Summer Decor In The Garden Room

Hi, Friends,

How are you? I hope that you healthy and well. 

I've done a little summer and Patriotic decorating in our sunroom. 

Patriotic decor doesn't stay out for long around here so getting it blogged about in a timely fashion just doesn't happen. It's cute so better late than never. 

A thrifted Uncle Sam whirly gig sits on the end table. 

He was sitting in the store for a couple of weeks looking a little forlorn.

 I appreciate the craftsmanship of this handmade item so it came home with me. 

I love a white sofa because with a quick pillow swap it has a new look. 

The P. Kaufman Queensland fabric has long been a favorite of mine. My local upholstery shop still had several yards on a roll. I bought all that he had. We used to have a red sofa and with pillows in the same print, The original pillows and sofa are long gone and I was happy to make some new ones. 

This print may seem dated since it was such a hit in the late 90s but I think it's a classic.   

The red floral and fruit ground is great with the flag pillow that I made from a placemat. 

Oh, how I wish I'd bought more of those placemats. 

I made the sailboat quilt for our son when he was a toddler. 

He has kept it here since frequent moves are part of this lifestyle. 

 We enclosed the original back porch in 2003. We needed a little place to retreat from teenagers and garage bands. This little sunroom is diminutive at only a little over 9 feet wide but it lives larger since double French doors open out from the breakfast nook. It is such a useable space for us. Bill has his little corner where he enjoys his morning coffee and an evening YouTube video. The rack above his chair is undecorated right now since our new kitty took a fancy to the decor up there. 

My seeds are stored in my great grandparent's wedding chest. The favor from the garden's flowers are dropped in little containers in the top drawer until they are called in to service the next year. The seeds  are temperature controlled because of our mini-split. The mini-split is one of our best investments. It keeps this room cool or toasty depending on the season. 

It is rare that I show complete angles of this room.

There are plants everywhere during an extreme cold snap. The floor is practical but it needs an update. I just can't seem to face cracking up another tile floor.

The dish dresser is one of my favorite pieces to decorate with seasonal or holiday decor. 

Vintage and newer gardening books rest on the shelves but they are handy for perusing. 

Fun vintage decor bits are sprinkled in amongst the books and plants. 

That's about it for now. It was fun showing off our festive decor.

It's hard to believe that July is here already. 

Have a wonderful Independence Day! 

Katie 

French And Garden Inspired Baker's Rack

It's not often that Bill comments on changes made around the house but he did on this one. 

What did he think? You will have to wait and see. 

I found this baker's rack out junking. To be honest, I can't remember if it was a thrift store or garage sale but it was only $15.00. We have had it for years. 

"Where is the love?", a song by Roberta Flack was floating through my head as I type this. 

It wasn't living its best life. It got a few hours of direct afternoon sun. All the sun just reflected off of the white and it just wasn't working for me. 

I restyled it. 

I contemplated painting it. I read a post over at Common Ground. Debra had moved her baker's rack. I love how Debra always styles hers. 

I thought about moving it back indoors. 

Instead, I moved it to a new covered spot on the deck and then restyled it. 

The love is back. 

It came with the rusty chippy paint although it's gotten a touch up a time or two.

Old beige tiles were recently replaced with white tiles left over from the bathroom remodel last summer.  

My friend, Judith at Botanic Bleu had utilized a wire basket for some zinc flower pots. I was so inspired by that look. 

I gathered up an old metal refrigerator basket and loaded it with any clay pot that I could find. 

I don't have any zinc pots. 

 I searched the yard, greenhouse and flower tote in the garage for all different sizes. They look jumbled but they are carefully arranged. 

The one with the floral swag is a favorite! 

One shelf wasn't enough so I loaded a Hobby Lobby basket with some more pots. 

It balances out the shelf above it. 

I decorated the rest of the shelves with some little critters and some green majolica planters. A lantern or two was thrown in for good measure. 

The candles are plastic flameless flickering candles. You may be wondering why I'm using these instead of real candles. 

Well, the truth is that this is Texas. Candles will melt into a puddle by 2:00 p.m. on a summer afternoon. 

I've tried real candles in the past. I vow that I'm going to bring them inside so that they don't melt. Invariably, I'll forget and suddenly my candles are all wicked witch of the west on me. 

Moving the baker's rack left a hole by the back door. 

We had the base to my great grandmother's sewing machine. Bill made a top for it. 

A vintage pie safe, my original watering can, a darling bunny and some basil grace the table. I filled an antique transferware pitcher from my parents with clippings from the yard and woods. 

I love bring indoor collectables outside. 

 The cross was a gift from my brother and sister in law. 

So what did Bill think of the change? 

He likes it. 

Be safe! 

Katie 

"I sought the Lord and He answered me."