Shells evoke images of time on beach

DEAR GAIL: We're remodeling our guest bath and would like to make it feel a little bit like the times we spend on the beach back East. We don't want it too cutesy, but not too stuffy either. Do you have any suggestions on what we could look at for artwork? -- Jane and Earl.

DEAR JANE and EARL: Mentioning the beaches back East brings back memories. I'm originally from the East Coast and spent many fun times on the beach in the summer; the water is a whole lot warmer then here on the West Coast.

There are many very cute and fun themes that you could use, but you do have to watch that it doesn't become too childlike for your guests.

When I think of the beach, my first thoughts are about the times that I spent walking the beach picking up shells. Doing a bathroom in a shell theme can be sophisticated without being stuffy. What makes a theme go from cutesy to sophisticated all depends upon the artwork and accessories that you choose.

Shells as a bathroom theme has been around forever. It is one of those themes that also never goes out of style if it is done right. One way to make this theme more timeless is to not overdo it. Instead of using shells in your artwork, towels, shower curtain, bath rugs and bath accessories, keep it to a minimum with just your artwork and bath accessories. Too much of anything is never a good thing.

Look for classic pieces of art with nice frames. Since you will have limited number of pieces, spend a little bit more on your framing; don't settle for just a simple gold metal frame. You can shop around to see what you can find in the local home stores, or go online or to a frame shop to select a great image and frame to dress up your bath.

Another way to take your beach theme is to give it a Coney Island feel, especially since you are from back East. This theme, shown in the accompanying photograph, is a bit more relaxed and fun, but it's not childlike since the image is a vintage beach picture from Coney Island. Then, to make it different, a life preserver was hung over the towel bar instead of just another piece of artwork. With the exception of a couple of shells on the counter, no other themed items were added. The bathroom is fun but not overdone.

You also could do a vintage black and white bathing beauties theme. Look for pictures of gals holding the beach balls on the sand. There are also some great inexpensive figurines of the same gals that you can buy through mail order catalogs. Decorate the bathroom in black and white with a punch of red.

Or, do you have any old pictures of your grandmother and her friends in their bathing suits -- the ones that come down to their ankles? This could be a fun as well as personal theme for your guest bath.

Don't be afraid to bring fun memories into your home. If you don't overdo any theme or color scheme, you'll enjoy it for years.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.