Hello friends! I’m so excited to be part of this summer’s home tour series that Marty at A Stroll Thru Life puts together so beautifully every season! Welcome to everyone coming over from Julia’s home at Cuckoo4Design! She is so talented, and I always love to see what she comes up with for each new season.
We are in the mountains of western North Carolina, and I am on a mission to reclaim the past – one board at a time, by restoring and installing into our house all the old doors, trim, etc., that were saved from the house my daddy grew up in here. You can read more about the old house here if you’re new☺️
For today’s tour, I’m sharing our living room, which I’ve made a few changes to in the last couple weeks in addition to my summer decor.
As much as I loved the dark gray paint, when my daughter gave me some gold kilim pillows for Mother’s Day, I kept thinking about the gold paint I originally had in this room. It was a Colorplace paint from Walmart called, Salt Fork. I had about half a gallon left from painting the kitchen that color a couple years ago, so I painted one wall, then needed more. That particular paint was made by Sherwin Williams, then Gliddon, and I’m not sure what happened to it recently, but they don’t carry it now, and I did love some of those colors. I took the formula to Lowes and had it mixed in the Valspar Express Coat, and while I think that’s a great budget paint at about $13.98 for a gallon of flat, it was slightly off – as in not quite as yellow, but by mixing it all together, it worked well enough.
I do love how it turned out, and when I put the room back together, I went with pinks and changed out some accessories for summer. I also took down the curtains for summer, and left up the embroidered sheers from a dear neighbor who had lived here most of her life here beside my grandparents and parents.
I had originally planned the mantel would hold this antique print, but I thought it was too big. I decided to try it, and loved it, so it will probably be here for a while. This is the print my grandmother had in the basement because she never liked it.
Inherited candle holders and granddaddy’s books are on the mantel adorned with a red velvet scarf I made a couple years ago.
I thought these antique prints would also coordinate nicely with the Guido Bach print on the mantel so I moved them from another place in the room.
Since my grandmother was from Hypoluxo, Fla., I thought some of her shell collection would be nice for summer along with a little ship we found in Daytona Beach on vacation with our children.
I covered the table with some extra linen fabric I had and topped it with this pink and green taffeta.
The kilim pillows my daughter gifted me are so perfect here and go nicely with the pink and red combo I love. The pink pillows actually came from Walmart a couple years ago, and although I normally wouldn’t buy pillows but prefer covers I can pop my inserts in, these were so cute with the diamond pattern, and I knew they’d be great with the pattern on the couch as well.
I found the vintage cigar boxes at my parents’ house and love the colorful kind of tropical feel they add.
Old books, photos, great grandmother’s radio, and a late 1800s oil lamp are on great grandfather’s drop leaf table from the old house.
I do love how this room turned out with the new/old paint color, and it really makes it such a happy place for summer. It’s the place we relax so I want it to be pretty but also function as a comfortable space as well.
You can see some of the process and take a video tour here:
Next is the master bedroom, which just got a big makeover as I restored and installed the wormy chestnut and oak trim and baseboards from the old house. It’s all ready for summer – complete with an heirloom quilt my great aunts made for me☺️
Click on this link to see more, and the video is also embedded and linked below.
My girls’ room got a major makeover recently, and it is linked here as well.
I have worked so hard the last few months restoring and installing trim, sewing pillow covers, painting, etc., but it has certainly been a labor of love to see these rooms get a fresh look with only the cost of paint. I always say, “use what you have, and make it pretty, ” and I mean that. An idea combined with a little elbow grease can really give your home the cozy feel you desire. It’s not about spending money, but about the feeling you get knowing you have created a haven to rest and recharge away from the world❤️
And we all need that these days🙏🙏🙏
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks again to Marty for hosting! Next on the tour is Laura at Decor to Adore , and I know you will want to see what she has created for summer in her beautiful home☺️
Each day’s tours are linked below, so be sure to start at the beginning and visit them all because there is something for everyone and every style❤️
Monday – June 6th Lineup
A Stroll Thru Life – Our Southern Home – Grace In My Space
Hymns & Verses – Southern Hospitality – Chalking Up Success
Tuesday – June 7th Lineup
Calypso in the Country – StoneGable – 11 Magnolia Lane
White Arrows Home – RemodelaCasa – Pink Peppermint Design
Wednesday – June 8th Lineup
Designing Vibes – Cuckoo4Design – Whispering Pines Homestead
Decor to Adore – Thrifty and Chic – Clean and Scentsible
Thursday – June 9th Lineup
CitrineLiving – Southern Home and Hospitality – Worthing Court
The Stonybrook House – Southern State of Mind – This is our Bliss
Friday – June 10th Lineup
Follow The Yellow Brick Home – Country Road 407 – Quarters One
Shiplap and Shells – Simply2Moms – Pasha Is Home
All beautiful!
Author
Thank you so much Genie!!
I always say use what you have and I love what you have done in your daughter’s room. So pretty and fits your home so well. Also loving the yellow walls. Your tours never disappoint.
Author
Thank you so much Julia!!
Hi Anita, First off it was so sweet to design an entire room around a gift from your daughter. The pillows are beautiful!! Second – that wall color compliments the wood the best!! Although the gray walls were also very nice I like the gold color better bc of the way it works with the wood and all the gold pieces in the room. Now the large wall unit with the gold pops even more! Very cozy and with the white curtains also looks very fresh. Yes, you appear to have been very busy with all the rooms getting full makeovers and love them all!!! Thanks for sharing and encouraging shopping our homes rather than spend, spend, spend!
Author
Thank you so much Linda!! That’s exactly what I love about the gold – I’ve worked so hard restoring and installing that old trim into this house, and I want to see it☺️
I forgot to mention the quality of your pictures…I feel as though I’m looking at a magazine. They are just beautifully done!!
Author
Thank you so much Linda☺️ I do love the art of photography for sure and spend a lot of time styling and trying to capture what’s in my head☺️☺️
Anita,
I loved it before but I love it even more now with the new paint color!! Just beautiful and so elegant and charming!! Thanks so much for sharing!! I really enjoyed seeing how you transformed this stunning room for the Summer!!
Hugs,
Deb
Author
Thank you so much Deb!!
I love how you use family heirlooms to decorate your home. You are so lucky to have so many items that remind you of precious loved ones! Your home is full of texture and looks very inviting and cozy! Thank you for the lovely tour!
Author
Thank you so much Jayne☺️☺️
Your home is so full of history and love of years past. I always enjoy seeing every picture you share and learning where things came from. Your videos are amazing. I watch them over several times. Your newest bedroom trim is stunning and the video is full of love and inspiration. I have a beautiful collection of quilts from my mother, so I really appreciate the ones you share. Thanks so much for joining the tours again this season. Always a delight to visit your home.
Author
Thank you so much Marty, and thank you for including me on tours!! Oh you are lucky to have beautiful quilts I only have a few and this one I had never used because I was not sure how to work these colors into my decor, but a fresh coat of paint seem to be the key☺️☺️
I adore your sweet touches of summer. The seashells and bird prints are just gorgeous. So happy to be on tour with you!
Author
Thank you so much Laura☺️☺️
Beautiful! I love the family heirlooms that are all still being used with such care and pride. Both of my grandmothers were quilters and I have dozens; they are precious to me. I left them in climate-controlled storage when we moved to Europe for a few years and I am so looking forward to having them in my home again. Happy Summer, Anita!
Author
Oh Christy how wonderful!!! You are blessed to have such treasures!! Thank you so much☺️☺️☺️
Hey Anita! I love how you are restoring this house and keeping your decorating true to the Victorian style. You’ve got great attention to detail and it all works together so well! That quilt is truly an heirloom! So happy to be touring together this week. Happy Summer!
Author
Thank you so much Anne☺️☺️ We are certainly enjoying restoring everything (trim/doors/beadboard, etc.) that was saved when the old house was torn down and installing it in our house☺️ I only wish I could have seen that house before it was dismantled but putting these things back together is rewarding for sure☺️
Sweet Anita, you’ve done it again!! I think to myself that your home couldn’t get any prettier, and then you re-style for a new season, adding your special touches, differently than the one before and you always inspire me! I adore your home and “your style!” Not like anything else you see floating around the Internet, it’s so refreshing. Thank you once again for sharing Anita and welcoming us into your beautiful home!
Author
Thank you so much for those kind words Carol❤️ It means so much to me because I do try to do my own thing on a budget and hopefully inspire others to try something different❤️❤️❤️
I’m loving the pale gold. What “formula” did you take to Lowe’s?
Author
Thanks Lynn☺️☺️ I took the formula written on the top of the paint can from when I purchased it last as well as the paint chip but they didn’t want that and looked it up online instead🤔
Yes, so important to rest and recharge! Your home is so pretty with all your vintage pieces. So nice to tour with you again!
Shelley
Author
Thank you so much Shelley☺️☺️☺️
You have such a lovely home, Anita. I love how much history is here with you. The colors you use are absolutely stunning. And that heirloom quilt in the bedroom is such a beauty. So happy to be hopping with you this week.
Author
Thank you so much Kim!! Can’t wait to get over and see you too☺️☺️☺️
Love your beautiful Victorian style home Anita! It’s so full of treasures!! And sometimes a coat of paint can make all of the difference right? Happy to be on the tour with you this week.
Author
Thank you so much Kate!!
Everything is so beautiful! I always love your home tours! Your bedrooms are beautiful!
Author
Thank you so much Kristin!!
Anita, your home is magical – I’m always transported when I see your tours, it’s like being in a book or on a movie set. Your attention to color and detail throughout is incredible and I love that you decorate with pieces with meaning…and I love the bird prints, they’re beautiful in here! Happy summer!
Author
Thank you so much Tamara!! Funny enough, I’m super inspired by set design from old westerns up to mcm so that’s a huge compliment for me☺️☺️ Happy summer to you as well☺️
Your home is so colorful! The touches of summer make it feel so homey. Your daughter’s bedroom is lovely.
Author
Thank you so much Lori☺️☺️