Our Home | Summery Additions

When it comes to our house I haven't "decorated" much lately.  The project list is still long and wide, but I've been content for the moment to just leave things alone.  Partly because I'm trying hard to stick to a budget and refuse to start spending on the kitchen until I do, and partly because I'm just happy living with what we have and not obsessing about what changes I need to make.  Our upholstery is getting worn out so I don't care if the boys eat a bowl of ice cream on the couch while watching a movie or use the pillows as weapons in a pillow fight, our dishwasher has been on the outs but some nights it's nice to wash the dishes by hand with Jimmy and listen to music and talk {some days it is a real pain in the you-know-what though! And a new one is one the way}.  At the moment my focus has been more on just living and less on buying.  This is out of character for me, but honestly a home with with plenty of books, music, and good food is really more than well decorated enough and I'd lost sight of that a bit.  Before you go thinking I've lost my love of pretty interiors, let me assure you that is far from the case.  I've just been slowing down a little on the spending and it's been nice not running all over town looking at paint colors or fabrics or scouring websites.  HOWEVER, it is summer and a change of seasons always brings the desire to freshen things up a bit.  Here's how I've done it lately without breaking the bank!

I picked up this $19.99 toile duvet cover + sham set at Ikea for Holly's visit.  She stayed in Andrew's room and I wanted her to at least have something feminine in there.  I am normally an all white bedding kind of girl, but for that price it was fun to mix up our summer bedding without any real commitment.  The blue and white feels fresh and I pair it with higher end sheets so it doesn't feel like cheapy bedding, even though it is! :)

We've had lots of fresh flowers in the home.  While I like them all year round, in the summer I'm never without.  We only had peonies one week at Trader Joe's and I just about bought the whole bunch. {above photo by Andrew!!  I didn't crop or edit!}

I found a French antique bench for the bare space in front of our steps.  I've been looking FOREVER and when this one measured at the perfect dimensions I pounced on it.  I may or may not add a cushion. I was thinking a long, down filled cushion, covered in a pretty avocado green velvet with off white contrast piping.  I go back and forth.  I thought it would be a great place to sit and put on shoes, but it really has become more of dumping spot for the pool tote and my bag.

See? Meant to be.

I sewed a couple new pillows out of one of my favorite Kathryn Ireland fabrics. {Hey, good enough for Steve Martin to have in his home, good enough for me! :)} I have them on my red bergere chairs in front of the fireplace, but I prefer one on the above side chair.  Here's a close up of the fabric...

And lastly, I've added a little blue and white transferware to my collection...

When I get my open shelving in the kitchen I want a few platters to line the back and mix in a bit of color among all my white dishes and plates.

I will post soon about my kitchen planning and decision making... Enjoy your weekends!

ps. Thanks so much for all the great read aloud book recs!!  Off to the library this week!