Summer Bedding

I love summer!

Every summer I get a desire to escape to a cottage on the lake.

My grandparents lived in Milwaukee but had a cottage on lake Sinissippi. 
It is about 30 miles from Milwaukee. 

My parents would drive us out to Wisconsin, stopping to camp and sight see along the way.

This photo of my brothers and I was taken on one such trip. That year we stopped at Mackinac Island. It must have been so cold that day.
(Hard for me to imagine now, living in Texas with summer temps. in the 100's.) 
We spent two weeks with my grandparents every summer until I was about 12.

I have such fond memories of those times and that place.

I can still visualize my grandmother and I sitting at the lake's edge in Adirondack chairs. 
I remember all the jars filled with her cherries, peaches and her yummy bread and butter pickles in the basement. 
Right next to that shelf was a case or two of all different flavors of Shasta soda my Grandpa would buy for the six of us.
I remember the day I caught a fish at the edge of the dock. My dad and brothers made me bait my own hook. 
We had a blue plastic boat we could paddle ourselves. I feel like that kid again when I paddle out in my husband's kayak.

Memories are such a strong motivator in decorating.
The sights and smells from our recessed memory can subtly influence why we are drawn to something.

This is true about a bedspread I bought for my daughter.



I found this Martha Stewart Chenille spread years ago at K-Mart.

Rebekah never really cared for it, so it's found a new home at the foot of my bed.

I am wild about the texture. 

I'm completely smitten with how it drapes against our Ralph Lauren dust ruffle.

A perfect marriage of Martha and Ralph if you ask me.



I started my summer bed with a coverlet that we picked up at Tuesday Morning a few years ago. 
It really is the perfect weight for hot temperatures.

My summer bed was influenced by Sarah Richardson and her lake cottage redo.

She isn't known for doing red, but her husband wanted it. 
I love how she uses antiques but in an updated way.

Bill is so patient with me and my love, love for billions of pillows.
I came home from my trip last week and the pillows put back on the bed. :) (Though, I'm sure they stayed in the chair all week.)

I have told you before how I tried brocades and damask in here. but that look just isn't me. 

I am a mix and match, white pillowcase and floral kind of girl.
The dust ruffle and pillows are Belle Harbor by Ralph Lauren.
I found the dust ruffle on clearance last spring at Macy's.

I couldn't find any of the other matching pieces anywhere. I finally found a seller on E-bay that makes pillows out of sheets that she buys. See her store. 
To be honest I can't remember how much I spent on the pillows, but now they are 2 for $25.00; no shipping. :)
I couldn't have made them for that. 

I mimicked Ralph with a quilt of my grandmother's that I repaired years and years ago. (It needs it again.)

I sat working on this quilt 30+ years ago when I got a call from my best friend and future husband on Valentine's Day. I knew then we were destined to be more than friends. 
I have tried to find out what this quilt pattern is called. 

I went with red gingham instead of the blue that Ralph had.

I used a darling tatted edge pillowcase set. 
I found these at an estate sale. They were old and the fabric was shredding. I removed the tatted boarders and sewed them on to new cases.

 I recycled my spring shams because they are a perfect fit. 

I love Ralph Lauren and how you can easily mix and match his collections. 
The yo-yo quilt pillow topper came from the craft mall.
I was going to frame it, but pinned it to this small pillow instead.

 One tip for a seasonal bed?
Always go neutral with the drapes.
I am in love with vibrancy of this red.
Katie
Linking with, 
Sunday's Best Par Tay @ 1929 Charmer Blog 
Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the Porch 
Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style 
Sat Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage