Summer Home Tour 2016

Good morning my sweet friends! I am so excited to be kicking off the first official day of summer with this incredible Summer Home Tour Series hosted by Nina at Nina Hendrick with Birch Lane and Country Living Magazine and featuring some of the most swoon-worthy homes out there.

As summer once again rolls into view I eagerly welcome the carefree, laid back atmosphere of these long-awaited summer days. I find myself gravitating to a similar style in our home – the less is more approach. A fresh, light color palette of soft neutrals paired with plenty of natural wood tones, all highlighted with the simple pleasures of summertime – fresh flowers picked from our yard.

These gorgeous, sweet-smelling lilacs from our neighbor’s yard bring me so much joy each summer, and luckily for us, they overflow with abundance into our own backyard. Not only do they smell heavenly, but they bring back the sweetest memories of my grandma, who’s home was also surrounded by these beauties.

After coming in from collecting a basket full of these dainty flowers, I pause in our brand new coat closet-turned-mudroom to free my hands and hang up my hat.

This little alcove was a labor of love. We took our tiny, non-functional coat closet and built a beautiful and practical mudroom. It is a welcome sight every time we enter our home and I can’t wait to share all of the details on this latest project with you later this month.

Once you step into our kitchen you’ll notice a few more changes.

Our kitchen truly is the heart of our home, and we spend so much time here that we wanted to make a few subtle changes to reflect our ever-growing love of farmhouse style.

Our turquoise trellis pattern valance was very much loved, in fact, it has always been the most asked about item on our Instagram feed. And as much as we loved this pretty little piece of fabric, it was time for a change.

I had a bit of fabric leftover after I made these, and I love this gorgeous neutral buffalo check so much that I wanted to add it to our kitchen too. I had just enough to make a valance – it was meant to be! I absolutely love the way it looks over our kitchen window – soft, pretty and perfectly farmhouse.

I restyled the open shelves anchoring our pantry. Again, I went with a pared down approach and layered in a mix of white ceramic and glass pieces for an easy, curated looked. I hope to add a few more pieces to my collection as we scour flea markets and yard sales this summer.

I have one more change to share with you, but you’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out what it is! 😉

The large bay window in our dining room lets in plenty of summer light to help create a bright and welcoming space.

Speaking of welcoming spaces, fresh flowers are a simple and inexpensive way to make a room feel more inviting. I always love to keep a big vase full of seasonal blooms on our dining table.

So grab a seat at our large farmhouse table (my favorite is our DIY bench) and join us for a relaxed dinner served family-style. It will most likely be a family-friendly meal, created with fresh ingredients picked straight from our own garden.

After dinner, we usually spend some time relaxing and playing make-believe in our living room before out little one heads to bed, tuckered out from a long day of sun and sprinkler-jumping.

And although it’s summer and the temperatures are humid and muggy, you’ll usually find me wrapped in a blanket, thanks to the modern convenience of air conditioning. I would prefer our windows opened wide with a warm breeze blowing through, but I will admit, on those exceptionally hot days, I appreciate our cool home.

So even though it’s summer, it’s still important to create a feeling of warmth and coziness in our homes. I layered in this gorgeous gray throw (which I purchased from Birch Lane with a gift card that was generously supplied) in a classic herringbone pattern which I think accentuates the buffalo check pillows perfectly. Don’t you? It is my new favorite blanket, it truly goes with everything.

Again, I pared down our bookshelves (surprise, surprise) and decorated them with vintage books, glass vessels, white frames and a few potted plants, like succulents and ferns. I love the simplicity of them.

Simple, understated and relaxed is the essence of our home this summer. It is a time to enjoy the beautiful weather surrounded by family and friends and celebrate effortless style.

I hope you enjoyed our summer home tour, we were so happy to have you! You won’t want to miss the other incredible homes lined up, so make sure you stop by each day this week for a dose of summer inspiration.

 

Visit Country Living Magazine to see more summer decorating ideas!

Monday

Nina Hendrick | Maison de Pax | Cherished Bliss | AKA Design | A Burst of Beautiful | Liz Marie Blog

Tuesday

Migonis Home | So Much Better With Age | Zevy Joy | Just a Girl and Her Blog | Shades of Blue Interiors | Making Home Base

Wednesday

Rooms FOR Rent | The Wicker House | Bless’er House | Love Grows Wild | Finding Silver Pennies | Design, Dining + Diapers

Thursday

Craftberry Bush | Jennifer Rizzo | The Wood Grain Cottage | Ella Claire | Tidbits | City Farmhouse

Friday

Kindred Vintage & Co | The Blissful Bee | The Happy Housie | House By Hoff | Nesting With Grace | Life on Virginia Street

Alicia xo

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