Early Spring Home Tour with Simple Updates

Hello and welcome to an early Spring Home Tour with simple updates at Fox Hollow Cottage! I’m eagerly sprinkling lighter and brighter décor around the cottage, as I anticipate the more regular appearance of sunshine, and we get farther away from the Winter season. If you want some simple decorating ideas on how to add some Spring bounce to your home as we shift into the next season, come on in!  

Many thanks to sweet, sweet Marty of A Stroll Thru Life for hosting our Spring 2021 Home Tour event. If you are visiting from Jayne at Chalking Up Success, HELLO and welcome! Jayne is a new friend and I’m very excited to tour her home for the first time!  

If you’ve never stopped by Fox Hollow Cottage before… h e l l o, I’m Shannon, and you can read more about me and our home [click here] if you’d like some background.

It’s early Spring and the sunshine has been teasing us here in the Pacific Northwest. A few beautiful days were all it took for me to mentally shift away from Winter, and look towards Spring. My Winter décor, bulky throws and faux fur pillows were put away in a flash.

And next thing I knew, I had a clean fresh pallet to start with! 

The last thing I did was roll up my black & ivory rug, and roll out my blue & ivory rug. The perfect base for a soft Spring look, and a jumping off point. I simply layered it on top of my tried and true, hardworking chunky jute rug. 

I wanted to transition into Spring softly to start. As much as I’d love nothing but lots & lots of sunshine, I know we’ve still got lots & lots of rain in store. And plenty of time for brighter, more vibrant décor accents. 

I chose a palette of white, ivory, washed blues and a pinch of warm leather. Which I love with all the woven textures I added by way of woven baskets and soft woods. 

Though Easter is a way off, I couldn’t resist adding my wooly sheep figurine, because I just love her! My faux Tulips are so lovely to have on-hand, and my growing collection of fake flowers has been so convenient. Always at the ready, and everlasting. 

The tassels on the pillows feel lighthearted and airy, perfect for the change of season. Yet grounded well by the addition of two (faux) leather pillows. 

My vintage door got a fresh coat of paint on the wood frame, and while I love the update, the color is a smidge off. Though it looks brighter than it is in these pictures. It’s a lovely blue, that I finished off with a smidge of white wax.  

Moving my smaller accent furniture around always makes the house feel fresh, and it’s one of my favorite ways to make things feel new. Changing out hardware is a tiny touch that can really add to the cohesion of a room as well. 

I often continue to fiddle even after I think I’m done, adding in small bits and bobs

Like adding in some moss covered stones to my rustic wood bowl. 

And a wee posy of Peonies to the side table. 

The short, squat lamp is one of the few new things in the room. It called to me at Target, and I adored the tiny subtle pattern on the base so I brought it home! 

My variegated Ficus landed on the console table, and we’ll see how it fares here. I normally keep all of my plants in the sun room to ensure they get all the sunshine they need. 

We recently made a quick trip up to Eugene and that’s when I was able to pop into Target. Most of you know it’s a 4-hour round trip jaunt to go up to the city, so it’s always a treat!

I popped into HomeGoods too, and that’s where I got a steal-of-a-deal on the rattan lantern. It was under $20.00 so I had to bring it home too! 

I often prefer a simple centerpiece on the table over anything elaborate. Our farm table is much used and I do all my painting here, so it’s often full of craft supplies, or whatever project I might be working on at the time. 

Because I decided on a Seascape over the fireplace, I added my woven sailboat on the table. 

It was a good day for candles, and a perfect example of a Spring day… as the sky fluxed between between sunshine and angry dark clouds. 

The seascape was a lucky find at a church rummage sale. I find the colors muted, yet so beautiful. A few candles and hurricanes were all I wanted to add, letting the art be the main focus. The glimmer of brass adding a nice warmth to the space. 

• You can find our tutorial on How To Add Shiplap Above A Fireplace [click here]

After changing the color of the reclaimed lumber on our bench that Jimmy made, I’ve just been extra in love with it paired with our farm table.  

Heading into our kitchen you’ll find our brick accent wall.

Our open pantry is still working out so well for us! I have not regretted designing our pantry with open shelves for a second.

• You can see how we created an open pantry [click here]

•  And how to organize a kitchen pantry [click here]

I did a little more furniture shuffling in here, opting for my chunky white console table to replace the wood and metal shelf that was here during the Fall and Winter. I really like to have a lot of different lighting options, and I’m happy to have a surface to put lamps on again.

Shopping off season can save you a bundle. The rattan mirror I got on clearance (for $20 bucks!) at the end of Summer last year is finally making an appearance… along with my beloved cement bunny, a faux Geranium in a thrift-store brass pot and a yummy Voluspa candle stacked on some washed aqua dessert plates.

We just love the storage, seating and extra surface area for entertaining & serving that our kitchen island provides.

• You can see how I’ve organized all the drawers [click here]

The more I clean, purge and organize, the less “stuff” I want out. I think my days of elaborate vignettes are long behind me… so I hope you like the lighter side of decorating that I’ve been sharing. I’m all about simple, almost effortless — and easy to clean & maintain!

Thank you so much for stopping by the cottage today! xo Shan

And don’t forget to stop and visit Amber at Follow The Yellow Brick Home, she’s the last home in this weeks big Spring Home Tour event!  

H A P P Y   S P I N G T I M E  my friends!! 

I’ve included convenient clickable shopping links below for you. Some may be affiliate links. Click here for full disclosure.

SHOPPING SOURCES & INFO:

• Ivory Trestle Pillow with Tassels [click here]

• Faux Leather Pillow Covers [click here]

• My Chunky Jute Rugs [click here]

• Barn Door Kitchen Island [click here]

• Dining Room Chandelier [click here]

• Kitchen Chandelier [click here]

• Faux Tulips [click here]

• White AVA Slipcover Furniture: Grandin Road

• Plantation Shutters: Blinds.com

• Vintage Door Color: Sherwin Williams in Stardew

• Wall Colors: Sherwin Williams in Pure White & Iron Ore

Monday March 8th

A Stroll Thru Life – Worthing Court – Town and Country Living – Hymns and Verses – Decor to Adore – White Arrows Home

Tuesday March 9th

Cassie Bustamante – Inspiration For Moms – Thrifty and Chic – Southern State of Mind – Clean and Scentsible – RemodelaCasa

Wednesday March 10th

Grace In My Space – Whispering Pines Homestead – The Wood Grain Cottage – StoneGable – It All Started With Paint – Monica Wants It

Thursday March 11th

Southern Hospitality – Pink Peppermint Design – 11 Magnolia Lane – Modern Glam – CitrineLiving – Our Southern Home

Friday March 12th 

This Is Our Bliss – Cuckoo4Design – A Pretty Life – Up To Date Interiors – Chalking Up Success – Fox Hollow Cottage – Follow The Yellow Brick Home

Subscribe for free today to receive all my latest DIY tutorials, decorating ideas, upcoming projects & more, sent right to your in-box!

Join us on our adventures... and let's make our houses "homes" together!

Your email address will never be shared or sold. I promise!