Celebrating Summer with a Mini Home Tour

Hello Friends, Welcome to Celebrating Summer, 

a Blog Hop hosted by our sweet friend

  Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home. 

As Summer winds down through the month of August, there's still time to enjoy the warm weather, family time, and a few delicious alfresco dinners. Last year this time, we were just starting to pack for a big move and readying ourselves for a year of home renovations. I really hadn't been able to enjoy last Summer at all, so this year I've been thankful for having a home and outside spaces that have been fun to decorate with flowers and plantings, to relax in, and basically get back to "living life".

August Mantel and Hearth Room

Hello Friends and Welcome to August!

I've mentioned before that August used to be my least favorite month of the year. Oooh, I felt bad that I gave it such a bad rap, especially since ALL my husband's family had birthdays in August. (strange...) It's just that I really get tired of the hot weather by now, which is usually dry and oppressive, and the older I've gotten the less able I am to handle hot weather. But a couple of years ago I had a change of heart in my attitude.

Sunflowers for a Late Summer Dining Room

Since August shows up a little later in the week, I'm adding some "Late Summer" color with Sunflowers. They're the perfect way to transition into Early Fall. Real or faux, spread them around for some "happy face" time. You just can't look at Sunflowers without a big smile showing up. I'm adding a touch of "Late Summer" here in the Dining Room on the buffet with a few Sunflowers and prints.

New Kilim Pillows in the Hearth Room

Having an off -white slipcovered sofa, chair and ottoman has really enabled me to be more creative in my Hearth Room decor. I'd been obsessed with white slipcovered furniture for years, but I'd never had the right space to put them in. Now that I am livin' my "white sofa dream", I'm going a little crazy with monthly change-ups. A quilt and pillow stash and a "no-stepladder-needed" mantel have made it much easier to change things up.

Late Summer Seed Box

August will be here before we know it, and with August my decor palette changes with the season. I start thinking about the beginning of Fall and all the subtle color that comes with it, but for now I'm still in Summer Mode. Today I'm sharing a staple of my vintage Summer decor.

She Collects (Vintage) Seashells

This time of year, late July, I get that little nudge to play with some Seashell Decor. There's a short window of opportunity to do shell decor around here. Early Summer is filled with garden fun, then comes the Patriotic decor. Now's the time before "Pre Fall" starts. So I put together a little vignette on an antique tray in the Dining Room. It's not really  "beachy", but more "vintage".

Summer Entry wih a New Vintage Print

I like to keep things changed up... well, you all know that about me. With the patriotic flags put away, it was time to bring out something different for the next month. So here's a new light and bright vintage print in one of my favorite chippy white vintage frames. I've had this traditional British print of an old engraving for awhile, but haven't taken the time to find it a frame that did it justice.