Rehoboth: Shore Haus

An outdoor seating area under a retractable pavilion. (Judy Rolfe)

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Shore Haus

From the outside, this looks like another high-end outdoor furniture shop, with the grounds of the shingled cottage covered with wicker, teak and cast aluminum tables and chaises. But inside, the whitewashed floors are topped with zebra and cowhide rugs, leopard-print pillows and French reproduction furniture. Large-scale botanical and marine-life prints hang on the walls. Foo dog lamps and Swedish-style chandeliers offer lighting. It's beach decor with an earthy, urban edge and European and Asian influences.

John Raines and Chris Berg took over the business 3 1/2 years ago, turning a store that sold paper plates, toys and beach souvenirs into one that "caters more towards the designer crowd," Raines says.

Aside from outdoor furniture, Raines and Berg stock storage pieces, area rugs, lighting, art, accessories and mirrors. They carry lines including John Derian, Fornasetti and the furniture house Oly Studio. If you visit, look for hand-printed linen pillows ($175 each), a French-style buffet with a distressed painted finish and walnut top ($1,700) and beautifully packaged gift candles ($30 to $130).

Don't forget to go upstairs. I stopped and stared at a huge framed octopus triptych ($3,200) and a white and weathered Gothic bread table ($1,700). Said Bethany Beach, Del., interior designer Connie Brittell when I spoke with her about Shore Haus, "Walking into the store is like opening up a cool shelter magazine."

700 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach, Del. 302-227-3403. http://www.shorehaus.com.