Seattle-based graphic designer and art director, Alicia Nammacher, invited photographer Kathryn Barnard into her natural habitat of a home where seashells are displayed in countless ways. You'll find them perched on ledges, filing vessels, hanging on walls, scattered in an unused fireplace...
Alicia and her husband Jeff collected the shells over many years traveling around the world, and they now create an easy, carefree theme in every room. Combining other natural elements and personal historic significance, the second image above features pieces of cork from vintage life vests that the deisgner uses as a bulletin board. The driftwood "starburst" above the fireplace was made by Jeff after two driftwood pieces washed up on their bulkhead during a winter storm.
Fitting their love of design and the PNW landscape, Alicia and Jeff also have three vacation rentals on Puget Sound in Seattle. Alicia says her "serious addiction to shells and the color palette and textures of ocean life can be seen throughout every unit."
Thanks, Alicia, Jeff, and Kathryn!
Design: Alicia Nammacher
Images: Kathryn Barnard
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I love the PNW and can't wait to get back.
Love these pictures, though I have to say that in Florida decorating with shells is old news. You can kind of see the ones I used in our guest bath at the bottom of the page here.
That's not EXACTLY the same type of seashell decorating. They collected them from all over the place and used them in really cool creative ways.
HernandoHouse ,
I don't think the author was trying to introduce seashells in the home as "new" -- but rather show examples of how they can be incorporated well into home decor. Sure, I decorate with seashells too -- but I love the first photo and wouldn't have thought to put them in a fireplace. I really like the fact that the shells are greyish in hue -- giving an almost ash-like appearance
I kept a bag of collected shell bits for years, just knowing that I'd find the perfect way to use them.
I finally did: they line the bottom of a hurricane and a large candle sits on top of them.
i was expecting something more than just artfully arranging them on a dish.
The first photo is fantastic!! We use driftwood and shells in our home, too, but don't have any of that scale...just gorgeous, and filling the entire fireplace is super creative.
I love the shells and candles in the fireplace!