This week is summer home tour week for me and my blogging friends. Truth be told, I wasn’t quite sure how to infuse summer into my darker rooms that we painted this past winter, but I found a way to make dark summer neutrals work.
Welcome to those of you coming here from Love, Create, Celebrate – she has beautiful style so be sure to pay her a visit if you haven’t already! And a special thanks goes out to Krista at The Happie Housie for organizing this week’s event.
You know, when I painted the family room in Mole’s Breath (Farrow & Ball) this past winter, I wondered if the room would feel too dark during summer. But no worries, because it makes me feel like I’m sitting in the shade when I’m in the room. It actually “feels” cooler to me!
I’ve been spending so much time out in the yard that I haven’t done a lot of summer decorating inside. To change things up for the season, I’m just going to add seasonal flowers from my garden or the side roads. It’ easy and inexpensive.
I love all the wild grasses we have here in Illinois. Their stems make good accents for bouquets and the wheat-type stalks look like the graphic in my new logo header.
I’m definitely digging darker rooms for summer, which comes as a complete surprise to me. I always enjoy using brighter colors with white during summer (I still love the look), but I love the look of summer neutrals even more.
You might remember that our dining room got a new coat of Downtown by Benjamin Moore. This color is fabulous with the changing light of day. Sometimes it looks more green, sometimes more brown.
I tucked another bunch of wild grasses in one of my vintage brown bottles from the flea market.
A stack of vintage books picks up on the summer neutrals color scheme. I love reading during the summer and am working to create several outdoor reading spaces this year – which I’ll be showing you soon! I’m most excited about reading in our new shade garden which is almost done.
Maybe I’ll start with Madame Sarah. I have all these vintage books that I’ve purchased for their color, worn appeal, or pretty cover – but I don’t read them. It’s time to change that!
See that newel post at the bottom of our staircase? It used to have a ball on the top of it. Hubby had to cut it off in order to get my new bedroom dresser up the stairs. He was going to put it back on but I told him I kind of preferred it not to be there.
When I was taking photos, I had the notion to put a small potted plant on the post and I rather like it there. Hubby could probably figure out a way to permanently screw the pot there so it won’t get knocked off.
I love the variegation of this pretty little philodendron in its crusty garden pot. Won’t the philodendron look cool trailing down the post as it grows?
The window at the bottom of our staircase lets in plenty of light for plants to enjoy so I added a hanging planter in the corner, strategically located so no one bumps it with their head.
This philodendron micans has about tripled in size since I bought it for this metallic copper pot. After a bit of fertilizer, it’s going to go wild.
A color scheme of summer neutrals is really agreeing with me. I wish I had more of my house to show you, but like I said, most of my time has been getting the yard spruced up. I’ll tackle the sitting room and kitchen next so stay tuned!
For now, you can enjoy more summer home tours by visiting my blogging friends below! Next up on today’s summer home tours is Taryn Whiteaker who also likes to decorate with neutral.
Nearly 40 bloggers are sharing their summer home tours this week! Sharing with me today are…
Tuesday
Town and Country Living // Taryn Whiteaker Designs // Designthusiasm
// This is Our Bliss // My Sweet Savannah
Rambling Renovators // The Turquoise Home // Clean and Scentsible
// She Gave it a Go // Lemon Thistle
And sharing the rest of the week…
Monday
The Happy Housie // Rooms FOR Rent // Shabbyfufu // Maison de Cinq // My 100 Year Old Home
Southern State of Mind // All Things with Purpose // Grace in My Space // Love Create Celebrate
Wednesday
Modern Glam // Craftberry Bush // Setting for Four // Inspiration for Moms // Zevy Joy
Life is a Party // Tauni Everett // Finding Silver Pennies // Sincerely, Marie Designs // Amber Tysl
Thursday
Kim Power Style // Maison de Pax // Jenna Kate at Home // Two Twenty One // Just a Girl and Her Blog
Summer Adams // Tatertots and Jello // The Tattered Pew // Aratari at Home // Crisp Collective
Your simple summer tour was wonderful. Love the glasses you have growing in Chicago.
I can understand you spending time in your beautiful garden.
Cindy
Thanks, Cindy! I don’t really know why, but I’m especially motivated to do a bunch of stuff to the yard right now. I think maybe getting the pond was the catalyst. 🙂
So gorgeous!! Beautiful weeds too! Ha. And looking forward to seeing your outdoor reading spaces as well. You are so talented!!
Thank you, Pat! I have to admit, I think I like the weeds better than professionally arranged bouquets. LOL. It’s the simple things in life, right?
Beautiful, Jennifer. I love the bits of greenery against your stronger paint colours. Such a pretty combination! Happy summer, friend!
Thanks, Krista! I always enjoy being on your tours!
You did a lovely job of bringing summer into your home, it looks so serene , i love your home.
So pretty! I love all of the greenery – makes it so easy to decorate for summer!
Beautiful living room with understated tones. I love your sectional. Is it an ikea? I’m in the market for one and want to get opinions.
I love the new look. I used to read your blog and all your colors were white and soft pinks. Life got in the way but I enjoyed this post. I am a gardener and would love to see outside pics. I even remembered when you painted the outside.
Ooh the darker walls look beautiful, Jennifer! Very cozy and welcoming! It’s great to be “on tour” with you this week!
~Abby =)
Such gorgeous photography, Jennifer! Your home looks absolutely beautiful. I love the glass bottles!!