Tuesday, August 6, 2019

A Colorful Summer Cottage


Welcome to the Summer Celebration Blog Hop 


hosted by Amber of Follow the Yellow Brick Home.


If you are following the blog hop in order, then you were just visiting Katie of Let's Add Sprinkles whose home is full of color and creativity.


I made a vow at the beginning of summer to spend less time decorating and more time playing.


Reading in my garden 


and walking on the beach would take precedence over projects.


 I wanted to say "yes" when our daughter-in-law's dad called to say, "let's go sailing!"


I made my life simpler by using dried flowers and paper blooms in the entry - there is one little arrangement of fresh blooms that gets replaced weekly.


A bucket of dried flowers has been sitting on the dining room table for weeks - less time arranging flowers allows for longer beach walks.


I actually did take time to make a few changes in the living room - the first was to slap a fresh coat of white paint on the fireplace.


Steve painted the sign hiding the TV at the beginning of summer - favorite beaches where we have lived or visited.


The milk can was recent gift from a friend and I bought faux blooms at a favorite shop - as the owner assisted me, I told her I wanted the flowers to look like they had come from my garden.


I looked for weeks for matching chairs on either side of the living room windows, but had no luck so Steve gets to keep his well worn leather chair for a little while longer.


Instead I "shopped the house" and moved things all around - the cabinet was pushed down and I moved the white chair into its place.


The smaller table had been beneath the window for awhile and the green chairs were where the cabinet now stands.


Croquet balls from my childhood set, an oversized die, pool balls gathered over many years and tiny bowling pins found at a flea market


 add just the right amount of color around the room.


I kept the game theme going in the old cabinet as well.


As I edited my pics and wrote the post, I decided that I needed to tweak just one thing in the room.


Can you spot it?


Of course, that triggered a few more tweaks, but they can wait because I'm sticking to my plan of playing all summer and heading out to the beach.


And I'm sending you off now to visit Cecilia of My Thrift Store Addiction.


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

42 comments:

  1. Good morning dear Carol!

    For the first time, I'm ashamed to say, I have noticed that your primary color palatte is so perfect. Where you live, my goodness, the intensity of the blue sky, the brightness of the sun's rays and the details of beach-goers lives all reflect the colors you have appropriately chosen for your cottage. Steve's art is sensational, as I spot a beautiful rendition of your grandson on your wall. What a perfect way to decorate your home, with the art of your family members. LOVE!

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  2. Steve's art is amazing. It really shines in your adorable home. What a great summer goal. More time walking on the beach is a great idea. I love your faux blooms. They do look real.

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  3. Such a sweet home - and I agree, let some things go and enjoy the summer!!

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  4. I definitely agree that summer is the time to be playing as much as possible! Especially where I live, the nice weather is just way too short, so I am out and about as much as possible. Your home always looks bright, cheery and beautiful no matter how it's arranged or decorated!

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  5. I think this is the first time I have seen your living room. You live a charmed life.

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  6. Your beach home is adorable. Enjoy the summer. Have a blessed day. Madeline

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  7. I love your relaxed approach to summer, Carol! I'm all for celebrating each day and leaving the projects for later. Your painted fireplace looks really good too. I love how you shopped the house to make everything feel fresh. You have the best stuff! Hugs and happy summer, CoCo

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  8. I adore your colorful beach cottage and what fun celebrating summer with walks on the beach! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction

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  9. Well dearie, you just do it all right! You have the color thing down. You also have the perfect balance of accessories against all the white. The cheeriest spaces found anywhere. Glad you're enjoying your summer. Your adorable cottage lacks for nothing!

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  10. Love your home and love how you are enjoying summer. I so agree, let everything wait, the beach is more important. Enjoy

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  11. It was a treat to see your living room . . . I'm happy for you that you are slowing down and enjoying your summer . . . take a walk on the beach for me, I could use it :)

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  12. I am so glad you have taken the time to enjoy summertime! I really love that buoy print! How friendly and welcoming your home is!

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  13. So beautiful. Your home never disappoints!

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  14. As always Carol, everything is so fun and vibrant. I think I found the "tweak". Is it the plant behind the green chairs? It looks fantastic there. Now what did I win?! And please don't tell me it was "pride" and not "prize"! LOL.

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  15. Carol, Always love seeing your artistic home by the ocean! I think you definitely need a croquet mallet head wreath to accompany all your fun, colorful game accessories! Love that theme for summer and it fits your home so perfectly! Enjoy the ocean waves for the rest of us!

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  16. Beautiful Carol, you and Steve are both artists of equal merit. What a lovely place you've both created.

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  17. carol, visiting your home is like going to a garden party, so fun and colorful. Why would anyone be inside when you could be out and about in your wonderful seaside spot!

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  18. Carol you have the right attitude this summer. I think I hear your beach calling me too. If I lived there I would never get anything accomplished, except naps. As always I love your bright and cheerful home.

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  19. Carol I loved getting to see more of your beautiful and dreamy cottage by the sea! I am so happy that you decided to enjoy more play time this summer instead of decorating as much. Still your home looks perfect! I just love your vintage game treasures!

    Thank you so much for celebrating summer with us!

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  20. I love the way you are appreciating summer. We all need to relax more and spend more time playing! I love how you used color in your home. As always, I feel happy when I read your posts! Great hopping with you again and enjoy the rest of your week!
    Shelley

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  21. I always feel so happy after touring your home. You have such a way to make your home a home. Love the art work.

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  22. I love your cottage home! No matter the season - it is always a favorite of mine!

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  23. Steves artwork is always amazing. I love the beaches you have visited and loved painted on canvas to cover your TV. I always swoon over your pretty pictures of your cottage by the sea. Happy New Week.
    xoxo
    Kris

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  24. Carol, I love your philosophy about more time playing and less time decorating. I need to adopt that during summer, too. I really enjoyed seeing your colorful decor and the relaxed, beachy vibe of your home. The artwork is wonderful, too. Your home makes me long for a day at the beach!

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  25. I enjoy seeing your cottage tweaks, and I do love seeing Steve's artwork. The game theme is adorable! LOVE it!

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  26. Steve's chair, I think I read a post about refurbishing the leather with a dye. It looked brand new after the item was finished. It was colorfast and would not come off. That may be something to consider for that chair. It looks super comfortable to sit in. Just thought I would mention it.

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  27. Good for you Carol for sticking to your plan and enjoying play time this summer . So I'm behind on the hop. Was in NYC seeing my MS doctor.

    The skies and the beaches were a pretty sight and perfect for playing. Always love your cottage.

    Cindy

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  28. Wonderful splashes of color! Your cottage just makes me swoon! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  29. Carol, I always am overjoyed when a post from you pops up. First of all your colors are magnificent and I can't get over that morning glory on your fence. Mine is so puny in comparison and of all the beautiful things I see on every blog, the sight of your dining table in front of the windows is my favorite. If I were to ever build a house I would steal that idea in a heartbeat. Thanks so much for your visit to me. I heard that ridiculous statement come out of one mouth and that just shows the ignorance as to why a lot of this is happening now. We, all in little towns, now are saying that we are afraid to just go buy groceries. It has got to stop..Happy Wednesday..Judy

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  30. You have a LOVELY cottage home, colourful and full of happiness :)
    You share so much inspiration!
    Love from Titti

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  31. Carol I love your priorities and it sounds like you have had the most wonderful summer! Mike and I have plans to retire by the beach and you give me so much hope! I love all of your pops of color and always enjoy every picture you share! Enjoy the beach for me this week!

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  32. I always enjoy touring your beautiful home and seeing Steve's art. I'm glad that you are taking time to enjoy being outdoors at the beach.

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  33. Lovely colourful and summery shots. How gorgeous to have the beach so close!

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  34. Love how much blue you've added to your cottage. It is the perfect home by the sea.

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  35. Carol, I love your beach cottage more every time I see it! The way you balance pops of color against the white background amazes me. And yes, I agree it's always good to take a break from decorating and enjoy the summer - especially where you live! :) So happy to be hopping with you!

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  36. From one Carol to another, can I come live with you in your colorful, beautiful, flower~filled, bright cottage that looks out on the water and where you can leave the windows open ~ in the summer!! What a joy it must be to walk on the beach ~ one of our favorite things to do on vacation. Thank you for sharing all the lovely little tweaks.

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  37. Carol, I miss partying with you ladies! Your home is always a delight for the eyes. Yes, I agree, play more; work less. The mini bowling pins are darling. You have such a knack with your vignettes!!
    hugs,
    Jann

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  38. I always love looking at your post with all the simple ways you add color it always a difference to the eye.
    I love all your collections. Bowling pins, etc

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  39. I love your summerstyle, Carol!
    Walking on the beach is wonderful, and perhaps find some treasures too..
    Enjoy your summer!

    Hugs, Ida

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  40. Ps, the sunflower painting is so lovely..

    Ida

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  41. Carol, you have created the quintessential summer cottage. Gorgeous! Have fun playing and heading out to the beach.

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