Coastal Cottage Summer Living Room

Hello!

I feel like it’s been forever since I wrote something new. Like weeks and months forever.

Not sure why, because I shared our Nautical Style Patriotic Living Room, which I knew was only temporary for the Fourth of July party, and I showed you the Whale Silhouette Pallet Art plus I’ve been bopping around on social media too.

Maybe it’s because I took a lot of time off while my mom was visiting? That must be it.

She got to stay 3 weeks… but all good things must come to an end and we took her to the airport last Sunday to fly away. I know my dad was happy to have her home though and we are thankful he let us have her for so long.

We sure miss her though. It’s nice to simply get to tell her goodnight in the evening. My mom is like the perfect, magical house guest too. She is a very active person and never sits down so you have to keep her busy. We went garage sale hunting, hit the thrift stores, shopped, lunched. Went sight seeing and down to the beach, etc…

We get completely spoiled when she is here! Serious.

How spoiled you ask?

She cooks. Then she does all the dishes. Oh, and the boys don’t do a drop of laundry while she is here.

I know? You would miss her too right?

I did sort of trick her into getting a body massage while she was here as a small token of our thanks for her awesomeness. You have to be sneaky with her.

Anyhow… I could go on and on but I know you just want to see that cute rug I showed you a peek of on facebook don’t you!?

Yep. That’s the one.

In between the everyday stuff, we did get to work on a few projects together. It’s so nice having a partner in crime to shop and decorate with!! We picked up a few new things and pulled together some old to create a coastal look for the cottage. We were thinking about replacing the windows from somewhere like Redditch Doors and Windows but there is nothing set in stone just yet.

We did this after the party and we both just loved it. The living room beforehand was just a little lack luster after the sparkle of the holidays was removed and put away. I lightly decorated when I shared the new Plantation Shutters, but had yet to put much up on the walls or really commit to a total “look”.

I kind of took a break from aqua because it was just everywhere I looked. But it’s in my blood. I missed it.

So it’s BACK!

… and this guy is totally to blame.

He started it all. I just had to have him and his pinchy cuteness.

And he told me about his friend!

(who reminds me of Hawaii so much I could just die!)

Well. I just had to have him too.

We were so fortunate to get to travel to Hawaii and stay on the island of Oahu for our 20th wedding anniversary. My sister and her guy met up with us there and we had a blast. My sister killed it with the house she found us to rent!!!! Located on the best beach ever. Super private. The Honu would come right up the beach. We were very respectful and walked far around them, never approaching or trying to pet. So glad I had my long lens with me. Oh this is making me miss it so much. Why can’t we go to Hawaii every year?

Oh yeah. Because we live in reality.

Darn it.

I can pretend with pillows and a new rug though right? It’s much cheaper. {winks}

So I did. Well, my mom and I did. We pulled extra pillows and some home decor from around the house. Threw in a few Target finds and had a whole new feel. It’s staying as-is until Christmas. I swear!

My “Mermaid” pillow is perfect in here now. I knew I needed that one…

I walked away from it the first time I saw it at homeGoods, only to pick it up weeks later on a return trip.

(thankfully… because I was obsessing over it. hahaha – I know, you know how that is!)

I really am a pillow whore. But hey, with a neutral room, what else changes the look faster and easier? I think I might change it up a little bit, by adding Yellow Cushion Covers. I love the neutral colour palette I have going on, but there’s nothing wrong in adding a little brightness to a room. Plus, yellow in any room adds a warm feeling and for some reason, you feel in a better mood, unlike if everything was dark and moody. It’s worth a try.

I’m hooked and I’m not seeking help!

I can strip a room down, add pillows and some new decor and BOOM.

Totally new feel. Works for me.

I have tried to transition to pillow covers though. So smart! All the changeablity with less bulk for storage.

Win-Win.

You might notice I deleted my Duncan Phyfe Coffee Table. I decided to use the ottoman as a multi-purpose furnishing. It’s lighter for Summer and opened up a little play room for me to move things about. My main furnishings are pretty locked in place. One pitfall of a smaller home. When you find your home is too small it can make you feel like moving. In fact, many people choose to move during the Summer Months. The actual move has never been easier with man and van quotes from Compare The Man & Van being merely a search away. Don’t worry, we are very settled in this home though. Even if I’ve never kept my couch in one spot for as long in my entire life. It’s a fatty though and only fits where it sits. So I finagle around it.

So fortunate for us our neighbors were tree trimming. We needed that just right something to use as vase filler. Light and airy. Sort of there, but not there. Ya know what I mean? We lucked into these, and free is always a bonus.

I have had the vase for about 15 years. I almost got rid of it a few times too. Glad I didn’t!

You might recognize this mirror from the Nautical Bathroom Makeover we just did. Well, it needed a new home. Turns out, Jimmy couldn’t see in it unless he crouched down! The frame (which totally makes it) is so thick that the actual mirror is too low for him to see in.

I can’t raise it up because, well… you go look here and you’ll see.

I think it looks great in it’s new home.

So, “lucky living room”!!

My mom pulled this look together and I like the shine the copper pot provides.

The warmth is welcome in this mostly cool room.

We’ve got the mermaid on book detail.

With the Coastal Chic Painted Table back on duty as a mini sofa table to my chair and a half.

I’m working my way over to the farm table and the fireplace.

Slowly.

Thanks so much for stopping in. I’ve been real eager to share the new living room look!!

Being born and raised a California girl, and with many years spent living along the beautiful Oregon Coast… this feels really good.

Disclosure: Special thanks to Birch Lane for supplying the coastal inspired pillow covers. They tripped me when I entered the online shop and I could not be more tickled to call them mine! The covers are beautifully made, and a nice, heavy-weight fabric. The zippers are sturdy and the design is so pretty.. it’s slightly raised and looks as if it’s stitched by hand. Premium quality. You heard it hear! I can definitely recommend them.

Sources:

• Birch Lane | Crab, Slema Pillow Cover.
• Target | Nate Berkus Pillow – found at ROSS
• Target | Rattan Table -on clearance
• Target | Basket -on clearance
• HomeGoods | Aquamarine Sequin Pillow
• Birch Lane | Turtle, Selma Pilow Cover.
• HomeGoods | Copper Pot
• HomeGoods | Lantern
• HomeGoods | Cynthia Rowley Throw
• ROSS | Area Rug
• ROSS | Wall Mirror
• Big Lots | Lamp Shade
• HomeGoods | Floor Lamp
• HomeGoods | Ruffled Pillow
• Blinds.com | Plantation Shutters
• Glidden | Wall color from Walmart, un-tinted straight out of the can white.
• Benjamin Moore | Trim color in Super White gloss.

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