Quick summer decorating is as easy as looking at your "inventory" around the house and put things together in a new way. Downstairs, we have a long pine table. I've added a summery painting of three girls I did years ago, a junk store frame (with cardboard "picture") and gathered my straw hats from the closet. Easy peasy. Let's take a look at our summer house. An outside cafe chair was added to the mix. Upstairs, on the entry way table, Blue&White with collected shells and my beloved moss balls ($1 Store). Having raided my jewelry drawer, my buddha (Marshall's) is all decked out. The Bay Area summer fog (AKA Carl, the Fog) visits each night and clears off the following day about noon. S
Gotta admit. I'm looking for things to do around here as we live through 2020. My attention has turned to books. If you're like me, you've got plenty of books. Is there a way to use them as design elements? Fortunately, layering books in rooms is a hot trend. Let's look at some creative ways to get our books off the shelf. hgtv.com Books provide interest on a mantel. housebeautiful.com While no one is going to read these books, at least they aren't going to a landfill. ideas.thenest.com Art books as a side table. 1stdibs.com What a great way to display old encyclopedias. ideipentrucasa.com A birdcage houses precious old volumes. refinery29.uk Books as a bedside table. Are they spray p
OK, I'll admit it. I've fallen a little in love with the idea of a beach house. Not any beach house but one just 20 minutes from our house here in Oakland. What could be more fun than to have a get away just 20 minutes away? When this nearby property came up for sale, my brain started buzzing. Let's take a look. Here's the little charmer in my favorite beach town, Alameda, CA. Listings on the San Francisco Bay beach are very rare and there only asking $740,000. What could be done if I only had a extra million dollars? Whew! Good news - a blank slate. Bad news - everything needs to be done. Built in 1964. This must be the original kitchen. Could these hardwood floors be saved? The
Happy 4th of July! No color combination could be more classic than red,white&blue. In fact, 28 countries have red,white&blue flags including the US, UK and France. About this time of year, I'm thinking red,white&blue rooms. If you have neutral rooms, quick accents can be added to get the look without the work of paint and upholstery. Let's take a look. bhg.com Sofa linens change for the July holiday. Love the striped throw with pompoms. house beautiful.com Pillows and an American flag throw for a red,white&blue look. savvyshouthernstyle.net A bowl of red apples is perfect way to bring in color. traditionalhome.com Once you remove the red pillows, painting and lampshade, you have a blue
