This week I am joining 29 other bloggers for a Summer Home Tour. I have to be honest, I am quite intimidated with the group. When Marty form A Stroll Thru Life invited me to be a part of this tour I was flattered and immediately panicked. But than I relaxed and realized you all want to see real life. So you will not see crazy transformations here. In fact for the summer months, we keep things very clean and simple. We are constantly in and out of the house and the warm summer days call for barefeet and paired down decorating around here. And my real trick to making this place look summer ready is fresh flowers.
chandelier | table | runner | chairs | pitcher
This is normally homework central! But for the summer, I am sure it will be art projects and entertaining. We LOVE to have people over. We invite my parents regularly for dinner and I love having everything handy for summer. Dishes ready, napkins out and serving platters within reach. I think I would do well with one of those homes that has open shelving in the kitchen. I really do find that the more I keep out in plain sight the cleaner and neater things stay. Just don’t open my cabinets. Just sayin!
These flowers do not even look real to me. Thank goodness for Trader Joes because they keep my house looking like summer! I would much rather buy an arm full of flowers than spend it on special coffee drinks or pedicures. I think we all of our thing we like to splurge on and for me it is definitely flowers. The white pitcher is a Target find.
I really love the pretty Turkish towels for summer. The aqua stripes and detail are a fun addition.
This sideboard was one of our best purchases. It’s from HomeGoods and we have had it for years. Our dining space isn’t huge but this is where we keep our go to items. And during the school year, each child keeps a box in here with their homework and supplies used daily. It’s been fantastic for us. For this time of year, I like to keep things as light as possible so I bring out all of our most used white dishes and serving pieces. Including a couple of white platters that I will toss an appetizer on if people drop by. We often do Happy Hours outdoors with our friends on Fridays and I can grab a serving dish from here and be ready.
If you are new to my blog and thinking I am a bit boring and not into color, I assure you I really am! This table says it all!
Although I have sets of colored napkins, over the last year or so I have really only used the white ones. I keep a basket filled with them so they are ready to set a dressier table anytime my parents pop over or friends. I don’t even care if the napkins match. I pick them up anywhere and love if they have some extra detail on them. I think having mismatched white linens actually adds to the charm. Is that crazy?
If you are a long time reader, you know that our bar cart is very family friendly! I keep the kiddos’ art supplies on the lower level so that they are handy when they do homework. It’s been really great to have them within reach. If we happen to have a big party, I will swap out the lower level for more adult type beverages and things we may need while entertaining.
Turning to the family room. This is the space that did get a bit of a summer makeover. I normally have a black and white rug in here but swapped it out for a lighter feel. They were both total steals ($50 each) from HomeGoods so I snatched up both the gray and the black. I also swapped out the darker floral pillows for some pink and orange ones. Then I shopped my house and brought down some lighter pillows from our playroom. The number pillows were one of the very first blog projects I ever did (almost five years ago!).
The blue chairs were HomeGoods finds a few years back. I added (ahem. . my husband added) each nailhead one at a time. I get these grand ideas and think they will be easy. Not so much. But I do appreciate the detail.
Peonies. Need I say more? They are just so pretty this time of year. The vase is a hurricane from Target.
The only thing I added to our coffee table was an urchin I picked up from Target and the cute box (Hobby Lobby clearance section for $3.60). My husband kept complaining that the remotes were too hard to find in my magazine basket below. So now they have a happy home on our coffee table. The monogrammed coasters were a gift from my dear friend Megan and we use them daily.
The flowers in the clear vase didn’t quite look right because of the white frames. If you look closely you can see I inserted a piece of white paper to create balance with the frames. Simple trick and in real life you are never this close to see!
The pineapple print and flamingo were both Hobby Lobby finds. I hadn’t been to Hobby Lobby in months and months. When I popped in the other day I was shocked and how cute some of their prints are. Fun finds to keep things feeling fresh and fun for summer.
DIY gold frames | how to lengthen drapes | how this room normally looks
Turning to our bedroom, I really just edit for summer. I take way the cable knit throws and the warmer colors. I delete any pops of color I had in the room (like this reading corner) and stick with all whites and grays. And I will treat myself to flowers in this space on a regular basis. Summer is a time for us to throw open the shutters and let the pretty outdoor greenery take center stage.
I am often asked about sources for this room. The dressers are from Restoration Hardware, the mirror is from Z Gallerie and the bedding is from Crane & Canopy. The bed was a bit of a DIY custom project you can read about here. Let’s just say desperate times call for desperate measures.
tote | hat | sandals | heels | white dress | shirtdress | romper
My favorite part about the warmer months is the summer wardrobe. Not gonna lie. My husband made this rack for me and I love using it to plan ahead or pack for trips. Sundresses and pretty prints make me a happy girl.
Lastly, our front porch got some love for this season. We sit out on this porch daily. Whether in the morning with coffee or in the evening with a glass of wine, my husband and I do a lot of chatting out here. It’s a nice quiet spot and we are very grateful for it.
It’s nice to be able to watch our children play while we relax. But let me say this about our Summer Home Tour. . . our house is rarely as picked up or clean as it appears. Yes, at the end of each night our family room is pretty darn together. Aside from games in the built ins, the children have their toys upstairs. But we are like any other family. There are shoes strewn about, piles of school papers and mom’s blogging and craft projects everywhere. I do toss most of that out of sight to snap a nice photo. And when we have company or get bit by the cleaning bug, she cleans up pretty nicely. But in an effort to keep it real, please know that your messes happen here, too. It’s all part of life.
Thank you for popping in to see how we try to freshen things up for summer. You can see some of my most popular posts here and follow along on Instagram here. The tours this week have blown me away. You can get caught up below. And grab your coffee and please go visit Monica over at Monica Wants It.
You have an absolutely gorgeous home! I still adore how you have colouring supplies on your bar cart, it means it’s a real, practical home and not just a show piece.
Megan || http://www.ohheyblog.com
Thank you so much, Megan. With a pretty small space we have to use all of these corners for real life! That’s for sure. Thanks for taking the tour and always having something sweet to say.
So simple and beautiful. A breath of fresh, summer air. And the light in your home is amazing. Here’s to California sun!
Oh thank you, Lauren. I have to say that the natural light that this house receives is my favorite trait of the home. Now if the walls would just magically expand. LOL. Have a great day.
Courtney, Your home is beautiful and the photographs are amazing.
xx,
Sherry
Thank you so much, Sherry! I really appreciate that. Enjoy your day and thanks for popping in.
I love your home and the soft neutral background you have. Perfect to let summer flowers and nature shine. I especially love your bedroom, amazing. Great tour.
Thank you, Marty! I have loved being a part of this tour. So honored you invited me. Wish we cold get caught up over a cup of tea!
I love your summer decorating style, and I, too, am thankful for Trader Joe’s and their amazing flower selection. I would love to be able to throw open our doors and windows, but the Texas heat and mosquitos make that tricky 🙂 I’ll just swoon over your space instead!
Thank you, Michele. Our heat will kick in later in the summer that’s for sure! Than it will be AC around the clock. LOL. Thank you for the kind compliment on our home. Hope you are having a really great week.
Cheerful, bright, and absolutely beautiful…just like you, sweet friend!!! xoxo
You are the kindest. Please come over and hang out with me. Your home tour is beyond. You are so so talented. Love you, girl. xo
I love your home, it feels so relaxing and tranquil! I adore your bedroom but the front porch is the place where I would definitely spend most of my days during Summer. Thanks for the beautiful tour!
You are most welcome. The porch is our favorite as well. We love being outside and while we don’t have a spacious backyard, we are so thankful for the porch. Thanks for taking the tour. Enjoy your day.
I love it all! I wish I could come over for a drink on the porch 🙂
Come on over! I wish you could, too! How fun would that be. Have a great day.
I could move right in! Your home is beautiful Courtney – I loved your tour!
Thank you, Kris. You’re so kind. Thanks for popping over to take a look. Savoring the last quiet week before the kids are out for summer and the house is . . .well. . . busy!!!!!
i am coming to your lovely and cozy home via Miss Marty. I feel as though I have found a kindred spirit as I too would rather spend money on Trader Jo flowers than a coffee or pedicure. 🙂
Can’t wait to check out your garment rack post.
Oh, flower sisters!!!! I love it. Yes. They completely transform a room and my mood. Happy to hear I am not alone. Thanks for visiting from Marty. She is so great. xo
I have always adored your home Courtney. Clean, simple, classy. I love decorating with neutral basics too, as it makes being able to switch out accessories so easy. The view from your front porch is gorgeous. I wish more communities would use their front yards more. We have a porch and love to sit out front occasionally as that is usually when we see our neighbors who are out for walks.
Thank you, sweet Lauren. I love that we have know one another for quite some time now. You just need to show up on my porch so we can hang out. I agree with you. Part of what drew us to this community is that the homes do have front porches which is more conducive to being with friends and neighbors. I love that you all sit outside, too. Have a great day, Lauren.
So fresh and pretty Courtney 🙂 I am the same way, relaxed not a lot of decorating this time of year. More bringing the outdoors in. Just beautiful! xo
Means a lot coming from you. Yes. . . so much easier to pull back on decor and let summer take over, right?! You’re home is one of my favorites. So so pretty, Kristin.
Ohmygoodness I want your house! It’s seriously beautiful!
Thank you so much, Erin. You are so kind. Thanks for putting up with a million photos. Gotta a little carried away! Enjoy your day. xo
Your tour is absolutely lovely, Courtney! Your home always looks so welcoming. So happy to be on the Summer Tour schedule with you today! 😉
Oh my goodness! Jennifer. Your home is jaw droppingly stunning. Every single picture I had my jaw on the ground. You are over the top talented. So fun to do this with you today. xo
Your home is absolutely STUNNING! I love your bedroom-and that porch…so cozy and inviting-I could sit
there all day!
What a sweet compliment. Thank you so much. It’s certainly not grand, but we do enjoy our cozy little home. Thanks for stopping in and for leaving such a lovely comment.
Oh my goodness, Courtney!!!! I feel like I already know your home top to bottom (hehe) but I was just so drawn in today for your tour. SUCH gorgeous details!!! I love the rug swap for summer – great idea! Okay, I’m going to take the tour again 😉
Your home is lovely and I like that your family can really live there with kid friendly spaces. Your bedroom is especially pretty and the colourful summer porch looks like the perfect spot to relax. Thanks for the tour!
So beautiful Courtney ~ it’s the perfect balance of stylish and casual! I LOVE your fun porch, it would definitely be one I’d go out of my way to stroll by! : ) Enjoy a wonderful summer with your cute family!
Courtney, You have such a beautiful home! I love the garment rack in your bedroom! What a wonderful idea!
Such a beautiful tour! I just adore your bedroom.
Summer house ♡ Looks like very cosy and gorgeous.
http://thenaturalminimalism.blogspot.com
Your home is so lovely, Courtney! I love how light and bright everything is. That porch looks inviting and relaxing and totally makes me miss California so, so much!!
I LOVE it all!!! I think I need to attempt the DIY frames this week!!! XO!
I love the wallpaper in your bedroom ! Please tell us the company and pattern?
Your house is gorgeous Courtney! It looks so laid back and inviting- feel like I could show up anytime for a cocktail on that porch!
Hi There!
I LOVE your huge Z Gallerie mirror in your bedroom! I was just looking at it online and it says you can’t hang it. However, I notice you did and it looks so much nicer hung. Did you have to reinforce it somehow? Or how did you hang it to ensure it wouldn’t fall?
Thanks!
Christina
Where did you get the gorgeous mirror that is over your fireplace in the Family Room?
Gosh, we have had that for years and years. Probably HomeGoods.
Love everything about your home!
Where is the bar cart from? Exactly what I’ve been looking for. And it’s great to see you keeping it real with the kids’ coloring stuff. I’m joining you!