A Sunflower Mantel and Late Summer Inspiration

Hi friends. Today I'm sharing a look back post with a late summer cottage mantel from our last house. This time of year I'm captivated by sunflowers. They are the symbol for late summer, relaxation, casual dinners al fresco, and all things French Country... and I love to have them taking showing out on the mantel.

Summery Looks in the Garden Room

The end of July has me thinking about mid-Summer but with a decided shift toward winding down and bringing out a bit darker, deeper, harvest colors. Golds and darker greens and a few browns start showing up with some sunflower vibes. Out in the Garden Room I've changed up the wicker seating area to include some golds, black and white Buffalo Check, and of course my always current ticking stripes.

Summer French Country Wagon In the Dining Room

It's mid summer and I was ready for a dining room refresh from my Spring look, which meant adding in some sunflowers, late summer pears, and changing up my floral table runner from a spring-y brown floral to a summery one with reds, golds, and taupe. 

Restyling an Early Fall Premade Wreath

Hello to all my Fall lovin' Friends!!!

A few weeks ago my hubby took me to Hobby Lobby to look at Fall goodies. He was a trooper and trudged all over the store with me. I had it in my head to find a wreath for the front door during this early Fall season. I found a twiggy wreath and several floral items to use, but it was still going to cost a fortune. Even with 40% off, the total price of the individual pieces were starting to make me cringe. 

Late Summer Farm Table

Hello Friends...

With the last week of August, I'm sharing a few more pics from the Late Summer Garden Room. Earlier in the month I changed up the ice cream bucket with sunflowers and hydrangeas. During the earlier part of the summer I was using white geraniums and the white sunflowers. As Summer progresses I love to see how the hydrangeas change color, so I added some hydrangeas in darker hues to the mix. There have been times I've tried to find an alternate receptacle for flowers, but honestly, that wooden bucket was made for this spot!

"Sunflowers" on the Church Pew

August has always been my "sunflower" month. You can't look at them and not smile back. I've used them all over the house this late part of summer in flower arrangements and prints. I mentioned earlier that I'd found some fun sunflower graphic pillow covers on Amazon for good prices. Originally I'd thought about using them on the front porch, but I decided to use them here in the Garden Room and the Hearth Room instead. I would have needed to Scotchguard them before taking them outside, so for now they're still here on the church pew in the garden room.

Sunflowers in the Late Summer Hearth Room

August is all about Sunflowers around here...

 Late Summer into Fall is their time to show their happy faces,

mingle with some hydrangeas, and wait for some fall leaves to show up.

Sunflower Botanical on the Mantel

When August rolls around I'm starting to think about Fall decor, and sunflowers always signal that it's about time to make that transition. The flowers are changing color and growth, a few dry leaves are starting to fall off the trees, and the light is showing that soon the days will start to get shorter.

Transitional Late Summer Mantel

Time to bring out the wreath for this small sliver of time known as Late Summer. Nature doesn't just wake up one morning and say, "OK everyone, it's Fall!" Trees, weather, the light, and all the growing things are reaching that extended moment where they begin to wane. Summer is winding down. All you have to do is look at my yard, scattered with green walnuts and yellow leaves to know it's that time of year. (I was going to take a pic, but it's so dry and looks too sad)

It's an August Thing...

This has been a crazy week and it's only Thursday...

Midsummer Farmtable

Hi Friends, do your floral arrangements reflect the seasons and holidays?

 To me, keeping faux flowers seasonal makes them seem a little more realistic. 

July and mid-summer calls for a few sunflowers and black-eyed susans to be added to the mix of summer blooms. So the big ice cream bucket on the farmtable found some of their happy little faces joining the geraniums and hydrangeas.

Garden Room with Sunflowers and Ticking

Hello Friends! I've had a few posts where I've added some Sunflowers to the decor, so I thought I'd share the latest in The Garden Room on the church pew, and a few more pics of the Farm table with Sunflowers in the Ice Cream Bucket.

Sunflowers for a Late Summer Dining Room

Since August shows up a little later in the week, I'm adding some "Late Summer" color with Sunflowers. They're the perfect way to transition into Early Fall. Real or faux, spread them around for some "happy face" time. You just can't look at Sunflowers without a big smile showing up. I'm adding a touch of "Late Summer" here in the Dining Room on the buffet with a few Sunflowers and prints.

Small Summer Changes

Hard to imagine that Summer is at it's mid-point. It's been hot, hot, and hot here in the lower Midwest. I think we're all having abnormally warm temperatures. It's been record setting here since the beginning of June. At least we've been fortunate and had a few good rains; more than a lot of people in our area. 

10 Tips for Transitioning to Fall

Looking through blogland this last week, it's been filled with posts about transitioning our decor from Late Summer into Early Fall. Our individual methods may be similar, but each person has their own unique style and ideas to make this a fun and easy change-over. The fact that bringing out the Autumn decor is one of my favorite things to look forward to, makes this a special time to savor and enjoy for me.

Summer Home Tour

Hello Everyone, Welcome to my Summer Home Tour, 2017. I'm joining Marty from A Stroll Thru Life and a talented group of bloggers who are sharing their Homes decorated for Summer. If you are coming over from Haneen's Haven, so glad that you came by today and I hope I'll be seeing you again, soon.

Farmhouse Sunflower Tabletop

One of my favorite combinations for Summer is Sunflowers and Ticking... nothing fancy, just rustic and vintage. I thought I'd try something very "summery" this year on the Dining Room table, using one of my old wooden ice cream maker buckets. This old bucket had been a pretty vintage blue/green, but I painted it out in an antique white to make it more "decor friendly". Filled up with faux Sunflowers, sitting on an Indigo Ticking table runner, it says Summer Farmhouse to me.

Welcome to September...

Hi Everyone, are you like me and get excited when you can turn over that calendar page and see that it's finally September? It may still be hot outside, but in our little Fall Lovin' Hearts we know we can now actually put a pumpkin on our blog and not have to disguise it as "Fall Inspiration"!!

Summer Buffet Scape with Ticking Tablerunner and Sunflowers

A few weeks ago I shared some inspiration of one of my favorite Late Summer decor combos; Indigo Ticking Stripes with anything "Sunflowers". Ticking brings to mind lazy breezy summer afternoons on the porch swing, and Sunflowers are those wonderful happy faces that let us know that Fall isn't too far away. 

I have a cupboard full of mismatched ironstone and transferware, and that includes a stack of old platters that I use for cookouts. A good steak or Bar-B-Que requires something substantial so I put a few things together for an impromptu Summer gathering.

Rolling Market Basket and Sunflowers...

Hi Everyone, Happy Weekend!

I've had Sunflowers on the brain for several weeks,

and have made a few faux arrangements for the house

 in vintage watering cans, baskets, 

and now this old rolling French Market Basket

that I keep in the Dining Room.