Summertime shots around the house

Its summer time and I am in a very white and blue mode.  More white

than blue.  I loved this throw I picked up on Martha's Vineyard at a local

home goods shop in Vineyard Haven.  I'm inspired to clean and pare down

the look around the house.  Hiding things in baskets, like this HomeGoods chest, 

 helps me achieve this goal of less is more.  

One new basket I love is this triple container with a handle that I also got at HG.

I loaded it up with our everyday silverware and it is one of my favorite home 

improvements (on the tiny end of making changes around the house). 

 It has made it easier to unload the dishwasher as it all goes right

into the basket, as well as carrying it out to the courtyard for summer dinners,

or simply grabbing a spoon to stir the coffee fresh from the Keurig.

 Our summer garden has started producing tomatoes, which is really awesome. 

 Cuttings from our mint and basil plants are stuffed into the baby silver cups and 

line the windowsill making for a summer-fresh display.

Summer time is fleeting, and I am so happy to be home and not in a shop

this year so I can enjoy the simple things.  

We have some interior changes coming up this summer that I am excited

about, the best will be getting our French door installed!

Hoping you are making the most out of your precious summertime.

It's in full swing here, with one beautiful day after another.

And I'm loving it. 

Note: This post is partially sponsored by HomeGoods as part of my participation in their designer board on Pinterest, Happy by Design. 

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A waterfront yard, and beating mosquitos naturally

 The dream of having a home on the water is one many share. Hubs and I 

would love to one day own a home on the water, or at least one with a water view.

Of course waterfront property always has its share of mosquitos, 

but I will show you how to deal with that issue in a bit.

My friends have a home on a river in Maine that leads out to the Atlantic.  

They have played up the most of their spot with gorgeous outdoor landscaping.

Mr. Maison Decor and I joined them for the Fourth of July this year, and although

the day ended up with a few showers, it did clear in time for the local fireworks display. 

 Sue is a long time friend of mine~we used to play tennis together and always had a ton of fun.

We were mad dog competitive and enjoyed being on a team together for years.  

I haven't seen much of her after I opened my shop,  so it was a treat to get to come up

 and spend the night with her and her husband and chew the fat.

 The guys did a great job on the grill and in the kitchen~lobster and steak!

We all sat down to eat inside their sunroom that faces that water.  

The perfect 4th of July dinner in New England.  Sue has a lobster boat,

 and she gets her own lobsters! We would get to go out on the boat in the morning,

 and I was excited for the experience.  

 After dinner we headed back outside and watched the guys build a fire in the sunken fire pit, and waited for the sun to set and then the fireworks to start.  I thought it would be the perfect setting to try out the new Stinger All Natural Repellent Lantern I was asked to review. The Stinger lantern people had come up with a new idea in mosquito repelling.  It was an ALL NATURAL repellent! Would or could that really work? This would enhance my chances of getting hubs to hang outside at night in our own courtyard that we just built if it did.  And what better of a test than to try it out by the water, after a light rain?  Those buggers should be out in force, right?  

 Here are the details about the "All Natural"  mosquito repelling lantern by Stinger.

 

The new Stinger All Natural Mosquito Repellent Lantern is a device that repels insects up to 225 sq. ft. An ultra-quiet fan diffuses repellent into the air using powerful plant-based, all-natural active ingredients. Quick Facts Outdoor use Repels insects using a fan-dispersed repellent pad All natural, for safe use around children & pets Blue, LED lighting for night Uses 4 AA batteries (not included) Repellent refills come in 6 packages per PDQ tray MSRP $12.99 Available at Amazon.com and StingerProducts.com

 

 The guys got the fire going, Sue brought out her homemade berry pie with raspberries,

 blueberries and blackberries that she picked from her yard, and I fired up the Stinger mosquito lantern.  We all had our jobs, haha.  A little foil wrapped package held what appeared to be a wet wipe that was impregnated with different types of plant based oils, like eucalyptus

 and rosemary and I put it in a little compartment on the lantern. 

 A small fan circulates the oils through the air to ward of the mosquitos.  

 It was very quiet, and frankly I forgot I was even testing it out. 

 However I rarely am bitten by mosquitos, but it would be interesting to see 

if my husband would be so lucky. It looks like a decorative lantern and the way

 it is designed with a little loop on the top, you could suspend it from a tree branch, 

or the interior of an overhead umbrella over your outdoor dining table

 as well as just plunk it on the table, like I did. 

 What a gorgeous view! It doesn't get much better than this. 

 Nightfall came quickly~fireworks were being set off along the riverbanks

 to celebrate our nation's birth. It felt wonderful to be in such a natural setting celebrating 

with close friends, and feeling grateful to be living in the land of the FREE.

 Not much of a photo, I know!  It was pitch dark outside, except for the flares of the fireworks, the burn of the firepit and the soft glow of the Stinger lantern.

And now for the suspenseful part...did the lantern really work??

You can see hubs enjoying the evening as the soft blue light from the Stinger Mosquito Lantern glows on the table.  Not a single mosquito was in sight!  This thing was really working!

 Not ONE mosquito came near any of us.  Not one.  As we went into the house at the end of the night,  I asked hubs to shut off the lantern.  As soon as he did, he said a mosquito tried to land on his nose! So I have to give this amazing lantern a ringing endorsement.  The only bad thing was that I left it behind at my friends home....so now I will be buying one for our courtyard dining table so we can enjoy extended periods outside without being bitten.  Its so nice to think that we didn't need to spray  chemicals on our bodies, or in the air to try to eliminate the chance of being bitten. 

 What could be better than to sit outside with your kids and pets and not have to worry about them being bitten.  No sprays, no mess, no smells...it was wonderful. 

What a great invention.  I am 100% thrilled with this lantern!

Morning arrived, showers and breakfast were finished and we headed off!

 We headed out to the local marina to take a ride in Sue's lobster boat. 

 She is pretty amazing I think.  Driving a lobster boat?? Ok, well knowing Sue like I do,

 I guess I am not really that amazed, its just how she rolls. 

 Lets get going Captain Sue!

 She would head out under the big bridge and right towards the Atlantic ocean. 

 My cowboy would untie the lines so we could shove off.

 This was going to be a nice little cruise on a perfect July day. 

The girls were up front, while the boys sat in the back. 

We obviously were married to very secure men. 

 Behind the guys you can see an old maritime jail. 

 It looks like a big beautiful chateau!

No longer in use, it sits on the river banks just falling into disrepair.  

Wouldn't it make an amazing home?!  

We drove past lovely homes and hotels on the banks of both New Hampshire and Maine.

The stately Wentworth by the Sea among them. We saw a couple of seals. 

 They look like dogs swimming out in the middle of the ocean!

 Our cruise was over so we headed back to the marina.  

Old wooden boats and modern ones dot this small Maine marina. 

 It was a lovely ride.

We parted company and shared hugs and kisses. 

 They have made a nice life for themselves, and its one I admire. 

 Sharing hobbies and the day to day tasks, yet taking time out to smell the roses 

and sail the ocean blue is what a good married life is all about, don't you think?

Hubs took his happy wife back home,

 but not before we stopped for a lobster roll at the Galley Hatch.

It was a nice summer getaway to a memorable spot.  

Thanks Sue and Gene!  Next time we fire up your pizza oven, ok?

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The easiest way to get organized

 Being organized makes me feel better.  I think most of us agree that when house

clutter is reduced, there is a calming influence.  Life is just better if you are organized.

That being said, it is easier said than done in real life, at least around our house.

This post is all about the easy way to get organized, and that is by using baskets.

When you have closets, shelves and open bookcases you can group like objects and stash

in a basket for  immediate results. We have very little storage space in our home, so the closets

are not always able to hold all of our items.  For a hallway opposite our main coat closet I decided to fit in some extra storage, disguised as a pretty moment.  Enter a narrow bench and two large baskets that fit just perfectly underneath.  The baskets are large enough so you can really fill them up, as well as tall enough so you can't look inside them when they are underneath the bench.  I don't really want to see a pile of shoes inside a basket. But I LOVE the look of the woven basket and the rustic white washed bench, all from HomeGoods.  The bench is also a handy place to sit down and lace up, or toss my handbag when I come in the door.  Get creative with storage and rethink the way you have used these under utilized areas in your own home.

The other place I needed to organize was our laundry room.  After washing and drying

clothes they often get folded on top of the dryer and become a large pile.  Since this

is also the first floor "powder room", it has to do double duty as a utilitarian space as well

as looking neat when guests are invited.  It struck me that I didn't need or want a big laundry

basket on top of the washer. Instead, a series of mid sized wire baskets with fabric liners are

the perfect answer for filling up manageable piles for the folks who live with me (lol).  I can hand off

a basket of socks and undies to my son, and off he goes to stash them in his dresser.  A pile of t-shirts for hubs and maybe some jeans.  Some bedding all neatly washed and folded waits for this photo 

session to conclude and then off I went upstairs to make our bed.  I added a shelf above the washer

and dryer long ago to hold decorative accents.  Now I realize it holds these wire baskets until they 

are needed, and they look great just sitting there.  Baskets are the best organizers a family can have.

I have been a fan for many years, and the selection at HomeGoods keeps getting better all the time.

They have a complete Storage and Organization area in their stores now, making it easy to 

get organized with more than just baskets.  

 Of course I use baskets for just about everything, including on our front door.

A large basket from HomeGoods tucked under a table offers plenty of storage for overflow
blankets and pillows and even stacks of magazines. Hidden storage is so great!

We were away for the Fourth of July holiday and now that we are back home, 

it makes me want to get everything all put away and cleaned up.  And do house projects

like completely paint rooms and change out furniture.  But I will start by getting organized.

Hope you are having a nice beginning to summer, its been fantastic weather

in New England.  Looking forward to the rest of the month, with a few more

little trips and events planned with hubs and the kids.  Anyway, I am feeling good

about my organization kick, and these baskets set it all in motion.  Give it a try.

You will feel good almost instantly!

Note: This post is sponsored by HomeGoods as part of my participation in their designer program on Pinterest, Happy by Design. 

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Style Alert! Vintage Luxe Mod Rocks this Shingle Style Cape

 If you love great style in home decor, you are in for a treat! 

 I had the pleasure of seeing my friend Sandra's home in person

on my way to Martha's Vineyard last week.  Her home was also featured
 in DECORATING magazine by Matthew Mead.  So while I had seen it in print,
 it was even more terrific to get to walk into the pages of her amazing home.  
Sandra lives on Cape Cod with her husband, two kids and one fabulous dog, Scout.  
They bought an old cottage and basically did a rebuild, but saved as many

relevant items from the cottage, placing them thoughtfully throughout the house.

You would never know this is a new home as it has an authentic feel that
 would fool most anyone, all because of the deft hand and choices made 
by this dynamic designer.  Starting with the entryway, the white oak floors 
with a lime wash are so beachy and inviting. An old carved newel post Sandra
 found at a junk shop on the Cape found its true calling

when placed in the airy entrance of their beach house. 

 Lovely Scout met me at the door, and followed us around as Sandra
 gave me the tour.  This area is in the entrance to the right of the door, 
with a big basket holding rubber walking boots

that would come in handy at the end of the afternoon.  I was captivated by the
 room Scout was in, as I had seen Sandra's double dutch doors that were 
custom made by her brother.  A stone fireplace was made out of the rocks 
found on the property during the dismantling, and incredibly it also doubles 
as a pizza oven, as her husband loves making home made pizzas for the 
family and entertaining.  Yum! Sandra designed all the doorways and the windows
 which were a significant reason why the home had so much character.  
Keep your eyes open for them as we tour the home.

 The kitchen had modern cabinets that played second fiddle to the massive cement table with industrial chairs.  I loved everything about this room.  Was I becoming a convert to the vintage modern mix?  I noticed most of Sandra's light fixtures were old pieces, or parts of old pieces that she cobbled together in her unique and talented way, creating notable moments in every room.

 A long and lean old crystal light fixture hung low over the wicker seating area in front of the pizza oven.  One heart shaped stone that the family found at the beach is now permanently featured in their hand made stone fireplace. 

 Off the kitchen is a long room that holds both the dining area and the "formal" living room.

Here the dining area is a modern arrangement that is balanced out by the vintage chandelier and accessories. 

 Splitting the room in half to house the living room, all the upholstered pieces have a mod

vibe while the accessories are decidedly vintage. The beautiful window design was created by Sandra and then custom made for their home.  Really the best of both worlds, by combining muntins and open spaces. The coziness that muntins offer a home and the open glass spaces to take in the beach views unencumbered. 

 Most of the wood finishes in the house are a limewash or whitewash feel~worn and loved.  I happily followed Sandra around the house, trying to snap pics and take in what she was telling me.  I could have spent many more hours, as I was falling in love with her house, and the choices she had made to create such a compelling and beautiful story.  We went on to other rooms that although were secondary rooms, were still outfitted in the thoughtful and artful style that is all Sandra. 

 Her butler's pantry was saved from the old original cottage, and the cabinets 

were installed in a space right off the new kitchen.  Here she has showcased 

her collection of old silver pieces in a nod to their spot on Old Silver Beach.  

 Piles of old silver pieces mixed with cookbooks, and some blue and white 

transferware on the shelves in this charming pantry.  Sandra frames silver utensils 

on linen backdrops and lovely silver leaf frames.  

 A powder room wall has a collection of black and white photographs and mementos.  

 Sandra frames a lot of things that become beautiful pieces of artwork.

 She mixes them up with fragments or odd and unusual pieces that really make

 for a soulful home.  She doesn't use color, but favors all the natural tones

 from black to white and everything in between.  Lots of textures keep it interesting: 

rag rugs, wire and willow baskets, washed and worn woods all create lovely harmony.

A sunny sleeping room on the first floor houses two iron beds dressed 

with vintage linens and blankets.  Burlap and linen shades soften each window

 and one of Sandra's hand crafted chandeliers dances above the beds. 

She also makes enormous and artful wall clocks, like this one in their home office.

Witty wall art at its best.  

 After the house tour, Sandra's hubby made us a cappuccino to go along

 with a slice of delicious berry tart. I could get used to this....

 A quick tour of the grounds was next! 

 Sandra pulled on a pair of pink Hunter boots and tossed me a cream pair in the perfect size.  

How serendipitous. It was a misty day on the Cape, but I was excited to see the outside.

  Look at the facade~it looks like an original structure, doesn't it? 

 Here you can see  the lovely windows that Sandra designed. 

Just as she had done inside her home, Sandra had placed interesting and beautiful pieces

 strategically around her grounds.  I loved this twig bench. 

 Every piece she used outdoors had patina and style.

 And with that my exciting side trip came to an end, although I hope to be back... 

maybe next time it will be with an overnight bag for a girls weekend! 

How about it Sandra?

Follow Sandra on Facebook here and on Instagram @oldsilvershed to see lots more of her

amazing style and home. 

 If you would like to see Sandra's home (and mine)  in the DECORATING MAGAZINE, by Matthew Mead, you can order from the publisher by clicking here. 

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