Summer Cottage Nautical Home Decorating
A classic cottage bungalow decorated for Summertime in red, white and nautical navy blue. White walls, dark wood floors and neutral furnishing allow for simple décor changes to reflect the changing seasons.
Hello and happy Summer! We are loving our weather this season here on the coast. It’s been sunny, mild and pure heaven. The flowers on the deck are blooming like crazy and we’ve been working outside getting things ready for our 4th of July bash.
We’ve been working inside too! My mom is here visiting from Southern California and a few days ago we went and got all patriotic on my living room. With a pinch of nautical inspired by my new friend.
Isn’t he the cutest thing?
Can whales be cute? I think they can! I just love his fat little navy self. He is chunky and round and perfectly pre-weathered with his scuffed up deep navy paint.
When he arrived and I opened him, he was even better than I imagined.
My mom and I went out hunting last week and had a grand time looking for just the right books for him to hold. We came across some books that had dedications written in them… and even saw my grandmothers name, which is really rare! We settled on these for their unique qualities that spoke to us. Like the titles and the pages edged in red and navy.
And the low, low prices.
I’m no rare book collector, so it was all about the vibe.
I skipped a super cool one that was $30+
So, I’m thinking by now you have deduced that I got a set of book ends I didn’t need…
and then bought books.
To decorate with.
Yes.. it’s a little frivolous, but my house is kind of like my hobby and decorating makes me happy.
It always has. I’ve been fluffing and fixing as long as I can remember.
I do need to spill though, that as cute as he is, we did briefly consider drilling a blow hole in him so he could hold a flag.
Seriously, we did. hahaha…
We settled on a flag book marker instead. It’s a wee bit less invasive.
(he secretly thanked us)
While I was up in Eugene to pick-up my mom from the airport, we did a little shopping. You know HomeGoods was calling to me! Once inside, the pillow isle sucks me in. Every time. The red anchor pillow with the rope trim was a “had to come home with me” find. It’s so… festive and jaunty! Plus Jim was in the Navy, so nautical is always a little extra meaningful at our house.
Plus, I figured by the time I cut out 7 anchors, made a pillow and trimmed it with rope, I would be 947 years old.. so I went pre-made. My inner DIY’er thanked me… as did my inner pillow whore.
We all know I am, I can admit it.
My house is a bit hodge-podge. You might notice I’ll pair brand new, with a .50 cent thrift store find. I buy what I like. No rhyme or reason… just things that make me smile, catch my eye… or interest me.
Sometimes I buy things and don’t use them right away, but tuck them aside until I’ve got a few things, that when put together tell a story or evoke a feeling.
My Copper pots are a perfect example! I had no idea what I’d do with them when I got them… but they were shiny. Another pick-up that happened when my om was with me. Also at HomeGoods.
My mom must be my “Home Goods Luck Charm”.
We are all ready to celebrate and looking forward to some fireworks and fun!! xo, Shannon
SOURCES:
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Whale Book Ends: similar [click here]
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Red Anchor Pillow: HomeGoods
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White Lanterns: HomeGoods
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Red Paisley Pillows: Ross
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Vintage Flag: Estate Sale
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Copper Pot: HomeGoods
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Red, White & Blue Bottle Brush Trees: Leaf’s Tree House (Coos Bay, Or)
Shannon says
Shannon, your house looks SO great–I love it and I LOVE the adorable bookends. I’ve always wanted a whale shaped chalkboard like one I saw once. The bookends reminded me of it!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Hi Shannon!
Thank you (:
We made a pallet Whale too.
Hand painted.. I can’t cut one out.
I need me a band saw!!
Paula@SweetPea says
I love these bookends! I think I’d name him Melvin.
H Jeffery says
Old Tom
From Mother Nature Network:
In the 1920s, off Australia’s southeastern coast, there lived an orca known affectionately as “Old Tom.” Old Tom and other members of his pod developed a sort of working friendship with local whalers, helping them by herding, trapping and even killing migrating baleen whales in Twofold Bay.
The whalers would then finish off the baleen whales, giving Tom and his fellow orcas their tongues and lips to eat, an arrangement that became known as “the law of the tongue.” Tom also reportedly protected crew members who fell overboard, circling them to ward off the area’s numerous sharks.