{Kelly Wearstler’s Design for The Tides South Beach}

Not one to shy away from making a statement, Kelly Wearstler used hundreds of resin tortoise shells on the walls of the La Marea Restaurant at The Tides South Beach.  Most of the tortoise shells I’ve seen at Round Top or Antiques stores are real, and after confirming with my husband that a turtle must die in order to get their shell, I just couldn’t do it…so I decided to hold out for a great resin version.

I spotted this large shell at Mecox in Dallas and it looked like resin to me, but they wanted quite a pretty penny for it.

I’m kind of obsessed with the white version from Mecox – SO CHIC!

{photo from here}

I also love the one above placed on a stand.

All was about lost when I was not finding a proper “fake.”  Then I saw this gold beauty calling out my name at Mockingbird Manor in Oklahoma City…

Talk about pumped, it was love at first sight!  Trashy or Classy – I don’t care -I love it, and no turtles were harmed in the making of this awesome accessory!