hopes that they’ll ship it – or just draw inspiration from the eye candy for your next DIY project.

For example, some of their white bookcases were backed with beadboard and I thought it gave them a really nice crisp look. Some added interest, if you will, instead of that flimsy back panel that most bookcases come with. I also loved the color palette of the store. Lots of white with hits of red, gray, and aqua – among other splashes of color in the fun things that they sold of course.

Window Shop Store Overall

There was this cool accent wall along the back of the store too (white subway tile with gray grout) and I loved it with the old barn-board-looking floors in their gray-washed tone. They actually weren’t even wood, they were stick down laminate! Couldn’t you see a wall of subway tile with these floors in a laundry room or a bathroom? Yes please.

Window Shop Store Overall2

As sort of an exclamation point in the back of the shop there was this INSANE (in such a good way) red beaded chandelier. I wanted to run off to Paris with it. I didn’t catch the price and I’m sure it’s not cheap, but if it’s not in your budget perhaps you can draw inspiration from it and spray paint a beaded chandelier with candy apple red spray paint? Urban Outfitters and PB Teen usually sell small beaded chandeliers that might look like this gal’s little sister with a new paint job.

Window Shop Red Chandelier

They also had these awesome signs. I loved that they were black with ivory lettering (feels like a modern and understated-cool take on some of the more colorful/bright signs that people sell these days). I also really liked what they said. How much fun is The Laundry for a laundry room or The Shanty for your entryway among a gallery of frames? Every house deserves a cute nickname.

Window Shop Signs

This chick had me at hello. I wanted to bring it home but John nipped that in the bird bud. I’ve seen some pretty amazing Pinterest DIYs for making lighted signs though (never seen a chick yet, but I bet it could be adapted!).

Window Shop Chick

There were also some really cool globe ideas, both for folks who want to walk in and snatch them up or for someone who might already have an old globe but wants to tweak it with a little at-home project. This one appeared to be painted with blue paint and rubbed with some distressing glaze and then the countries looked to be painted on with black paint (or drawn on with a big black marker that was outlined in a gold sharpie).

Window Shop Globe1

And this one was covered entirely in chalkboard paint and then what appeared to be a turquoise paint pen was used to sketch the countries as well as the measurements along the equator.

Window Shop Globe2

These old metal letters had the perfect amount of patina. And I LOVE the idea of using an old metal caddy like this in the laundry room for sorting clothes.

Window Shop Letters Caddy

These lights were really interesting to me too! I even ended up chatting with the shopkeeper about them, who told me that the colors of the flowers on each pendant are customizable!

Window Shop Lights

She whipped out these rings o’ crystals and I was in awe. So if you’re redoing your kitchen and just want a pendant for over the sink with three of your accent colors (say they’re emerald green, teal, and navy) you can make it happen by ordering one of these babies. They weren’t cheap (I think around $350?) but in a spot where you just need one, it might be a fun splurge, especially if you can justify it with savings in other areas (like if you save $500 by buying all of your appliances in bulk).

Window Shop Light Crystals

These simple little mussel shells were $9 and I loved that they were sold with other soap holders so the idea for a unique way to use them was sort of planted in your brain. They had a really pretty pink color going on with some bronze. I bet they’d look awesome in an old school bathroom full of black and white tile on the floor and a white pedestal sink.

Windowshop Mussel Shell9bucks

These were legit marquee letters from the 1940s, and they were heavy and metal and completely cool looking. Predictably, John was drawn to them like a moth to a flame.

Window Shop 40s Marquis

This charming painting of an old gas pump was one of my favorite things in the whole store. I loved the rustic wood frame around it and the pretty red and teal colors. Even the red easel that it sat on was crazy inspiring to me.

Window Shop Painting

So there it is. A little shuffle though a sleepy beach town store that I’m still thinking about a few weeks later. Hope you guys enjoyed the virtual shopping spree! Is anyone else discovering new boutiques to ogle? If there are any here in VA, tell me all about them!

Comments

  3. Catherine says

    Completely off-topic but still-slightly-sorta in the browsing fun range: Houzz have an app just for kids rooms now. FYI. My work here is done.

    Reply

  4. Laura @ Rather Square says

    I love all the different letters/typography you found. We are really into that stuff in my house, being designers. I would be totally drawn to those marquee letters too – so cool that they are old-school from the 1940s!

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      We’ve only been taking them sporadically (we did share one yesterday of our rental car though!). There’s just lots going on, but we hope to be back on the IG wagon soon!

      xo
      s

  7. Sugar Cookie says

    I understand how you feel about being in NYC during 9/11. I was in my 5th grade classroom near Oklahoma City when the Alfred P. Murrah building in downtown OKC was bombed and it changed my life. A family friend was killed in the bombing and so many people in my community were affected. (I had friends whose parents worked in the building, next to the building, across from the building, and there were so many children in the daycare center right above the place where the car bomb was parked.) It’s been almost 19 years and it’s still really hard for me to talk about it.

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I completely know what you mean. I always start crying. I’m trying to choke something out for this afternoon. Not sure if it’ll make any sense, but it’s all bouncing around in my brain so I might as well try to type some things out, if nothing else than to release them.

      xo
      s

  10. Jessica says

    You should make a trek up to Winchester, VA. Not only is it amazing apple country but there are a bunch of cute boutique shops in Old Town Winchester (my favorites are Kimberly’s, Make Nest, and Simply Charming)! If you venture up here in the fall be sure to check out Marker-Miller Farm Market and Orchard (pumpkins, pyo apples galore, and apple cider donuts) and Rinker’s Orchards (for their famous apple cider)!

    Reply

  11. Megan says

    Completely in love with the beadboard on the back of the bookcases. I have two huge bookcases but they’re kind of junky and chewed up by my dog from when he was teething (didn’t even know that was a thing before we got Norman). Definitely saving that idea for when I upgrade to unchewed up bookcases.

    Reply

  14. Katy says

    As an antique dealer I appreciate all the work that goes into a shop like that. Sometimes I think shoppers don’t realize just how much work, nice to see someone does.
    I had a 9 month old baby on 09/11, and I was watching my 4 year old niece. I felt so bad cause I couldn’t turn off the tv, and my poor niece ended up hiding under the sofa pillows.
    All I could think about was my little baby and how could I bring her into a world like this. I think for all of us it was a life changing event. I hate when it rolls around each year and I am forced to bring it all back up. I am a huge fan of avoidance and perhaps denial.

    Reply

  15. Lisa S. says

    Oh I lerve that store! We vacation down there every summer and that store is dreamy. I even snagged a few extra business cards in June because I love the design so much and I used it as an inspiration for my own business cards. I have them by my bedside table and use them for bookmarks. Geeky, I know. They have the coolest antiques in there. It was fun explaining to our kids what in the world they were all used for! Good call, S & J!

    Reply

  16. Jennifer I says

    I gave up blogging a long time ago, mostly because I could not figure out how to fix the mess the format became, but before I did, I posted a journal entry that I wrote about September 11 a day or two after it happened. I thought I would want to remember someday. If you can get to it, you need to scroll down to find it:

    http://www.cheerfullycrossing.blogspot.com/?view=classic

    Might help you with the words you are seeking.

    Reply

  17. Carrie M. says

    Okay, completely off-topic and random here, but Sherry you totally need to be the Khaleesi from Game of Thrones for Halloween! You look so much like Emilia Clarke to me!

    Reply

  18. Courtney says

    YES!! Please come to Staunton (only a 2 hour drive!!) and visit the COOLEST new shop- LTD 7- you would LOVE it. Besides that, downtown Staunton has so many neat shops. Come visit and I’ll take ya to lunch. :) (Talk about a dream come true, whoa!)Oh and my disclaimer is, I am not an owner or employee of any of these stores, just work downtown Staunton and love love love it.

    http://www.ltd7online.com/ltd7/HOME.html

    http://www.stauntondowntown.org/

    Reply

  19. Julianne says

    I love just about everything there! My kind of shop, having a good mix of vintage & seaside cottage. Thanks for the tour. Got this place on my places-to-go-next-time-in-Florida list! ;0)

    Reply

  21. Lynne says

    Have you been to Culpeper VA? There are a few cute stores like this in their downtown, which is only a couple blocks long. You could roadtrip through there on the way up to Winchester!

    Reply

  23. Laurie says

    How fun would it be to get an old globe and paint it with a fictional place like Narnia or Middle Earth? Or kind of combine Middle Earth with our Earth so it looks like Middle Earth is a plane ride away?

    It’s a good thing I don’t have kids or I would be totally confusing them!

    Reply

  25. Marie says

    You should try to write something about 9/11! I can imagine how difficult it may be….especially sharing it with your immense cyber world….knowing you could probably never quite convey the enormity or gravity of the emotions you feel. But just know, you are a beautiful writer and its extremely brave to share anything at all about such a tragic day.

    Reply

  27. Amy says

    This is so off topic but I am wanting to repaint our bedroom and was browsing thru your blog (which I love) and saw your bedroom color in your second house. Do you know/ remember what that color was? I think it would go so well with the color scheme I have in mind. Thank you!

    Reply

  28. Henna @ HENNA BLOSSOM says

    REALLY excited to see the finished canopy for Clara’s bed! SO FUN! :)

    Hope you can try to get it all out…writing about September 11. Even if you don’t share it here, like you said…it can be so healing. You just have so much all stuffed inside and it’s hard to make sense. I think sometimes it becomes even harder to make sense of these things now that we have families of our own.

    Sending love your way! xo

    Reply

  29. Cindy says

    I’m kind of in love with the gas pump art! You guys need to visit The Lazy Daisy in old Chester. With over 30 ind. shops and 5000+ sf, the one-of-a-kind treasures change daily! fun! (check out The Lazy Daisy Vendor page on FB.)

    Reply

  31. Patty R says

    I LOVE stores like that. Thanks for sharing even though I am not close enough to run to it for a few things I “need”. Oh to dream…
    I live in NW New Jersey and lost a cousin in the World Trade Center that day. It is still difficult to think about it 12 years later. So much support got us all through. It’s ok if it’s still hard to think about!

    Reply

  32. Sloan says

    I was also living in NYC on 9/11 (now I’m in RIC too) and STILL get choked up when I talk about it. Good luck with writing your post!

    Reply

  33. heather says

    The Art of Simple is my favorite shop along 30A! I was in Seaside in May for birthday and bought myself a gorgeous green and white enamel pitcher. The best part of my day was watching them unload a entire U-Haul truck full of new finds. I wanted to buy everything!!!

    Reply

  34. Lauren says

    Sherry – You can totally DIY that lighted chick! (Don’t be mad at me, John!!) I used the tutorial link below to make a “LOVE” sign for my engagement pictures/wedding. It was super simple and you can do any shape you can draw on foam board. And you spray paint the whole thing at the end, so it can be any color you want too.

    http://ohhappyday.com/2012/06/vintage-marquee-diy/

    Reply

  36. Kelly says

    There’s a store similar to this in Rehoboth Beach (new this summer I believe) that I could have spent hours in! I’m blanking on the name of it but it’s on the right hand side if you’re walking away from the boardwalk.

    Reply

  37. Dizee says

    You can take the girl out of NY, but not the NY out of the girl.

    I remember, hours later, going up to the roof of a local store (in Queens) and just watching the smoke rise from the city.

    Today, I dressed my boys in flag shirts and tried to explain to my 3 and 5 year olds a little of the significance of this day. I simply said – One day not too long ago, bad people hurt a lot of good people and wearing this shirt today will let everyone know you care more about the good people than the bad people. I am not sure if they got it, but they left the house proud to be dressed in the red, white and blue. I was proud too.

    Reply

    • Lisa says

      That is really cool Dizee. Thanks for sharing that! I didn’t think of wearing patriotic colors today but that sure is a way to remember and show love for those who were lost. I’ll remember this for next year and keep that explanation in mind for my 3 month old and 21 month old.

  38. Tanya says

    I’ve never commented before but I’ve read LITERALLY (and I mean that word literally) every post you’ve done! I tell everyone about your site.

    I was also living in NY then, actually right by ground zero. On one hand, I’m so tired of being sad every anniversary but on the other it was such a pivotal point in my life and in the narrative of my 20’s. I’ve lived in LA for the past four years and even though I love it here, I feel like NY will always be my home because of what we all went through as a community. 2124Eva!

    Reply

  39. Tara says

    I was visiting a friend in that area the week before you guys and went into that store also and loved it! The beaded chandelier was AMAZING! The store was very inspiring. They had these wonderful candles on the table under the chandelier that came in beautiful lidded containers. The next time I visit I will let myself splurge on a little something from that shop.

    My friend said Seaside was used to film the movie The Truman Show with Jim Carey. It is the cutest town I’ve ever been in.

    Reply

  40. Susan says

    Just called the store to inquire about the Lemon tree art. Love it!!! Price tag a little steep for me, but in case someone else is interested it is priced at $3800.00 I’m sure it will find a home.

    Reply

    • Lisa in Seattle says

      Susan, I was loving that painting too! I’m glad you made the call. It’s pretty shockingly priced, so it won’t be getting a home here either…

  43. Dayna says

    I stumbled upon this store in Seaside in May and LOVE IT! Thanks for sharing as I had forgotten about it. Seaside is my favorite relaxation spot, so I’m glad ya’ll got to experience it also!

    Reply

  44. Amy says

    I also found this shop when I was Destin this summer! I stayed in there forever. I really just wanted to pitch a tent and stare…eye candy heaven. I bought the small turquoise mercury glass votives.

    Reply

  45. Emily @ Life on Food says

    This is my first post like this and how fun! I love wondering into usual stores with tons of nick knacks. I would be one of those people who would plan a vacation around a location to visit a place like this.

    Reply

  46. Diana says

    Just reread Clara’s birth story with tears in my eyes. So thankful that you are okay and that you have your sweet, beautiful, smart, and wonderful little girl! Sending hugs your way today.

    Reply

  47. Jackie says

    We’re from Roanoke and although it was a looong drive we decided to spend our summer beach vacation in the Destin area too and it was awesome. We rented a house at Seagrove Beach (right next to Seaside) and visited that same store! I seriously thought when I walked in that you guys would love this place. So funny you ended up there this summer too!!

    Reply

  49. Renee says

    OMG – LOVE Seaside. The Art of Simple and Duckies are my favorites.

    I know you wanted to write about 9/11, and I hope you do. However, you have no idea how much I love this post today.

    My best friend(who I go to Seaside and this very store with every year) was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in June. Chicks are kind of her thing(http://matildajaneblog.com/think-about-it/). Last month I found her a perfect little book about chicks when saying goodbye after a visit, it was silly but it made a sad goodbye a little more lighthearted. Last night, after a rough couple of weeks for her, I was just praying for a sign things are going to be ok.

    Maybe I am dumb, but, here in this post, I see this chick – in a store we love and have been to so many times, in this place we love AND it’s posted on a blog I read everyday…and I just feel a little better. Thank you!

    Reply

  50. Katelyn @ evanandkatelyn.com says

    That lit-up chick is adorbs! If you are interested in DIY-ing something like that (maybe for Clara’s room?) we actually have a tutorial on making DIY marquee letters out of wood and metal (so they’re sturdier and longer lasting than the foam board tutorials floating around) that I bet could be adapted for making shapes other than letters. Check it out! http://evanandkatelyn.com/2013/08/makin-loooooove-complete-diy-marquee-letters/

    Reply

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