Outdoor Entertaining with a Nautical, Coastal or Tropical Flair

So much of our time is spent out of doors in the warm summer months, it just makes sense to treat yourself and your guests to a wonderful array of tableware that you can enjoy all season. There are more choices available today than ever before to help you create a traditional nautical look, serene coastal feel, lively and colorful beach-inspired setting, or luxurious tropical design.

Melamine and acrylic are wonderful choices because of their light weight and durability. Many of the melamine choices today are not only wonderful for outdoor dining, but they are available with non-skid rings and are dishwasher safe. Some are even microwaveable for up to 1 minute. Several new designer series of enamelware are also a fabulous choice for outdoor entertaining.


For a classic nautical look there are a number of designs to choose from.

Pair these up with our 'anchor' adorned flatware or our popular 'fishsticks' design flatware.

If your style leans more toward the serene shell adorned coastal look you might want to check out Seaside Retreat or Island Shells. Antiquities is also a fabulous upscale coastal design with accents of starfish and coral amongst richly colored florals and antique objects.








Ocean's Breeze is a design that has both a coastal and nautical feel all wrapped up in one GORGEOUS design! This is one of our favorites. In blue, white and aqua, it sports a nautical map background on many of the pieces while each piece is also adorned with starfish, shells, and sand dollars. This design also works well with our anchor adorned flatware.




For a colorful beach-inspired setting, you might want to try Ocean Breeze melamine (this is a different design than Ocean's Breeze ! - confusing, huh?). Or accent your table setting with bright solid colored melamine dinnerware.

If seafood is a family favorite, try a crab or lobster design in either melamine or enamelware. Many of these designs come with a variety of kitchen accessories and cookware.

If tropical decor is your look, you're sure to LOVE our new Havana collection. High quality products in a truly classy tropical-inspired design, featuring rich greens and warm browns. This is one of the best designs we've seen in tropical kitchen accessories and will go superbly with wicker, rattan, and natural fabrics.

Add in some outdoor tropical lighting and your look will be complete.

For all your nautical, coastal and tropical home decor needs visit Blue Barnacles at www.bluebarnacles.com

Create a Shoreline Garden

In creating a shoreline-inspired garden you will want to start with a variety of grasses. You might want to try grasses with a bluish or grayish hue such as Blue Lymegrass, Japanese Silver Grass, Perennial Fountain Grass or Blue Fescue.

We think one of the best choices is Feather Reed Grass which has an appearance similar to beach grasses - but be careful where you plant it as it grows 3' - 5' tall.

If you're lucky enough to live by the shore and are able to find a piece of drift wood that's not too big, it will provide, compliments of Mother Nature, a fantastic coastal accent to your garden!

The addition of garden stones with shoreline or coastal designs will add interest. Be sure to place garden stones where they will not be hidden or overpowered by very large or tall plants.



Lawn lighthouses are also a wonderful choice for your shoreline garden. We suggest a 3' to 4' size rather than 5' or larger as the larger sizes may overpower your garden. Lawn lighthouses that replicate actual lighthouses can be found and are frequently made of stucco for longlasting wear. Accessories feature revolving beacons, solar beacons, low voltage lights, blinking lights, LED light-up windows, remote control switches and timers, foghorns, and even rock bases to anchor your lighthouse on. Another fabulous choice for your shoreline garden is a lawn buoy.

Add a unique touch to your shoreline garden with a weathervane in a coastal or nautical motif. Many weathervanes are available in antiqued or polished copper finish. The smaller 'cottage' size weathervane is a good choice for your garden. Special mounts are available for mounting your weathervane in your garden.

And finally, the ever popular garden flag is available in a variety of colors and designs to add a splash of color to your garden.

Have fun creating your shoreline-inspired garden, then relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

For all your nautical, coastal and tropical home decor needs visit Blue Barnacles at www.bluebarnacles.com

Decorating your Mantle with a Coastal Feel!

In creating your coastal-inspired mantle, you’ll want to focus on the serene colors of the shore – soft blue, aqua, sand, beige, white, weathered gray and even shell pink.

Be careful not to choose everything with shells on it! Choosing a few simple pieces with a shell design or adorned with shells and adding other pieces in coastal colors and textures will create a more appealing combination.

For the wall area above the mantle you can use a beveled edge mirror in a coastal color. Depending on the size of your mantle, your might opt to add a vertical swag adorned with shells on each side of the mirror.

Alternatively, you may want to consider a large wreath adorned with shells (we suggest a 22" or larger size). Wall sconces in wood or metal in a serene coastal color are an excellent choice for each side of your coastal wreath.

For the mantle itself, you’ll want to display items with a coastal theme along with items in coastal colors and textures.

Nantucket baskets - just plain or filled with shells and grasses - will give your mantle a terrific coastal feel. Another fabulous selection is a coastal arrangement filled with silk greenery and laden with shells and starfish.

Large starfish and shells, real or resin, are excellent choices!

A picture frame containing a coastal scene print or photograph is also a perfect accent for your mantel. Try just leaning it against the wall rather than standing it upright. Some of the best choices are whitewashed or gray weathered wood frames. You may also want to consider basket frames or frames adorned with shells or a shell design.

Candles and candlesticks are a 'must have' and add a special glimmer to your collection of coastal inspired items when lit. Wooden candlesticks in a coastal color are sometimes the best choice or bring it up a notch with some shell adorned candlesticks and votive candles

Add a weathered shore bird for a superb coastal accent.

Some other items you might find suitable for your coastal-inspired mantel are shell covered balls (sit them on a candle plate), a shell bag vase or a shell topiary.

Have fun creating a showcase coastal-inspired mantel and enjoy all the compliments!

For all your nautical, coastal and tropical home decor needs visit Blue Barnacles at www.bluebarnacles.com