The annual summer clearance has arrived on our
Ebay Blog Shop! During our latest Vintage Flea Market Sale, most items are now marked
down to only $5. This is a great time to grab a little vintage goodie or two*.
I’m making room for more vintage treasures
that I’ll be listing in the next few weeks. Be sure to stop by HERE and take a look.
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| A typical sunrise at our beach in Sea Pines. |
Summer vacation is over, and I really miss it. It's like we snapped our fingers, and it vanished into thin air! Over... so quickly. That's the way it goes with these sorts of things, I guess.
This year's two week vacation was spent at our home in South Carolina. Our first week there was dedicated mostly to DIY projects and updates in the house.
We try to maintain the original 1968 style of the home but at the same time bring it up to more modern standards with the use of fresh paint and coastal accents.
Located on Hilton Head Island, our
home is second row from the beach so coastal style and accessories are a must, but at the same time, we try to keep it from looking too kitschy.
Since we're only able to get out there for about two weeks a year, the rest of the time, the home is available on VRBO for vacation rental.
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The laundry room wall
is updated with a variety of vintage baskets. |
It’s been two long years since we’ve been able to travel back east, so the house needed major attention!
We hired a painter to help us spruce up the fence, repaint the kitchen cabinets, walls and all the doors for a much overdue facelift. We tackled the more fun jobs like adding new artwork, accessories, bedding and organizing the kitchen.
An easy way to add texture and coastal charm to a room is to display a collection of baskets on the wall.
The photo above shows our laundry room. It’s the first room that guests see when they come through the carport door,
so we wanted to make it fun.
Most of the round baskets are thrift
store finds that cost between 50 cents and $2, and I also found a couple of
nice ones at Home Goods.
The wall of coat hooks is perfect for hats, bags and beach towels. We actually put that together over 15 years ago, and it's proved to be a great addition and very user friendly.
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These vintage travel posters were thrift shop finds. |
We traded out some tired artwork for bright and more appropriate beach house art and sprinkled in some new pillows and other goodies throughout the house.
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The Savannah
brick fireplace is original to the house. |
The living room is a big, bright and cozy
room. We simplified the look, added a few fun accents, and reupholstered two
vintage slipper chairs. The bookcases did need some attention, though.
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Spotted these at a
consignment store, but they weren’t cheap. |
We needed a pair of vases or urns to fit
into the top of the bookcases that feature arched openings. After scouring
several thrift stores, Home Goods and consignment stores, we found the perfect
pair.
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This pair of vases were the perfect size, shape and color for the top of the bookcases. |
I also restyled the books in a more informal manner and only used books that were in blue, green, beige, white and black tones.
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Lowcountry Produce is our favorite restaurant in Sea Pines. |
Even though the DIY stuff did seep its way into our second week of vacation time, we did spend some nice beach days and dining time with our boys. Biking and fishing are also favorite activities.
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This is the view
from our favorite high-top table. |
Here’s a peek at our top choice for dining,
Lowcountry Produce. It’s really close to our home, and the food is always good.
It’s more of a breakfast and lunch place, but they are open a few nights for
dinner.
Besides the great food and surroundings, they have a relaxing playlist of music, mostly good 80’s songs.
Their homemade
baked goods are out of this world. Amazingly delicious giant peanut
butter chocolate chip cookies always seemed to make their way home with us.
Our friend Tad came to visit us one
weekend and brought his portable pizza oven, so we each got to make our own custom
pizzas, which was really fun! The most unusual one we made was topped with
mango pineapple salsa and local shrimp, yum!
Pizza night was finished off by warm
plum pie from Lowcountry Produce, served à la mode, of course!
Our time in Hilton Head was really
busy with all the projects we had to do, so there was no time to visit Savannah
this time around. I was looking forward to visiting my favorite store and coffee
house, The Paris Market, but it’ll have to wait until next time.
One funny thing is that while perusing
The Paris Market on Instagram, I noticed that they carry a few tablecloths by
Pacific & Rose!
The REALLY cool thing is that their website features some of the photos I styled and photographed… it's so funny
how the world revolves, and then comes back compounded with the things you
love most!
Among the pile of mail that was
waiting for us when we arrived home was the new October/November issue of
Cottages & Bungalows.
It was fun to see the little Laguna
Beach project I styled back in March. We actually styled a summer look first that you can see HERE, and then we put together this quick outdoor vignette for
fall.
We used the homeowner’s existing
furniture, rugs and pillows, and I brought in the pumpkins, baskets, plaid throw, orange feather napkins, and HELLO PUMPKIN pillow.
After moving some things around, the pretty orange Birds of Paradise flowers and palms made a nice backdrop for the photo. The sunflowers really do liven things up too.
It was a quick “let’s just shoot something fun for fall” moment. Turned out pretty cute, I’d say.
Five easy steps to help you set the perfect summer table
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| A pretty berry tart sits upon a pedestal at the center of the table. It sets the tone for the patriotic colors of this tablescape and offers a preview to the delicious meal awaiting guests. |
Summer is here, so it’s the perfect time to start planning a festive gathering. Forget the paper plates and disposable napkins and go for something more upscale.
Gather some of your favorite tableware and collected pieces and set a pretty vintage-inspired tablescape for America’s favorite season.
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| A ticking stripe runner sets the groundwork for the rest of the table, and softens the look of the rustic farmhouse table. |
Wouldn’t it be fun to create a classic-inspired red, white and blue table setting that will surely create a memorable celebration for your friends and family?
Mixing and matching your favorite table linens, plates, flatware and glasses are simplified with these five easy to follow steps.
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| Vibrant blue glassware compliments the ticking stripe table runner, while sweet little chamomile flowers in white hobnail votive holders add a cheerful splash of color. |
1. Choose your inspiration piece
An inspiration piece always sets the tone for any gathering. My collection of red and blue transferware plates were my starting point for this tablescape.
Transferware is so easy to mix-and-match since the various patterns coordinate so well with each other.
To create that perfect red, white and blue look for this table, I used three different sized plates for each place setting and alternated red and blue plates of different sizes for each guest.
Vintage transferware plates also look amazing when combined with plain white china, so experiment with what you have and create your own unique look!
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| My love for blue and white transferware plates is unmistakable, and I have a few favorites displayed throughout my home on the walls for all to enjoy. This type of collection transcends so many different décor styles. |
2. Lay your groundwork
Tablecloths, runners and placemats lay the groundwork for any pretty table setting. In this instance, I chose a runner with a blue and white ticking pattern. To me, this delicate pattern evokes thoughts of the stripes on the American flag.
In addition to introducing a subtle pattern, runners are a great way to add interest to the table and soften the look of a wood table. A romantic vibe is instantly set for the table just by adding a pretty fabric. And to finish off the groundwork, I chose simple white time-worn napkins.
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| No need for baking! This little store bought tart was simply embellished with fresh fruit set in a circular pattern on top. |
3. Bring together the whole look with a centerpiece
A centerpiece visually anchors the whole table. Like the cherry on the top of a hot fudge sundae, the middle of the table looks finished when a unique feature is prominently displayed in its center.
As you can see, something as simple as a pretty berry tart livens up the table and prepares your guests’ palates for the menu you have planned for them.
This little store-bought tart was simply embellished with fresh fruit on top and will be sure to please your guests.
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| Every guest will have their own unique combination of patterns to enjoy as the collection of blue and red transferware plates get mixed and matched differently at each place setting. |
4. Add natural elements
Organic materials such as flowers or fruit are important natural elements for any tablescape. Sweet chamomile flowers are inexpensive and easily found at the grocery store.
They have the same look as a mini daisy, and when was the last time a daisy didn’t put a smile on your face? These charming little flowers add a bit of whimsy and nostalgia to the table.
If you have the resources at home, forage pretty clippings from your own garden. Oftentimes, I go out to my garden and snip branches and seasonal flowers to add to the table.
It’s always surprising to me how just a simple natural element brings the whole table to life.
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| An up-close and personal look at all the details of these lovely transferware plates. By alternating red and blue colored dishes of various sizes, these plates take on their own patriotic charm. |
5. Incorporate vintage details
Vintage details instantly elevate your table into the “Romantic” category. Grandmother’s treasured silverware is happy to make an appearance at the table and quietly recalls festive occasions of days passed.
Or perhaps you have a favorite collection of vintage vases or glassware you’d love to share with your guests.
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| Grandmother’s treasured silver adds a touch of glitz and romance to the table. |
Put together complementary accents for the whole room
Remember to let your personality shine through anytime you’re creating a tablescape.
For the patriotic summer timeframe that begins with Memorial Day and ends with Labor Day, look for other fun ways to add a little red, white and blue interest to your dining area.
Gathering books from other parts of the house and incorporating them on a sideboard or table is one of my favorite ways to play off the theme of my table setting.
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| A lovely pitcher of chamomile flowers is elevated with a playful accent of red, white and blue books. |
Books are an especially easy way to add color and charm to any room.
A plain corner of my dining nook was in need of some color, so three appropriately colored books came to the rescue while at the same time helping to elevate a lovely pitcher of fresh flowers.
Just remember to always incorporate things you love and your personal style will shine through.