Monday, July 27, 2020

{ English Garden Summer Mantel }

Within the last month I've been really slowing down it seems here on the blog..which isn't like me at all!  Honestly, although it's my job we have just been super busy with house hunting, my scalp surgeries & sprucing up this house before we list! I haven't been buying, antiquing or thriftying at all since we're going to be moving plus with everything going on! I did however want to showcase & blog all things summer including some spaces inside! One of those spaces being the upstairs fireplace & mantel! I wanted a vibrant English garden style mantel with bunnies, doves & ivy!! Come see this fresh summer mantel....




This massive garden sign has been here for quite sometime but I absolutely love it! I have huge plans for  it in the new house! I kept everything pretty simple & made the vintage books the backdrop focal point of the mantel. Added some brass pots & cream + white doves & bunnies.. The garden animals gave it a cozy whimsical charm almost!


I love the whimsical cozy cottage feel! It's out of a garden storybook hence the title of this post! I think somewhere along the way my style geared more towards English cottage rather than "farmhouse " or cottage lake!!


 

The main  parts to this vintage garden fireplace mantel were super simple....Brass pots, greenery, what accents & ivy!!!


I did want to show this basket too! It doesn't do justice here ,but for now it's here with some pillows! I have to find a spot for it..If you watched my stories I mentioned Mark got it off of Marketplace for free. It's vintage Tennessee mountains! Anyway I hope you liked this simple summer mantel!




HAPPY Tuesday!
As always THANK YOU for stopping in on my little growing blog. I know everyone says something like this, but I honestly appreciate each of you for sharing my posts, commenting etc....I'm not the biggest or most popular blogger, but I am humble, real & practical ,and  hopefully helpful or inspiring in someway :). 
***You can find me here for updates & more ,or SUBSCRIBE on the right side of my blog for FREE & direct updates right to your mail...




Monday, July 13, 2020

{ Neutral Summer Dining Room }

Monday has been a bit rough for me. I had surgery on my scalp, which was a bit more  invasive than I previously thought.  I expected something like this, so I worked all day yesterday to get this blog post ready for today! I wanted you guys to have your regular Monday inspiration regardless of what was going on with me... Yesterday although warm because our  central air is being worked on, I decided to neutralize the dining room down to being super calming.  Lots of whites, woods & almond tones. I mixed in a few garden pieces but otherwise left it simple. I've been stressed a bit, so I needed a soothing home. 


I have been loving almond, white & warm wood tines mixed together! After painting the table & chairs a few weeks ago It made the space so much brighter! I kept the dark forest green rug to ground the space! • Similar decor dupes from Kirklands !



One thing I love to collect are old wooden window frames! This one is a favorite & it worked perfect in this space! Gave the cabinet height& added layering to the vintage inspired vegetable garden print!



 

Fresh, clean &summery! As you can see in some of the photos I have cream & tan stripe chair cushions & some not.. I decided I liked them on!!


Adding" similar" wood tones can warm up any space but also add that summery feel cool feel dependingon other simple pieces! A through a couple hydrangeas in a clear vase & the table was complete!



What tones & colors have you guys been adding to your home this summer? Are you into bright or neutral garden style? I hope you you gathered some inspiration!


HAPPY Monday!
As always THANK YOU for stopping in on my little growing blog. I know everyone says something like this, but I honestly appreciate each of you for sharing my posts, commenting etc....I'm not the biggest or most popular blogger, but I am humble, real & practical ,and  hopefully helpful or inspiring in someway :). 
***You can find me here for updates & more ,or SUBSCRIBE on the right side of my blog for FREE & direct updates right to your mail...




Friday, July 3, 2020

{ Comfy Cottage Corner }

I've mentioned & blogged { see last post } that I moved furniture that had never been in these new spaces before! Well, yesterday I shared one piece & today I'm sharing  the other piece I moved from the dining room to the living room! I was bored with this space, so I shuffled some pieces around & well, the rest is history ha! This corner cabinet was quite easy to move since it's not that heavy- THANKFULLY! I kept the inside very neutral with vintage crocks & some crisp white candles above it! It's super simple, fresh & summery! Light for summer is my jam...Come read + see more below!!


This corner wasn't used much if we're being honest...As of lately though Mark's favorite thing to do is curl up in one of these slipcovered wingback chairs & relax! It makes my heart happy & these chairs are super comfy!! 

 

Many of the items in this post including greenery can be found HERE   too! 



I needed something fresh & new for this space, so I ventured out with a friend & spotted these clearance white resin bunnies!! If you know me personally,  you know I LOVE RABBITS!! I've had them since the age of 5, our first being right from a vintage farm still open to this day! 
After my attack  { severe dog bite to my face } the doctor suggested getting me a pet to heal & adjust from being afraid of animals { it so worked ha}..Lucy was her name, well "his" we found out later on.. 



The pops of vintage brass from the planters, comfy cottagey buns & tall boxwood plant { my fav } everything tied in nicely for a cool comfy summer look!




Ahhhh the big new OLD piece! You see it in the corner? I love it there! I'll be doing a larger more in depth post once our new furniture is in this space !! Although we've  loved our Ektorp sectional,  we're ready for something fresh & new / deeper! Hopefully we can share this weekend !


I kept the wall very simple with a galvanized clock & vintage cottage sign we got up by Petoskey last summer.



 Do you have a favorite cool relaxing place in the summer you like to unwind to? Any favorite items? Let me know in the comments 

HAPPY Wednesday!
As always THANK YOU for stopping in on my little growing blog. I know everyone says something like this, but I honestly appreciate each of you for sharing my posts, commenting etc....I'm not the biggest or most popular blogger, but I am humble, real & practical ,and  hopefully helpful or inspiring in someway :). 
***You can find me here for updates & more ,or SUBSCRIBE on the right side of my blog for FREE & direct updates right to your mail...

Thursday, July 2, 2020

{ Dining Room Table DIY }

Another fresh new week of endeavors! Hope your 4th of July holiday weekend was safe + fun! I mentioned via my Instagram that this was the first time in 6 years we weren't in Northern Michigan enjoying the cottage & holiday festivities! I won't go into detail but a few things fell through with the dogs & we ultimately decided to stay home..But y'all we had the BEST weekend right here at our suburban cottage!! From junk food, club car rides, amazing patio firework show, friends, garden work & DIY!! Today I'm sharing that last tid bit..DIY!! I had been wanting to refresh this vintage dining set for quite sometime but got busy & the weather wasn't great! Well, that all changed this weekend.....


Before


Thankfully through this whole process of revamping this table I had my little team helping me. They helped lift the chairs outside, & even lent a hand in spraying the chairs!! It turned into a great 4th of July day/ night. Mark was having severe carpal tunnel flare in his hands { from a severe car accident} so we let him rest for once ha.


These chairs didn't need any sanding which was amazing! They were smooth & only had one worn coat of black paint. We used 9 cans for all four chairs, table base & 1 other small dining item. Because they are solid wood they did absorb the spray paint well & generously! 



I chose Rust-oleum spray paint for these because I knew it adheres easily,  smoothly & was a quicker process than brush painting the million nooks in these vintage chairs! The white paint compliments the distressed worn edges on the tabletop!





It's prime summertime here in Michigan,  so fresh bright white mixed with lavender sprigs & more white decor seemed right..I never would use purple otherwise but this muted lavender,  & fresh cottage vibe spoke to me! 


I love the raw wood top paired with our 1930s barn door so much, I didn't dare paint it!! The wood tones compliment & warm the white space up just enough!


Are you working on any summer projects? I'd love to know if you are..Leave a comment below or send me a photo via the" contact " on the right sidebar of the blog! 
Now for the big Question: Black wood or the new fresh white wood? 


HAPPY Monday 
As always THANK YOU for stopping in on my little growing blog. I know everyone says something like this, but I honestly appreciate each of you for sharing my posts, commenting etc....I'm not the biggest or most popular blogger, but I am humble, real & practical ,and  hopefully helpful or inspiring in someway :). 
***You can find me here for updates & more ,or SUBSCRIBE on the right side of my blog for FREE & direct updates right to your mail...