Shouldn’t your living room be as fresh and summery as the beach on a breezy, warm day? The soft creamy color of the sand, mixed with the bright blue sky and the green dune grasses is a nature combo that is truly dreamy, no?

All you shore lovers out there who long to always be near, on, or splashing in the ocean know what I’m talking about. At the end of a day on the sand, when you start packing up your blanket and beach balls and trudge up the long beach towards your car or your home, it’s sort of sad, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your beach day. With the right accessories and small touches you can bring the beach right into your living room and enjoy it all day and night long. Luckily, in Cape May there is no shortage of quirky, charming shops loaded with adorable things just waiting for you to take them home.

The Cape May style is laid back, casual classy and that is exactly what I was after when I went strolling along the old lanes of the Cape to brighten up my living space with the sounds and sights of the Atlantic and its shores.

My first stop was at Environs, in stately Congress Hall. Environs is full of beautifully packaged luxury goods. In fact, I daresay, it’s a packaging lovers dream. Owner Maria Lisa is a self-proclaimed package-aholic. Everything must look fabulous to be in her shop. Hopefully, she won’t ever go through a 12-step program because her touch is just right and her lovely taste is obvious in the products she carries like the C’est La Vie and Ooh La La signs. They are bright, bold, and festive. These red and turquoise signs add vivid life to your room with a splash of sunny that is a stunning contrast to the typical muted greens and blues. I’m so into loads of color these days - it’s happy – and that’s good!

What's that I spy? Big Pillows? Big pillows are totally essential to every living room. They are spot-on when you need a cozy way to snuggle but more than that - they are fun little ways to accent and splash color around without serious commitment. Everyone is replaceable, dahling. After all it is summer…we need to play the pillow field a bit. This giant, feathery throw pillow from Environs is straight up fabulous, like a cloud that you just sink into as your grin spreads from ear to ear. Pick up two at least and throw them on your sofa or chair – whatever piece of furniture could use a little pick me up. They’ll match the blue C’est La Vie sign.

Okay, full disclosure – I have a hard time leaving Environs because everything is so durn purty. As I slowly meandered towards the exit, I spotted these wonderful fuzzy, fringy blankets – which are so necessary even in the summer – air conditioning gets darn cold, doesn’t it? Employee Luz likes the lavender color the best and I have to agree…it’s a soft petaly shade but the fringe is such a vibrant, fun mix of colors and they just happen to match the pillow and the sign. Bonus!

Sometimes, when the circumstances are just right, the ocean can be heard blocks away as though it was right there pounding the sand outside your front door. Listening to the rhythmic waves crashing is what Cape May is all about, no? So, how to bring that soothing sound into your home? I found the answer on Jackson Street In Guardian.  The atmosphere in there is peaceful and very calming. Perhaps part of the reason is because owner Suzan Senior keeps a fountain running all the time. At the bottom, Suzan has lots of pretty stones, which she also sells if you want the same effect. The table top fountain is totally portable and just plugs right into a standard outlet. The bubbling sound is enough to keep your mind at peace and your ears happy. Now all you need is to install a little wave machine in there for the full effect. Voila! Instant serenity.

Think out of the box when bringing the touch of Cape May into your living room. Think nature. Nature and animals abound in the Cape, so why not bring some critters into your home, too? Not the jumpy, breathing kind - that’s a bit too natural. The Whale’s Tale on the Mall has two that I just loved and they happened to place them together on the wall, which I thought was just right. The froggy votive holder will look perfect on either side of a shelf or a mantel with any color candle inside. We already have the water element with the fountain, so a little bit of fire to contrast is necessary. It reminds me of a bonfire on the beach, which I’m sure is totally illegal, but for some reason they always seem to have one in the movies. The dragonfly shelf should go right by the entrance way, or wherever you need some hooks for keys and the like. These two accent pieces look lovely together and will play off one another in the same room. Their subtle coloring will match the other pieces as well.

You know the one purchase you can make that can totally turn your decor around? Curtains. I’m seriously into unique, custom curtains right now and over the heavy, drapey look, so when I went into Tradewinds off of Lafayette Street and found gorgeous Indian print cloth, I knew I hit curtain gold, baby. These are intended to be sarongs for covering up your bathing suit but with a little creativity, you can turn them into lovely, light window coverings. Owner Lissie Fritz has the most wonderfully, beautiful things in her shop, right down to the most kooky, so if you’re looking for something with flair, this is a sure bet. When I told her of my plan with the sarongs, she was extremely helpful and found three that had similar patterns for me. I now love Lissie and I love my curtains. Yes, I said it – love. It was just a matter of hanging them the right way to make a valance and two hanging panels, without stitching a thing. If you are a sewer then the fabric can easily be altered into any type curtain you desire. On my most recent trip into Tradewinds, I spotted turquoise butterflies in a black shadowbox that would go so nicely with the colors in our beachy room and would bring another unique Cape May aspect home. How could you not fall in love with a town where butterflies abound every fall? You just can not.

I sense the need for accent pieces. And did I hit paydirt with Taylor Made Memories on Broadway. It is quintessential beach. My mouth just dropped the first time I went in there. Okay, perhaps I’ve got a bit of a shopping problem but I just love beautiful things and Taylor Made has beautiful things in spades. When I went there last week, I didn’t even get in the door before my mouth dropped open. Displayed outside were things that are perfect for the living room. A subtle green two-tiered shelf that looks like it could go either in the garden or in the home will look wonderful near our other accent pieces and can hold a few plants and a few pictures. I just love how delicate and pretty the top of the piece is without being at all froo-froo. Taylor Made also has a stand in the same green metal and it is just right for holding the fountain from Guardian.
There is so much to look at in this shop, so I found a few more things that will complete our beachy living room. The beach sign with the lazy “c” is so rustic and whispers long day on the sand. Put the sign on top of a bookshelf and every so often when your eyes wander up there, you’ll be reminded of summer at the shore. Another little touch that will also bring definite summer into the room is the retro swimming ladies. Seriously, how cute are these gals? Each and every one is cute in its own right, so pick up a couple and take them home for the top of the mantle or on a shelf.

The living room is supposed to be just that – a room that has life and in this case, exudes a breezy, Cape May style that you can always visit and feel like you are sitting on the sand, sipping a cocktail, while the sun warms your skin anytime of the year. And that is life, no?

By Jen Calvert

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