Giving Thanks

About a month ago, a very good friend had been working on organizing a corporate event.  The theme was incorporating happiness into your life.  There were gift bags given to the attendees with various items intended to promote happiness in one's life: instructions on how to effectively and efficiently meditate, a paperback titled "14,000 Things To Be Happy About", organic chocolate.  After the event, there were extra bags and she gave me one.  One of the items was a small orange book meant to be used daily to jot down things that you are grateful for. I decided to use it.  

That said, I am not a forwarder of emails that will bring me good fortune or something tragic will happen.  Nor am I a self-help enthusiast.  My husband read "The Secret" and I shunned him, he bought me my own copy and it collects dust on the shelf.  But I must say that adopting an attitude of gratefulness has undoubtedly bettered my life.  The more grateful I have become the more things to be grateful for appear in my life.  Life is so fleeting. There is no time to be anything but grateful.

Among many other things, I am thankful for this friend, thankful for this holiday to gather with my family and relax (after I am done cooking).

Artisan Marketplace

We had a wonderful time at Main Street Nursery's Fall Artisan Marketplace yesterday.  The weather was gorgeous, the quintessential Indian Summer day.

Main Street is one of my favorite places to shop and it was great to join them and other local artisans for such an amazing and successful event!

Our new line of 100% Soy Wax Candles: Beach Bonfire, Rustic Apple Galette, Ghost Pumpkin Spice & North Fork Vineyard

Team Harbor Homestead & Co.

Our Fall Themed Driftwood Signs...Order one from our site today! www.harborhomestead.com

Bonfire Season

It's October 1st and there's a chill in the air! The perfect time to cozy up by a beach bonfire. 

A family bonfire from the Summer of 2012

We're taking inspiration from Coastal Living's outdoor fire spaces too...

A Beach Cottage Renovation

We are happy to share with you some photos of our on-going beach cottage renovation!  Like many older homes, this house had its challenges but its breathtaking waterviews and private beach community are what drew the homeowner to this diamond in the rough.  And speaking of diamonds, half-way through the project, our client got engaged!  

The homeowner was out of college just 2 years when he purchased the home and therefore had a limited budget. He knew he wanted a comfortable, beach-style home that could be easily maintained with his busy schedule.  We started by knocking down a lot of walls, making an open floor plan that sweeps your eyes to the stunning waterviews of the Long Island Sound outside.

Have a look at some of the vintage finds we've incorporated into the design of this charming beach cottage on the North Shore of Long Island...  

We found these vintage wingback recliners in a consignment shop then reupholstered them in a sturdy navy blue stripe canvas.  They're comfortable & classy.

The fireplace facade was re-covered in river rocks and is flanked by a found oar which was painted with the number “12”,  the homeowner’s college baseball number.  

The wall’s were painted Benjamin Moore Montgomery White  which is very restful on the eyes.  We managed to save the heavily scuffed wood floors and stained them a rich dark chocolate color which contrasts nicely with the white/neutral tones throughout.

A Harbor Homestead custom-made round driftwood mirror was placed to reflect the water so that everyone seated in the dining room has a water view.

The dining room table is a Craigslist find.  Its worn, distressed patina is just what this young couple was looking for at a fraction of the cost. The industrial style galvanized metal pendant light is from Barn Light Electric evoking the look of old dock lighting.

Glass shelves float like water atop two vintage concrete corbels from an old New York brownstone.

There’s “Elton The Fish” whose tank is framed by a vintage ship's porthole sunk into a wall in the living room.

Here is a peek at the kitchen, a work-in-progress.  We are using Benjamin Moore Nantucket Fog on the walls with crisp white planked ceiling and bleached wood kitchen cabinets.  Hopefully the countertops will be here soon!

We will be posting more of the design as we near its completion in the weeks ahead including before and after photos.  The next phase is the completion of the entryway, mudroom and laundry room.  Maybe even a special wedding surprise for Ryan & Brenda from Harbor Homestead & Co. too :)