Thursday, June 11, 2015

"a little summer"


I am madly working in the garden 


getting it ready for a Summer Cottage Garden Party.


But, I took some time out this past weekend to "summer-ize" the house.


With sun, sea and sand pillows, ocean art and surfboards, 


one might wonder how I could add any more "summer".


I tucked some wooden buoys into a wire basket


and dug a favorite enamel mug out of the cupboard - I love the colors and the beach scene on the mug.


Shells and a new message were added to our vintage typewriter.


 The living room got a huge dose of seaside decor -


shells from our travels and walks along the beach fill my vintage shopping basket,


buckets and buoys,


weights and starfish decorate the mantel,


and a container of sea glass (gathered over the 17 years since we moved to our beach cottage) are all on display.


The anchor pillow sits on the sofa year round, 


but somehow it looks more summery when paired with patriotic pillows.


Steve likes the display of shells on the cedar chest


because each shell, piece of coral and even the sand, is from a surf trip he took to the Maldives in 2001.


I have seen lots of rooms with whales so I placed my whale bookends on top of some "beachy" books instead of holding the books up.


There's "a little summer" everywhere at our house


and with JP's wedding just 5 weeks away


I don't imagine there will be many changes for quite awhile.

..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..  ..

Join me at

My Salvaged Treasures for the Vintage Inspiration Party


49 comments:

  1. Love your cottage! You reminded me that I want a vintage typewriter to put messages in.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the summery/beachy feel to your sweet place.

    Have a great day ~ FlowerLady

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think this must be the epitome of summer ! Love it all :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I think this must be the epitome of summer ! Love it all :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your gorgeous cottage always has a summery feel, but you definitely added to it. I love how everything you decorate with has personal meaning or a story tied to it. Your home is always a favorite to visit! I know you're getting excited about the upcoming wedding! Enjoy every moment!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love your old sand pails. There's so much to see at your house and I'm sure lots of "conversation pieces."

    ReplyDelete
  7. I always love beachy themes, and you have so many lovely ideas, Carol! I wish I had some of those adorable little seaside buckets. Looking forward to the cottage garden party!
    Helen xox

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the vintage pails, how cute. Your house looks just perfect for summer :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Carol I love love love it all!! That second photo down of the outside is so pretty and I love all the summer touches you added to the inside especially all those pretty pillows and all the shells!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful - as always! Enjoy!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. It is all simply beautiful. I adore the way you make your little home so fresh and bright and uncluttered.

    ReplyDelete
  12. C A R O L !!!!!!!!! That whale, he is ADORABLE! Your garden party, I can't wait! That is the day we return home and I will be here! What a fabulous start you have with all the right accessories to make your garden just right. I spy a day bed? I can't wait to doll mine up with summer whites. Oh the fun I'm having here, Carol!!!! Anita

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your cottage by the sea is all a beach home should be! Love your decor and touches of summer! That wedding will be here before you know it!
    hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  14. You have a lot of pretty things...all of the nautical things that I LOVE! But you still manage to keep things neat and clean. I don't know how you manage that but it sure looks nice. Enjoy your day! Hugs, Diane

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your cottage always feels 'summery' to me ~ even more so now! I can't wait for the garden party! Re: the wedding... just remember to breathe!
    Hugs ~

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Carol, you do summer at it's best :) I love, love, love your pillows on the sofa, but my all time favorite and has been since the first time I saw them) is your little tin sand buckets. Those are wonderful and bring back childhood memories, of building sand castles and running along the shores of Lake Michigan.
    Thanks for the memories.
    Connie :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love your colorful and beachy home. The seaglass takes me back when we would go the beaches in southern California. Santa Monica, Zuma and Oxnard to name a few. Sitting and listening to the sound of the waves is very soothing to the soul. Your blog reminds me of home. Kathleen in Az

    ReplyDelete
  18. Itr amazing and i love it! You have found more beach glass than anybody i know! Wow! We dont get any here!

    ReplyDelete
  19. It's always such a treat to see your creative displays and sweet treasures. I love the container of collected beach glass...I love it all...and your vintage typewriter too.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I believe your house is the quint essential summer house since it's at the beach and is warm year round! You have such a nice collection of beach accessories. I love the buoys and the sea glass.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love your summer-ized house. I too have been adding coastal and patriotic to mine. Love that mix for summer.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Your house wears summer very well, Carol! :)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh my, your home is definitely ready for summer. It looks just beautiful!

    Judy

    ReplyDelete
  24. oh, I love the summer touches in your house. I am inspired now! jonni

    ReplyDelete
  25. Carol,
    Your Summertime decorations just invite one to relax and enjoy sea breezes. Philly was 93 today - too hot too soon. I love your jar of beach glass and all your touches. Really looking forward to the Cottage garden tour, it will be fun to see what you do. Today I received an invitation to my cousins beach home for a party, she collects Whale accessories, she lives on Whaling way! So I am going to find something unique ... Well eyes, fingers and toes crossed I will. Your whale is cute.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Carol, your cottage by the sea is filled with charm any season of the year. I'm crushing over your red, white, and blue pillows at the moment. Added this to my Hooray for the Red, White, and Blue Pinterest Board. ;-)
    Looking forward to the Summer Cottage Garden Tour.

    ReplyDelete
  27. The little whale is making me smile tonight...how cute is that!?!?!?

    ReplyDelete
  28. It all looks fantastic Carol! I love the whales I must say and how fun is that garden party!!! Enjoy friend!!! Nicole xo

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love all your Summer touches!! I have a typewriter like yours, except mine is sitting down in my basement. I'm thinking that I should bring it upstairs and display it in my living room.
    ~Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  30. Hi Carol,
    Love your inside summer beach decor and it will be fun to be with you in the garden party coming up soon. Have a wonderful week end.
    Kris

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Carol
    Oh your house is just beautiful with all the summer touches. I love that in all the pictures we can see hints of outside. I love that. Can't wait to see the garden tour. Enjoy your day today
    deezie

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Carol, your summer look is so inviting and inspiring. Love the typewriter and still on the hunt for one. The garden party sounds like it will be fun!! Have a nice weekend. Hugs, CM

    ReplyDelete
  33. Love all the coastal accessories that you have added. I love the sea glass too! I think I will be seeking some of my coastal accessories before I move since I don't live on the coast anymore, we will see.

    ReplyDelete
  34. My favorite look, Summer. I like your flag pillow on the sofa. Did you make it? You have the beach cottage style I like most.
    Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  35. Fell in love with it all especially the blue pail, cup and black whale!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Carol, I just love your home. It's the windows for me. You place things near the window and it seems to be so cozy. I feel that even on a rainy day, you would feel just fine sitting near any of the windows. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

    ReplyDelete
  37. Makes me homesick for the sea, and living in a house where there is always fine white sand being tracked in on bare feet. Looking forward to the Party! Adding a notice to my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Your beautiful cottage and your summer decor make me want to don shorts and sandals (I don't do flip flops) and make myself right at home in your place. I can't wait to see your garden tour...your yard is always so pretty and lush.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love what you have done to "summerize". It looks so inviting!

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hello, Your blog is so beautiful, love all of your photographs...you and your hubby are a fine example of what retired folks like us should be doing. Your blog, home, garden and lifestyle are full of energy and light. Enter the ocean view with the sailboat...it's great! Loved your hooked pillows, old typewriter and "art and sand" everywhere. I subscribed to your blog and thanks for commenting on mine. I need to spend some time with the layout and add more color...it takes me a long time! Yours is amazing. Green is my favorite color...so I really really like.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Carol, if there's a knock on the door it's probably House Beautiful coming to do a double feature on your home, it looks amazing!
    Amalia
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love your red white and blue pillow collection! The garden looks lovely - maybe you'll get some rain before the wedding???

    ReplyDelete
  43. I love your summer, Carol! Now that my back yard mural is complete I am re-loving my office with a simple beachy theme. Looking for great small pieces has been challenging but fun! I love your decor eye! Looking forward to the 'garden party'! Blessings, Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  44. Your summery home looks great. I love the pillows and all your little touches everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Love all the sweet summery changes.....but the whale is my favorite......he is adorable. I see you too have a bed outdoors.
    I have one on the deck and love to lay out there in the cooler morning or evening and read.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love what you chose to write on your typewriter... So many fun memories teaching it to my pupils!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Cute summer touches. I need a vintage typewriter. I love how you add a saying to it. I might have to copy it with your permission of course.
    Thats a cute whale.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Don't know how I missed this post Carol. Love every bit of summer you have added! I need to add cute sayings in my typewriter. Love how you do that!
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete