Date:  May 23, 2012  |   Story: Tiffany Burgess  |   Styling: Mandy Keener  |  

Collector Annette Herrington has a love for the beach that has continued to grow through the years. When she and her husband, Phil, married in the 1970s, they honeymooned in Sea Island, Georgia, and since that time she’s always had a fondness for the sea, sun and sand. After the couple’s daughters came along, they passed their love of the shore on to them. “We often took summer trips to Sea Island and to Nantucket, and it only made me love the sea more,” says Annette. 

When the couple had the chance to purchase a condo of their own in Destin, Florida, they jumped at the offer. Soon after, Annette began making plans to decorate the condo with a theme that was authentic to the region, beginning with small vintage statues and novelties that were united by a common theme—the sea. “I really wanted the condo to have a vintage feel with small little touches that reminded me of the beach and all the things I love about it,” she says. She also wanted the rooms in her condo to be filled with bright happy pops of color. The accessories collection was the ideal way to bring her vision of a vibrant vintage look to life. 

“It’s such a whimsical collection and I never began it with the intent of taking it seriously,” says Annette. In fact, you might say her collection of colorful, beach-themed figurines, plates and memorabilia began on a whim. She and her youngest daughter were in Destin working on the condo and took a day trip to peruse local antique stores. The shops on this route proved to be quite fruitful and inspired the collection.Collector Annette Herrington has a love for the beach that has continued to grow through the years. When she and her husband, Phil, married in the 1970s, they honeymooned in Sea Island, Georgia, and since that time she’s always had a fondness for the sea, sun and sand. After the couple’s daughters came along, they passed their love of the shore on to them. “We often took summer trips to Sea Island and to Nantucket, and it only made me love the sea more,” says Annette. 

When the couple had the chance to purchase a condo of their own in Destin, Florida, they jumped at the offer. Soon after, Annette began making plans to decorate the condo with a theme that was authentic to the region, beginning with small vintage statues and novelties that were united by a common theme—the sea. “I really wanted the condo to have a vintage feel with small little touches that reminded me of the beach and all the things I love about it,” she says. She also wanted the rooms in her condo to be filled with bright happy pops of color. The accessories collection was the ideal way to bring her vision of a vibrant vintage look to life. 

“It’s such a whimsical collection and I never began it with the intent of taking it seriously,” says Annette. In fact, you might say her collection of colorful, beach-themed figurines, plates and memorabilia began on a whim. She and her youngest daughter were in Destin working on the condo and took a day trip to peruse local antique stores. The shops on this route proved to be quite fruitful and inspired the collection. The first piece they found on the jaunt was a small ceramic seaweed figurine. Annette remembers being drawn to its vintage appeal and surprised that she could snag it for just a few dollars. 

During the next 20 years, she continued to grow her collection in much the same manner, picking up unique finds at both local antique shops and on her travels. “It’s like a treasure hunt, you never know what you’ll find,” she laughs. One of her favorite pieces is a miniature red-and-white wicker beach chair. “It belonged to the mother of a close friend,” says Annette. “Both the mother and daughter knew I collected beach trinkets and decided to give it to me as a gift. I absolutely love it because it reminds me of them and the beach,” she says.

 Other well-loved pieces include small bathing beauty statues, which were sold as souvenirs at ever-popular beachside shops. Annette is particularly fond of a chalk statue of a girl in a bright pink swimsuit that likely dates from the 1930s. 

Her finds don’t end there. Anything from vintage guidebooks to shore-inspired tablecloths and maps of the coast has joined her collection over time. A number of tin pails and shovels with cheerful, brightly colored children’s beach scenes can also be found among the treasures, and similar versions of these now sell online for around $20 each. Many of the smaller accessories were also originally used as statues in aquarium seascapes. 

When Annette and Phil sold their condo on the coast, she knew the collection needed to stay visible. She boxed up the goods and brought them back to Little Rock. When a friend suggested she feature the collection in her guest bedroom, she knew that was the ideal spot to display the finds. “I like to think the pieces are a treat for my guests and maybe even a reminder of their own travels to the beach,” she says.  The first piece they found on the jaunt was a small ceramic seaweed figurine. Annette remembers being drawn to its vintage appeal and surprised that she could snag it for just a few dollars.