Castaway Christmas - 25 Amazing Christmas Tree Ideas

Oh I do love, love Christmas.

It's the best time of year to really let my creative spirit free in a styling extravaganza, the perfect indulgence to play, experiment and create visual sensory delights for my family and friends to enjoy, in fact every year now I get asked how I'm going to decorate Christmas - didn't realise it had become an event in itself.

So glass of Sherry in hand, I really encourage you all to have some creative fun this year, forget the commercial Christmas decorations and create unique pieces that really satisfy, who knows they could become future treasured family heirlooms.

Here in Australia Christmas is at the height of Summer. When I first moved to Oz, the rich, warm traditional Christmas colours and decorations I had grown up with in the Northern Hemisphere looked so out of place in a hot sunny country.

So over the past 12 years I have endeavoured to create a more appealing Christmas showcase, one that sits perfectly well in 30-40 degrees! This creates some interesting challenges.

Today, in part one of my Christmas inspiration collection of ideas we look at alternatives to the humble traditional Christmas tree.

Environmentally, cutting down trees just for Christmas is not the way forward. But the symbolism of the Christmas tree can still stay with us, just in a different format.

I've collected some really stunning and simple alternative tree ideas - I do hope you'll consider trying some of these for your own home this year.

A coral tree, simple to make as coral pieces sit on

a tiered cake stand. This would be perfect as a table centre piece.

This is so clever that I'm going to try and re-create one of these -

it's simply too cute!

There are many driftwood Christmas trees in the shops this year.

As lovely as they are, I love the simplicity of this one, just 2 large pieces

of driftwood, propped up with simple fairy lights - so Castaway Christmas.

Over the years I've created many of these types of Christmas

tree arrangements. Willow makes awesome free styled trees like

the one above. You can leave the branches natural or spray paint them

the colour of your choice.

A different take on the driftwood tree. I've started to see furniture made

out of this type of vintage timber, usually from old Indonesian fishing boats.

Simple with a seaside vintage feel. Sea Urchin miniature tree,

perfect for any little Christmas fairy.

I love these. So simple to re-create. Starfish where made for

Christmas decorating.

Simple again, even the kids can make these.

This is my pick this year. I love the simplicity of this

idea, yet the scope is enormous. Here an inexpensive garden cone

shaped trellis is spray painted and decorated.

Each year there seems to be a tree de jour. This year the urchin tree runs

close ties to the driftwood tree.

Up cycling never got so creative. What a cool idea, an old window

fly screen is given a new life as a Christmas arrangement - genius!

A tree you can roll up and use again. Blackboard painted background with

a hand drawn tree silhouette, very Scandinavian.

What can't you do with ribbons? Simple ribbon tree, just so sweet.

Another Sea Urchin tree, almost looks like dessert!

I've seen a lot of images with old vintage glass cake stands

they're so multi-purpose and add such elegance to a display.

Donna Hay magazine did an amazing coastal collection of

Christmas styling ideas a couple of years back.

This old Palm tree frond free form tree's a stunner.

What a clever idea. Have too many books - create a tree!

Gleaming coastal inspired tree.

This is so ingenious.

A French Provincial inspired Christmas tree seat - how cool!

Simple branch tree, proving small can be just as striking.

Aqua lovers be warned, this set will cause serious drooling!

Another starfish tree - gorgeous.

This is the simplest Tropical tree I know to create. Take 2 large palm fronds,

place in a beautiful glass vase and hang some pretty starfish.

Glitzy Palm tree - Christmas Vegas style!

Very clever!

There are so many more takes on the alternative Christmas tree, it's amazing.

(all images Pinterest)

Have fun Christmas creating.

Happy Island Styling

Exclusive Interview - Plumeria Coastal Home

In the second part of our exclusive interview series on gorgeous Australian coastal homeware companies, we proudly introduce you to Plumeria Coastal Home.

Meet Sam the delightful and bubbly Founder and Creative Director of Plumeria Coastal Home. Sam's honourable mission when establishing Coastal Home was to bring only the very best in stylish coastal inspired homewares, particularly those that have a handcrafted artisan feel rather than mass produced items.

Sam hand selects all the items and has skillfully tailored them to key interior styles popular in Australia as well as overseas.

Right now Plumeria Coastal Home has 15% off all products until Tuesday 18th Oct, just visit Coastal Home on facebook, hit the 'like' button and enjoy online coastal shopping from your own sun lounger.

Meanwhile, we caught up with Sam were she gives all aspiring business owners some fantastic advice from her own experience, here's more;

Tell us more about Sam.

Funny, outgoing, champagne lover, determined and headstrong.

How did your career bring you to this point?

I’ve finally found my calling combining my 2 great loves, chic products and the coastal life. Growing up on Qld’s Gold Coast, I spent my youth retrieving sand from my togs and building sandcastles on Burleigh Beach.

I learnt to speak Japanese at school from the age of 13, which spring boarded me into sales roles for some of the world’s luxurious labels, Gucci, Fendi, Versace and Salvatorre Ferragamo.

My love for luxury products, living by the beach and making a house a home have all come together beautifully.

What are you most proud of?

I’ve always believed in myself and taken risks. No matter what I always give 150% commitment to whatever path I choose to take, so I’ll never be left knowing ‘what could have been’.

You may not always succeed at everything you try your hand at, but at least you had the conviction and confidence to give it a go.

Tell us what your best decision has been?

To stay true to myself and the direction I want my business to go in. As a business owner, it can be easy to be led down a path that doesn't reflect your brand ethos or direction by people who think they know better.

No-one knows your business better than you do, so stick to your guns and stand firm.

Creatively, who inspires you?

India Hicks for her idyllic island decor, Jeff Leatham for his amazing floral creations and Kelly Hoppen for pure style.

What is Sam most passionate about?

I’m a typical Taurean, so I love beautiful things and beautiful homes. A home really is your sanctuary, somewhere to retreat to and recharge.

Plumeria Coastal Home is all about sourcing quality, unique products that enhance your space so you’ll want to spend more time there.

I’m also very passionate about timeless 5 star customer service, it’s about the whole experience, which is why we have such a high return customer base.

Can you share with us your best lesson learnt?

Be prepared to put in the hard yards, don’t have instant gratification expectations and never compromise on what it is you stand for.


I’ve also learnt that having a Pinot Gris at 3:30pm after a hard day of wrapping starfish and cushions is totally acceptable.

Which person living or deceased would you most like to meet?

There’s too many ….Princess Diana, Dame Edna, India Hicks, Hugh Jackman, Lucille Ball, George Burns, oh what a dinner party that would be!

What are your future plans for Coastal Home?

To establish Coastal Home as Australia’s premier coastal/beach home wares online store.

I also dream of hating hot chips, white Tim Tams and melted cheese jaffles but that’s a work in progress.

What are you reading?

“Last night at Chateau Marmont” by Lauren Weisberger, I’m still only on page 8, as I’m always running behind on my home décor magazines. Elle Décor is my absolute fave.

How fabulous, thanks Sam it's always a delight to talk to you.

 

 

Here's Oceania Island Livings tropical pick of Coastal Homes beautiful products, they also have a lovely range based on Aussie Beach House, Coastal Home as well as the gorgeous and ever popular Island Style.

 

 

Visit www.coastalhome.com.au to see much more.

(all images courtesy of Plumeria Coastal Home)

Happy Island Styling.

Exclusive Showcase - Island Collections

In an exclusive to Oceania Island Living, we are so pleased to be able to showcase some amazingly gorgeous talented Australian coastal designers and retailers over the next few weeks for you all to discover.

Today I'm introducing you to Island Collections. A fantastic coastal inspired online store that has the most beautiful homewares at amazingly affordable prices.

I caught up with the two founding members, the lovely Faith & Evanthe. We had a natter on how it all started, what inspires them and what their future plans are for Island Collections.

Give me 5 words that best describes you both?
Colourful, spontaneous, honest, hardworking and loyal.

How did you end up on this career path?

Both of our careers have taken very different paths to lead us to our current situation. Evanthe is a Special needs teacher and I (Faith) worked in Finance prior to having children. Evanthe and I have been friends for a long time and always shared the same passion for interior design and shopping! We finally decided that the time was right and we took the plunge to form Island Collections.

What’s your proudest achievement?

Opening our online store.  Such a lot of effort and planning went into the concept and design of the website, it was great to see our vision come to life after all of our hard work. 

Tell me what your best decision has been?
Definitely going into partnership together. We both bring such different assets to the business, Evanthe is our ‘Creative Director’ and Faith brings her ‘Business Head’ to Island Collections.  By having a partner  it’s great to have a sounding board to bounce ideas off and really keep you focused and motivated.

Who inspires you both?

Lots of things, family, other bloggers.

What are you both passionate about?

Decorating, family and travel.

What's the best lesson you’ve both learnt?

When it comes to decorating, if you truly love something, be brave and trust your instinct,  you will always find the perfect place for it at home.

Let us into a secret - what's your dream for Island Collections?
We have visions of opening our own store one day- we already have it planned, dark wooden floors, crisp white walls filled with stock in shades of turquoise, silver, white and blue....we could go on!

Well thanks Faith & Evanthe, it's so nice to meet the people behind these coastal enterprises.

Here's our tropical island pick of some more of their gorgeous homewares, they also have Hampton's, Nautical & Beach Cottage inspired homewares - so please explore www.islandcollections.com.au today.

Happy Island Styling.

(images courtesy of Island Collections)