It seems as though when we celebrate Memorial Day,
honoring our servicemen who have sacrificed their lives for the great freedoms
we enjoy and are blessed with in this Country, it also kicks off an unofficial welcome
to Summer . . . being that the official start of Summer is June 21st.
Today, I am kicking off Summer with some very talented fellow bloggers
featuring our favorite Summer Colors. Colors that say Summer to us.
A Summer Colors Tour, hosted by the lovely and talented Jennifer, of Town and Country Living.
When I think of summer colors, I tend to be drawn to the cool shades of blue,
the Summertime Blues . . . with pops of another favorite color, yellow.
Cool blues of summer that remind me of the many, many summers I spent at the beach
in Florida, where I spent most of my life.
The beautiful shades of blue of the ocean and the bright yellow of the sun
shining down upon the water.
One of my very favorite things of late, is this vintage French canning jar with the
beautiful vintage Citron label of blue and yellow. It was the perfect container
for a summer floral arrangement.
You can read about the story of its journey along with my vintage French Market Basket
from California to N.C. HERE
When I was gathering items for the vignette I wanted to create . . . .
I thought, what could be better than to gather my vintage blue French pitchers.
It was also a good thing that I have not started to pack up my vintage laundry room items,
as this blue and white enamelware berry pail that once held vintage clothes pins,
was perfect to hold the lemons . . . Citron.
The lemon is actually a hybrid of the Citron. Citron is an old and original citrus species.
The word Lemon in French is Citron.
My go to favorite summer drink (non-alcoholic that is) is a wonderful glass of lemonade.
However, I must say that I grew up drinking pitchers of Key Limeade
that my mom made from Key Limes. . . . picked fresh from our Key Lime trees.
Talk about pitchers . . . up until recently, I only had one vintage blue (and white)
enamelware French pitcher that I inherited from my friend Mary Alice of Chateau Chic.
Then I purchased the solid blue pitcher while vacationing in Napa Valley.
They say that three of the same item makes a collection.
I was reading a blog post (The French Oasis) and saw that she was having a sale. . .
and there it was, a pretty light blue vintage enamelware French pitcher.
Three is not a crowd . . . it’s a collection!
It was a great sale and when I opened the package from France, it was love at first sight!!!
It is so pretty filled with the beautiful blue Larkspur.
Those who have been following me throughout the years,
know that I had a pair of antique wood and iron shutters over the mantel.
They were taken down last week with the help of the painters.
It took four strong men to put them up as each shutter weighed over 100 pounds . . .
but just three men to take them down. They are in the storage unit now waiting for
a new home, hopefully within the year. But now I have a simple grouping of
bread boards and an antique tole tray from my friend Martha in it’s place.
Blues added to the room with pillows of various coordinating designs,
all from Pottery Barn with the exception of one.
The concrete garden finials are a staple on my hearth.
It is my way of bringing the outside in and great statement pieces for the fireplace.
The pillow that is not from Pottery Barn is actually one of my favorite pillows
for Summer. “Summer House” It is from French Laundry. I am fortunate to have their
warehouse within less than an hour away from me in High Point, N.C.
The blue woven summer throw is from Pottery Barn and I was lucky that it was on clearance!
Actually the cream and tan fringed throw on the chair was also a clearance item.
As I was fluffing the room for Summer, it was a bit bittersweet,
as I was thinking this may be the last Great Room Refresh in this house.
I know I am looking forward to a new journey with our “right-sized” home,
but this house, as five others before, holds so many memories.
We closed on this house on the day my granddaughter was born. That was 13 years ago.
I know she is a little sad about us selling the house she has only known for us.
We have always told her that this house is not just ours, but hers too.
As a young girl, she always referred this house as “her other house”
The new house will be hers too!
We are hoping to rent a particular home (once the Due Diligence is complete)
that will be in the same community as the house we are building.
Our Sweetie will be choosing which bedroom will be hers.
She will always have a room in our home.
The rental home we are hoping to get is larger than this one . . . go figure.
It is almost 5,000 square feet, so no need to put things in storage.
Now it is time to get more wonderful Summer decor inspiration!
Below is today’s Line-Up and Monday and Tuesdays too, along with the
upcoming Line-Up that you can look forward to on Thursday and Friday.
So grab your favorite drink and maybe a snack too and be inspired away!!
Wednesday
A Burst of Beautiful – StoneGable – Maison de Cinq – The Wicker House
Worthing Court – My Soulful Home – Craftberry Bush – Housepitality Designs
Monday
Town and Country Living – Shabbyfufu – Sand and Sisal – On Sutton Place
Savvy Southern Style – Happy Happy Nester – Designthusiasm
Tuesday
Tammy Damore – Saw Nail and Paint – Finding Silver Pennies – Southern Hospitality
Duke Manor Farm – Shabby Art Boutique – Sincerely Marie Designs
Coming Thursday
Taryn Whitaker Designs – House by Hoff – Zevy Joy – Maison de Pax
Unskinny Boppy – My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia – Vinyet Etc.
Coming Friday
Home Made Lovely – The Happy Housie – She Holds Dearly – Little Glass Jar
Becky’s Farmhouse – So Much Better with Age – City Farmhouse
Hope you had fun gathering some fabulous Summer inspiration
that you can apply to your home decor!!
May you all have a most beautiful day, and again, may I add with lots of sunshine!
Beautiful summer blues with the vibrant pop of yellow! You know I have French canning jar envy 😉 How convenient to have the extra space for storage in your rental while you build. I know you’ll look forward to finding the perfect spot to hang your beautiful shutters in your new home. ♥
Can’t ever go wrong with blue and yellow. Everything looks summer fresh. It is sad to think this will the last summer refresh in the great room and I’m looking forward to your next venture.
Shirley, summer blue and bright yellow are definitely favorites of mine. I agree with Mary, I am a little envious of the French canning jar. The enamelware is so perfect for your vignette. I am excited for your new journey, but I know that this bittersweet.
Blue and yellow is such a cheerful combination and so perfect for this time of year. It all blends so effortlessly into your lovely home! Enjoy the rest of your week!
Shelley
Beautiful post Shirley. Love all the blue and yellow. I understand your bittersweet feelings especially toward your granddaughter. Perhaps you could involve her in the planning so she takes more ownership. That is what I did with Maddie and my grandson “brags” that he has his own suite. You are a very good grandmother!
Yes, I told my Sweetie that she will be very involved in the process, especially her room and bathroom. The only thing she has said so far is, “a golf cart would be nice”
Gorgeous Shirley!!
I just love the yellow and blue! And I envy you your lovely blue pitchers. We rented in the same community where we built and it was a great way to keep our eye on the progress of our new home.
Oh, so pretty, Shirley! Probably the hardest thing about moving into a larger rental will be trying to restrain from wanting to fill all the extra space!
Rita C at Panoply’s recent post…A Garden of a Certain Age
Everything looks absolutely beautiful! I love all of the blue with yellow accents…such a perfect combination to welcome Summer!
Hi Shirley,
I love yellow and blue together. It is so pretty and bright. Your decor definitely says summer. Very pretty.
Have a great week.
xoxo
Kris
Kris @ Junk Chic Cottage’s recent post…Front Gardens
Your room looks so beautifully summery with the blue and yellow Shirley! They were my Mom’s favorite colors, and always make me think of her. Wishing you a smooth transition to your rental home, while you build your forever one, friend. xo Lidy
Just love it Shirley!❤
The blues and yellow look just like summer to me! So bright and fresh looking! The rental is bigger than this, LOL! It will be fun to follow you on this new chapter. Hard to believe that “your sweetie” is 13!!!! OMGoodness, where does the time go? Have a beautiful day. I am off to the surgeons to have a small procedure:(
your beautiful combo of blue and yellow just makes me smile!
The blue and yellow is beautiful together! I know what you mean about the bittersweet of moving….I’m so sentimental! Are you building near your house now? I love French Laundry warehouse!
Gorgeous, Shirley! That shade of blue on your enamelware … sigh. It’s just so dreamy!! Yellow is the perfect complement for it – and I love your French canning jar. Thanks so much for joining this week’s tour. Your home is lovely! I’m sure your new home will be just as beautiful.
I do love the colors you chose! That shade of blue is so pretty and now you have a great collection! I have some napkins that would complement all of that perfectly! I don’t think I’ve ever seen that shade of the two blue pitchers in enamelware. Perhaps I’d find one at one of the antique shops in town. Packing up your home has to be difficult- so many memories but at least it’s for a great reason! I hope you’ll be able to start building soon and be in your new home without too much time lapsed.
Shirley, I am in LOVE with that French canning jar! I remember seeing it on Instagram awhile ago and thinking “I need that!” And the colors are just perfect for your blue and yellow summer tour. In fact, your whole house is perfect for these colors and I love how you’ve put it all together!
My other favorite thing is your new enamelware pitcher! That color is so, so pretty and it’s such a good find! I only have white enamelware, but you’ve got me thinking I might need a “collection”, too;)
Sheila
xo
I LOVE your Great Room!!! Please tell me what color the walls are painted?
Love all your pretty flowers.