Well hello friends! I hope you and your families are well, safe and full of hope. I thrive on any glimmer of hope and finding the good in situations, and always strive to share positive and uplifting posts here and on social media.
Today, I’m so happy to be joining a group of 28 other bloggers to share some summer home inspo. Thanks to Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for putting this diverse group together because there’s something for everyone throughout the entire week.
First, I would like to welcome all of you who are coming over from Jenn’s beautiful home at Clean and Scentsible! Her flavored water bar is such a great idea!!
I am going to start my tour here in the living room…
If you’re new, you can read more about us and our mountain property HERE.
I love being home, and making my home a cozy and safe haven for my family is something really important to me. And that doesn’t mean going out to buy more things, but using what I have to create that refuge to nurture these people I love. And this has become even more important to me as job situations have changed with lockdowns and closures.
After restoring and installing all the original trim from the old house, along with all the family antiques I have collected, our home has taken on more of a late Victorian and Edwardian feel. I love the aesthetic of those eras and am totally at home with bold, rich color and dark wood.
For summer, honestly, because I just wanted to show y’all how to move things around for a new look, I moved the yellow Victorian chairs to the bedroom and brought my great grandmother’s chaise loungeinto the living room. Funny enough, it has become my favorite spot for a Sunday afternoon nap😊
I love having it in front of the windows, and love that it’s really being used. I think my great grandmother Knight would be pleased.
Plants are not only a great summer accessory, but very appropriately Victorian – especially palm trees and ferns. Honestly, a green plant just makes everything better, and the air cleaning aspect is an added bonus.
I cut some of my grandmother’s “Mock Orange” for the mantel and placed the branches in an Italian vase I bought at a “dime” store for my mother for Christmas many years ago.
Peonies planted by my great grandfather almost 100 years ago also adorn the mantel I made out of wood from the old house.
Everything on this mantel is from my family and special to me.
If you were here for the spring tour, you’ll notice I took down the paisley curtains for summer. I thought it would be a nice change to just have the lace sheers. I made the lambrequins last winter out of some discount red velvet upholstery fabric I had.
I hate that the chair covers these portieres, so I moved it to show you how pretty they are. These were in a historic building friends were selling, so I asked if I could give them a happy new home😊 I like the drama they add and the bit of separation between rooms.
The 1800s oil lamp was a gift to my mother, and she graciously let me borrow it.
I bought the Duncan Phyfe sofa last fall from friends, and still love it. For summer, I really had my heart set on using pink, again just to show what is possible by switching some low budget items around, and I love how that worked out.
We really live in this room, and I feel like I’ve balanced the “pretty” I want with comfort for the rest of my family.
The only thing I changed on the buffet was moving the antique print here. This was in the old house, then my grandmother put it in the basement. She never liked it but I love it.
The buffet and lamp were inherited from a relative, and the candlesticks belonged to my grandmother.
For the table, I had in mind something I had seen in the servants’ dining room at Biltmore House with two oil lamps on the ends and greenery in the center. I actually went to a local antique mall to see if there were two matching lamps but didn’t find anything. I mentioned it to my mother, and she told me to come over, then she opened up a cabinet in the basement where these two lamps from the old house had been since 1959. Funny enough, these are exactly like the ones in the servants’ dining room at Biltmore. I guess it was meant to be. My daddy helped me empty the old, dark Kerosene out and clean them up, but they certainly were worth the work.
The basket belonged to my grandfather and I filled it with mountain laurel from the property.
A year and a half later, we still love having the dining table in the kitchen. We spend a lot of family time right here, and as my kids get older and move off to college, these are precious memories we are making for this momma’s heart💗
In the kitchen, I also wanted to keep the pink/red combo and brought out my pink Pyrex and some Hazel Atlas pink Crinoline that belonged to two different great grandmothers.
I made the curtains and sink skirt from Kaufman Queensland fabric in crimson last fall. I love that it has pink, red, blue, yellow and green so pretty much anything will work along with it.
Two aprons my grandmother made and a gifted one from my mom hang on a screen door from the old house which leads to the laundry/mudroom. My dad made the Indian Motorcycle sign in the 1950s.
I love these old brass plaques and after inheriting this one, I started looking for them at thrift stores, and find them usually in the $3 – $5 range.
The antique needlepoint is one of a pair made by a late family friend.
I kept the peachy pinks in the dinnerware and glassware as well and found some inherited placemats that really tied everything together with the reds and browns.
We actually do use the oil lamps, especially when storms knock out power, and it makes me happy to know these same lamps lit up the darkness for my family members before me right here on this property.
It’s funny when I look at photos, I see mostly things I have made, refinished, reclaimed or dug out of the attic, and it’s that spirit of using what I have and making it pretty that I hope to inspire others to do.
Our home is very small, but we have worked hard on it, and it’s big on love and certainly a refuge for my family. And that’s all I could ever hope for💛
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
I would love for you to follow me @whispering.pines.homestead on instagram
and
@Far Above Rubies on facebook.
Now, make sure you go by and visit Cristina at Remadelando de Casa. She is my hero when it comes to building things, and she has amazing style too!
There are tours every day, so be sure to come back and see the links for each day this week.
MONDAY
| A Stroll Thru Life | Clean & Scentsible | Far Above Rubies | Remodelando La Casa | It All Started With Paint | Life On Virginia Street |
TUESDAY
| Setting For Four | Duke Manor Farm | Decor To Adore | House By Hoff | Inspiration For Moms | Pink Peppermint Design |
WEDNESDAY
| Modern Glam | Fox Hollow Cottage | Thrifty & Chic | 11 Magnolia Lane | Grace In My Space | Hymns & Verses |
THURSDAY
| Seeking Lavender Lane | StoneGable | Designing Vibes | Citrineliving | Our Southern Home | Southern State Of Mind |
FRIDAY
| The Woodgrain Cottage | Life On Cedar Lane | Thistlewood Farms | White Arrows Home | Follow The Yellow Brick Home |
Wow! I love all of your summer decorating ideas! Your pink Pyrex collection is stunning!! Love your beautiful mantel for summer too! Have a beautiful summer my friend! Xo Hearher
Thank you so much Heather!!
I always look forward to a tour of your home and all your wonderful family heirlooms and treasures. The stories behind each piece are so interesting. You've created such a warm and inviting home that feels so cozy and comfortable. Thanks so much for joining the tour again this season.
Thanks so much for including me Marty!!
I love your old home and the history behind it. Such beautiful memories to have and to create new ones in this environment. Love it and everything in it. You have a painting in one of your rooms of a Native American on his horse called I think The Last Journey. May be wrong about title. My memory is not too good these days LOL. I love that painting. Thanks for sharing your lovely home.
Thank you Connie! I have several paintings that my late uncle in Montana painted. and t hey are very special to me:-)
Anita,
I love reading about your wonderful home and it's history. Your family is truly blessed. Please stay safe and well. You provide inspiration to many.
Marilynn
Thank you so much Marilynn!! We are truly blessed and thankful for all the hard work and sacrifices so many of my family made so we could have this little slice of Heaven:-)
I love the stories behind all of your beautiful and unique pieces! It's so nice to celebrate little pieces of your history eveyday!
Thank you so much Jenn!!
Something new I learned from you today: Lambrequins. They're beautiful, just the same as the pink Pyrex that I hadn't seen before. 😍😍 I always love scrolling through your pictures admiring every single detail you always add. Happy to be home touring with you my friend!
Thank you Cristina!!Happy to share the tour with you ad your beautiful home as well!!
I LOVE your home and the blog layout. It is so easy to enjoy your lovely home in pictures!
Thank you so much!!
Oh what a treat this was! I have enjoyed lingering in every room, taking in all of the amazing treasures you have lovingly curated in your gorgeous home! As always I am inspired to dig a little deeper in my own personal collections and vintage hoards to create new looks for the seasons rather than going out and buying anything new at a retail shop. My own style is vintage eclectic so there are so many treasures of yours that I adore. I love how you have added pinks for summer, and all of your colors are as wonderful as a summer garden in full bloom!
Thank you for a gorgeous tour. Have a happy summer!
Thank you Amber for appreciating that I try to use what I have:-) I LOVE what you do as well!!
Such a gorgeous tour Anita. There are so many wonderful heartfelt touches. Your kitchen makes me smile.
Thank you so much Laura!!
Anita,
Stunning as always!! Love your use of deep rich color and how you have repurposed furniture and lumber creating something that is truly original and magnificent! I love your home because it is not like one of the cookie cutter homes that are so frequently featured on blogs that look alike. Thanks so much for sharing your originality and imagination and history with us.
Hugs,
Deb
Thank you so much Deb!!
It is all so beautiful, Anita. Thank you for sharing your home; it is so welcoming and just invites one in. Do you have additional storage space for your kitchen items or do you keep it pared down? I don't have a large kitchen and always seemed rather tight on space.
Thanks Michele!! I think I have lots of space as is and plenty of cabinetry with a large pantry by the fridge, a large china cabinet in the corner, and the buffet on the opposite side. I definitely don't have kitchen and dining things pared down but I should!
Your home is absolutely exquisite! What a visual treat to see all of your gorgeous collections and layers upon layers of beauty and history. Your use of color is so inspiring – and I love those pink walls! What an absolute gem this is, like visiting a bygone era! You've create a magnificent home! Happy summer! xo
Thank you so much!! What a wonderful compliment because I sure feel like I should live in a bygone era:-)
So many beautiful, bold statements throughout your home! I just want to cozy up in front of the fire in that gorgeous, elegant chaise lounge chair! I might even don something leopard print too! 🙂 Linda
Thanks so much Linda!!
sorry, i don't want to get off the chaise lounge! your tour is always filled with so many special treasures.
Ha, I know, right?! It's my favorite nap spot!!
I love your use of family heirlooms and pass along plants. We were trying to identify exactly what “mock orange” is. My grandmother had a bush that she called that and for years my husband has tried to buy me one but we don’t know what to look for. I would love to know what the name for it is if you know. Thanks!
If you just google "mock orange" you'll find it:-)
So many beautiful details. I just love your collected and unique style!
Thank you so much Ashley!!
Yes, full of hope and no grass has been growing under our feet. Gotta get out and see the nature and live. I love everyone of your beautiful rooms. The first picture (among many) should be a painting and framed. Wow what a gorgeous decorated home you have made with love and so much attention. I bet you never want to leave it. I do like how you have the real Victorian feel with antiques and accessories I see in some of those old English Victorian homes in books and documentaries. It's just real. Take care and enjoy the lovely home you have made. Betsy
Thank you so much Betsy!! That's just the most wonderful compliment ever:-)
Hello Anita,
I arrived at your website by way of a summer blog hop. I just wanted to tell you how refreshingly beautiful your home is. And so unique. I was amazed at how you combined the richness of color, the dark wood and walls with the light and airy curtains, tablescapes, plants, etc. I have never seen this before! It is the first time that I have seen a rich, dark period look with the lightness you have added. So, so beautiful! Thank you for the pleasure of viewing your home! Laura Coyne
Oh my goodness, thank you for those kind words Laura!! I'd never really thought about it that way – re: light and dark, but it makes sense, and I'm so appreciative of your insight:-) I'm going to keep that in mind!!