Summer Dreaming

by Susan on February 19, 2009

in Bedrooms,Kitchen & Dining,Living Areas,Outdoor Spaces

You don’t have to know me very long to figure out that I belong somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line.

Closest I’ve come, however, is Evansville, IN. I’ve “done time” in NY, OH, NJ and now CT. Yet my favorite decorating style is anything coastal or beachy. Go figure. Soooooo, this time of year, I can get a wee bit cranky.

As luck would have it, Julia from Hooked on Houses (yes, it’s FRIDAY again) was twittering about her new white flip flops and got me thinking about summer.

So, as therapy, I thought I’d share some tropical décor eye candy from Coastal Living Magazine with you!

So go mix a mojito, crank up the heat and sit back for a mental vacation with me! We’ll all be the healthier for it!

Wouldn’t this be a fabulous place to sip lemonade and peruse your favorite design magazines?

I could serve burned toast for dinner and it would be exotic on this dining table! What a view! (Side note: my Mom always taught me that if you can’t cook well, then present well).

I just love the artwork over the mantel and the vases on the coffee table!

One (big) reason I love coastal decor is that it tends to be kid friendly.

Beautiful use of flowing fabric, and I love the lime/charcoal combo for a splash of contemporary color.

Note the use of hooks (a favorite of mine!)

Sorry to say, but this concludes our summer journey. May your hearts be warm, and your weather warmer soon!

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{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }

Kim @ Forever Wherever February 19, 2009 at 10:05 pm

I love anything coastal! I can see Charlotte Harbor from my kitchen window and it’s one of the best things about my house. Thanks for sharing your little dream with us. Oh, I was wearing flip flops and shorts today. LOL

hookedonhouses February 19, 2009 at 10:06 pm

Too funny that we both posted similar things again this week. Love your Dutch door! And I have always been drawn to coastal and beachy decorating–even though I have lived in places like Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. I’d love to have a water view like the ones in these photos someday. And I’d wear my new flip-flops on my way from the house to the beach. *sigh*

Great post! I enjoyed the seaside fantasy. -Julia

Terry Kearns February 19, 2009 at 10:13 pm

Whatever you do, don’t look at the Robert A.M. Sterne house at Seaside
http://www.ramsa.com/project.aspx?id=236

maya | springtree road February 19, 2009 at 10:18 pm

i could use a trip to the beach right about now!

i love those pics of the palm trees all lined up. very nice!

Kimm February 19, 2009 at 10:22 pm

Fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing. And your mom is one smart woman!

medtrans39 February 19, 2009 at 10:27 pm

I love the pictures….I will probably come back often and have “pretend” vacations!

Mary Beth/www.cupcakesandcrinoline.com

Gayle February 19, 2009 at 11:39 pm

Sigh. Thank you for that little vacation! It helped me forget about the snow outside for a short while!

Arleen @ Seasons for All at Home February 19, 2009 at 11:57 pm

What relaxing photos! And I absolutely love your mom’s advice because I’d rather do the presenting and let someone else do the cooking!

~Arleen

rue February 20, 2009 at 7:39 am

I’m a complete winter person, but you just made me miss my hometown in California LOL

Gorgeous pictures!

rue

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 8:34 am

Ah ha! So I’m not the only one who desperately needs to get away!

And yes, my Mom is one smart lady! Hey Arleen, I highly recommend Dream Dinners…it’s for people like you and me who would rather not cook!

Julia – are you wearing your flip flops today? Why not pretend! Perhaps we should designate a “Pedi Friday” event where we all paint our toes and talk about our favorite color.

Angela February 20, 2009 at 8:36 am

I have salt water in my blood so I am 100% for coastal decorating! I’d give just about anything to live on the water!
~angela @ peonypatch

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 8:42 am

Hey Terry – I LOVE the Sterne house! Thx for sharing!

Angela, I always wondered what keeps me from living in beautiful places like this. Maybe one day….

Coastal Italian Style February 20, 2009 at 9:06 am

We have tried a different approach to coastal living…concrete in an Italian style. Have a look at http://www.concretecottage.com
Hoping to survive all the future hurricanes !

Christy February 20, 2009 at 11:52 am

I found your blog through hooked on houses…Your post is great…LOVE Coastal Decor… all of the crisp clean white contrasted with beautiful blues and greens…so pretty!
Christy/www.christymccullough.typepad.com/latest

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 12:03 pm

Hi Christy – glad you enjoyed the eye candy! Don’t you wish every day was hooked on Fridays!

ps – I loved paper dolls when I was a kid too…but I was circa late 60′s.

Liz February 20, 2009 at 1:27 pm

I’m stuck in a grey foggy UK today and now I feel like I’ve seen a little bit of the summer to come. Thanks so much

suzy homemaker February 20, 2009 at 1:27 pm

I love Coastal Living. I too, wish I was in a warmer climate though. I love the salty breeze……

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 1:29 pm

Hi Liz – bummer about the fog! Good thing we have hope!

Hey Suzy, I wonder if those who live in these coveted climates are reading this and feeling sorry for us? LOL

Fifi Flower February 20, 2009 at 5:16 pm

I always long for flip flop days! They are my favorite footwear! Beautiful photos!

Lynn February 20, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Wow I love these pictures. I would so be there with the mojito if only childrearing, preparing dinner and intoxication mixed! ) I never thought of a charcoal/lime mix in that last photo. Gets my gears grinding….hmm…

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 5:41 pm

Hi Fifi – we’ve got to talk Julia into a Flip Flop Friday!

Lynn – yea, I’ve been trying to figure that one out myself. Glad your gears are grinding…

Maya@Completely Coastal February 20, 2009 at 8:14 pm

As you know I love, love coastal style decor, such lovely picks…, and St. Augustine is great… I saw dolphins there from the porch of a restaurant (of which I don’t remember the name)!

yourhomeonlybetter February 20, 2009 at 8:38 pm

Hi Maya – I actually have a short video of St. Augustine dolphins taken from our veranda – if I can ever figure out how to add video to a blog, I will!

SoBella Creations February 22, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Love the views!

yourhomeonlybetter February 22, 2009 at 2:33 pm

Hi SoBella – me too! Sadly, it’s snowing again here in CT.

Stefanie February 23, 2009 at 12:30 am

THANK YOU for taking me on the little vacation! It’s been pouring rain here this afternoon!

Flax and spindle February 25, 2009 at 9:48 am

Thank you for a day dream! I love that planter on the table!!

yourhomeonlybetter February 25, 2009 at 10:19 am

Hi Flax! Me too! Can’t wait til it’s warm enough to get out and try some of these ideas!

House Painting Tutorials February 19, 2010 at 8:44 am

Even though I live on the Jersey Shore and have seen a lot of professionally decorated beach houses, I don’t understand how come none of them looks like the ones in the magazines? Where’s all the eye candy in real life?

Oh well, at least we can come feast our eyes on the blogs like yours

Yelena
House Paint Colors, Tips and Tricks

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