Welcome to Day 4 of the Eclectic Interiors Summer Tour!
I am blown away by every single tour this week. I see so much of my own style in the homes of these amazing ladies! I spot things from our own home; beautiful items saved from thrift stores and given a second life in these beautiful homes, bursting with eclectic style. I am honored to be a part of this group!
So Let's Jump In!
I grew up in upstate NY, where you are surrounded by vibrant GREEN in the spring and summer. I desperately missed trees, bushes, grass and flowers when we lived in several other states. No trees...no hills...no green. At least, not the lush, thick, natural stuff I am accustomed to.
Then we moved to Ohio, and I have been delighted with the beauty of all four seasons. Spring and summer are explosions of color and nature.
The previous owners of this home blessed us with amazing landscaping. Even more amazing...we haven't killed it yet.
My husband planted that tiny lilac bush last year for our anniversary, and we thought it was dead. The bush, not the marriage. Ha! This year it came back, and maybe someday it will grow my favorite flower?
The creek is one of my favorite features.
(except for when it looks as though it might flood our yard and basement...)
I encourage the kids to get in there and explore. They find tadpoles (catch and release, kids!) frogs, and an occasional snake. We hear the bullfrogs croak loudly. The kids make snacks with their friends and cross to the other side of the creek to eat the snack on a log. Seriously. It melts my adventure-loving heart. I cherish the memories they're making.
Even with the beautiful landscaping, some of my favorite plants are the wildflowers, and the areas left untouched by the landscapers. I have always loved a nice field of wildflowers.
And the sticks. Jasper asked me to talk about the sticks. Our yard is a stick heaven.
From the deck off the kitchen you can see the outdoor fireplace, and outdoor kitchen, which essentially convinced us to buy the house. We love to entertain out here. Throw some music on the outdoor speakers, make smores, hang out with friends while the kids run through the trees catching fireflies and shooting nerf guns.
We have a routine of reading books together on the deck, after showers, just before bedtime. But it can get humid in the summer, so we pick up and continue in the fall.
My little herb garden is just beginning. Cilantro, basil, mint, and rosemary. Herbs are one of the few plants I can grow well. I love having a ready supply of herbs for fresh pesto, mojitos, guacamole, sangria, etc.
Inside...
One of the first rooms I tackled was the dining room.
The dark navy blue walls are nearly black, but this room is flooded with natural light, and the white molding keeps it from feeling too dark. The brass tray was a thrifted find, brought to me by a friend who knows how much I love old brass.
The chairs brought the whole room together. I love a sweet set of vintage chairs.
Nearly every inch of the house was goldy-beige when we moved in, but I am not a fan of goldy-beige, so I painted the entire main floor of the house BM Annapolis Gray. What a difference! It's lighter and brighter, and more neutral.
The Main Living Space
I never get tired of this scene. It feels like we live in a tree house. In our previous house we looked right at the back of the neighbor's house, awkwardly close, so we really appreciate the privacy.
I might be afraid of color. I like to use color and pattern in small places that are easily switched out for the season, and keep a neutral background. These floral pillows add color for summer. Truthfully, I would love to play around with color more, but it makes me nervous.
This pair of vintage handkerchiefs adds a bit of color. One on the table, and the other framed on the mantle.
Ella picked wildflowers from our back yard for this arrangement. Check out my mom in 1967! I love this picture of her with my sister.
In the kitchen I recently traded our set of country black windsor chairs for these Eck Adams beauties. I love the midcentury chairs mixed with the farmhouse table. The other chair fills in until I find the perfect set of chairs to go on either end.
I try to keep it simple, and that chandelier above the table is killing me. Not my choice. It will be gone with the kitchen makeover. Even Jason agrees...the chandeliers must go.
Chandeliers. Oh yes. There are two. Twinsies. I catch myself physically blocking the chandeliers out of the picture with my hand just to envision how much simpler the room would be without them.
Are you doing it too? Are you putting your hand in front of the chandelier to block it out? Welcome to my world. Let's focus on a scene of calming succulents.
The Kids' Spaces
These rooms were personalized right away. As often as we move, I try to make their rooms a priority so they have a place of their own that they love.
The Rest Of The House
There are so many rooms I haven't touched. The entire finished basement, our master bedroom, the office, the powder room, the mudroom, the laundry room, and the kitchen.
The kitchen is next on my list, but it is such a undertaking; it will require new lighting, new tile, updated cabinets...I'll save that post for another day.
See More Eclectic Homes
Now! Go see the tours from earlier in the week, but only if you want tons of super cool inspiration.
