Shades of Summer Home Tour | Navy & Neutral

 

Welcome to the Shades of Summer Home Tour…I’m so glad you are here. I haven’t been part of an official home tour for a long time and I’m a little bit nervous! I can finally say that our living & dining room makeover is finished so the timing of this home tour is perfect. You will be getting the first look at the totally finished rooms. I’m also including the entry and kitchen with some simple, summer decorating touches. If you are visiting from Kelley Nan, a very special welcome to you. I love Kelley’s style because it’s classic and refined, yet warm and inviting at the same time. That’s not easy to do yet she does it effortlessly all the time! So if it’s your first time here, I’m glad you came.

 

 

My colors for this summer are navy and neutral, which should not come as a surprise! I love navy during any season, but especially in the summer. As you’re taking the tour, and it’s a bit long, I’ll be updating you on a few final makeover choices. I’ll mostly let the pictures speak for themselves, but I’ll pop in when I have something to tell you. Enjoy!

 

 

 

The only changes in the entry were the floor and a new ceiling light. Like I said in my Kitchen Coffee Station post, my old lights were bought for all the wrong reasons and I have never liked them. For this makeover, I spent a ton of time looking online at various websites for the perfect lights. I knew what I wanted but it took me a while to find it. I finally found this line of lights from the Capital Lighting Midtown Collection. They are simple, yet updated which is the look I wanted. I chose the burnished bronze with a linen shade but this collection is available in other finishes and shade colors. I also changed out the lights in my back hallway and kitchen with this fixture from the same collection. 

 

 

 

Since my peonies were in full bloom when I started taking photographs, I considered it a sign that I should cut most of them and bring them inside. The dark pink color pops off all the cool blues and ivories for a fresh summer look.  Simply adding fresh flowers and greenery to your rooms makes them feel alive. If you don’t have anything growing in your yard, grocery store flowers are an excellent way to achieve the same look. 

 

 

 

Changes in the living room were mostly to the background with the addition of new flooring, paint, window panels and an area rug. I treated myself to some new blue plates and pillows, but other than that, all the furniture and accessories stayed the same. I had planned to use neutral pillows on the sofa but when I tried out the navy ones, I was smitten immediately. They help the slipper chairs make sense and have a lovely texture. 

 

 

 

 

In the photo below, the chair in the foreground is where I work. The hours I clock sitting in that chair are actually comfortable and efficient. The two baskets stacked next to the chair serve as “desk drawers” and hold everything I need. 

 

 

 

 

The dining room is where all the real action happened and is the room that changed the most. It looks totally and completely different. I am delighted with the way it turned out and would not change a thing now that it’s all finished. I considered installing hard-wired lights to the walls flanking the window but instead chose budget-friendly lanterns with LED candles. They add a little bit of rustic, farmhouse charm as well. 

 

 

The artwork on the wall over the board and batten is again simple but fresh. I framed two of my new botanical prints in simple black frames. I was at the end of my budget so I did just the two, but I’m considering adding three more to make a lovely, gallery-wall style display. For now though, I enjoy the simplicity.

 

Tip: Using botanical prints in your decor is the next best thing to adding natural elements. 

 

 

 

The roman shades were a splurge, but well worth it. I had them custom-made and they turned out exactly like I had envisioned them. The minute they were installed, I knew I had made the right choice. Now THAT is a good feeling!

 

 

 

 

 

Our kitchen isn’t new, it’s not big and it’s not really updated. I’ve done easy things like new paint, appliances, and hardware but we still have the original cabinets. It’s quite functional though and like anything that’s been around for a long time, it’s comfortable. I have a wish list that’s a mile long of changes I’d like to make but I have no idea if any of them will ever happen. Time will tell. 

 

 

Changes from the makeover spilled into the kitchen but were minimal: new floor, new ceiling light and I painted the island the same color as the board and batten. You can check out a few more details and see a source list by clicking this link:

 

 

 

 

 

To see the other living & dining room makeover posts click HERE.  I’ll be back soon with one final post that talks a little bit about cost and lessons learned. I’ll also line up some before & after pictures. 

 

 

No home tour is ever complete without a picture of our sweet dog, Kelly. She’s always right there and is the best little helper. 

 

Now it’s time to send you along to Tamara’s blog, CITRINELIVING. Like me, she loves beautiful blues and she has such a talent for adding color to her spaces while keeping them serene and calm. Her Shades of Summer Home Tour is loaded with ideas and inspiration that anyone can use. 

 

 

You won’t want to miss the other blogs on the tour. These girls have been working hard to provide inspiration for bringing touches of summer into your own home. Here’s the line-up with the colors they are featuring:

 

Setting for Four | Indigo, Black & Gray

 

 

Joining Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style