Whether you have a mansion on Martha’s Vineyard or a trailer by the seaside, decorating a beach abode can always benefit from a vintage find or two. From sea-worn lobster trap buoys to sea glass wreaths, there is no shortage of ideas to spruce up your summer home.
Sea Air and Vintage Finds
Unlike primary or year-round homes, summer homes and beach cottages are used for a relatively short window each year, just in the summer months. At the end of the summer, you may cover sofas with sheets, empty pipes, and set out a few mouse traps to close down the space until the next summer. Once that summer rolls around, it is a bit of joy to air out the musty house that’s been sitting empty all winter, take off the sheets, and do a bit of cleaning.
This time away from the house naturally breeds new decoration notions, whether moving a few paintings around or skipping the throw rugs this summer. One of the easiest ways to refresh the coastal space is to take advantage of the plethora of vintage and antique markets that run during the summer to find a new addition to your abode.
From Driftwood to Taxidermy
One of the biggest coastal chic categories of vintage goods is directly related to items from the sea itself. Contemporary artists make furniture and signs out of driftwood, and there is nothing more show-stopping than a giant taxidermy fish to hang over the hearth. While you may be loath to shell out the cash to taxidermy one of your own prize catches, most summertime antique markets and malls have one or two vintage preserved fish mounted on wooden plaques. As you seek out these old oddities, be sure to check the condition of the specimen in question. Old taxidermy is known for having condition issues, from broken parts to just a whole lot of dust.
A treasure from the sea that is both easy to find on Eastern shores and practical to repurpose is the old lobster trap. These days, it is more common to find metal ones washed ashore, but if you are lucky, you may find an old wooden one on your daily walk. Nothing says “beach house” quite as much as an old wooden lobster trap converted into a coffee table by virtue of a simple plate of glass placed on top.
Sustainable Sea Specimens
Living in New England, I know I am a bit biased towards East Coast coastal decor, but in terms of knick-knacks for shelves and tabletops, you can’t go wrong with stunning examples of shells, coral, sponges, and such. It’s important to be cognizant of where you are getting your specimens, but if they are vintage or antique, you at least know that they haven’t been recently harvested in a non-sustainable manner. If you are walking on the beach and collecting shells, you can incorporate a vintage feel to your display by using things like antique glass canning jars or wooden printer trays to display your collection. I love the aqua or turquoise color of old Ball jars for holding treasures; if you are handy, you can even transform one of these into a lamp.
Vintage Hadley, Antique Oyster Plates
Vintage tableware is a fun and practical way to add a bit of the seaside to your beach home. This time of year, every big box store is stocked to the gills with coastal and nautical decor, but I highly recommend you resist the temptation of buying these cheap contemporary wares and go vintage instead. M.A. Hadley has had both Coastal and Summer collections over the years, with some retired Coastal examples relatively hard to find on the secondary marketplace.
I am a fan of any Hadley with a whale on it, but the company has not made the whale design in years, so I am always looking online and at vintage shops for pieces to add to my collection. Nothing says summertime dining quite as much as an oyster plate, and collectors of antique oyster plates are an active group with deep pockets. This Limoges L. Straus & Sons (18990-1920) gilded oyster plate sold for a steep $5000 in 2024.
Mind the Damp and Salty Air
One thing to keep in mind as you add vintage flair to your beach home is the effect that the ocean air may have on pieces you bring in. Ceramics and glass are sturdy materials, but any vintage wood, metal, or textile item may be vulnerable to the damp and salty air. If you find a vintage throw rug to use, for example, try to opt for a washable one or at least one without a deep pile.
As the summer comes to a close, it is also advisable to pack away a lot of your vintage linens to avoid wintertime critters such as mice scavenging for nesting materials. While opening a summer cottage for the season is always a pleasure, finding mice nests constructed from your vintage textile decorations is best avoided. Happy summer, and happy coastal chic decorating!
Amy Moyer is the proprietor of Antmuffin: Art, Antiques & Collectibles. She holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from Brown University and lives in Boston.
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