Between Naps on the Porch: The Summer House

May 2, 2012

The Summer House

A little beach themed vignette...

It's time to celebrate summer!

A shell-adorned hat to protect your peaches and cream complexion...

A few books to inspire your summertime decor: Cottages by the Sea...The Handmade Homes of Carmel, Second Home...Finding Your Place in the Fun and Victoria At Home with White...Celebrating the Intimate Home.

A guide to identify all those shells you'll find: The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Seashells

Do you have a beach trip planned for this summer? What or where is your favorite summertime destination? Is it the beach, the mountains or your own back yard?

Labels: Beach, Beach Decor, Beach House

53 Comments:

At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Helen's Decor said...: Susan, for me it is my own backyard and screened porch. If you look this week you'll wonder if it ever will look pollen free. Thanks for the boost to get it all pretty again. Helen
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , martinealison said...: Une envie de vacances... de plage... de soleil...
Une belle publication avec de beaux décors.
gros bisous
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Diane said...: I am always looking for decorating inspiration for a beach condo. This vignette is the definitely inspirational! I have been looking for the perfect books to go under a lamp and I have not had much luck. Thanks for showing yours!!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Unknown said...: Since we live here in Texas, it feels like summer most of the time. we usually just go down to Galveston or Corpus for some family fun, but this year we are actually going to get to go to Disney World. Where ever we go it always involves the beach, we love it there!!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Merlin said...: Great vignette! I'm ready!! franki
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Anonymous said...: I love the beach and my favorite destination in the summer is Hilton Head Island, SC. I have a hat similar to the one in your picture. Thanks for the post and your blog as it always brightens my day.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Jennifer said...: I am definitely a beach gal! Love the your rope balls!!! Did you make them? A tutorial? Or where did you find them?
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...: Those twine and shell adorned balls look fabulous under the cloche! We plan to make a trip to the Outer Banks this weekend. One of our granddaughters is in a regional surfing contest. She's only 9 years old!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: That sounds perfect, Helen! The pollen is just now beginning to slow down here. There's hope!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Blondie's Journal said...: I love this vignette! We have a second home, a lake house and I am always trying to "beachy" it up! I'd love to have a hat like this! :-)

XO,
Jane
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Thanks, Diane! Check out half.ebay.com...I always find great books at reasonable prices on half.ebay...and no bidding!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Thanks, Magdalena!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Ohh, you're killing me Crystal. I need a beach trip! :)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Jane, that sounds like so much fun! Best of luck to your granddaughter!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Thanks, Jennifer! No, but I bet they would be pretty easy to make. If I make some, I'll be sure to post a tutorial. I found those at Marshalls...just $6 for a bag of six balls, including the shell covered ball.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Ohhh, Diane, I love Hilton Head! We went there so many summers when my son was growing up. Loved the biking trails,walks through the preserves and the wonderful light house. One year we went on a "murder cruise" while there. That was interesting! lol
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Thanks, Franki! Hope you get your beach trip this summer!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Anonymous said...: Hi Susan! This looks wonderful! I only live about 2 blocks from the beach but don't choose to decorate all beachy. I guess I get my fill around town! ;)
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Kathleen said...: Far from summer here, high 30's last night. Our trees aren't all greened yet.

I live in a beach community where people come for their vacations, so no, we don't go away on vacation.
I don't really have that much beachy decor come to think of it! Does sand on the floor that the gkids drag in count? :)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Jane, I love your lake house! That would be soooo much fun...beachying it up. I've had the hat for a few years now. I think I bought it at a crafts fair years ago when I realized I had forgotten to wear sunscreen and it was blazing hot that day. I keep it in my car during the summer...just in case an outdoor market or unexpected sun opportunity hits. :)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: I'm landlocked, Shelia. Waaaa! Send some beach wishes this way!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Yes, sand definitely counts! ;)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Linda/patchwork said...: This looks beautiful! Makes me wish for a trip to the beach.
Love that little bird, too.
Good work!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Mary said...: I'm always up for a trip to the beach. We don't have any plans for renting for a week, but have thought about going to Nags Head, NC. I'm about a 45 minute drive to the Virginia Beach ocean front, but hardly go; too much traffic.

Love your beach display and your new cloche.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Terri said...: I love beach themed posts! Your dresser resembles my new dresser, it's beach cottage themed, will have to do a post about beach cottage looks, you inspired me......
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , christy said...: This makes me excited for the summer. My brother just built a small beach house and we are going to be his first houseguests over July 4th. I cannot wait.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Anonymous said...: Beautiful! We always go to our condo at the beach in Destin. It gets harder every time we have to leave, one day I'm just going to stay and not return home!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , megan said...: Lovely vignette Susan. We had our annual trip to the beach in February, when we went to Mexico. Funnily enough, not many shells to be found where we were. We were right on the beach and the sound of the surf was music to my ears. I would sit on the rocks and let the waves play over my feet, with sandpipers for company.
As we only have lakes where we live, I try to get my fill of the ocean when I can.
My outside gazebo is decorated in an ocean theme.
For someone who asked about the string balls, you can also get these at WalMart.
Thank you Susan for hosting my favourite theme.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Princess Kate said...: You have such a way with decorating. Thanks for sharing. Makes me want to head to the beach NOW.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Phyllis @Around the House said...: Love the little vignettes...I have the same wooden birdie and shell balls ...love the shell hat with the great books...such a sweet scene...just a glass of lemonade and we are set to go...phyllis
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , dizzyizzy said...: Love this vignette. (I also adored your seashell chargers, they were so much prettier than the originals.) I love the beach. We go to the Oregon coast as often as we possibly can. We are landlocked as well and I look for beach inspiration everywhere. Thanks bunches!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , dizzyizzy said...: Susan, I love your vignette. I absolutely adore your seashell chargers, they are so much prettier than the originals. I love the beach and go to the Oregon coast every chance I get. Since I am landlocked as well, I look for beach inspiration everywhere. Love it! Thanks so much. Your blog is my fave.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Little Miss Maggie said...: I love all your shells and you beachy cottage style. It's making me yearn for a trip to the sea shore.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...: We go to the Outer Banks every June with our best friends and their entire family....usually between 22 and 25 of us! Love your beachy vignette! XO, Pinky
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Mid-Atlantic Martha said...: I'm in Sanibel, FL this week for vacation. We love to come here the first week in may. Then we try to hit Virginia Beach or one of the Carolina beaches in the fall. Love the "off" season rates and fewer people. Then we pretty well stay at home all summer....just make a few outings to the river with our boat and the grands. I guess you could say we're "water" people!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Elizabeth said...: Since I have lived on or near the beach all my life, I love to get away to the mountains. We are planning a trip soon. We do have beautiful beaches near us and visit them often.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Lynn said...: We retired to our summer cottage seven years ago. Beachy things are confined to the sunroom. Like many others here you tire of always seeing the same thing. A belated thank you for motivating me to clean the porch and spruce up the gazebo with new geraniums. Thanks to you I’m summer ready a month early.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...: Well done! Love the beach theme! I live by lots of lakes and hardly go to the beach! I'm not much for the sun lovin anymore but I always enjoy getting my feet wet if I get a chance! I think it would be fun to go along the beach of the ocean and collect shells! I've never done that before!
I live in a touristy area and this summer I will be entertaining and traveling around the area with my Son, his wife and her parents! We're going to check out Mackinac Island too! Looks like we're all in for a good summer since spring has gotten off to a fast start!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Jennifer said...: That's great! Sure could not make them for less. Thanks!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , mary said...: Hi Susan,

Just love your vignettes--so pretty!! My favorite destination spot for summer is the New England states. Last summer we went to Rockport, MA. We loved it. From the little beach area to all the cute shops with pretty flower boxes. It was so picturesque! Got a lot of inspiration for paintings there.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Something Nice and Pretty said...: Love the picture with the cloche, I have to do that for summer! We are leaving for Cabo on the 26th of this month and I can't wait!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Lizanne said...: This is so lovely! I found your site via pinterest and I love it! I would love to know where you found your pedestal dome that you used on the books. Thanks!
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: Hi Lizanne,
Thanks! I bought it as part of a set at this site: http://bit.ly/IFrkOE. The one I used was the smaller of the two. I purchased them during a sale so they were $150 for the pair the day I bought them. Everywhere else online they seem to be running $270 for the set so that was the best price I was able to find.
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: You lucky duck! Wish I was there with you! Martha it sounds like you have it figured out...perfect schedule! :)
At Wednesday, May 02, 2012 , Nancy B said...: Hi, Susan. I just shot you an email with my mailing address. How exciting to be the winner of one of the books! My daughter lives in Santa Barbara, CA and has several beach items as decor in her condo. Love visiting her there, but the central California coast holds a special place in my heart. I went there a lot as a kid. Though I also love the mountains. Good memories of both.
At Thursday, May 03, 2012 , Savannah Granny said...: Beautiful beach decor. My favorite spot is right here on the island. The river on one side and the sound on the other. Don't know why I ever leave. OH yes, the heat.
Have a great week, Ginger
At Thursday, May 03, 2012 , Simply LKJ said...: Beautiful! I can't wait to sit out by our pond. Now that the pollen is dying down, hopefully we can get everything washed on the back porch.
At Thursday, May 03, 2012 , Tutti Chic said...: I can't wait to get to our beach house in RI-your photo brings me there! :) chris
At Saturday, May 05, 2012 , Mary Lou said...: Beautiful!! I love reading your blog! Thanks for all the great places to shop! We have vacationed in Kiawah Island, SC with our family for years. We have enjoyed it so much that we bought a house here last year...Talk about a dream come true!! It was just announced yesterday that HGTV will be building their Dream House for 2013 here! That will be fun to watch!
At Wednesday, May 09, 2012 , Haworth said...: What a lovely summer tableau, Susan! I enjoy collecting shells and rounded stones on the beach. Being a New Englander, a favorite summer destination is the ocean... looking seaward, walking along the sand, coming home with salt air in my hair. But my favorite summer retreat is my own back porch and garden. Always!
At Thursday, May 10, 2012 , Carolyn said...: Hi Susan,
Ah! the beach! In SoCal I am blessed to live close enough that I can easily go for the day and return in time for dinner. Whether it is going with girl friends, my husband, or by myself, I am always revived by the sounds and sights of the beach! That's why our home is decorated with a very beachy theme. Can't get enough of it!
At Friday, May 11, 2012 , Mr Paul said...: Hi Susan, thank you so much for your lovely comment over at our blog.
Apologies for not getting over here sooner, its lovely over here in your blog.
Looking forward to following your adventures.
Your seaside vignette is very pretty indeed.
Warm regards.
Paul
At Friday, May 18, 2012 , Ms Bingles Vintage Christmas said...: Your little duck just makes the whole scene!
I love everything....it is so clean, bright and cheerful.
Leticia

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May 2, 2012

The Summer House

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