Visiting West Elm

Recently I wandered through the West Elm store on 17th Street here in Chelsea. I think of West Elm as modern and minimal, but the other day as I walked through, I found more natural colors and textures and an urban rustic feeling. In the middle of the store is an "indoor garden."

Within its exposed brick walls, items were displayed on stacks of rough wooden pallets. Merchandise in green and brown gave the impression of a garden without actually being plants. Home accessories made out of natural materials had an earthy appeal. I thought the whole display presented an attractive way to live.
These balls made out of drift wood, which were actually quite heavy, would look great in a beach house.

Then I came upon this collection. Made of recycled Spanish glass, it offered wine bottles, bud vases and votive candle holders in a wonderful array of irresistible colors including turquoise, emerald, mint green, amber and olive. You know I'm a sucker for a bud vase and a votive candle.

There was also a display of the collection at the door where the glass was arranged on a table and cleverly hung from the ceiling.

Honestly I had a hard time choosing colors because they were all calling to me, a combination of the sea and the land. I got a bud vase in turquoise which I like in our blue bedroom.

It's the same tone as the wall paint. On the table, which I found in an antique store, is a lamp from Pottery Barn and a transferware plate holding a collection of sea glass and seashells that Ted's sister-in-law Chris gathered in the Bahamas.
Bell likes the bud vase too.

I also got an amber bud vase for our green and brown living room. One tulip in a bud vase is so easy and pretty. You may remember I got these metal snow drops sprouting out of a stone at the Jane Street Sale for $5.

At West Elm I also got a few amber votive candle holders which look more antique to me than clear glass. It's the joy of simple things.