BH&G
1. Simple is best.
Good-bye heavy complicated curtains! For a casual home, simple is best. These light and airy curtains could be made out of anything (including sheets!) and hung from hooks mounted from the ceiling or wall. They frame and soften the window as well as the bed itself, while the simple classic blinds take care of privacy concerns.
BH&G
2. Blend old and new.
Most of us have electronic gadgets like TV’s and DVD players. We used to need extremely large heavy armoires to conceal the technology we had in our homes (yeah, many of us still have those large armoires filled with equally large TV’s that won’t die). Now as we are gradually evolving into sleeker flat screen TVs, we have more options for where to put them! Today’s technology can look right at home in a casual, carefree environment — just mix it with vintage and traditional pieces.
BH&G
3. You can’t go wrong with classics.
Primary colors like red, white and blue make decorating easy and definitely give you the “I’m on a summer vacation” feeling! If you want a simple no fail combo that is always in style, this is the way to go! Mixing stripes and solids brings a simple casual cottage flair to this classic scheme!
BH&G
4. Add some humor!
A surefire way to make sure you home is not too stodgy and stuffy is to mix in some humor! Vintage pieces can often bring in just the right amount of comic relief and provide the lighthearted “conversation piece” that is perfect for an easy breezy summer beach house!
See the rest of the delightful beach home images at Better Homes & Gardens!
…these all make me feel cooler already… we are having a heat wave in georgia…and melissa i am reading this before 7 am here…are you really up that early on the far-away coast?
Love those images! Very relaxed summertime feel. Just love it from here in the North GA mountains!
Carol
.-= Carol´s last blog ..Red- White and Blue =-.
I love the fish over the TV lol. I have BH&G and was excited to see Mary Kay Andrew’s house because she is one of my new favorite authors. Her stories are very funny and she is great at describing people and their surroundings (especially their home decor).
Great simple tips! I love the compact entertainment unit, it is a fantastic look!
i know i can always come here to get my “fix”.
love the images…thanks melissa.
xo
.-= kasey´s last blog ..wonderland… =-.
I just changed curtains in the dining room. We had replacement windows put in and it seemed a good time to lighten things up.
.-= Becky K.´s last blog ..The Surprise – Part Two =-.
Great advice that anyone can easily incorporate into their home! And it’s a good idea to step back every once in awhile and look at your home with fresh eyes.
I agree, if we made the inside a bit more simple and summery, maybe we’d feel cooler despite the 90 degree temps!
.-= Sandy´s last blog ..Happy belated 4th- weve been busy celebrating and I hope you were too- =-.
I am new to your blog… what a LOVELY post!!! I love the airy light crisp looks you have shared…. so fun and relaxing!
.-= Taking Heart´s last blog ..Knee Jerk Prayer =-.
There is nothing better on a hot day then a simple, breezy interior (well maybe good air conditioning!!). Great tips!!
.-= LuxuriousLife´s last blog ..My Newest Simple Luxury =-.
I loved the kitchen in your old house. I am new to your blog.
I can’t wait to see what you do to your new home. Wood for countertops, love it!
104 in VA….bring on the misters… I have the same beds in photo 3…1940’s Looks fresh! franki
great tips! love the wall color w/ orange accents on that first photo!
Oh wow.. wow!! all these images are simple summery inspirations..
.-= Patricia Torres´s last blog ..Mindful wall =-.
I love your idea of mixing vintage pieces with modern technology. Where do you look for vintage pieces that aren’t outrageously expensive?
Are all these summer inspired posts because we are finally getting some warm weather where we live? We just turned off the furnace last week. I really enjoy your posts; keep the inspiration coming. From your neighbor in Poulsbo.
that non-curtain curtain idea is a great compromise for me – I don’t want to weigh down the casual feel of our rooms with drapes but my husband feel the the wooden slat blinds are too plain.
.-= gina´s last blog ..the a word =-.
The lamps are the best!
Please stop by and enter my giveaway.
.-= Laura Ingalls Gunn´s last blog ..Anthropologie Twice As Nice Giveaway =-.
Great post! Love how you broke down the decor tips.
Have a beachy day!
We have an old tool box chest, that has been our entertainment center for many years. I love it.
Thanks for being one of my Top Referrers for the month of June!
~Liz
.-= Liz@HoosierHomemade´s last blog ..June Favorites =-.
I still have a big entertainment armoire and that is where the flat screen goes. In fact, we bought a flatscreen that would fit in the armoire! People think we are nuts, but I really like the armoire, I still like to have my technology hidden away (it gets too dusty too quickly), and we have SO MUCH STUFF packed into it (games, DVDs, cables, chargers) that we didn’t want to lose the storage. It may be unfashionable, but I like it!