Welcome to Cloches & Lavender, today I will share how to easily add summer touches to the home. Summer is beginning and styling homes during the hot months may be a challenge. Summer is a relaxing time of year. So let’s see how to easily add summer touches to the home.
Today is also my day for the Bloggers Best Summer Home Tour. Kelly from The Tattered Pew is hosting. I have known Kelly for a bit now and enjoy her home. Especially her pew in her front entry. She styles her home pretty for every season. Thank you Kelly for hosting this event.
Thirty bloggers will be sharing their homes and outdoor spaces for summer. All the links will be at the end of my post. I encourage you to visit these ladies and see their amazing summer ideas.
If you are coming from visiting Jordan at A Blue Nest, isn’t her classic summer home tour filled with beautiful and patriotic elements?
Let Me Take A Moment To Introduce Myself
First, I want to take a moment to tell you a bit about myself because some of you are new to Cloches & Lavender. My name is Cindy and I love making our house a home. I have been living in New Jersey my entire life. My husband and I have been married for 30 years and are best friends. We have two minnie Dachshund brother and sister, Reeses and Peanut. They are our loves and keep us thoroughly entertained.
I enjoy mixing rustic and elegant pieces in our home and you will see these in how to easily add summer touches to the home. Also, I enjoy making old pieces new again that I may find thrifting and antiquing. In how to easily add summer touches to the home I will be sharing a mixture of French pieces with some rustic touches. I decorate our home with pieces I truly love. I truly have found my style over the past few years. So, I hope you enjoy seeing how to easily add summer touches to the home.
Incidentally, you may also enjoy seeing my spring home tour. In this tour I also share many crafts and DIY’s with lots of information and inspiration.
Some Things I Like To Use For Summer Touches In My Home
Summer is an easy and relaxing time of year. For the most part, I try to keep things simple and light during the summer months.
During this tour I will share how to easily add summer touches to the home. I particularly enjoy adding fresh flowers for the summer months. They are readily available and fresh flowers add so much to summer décor.
Also , I enjoy using ironstone in my home all year long. In the summer it’s particularly easy to add summer touches to the home because of their simplicity. I have a collection around our home filled with treasures.
Some of these pieces are important because they date back to the 1800’s. My father-in-law had these finds and this makes them priceless.
Meanwhile, I have pieces in my home that are special because they are gifts from my mom. Some of these pieces were given to my mom from my grandmothers. Family pieces are truly special and priceless to my husband and me.
Let’s Begin Looking At How To Easily Add Summer Touches To The Home
First, let’s begin entering our home through our kitchen. Our family and friends mainly enter our home this way. Because they are our family we have an open door policy and they always enter our home eager to be greeted by Reeses & Peanut.
First off, when entering our kitchen you see our kitchen table. For the most part, I keep the table simple adding seasonal centerpieces. Here you will see fresh Hydrangeas in an antique McCoy pitcher on a plateau mirror.
Looking At More Pieces In The Kitchen For Summer Touches In the Home
Next, across from the table is a hutch I switch for every season. This hutch is especially fun for how to easily add summer touches to home.
The Majolica dishes are incredibly important to me. Because my grandmother did buy these dishes for my mom and dad shortly after they married it makes them extremely special. After my mom passed I brought these to our home.
These dishes are from the St. Clement Majolica dessert collection and are from France.
The Majolica pitcher is a favorite I had bought on Etsy a few years ago and enjoy using it in home for spring and summer months. Also in the hutch for how to easily add summer touches to the home is some ironstone pieces.
The top shelf has a soup tureen I did buy in an Etsy shop some time ago.
Filling this soup tureen with Shakespeare sonnets dating back to 1842 and a pink French antique book adds color and family history.
Lastly, inside the hutch for summer is a collection of small ironstone pitchers with a touch of lavender. They truly add a finishing touch to the hutch.
Next to the hutch an iron gate hangs with my plate wreath. Making this wreath for spring is especially special because these saucers are from my grandmother’s tea cup collection. Incidentally, I try to use these special pieces in my décor.
As an example, of how I enjoy mixing elegant and rustic pieces in our home. Here’s elegant Italian Florentine plaques on a plastered board I made. A cow head hangs above adding a rustic touch.
Incidentally, after being in our kitchen you will see that our home is a ranch with a semi open floor plan.
Let’s Head Into The Great Room To See More Of Our Summer Home
Here, you will see why I enjoy our semi open floor plan. As you can see, the great room is a spot to enjoy seeing from the kitchen. Incidentally, you can see a bit of the ceiling in this room. Another post will be coming on this DIY. I’m beyond thrilled with how my vision for the ceiling looks and I think you will enjoy it too.
In this room decorating our bookshelf is fun for every season. Generally, I keep this simple except for the holiday seasons. As a rule, I try not to overwhelm the eye with too much clutter. For how to easily add summer touches to the home, I add ironstone pieces I have been collecting.
Here on the top shelf a wood finial sits with it’s silver leafing.
Because I enjoy adding blue in this room you may also recognize the blue vase on the bookshelf from Antique Farmhouse. Here’s the link tinted glass bud vase . Because it is a soft blue and resembles a mason jar, I had to buy it for the summer months. A bouquet of baby’s-breath and an antique pink French book is pretty and easy.
The soup tureen and sugar bowl also adds another touch of blue. By the way, both pieces I did find while thrifting.
Also adding an advertising crock is filled with my grandmother’s silver is an easy summer and elegant touches. The silver also ties in nicely with the silver leafing on the finial above.
Besides ironstone, I have an affection for crowns and when I find a piece I love, it comes home with me.
Also, more Shakespeare sonnets fill an antique tureen along with violet butter pats for a summer touch. The rose crown adds a bit of a romantic and rustic touch to this summer vignette. Incidentally, notice the smaller crown?
Adding spindles to an Ironstone pitcher is simple and adds another element of easy summer touches to the home. Besides adding another wooden element these weathered spindles remind me of houses on the beaches in southern NJ.
By the way, this Alabaster birdbath is quite a find. This is from a thrift store I visit and finding one with a bird intact is very rare. Imagine my surprise when finding such a treasure.
Keeping pieces cohesive is especially important in how to easily add summer touches to the home.
In Additional Areas In The Great Room
On the other side of our great room are favorite pieces of mine. First is the French Armoire, I did find thrifting. I will be sharing the details of this piece soon. So please sign up to follow Cloches & Lavender, so you don’t miss this makeover, it’s quite amazing inside as well.
I love our French chairs with the ruffle edge pillows these soften the wood accents on the arms and legs. We also enjoy seeing our outdoor space from this window. This window is wonderful because it lets in so much light and sunshine.
The French table is a fabulous find from Facebook Marketplace. For the most part, an urn keeps this simple for how to easily add summer touches to the home. You may be interested in seeing my post on how to recycle a broken urn it may be helpful for any resin pieces you may own.
Filling the urn with all types of antique and thrifting treasures from doorknobs, an old lock, a small cast iron urn, a small filigree crown and flower pots I made is easy for a summer home.
The Opposite Wall In The Great Room
On the opposite wall is our larger buffet.
Here is where an antique wood crate sits. It’s one of two favorite antique pieces I own. I had bought this from one of my favorite Etsy shops Edith & Evelyn. The patina on this piece is truly beautiful. For how to easily add summer touches to the home, adding Spanish moss and white roses is simple and natural.
An old chippy shutter with an Easy DIY Moss Wreath keeps the summer theme going. An extra large corbel adds a finishing touch.
Also adding more texture and interest to this area is this Florentine frame with the Boxwood wreath. An antique trunk and basket adds another element of texture.
Lastly, For My Summer Home Tour
Here’s another angle of our great room from our dining room. Again a bit of the ceiling can be seen. I really can’t wait to share this DIY. I generally refer to ceilings ass the five wall in homes.
Lastly, on how to easily add summer touches to the home, is the dining room. Here’s another example as to why I love our floor plan. These two openings with corbels is beautiful and allows us to enjoy our seasonal decorating.
Our foyer is also seen from the dining room. Even though people enter through the kitchen, I always fill the foyer with pretty touches.
As an example, is the Bombay chest. This piece did receive quite the makeover. You will not want to miss this upcycle.
To the left/right, sits one of my favorite cloches and antique books with a pheasant feather as a bookmark.
The bronze baby shoe incidentally, is mine. This is so special, because my parents had our baby shoes bronzed and gave them to us after we all got married.
I will also be sharing how we made the French Trumeau mirror so again, please sign up to follow Cloches & Lavender so you don’t miss this post. It’s amazing and has many tips.
More About The Summer Dining Room
By the way, my second favorite antique piece, is in this room. It’s also a purchase from Edith & Evelyn. Can you guess what piece? If you said the antique Jardinière, you are correct. Filling this with mason jar bottoms and fresh flowers from the Market is another example how to easily add summer touches to the home.
Incidentally, the blank chairs you see haven’t been finished for this summer tour because NJ was shut down for a longtime from the pandemic. Therefore, they will soon finally have fabric and seats. Also, the side chairs will be getting updated with new fabric too.
The corner near our foyer is a beautiful spot with a Florentine table I had bought thrifting for $18. Generally, in the marketplace they can be expensive. Adding a topiary, books and a pitcher with spindles is any easy summer touch.
On The Opposite Wall In The Dining Room For Summer
The opposite wall for summer, adding a cloche on an ornate pedestal is all it needs.
Adding my plaster ware female bust is a simple summer addition. Additionally, the floral ribbon adds a sense of romance.
Above on the mantel, sits an old deconstructed porcelain French lampshade I had bought at a small shop close to home. Because this has no lightbulb ring placing a small pineapple finial adds a grand summer look.
Next to this piece sits a Peony canvas sitting inside an old frame I found while thrifting.
Finishing this tour off is this old door with this easy wreath idea hanging with a soft ivory ribbon.
I hope you enjoyed how to easily add summer touches to the home and will sign up to follow Cloches & Lavender and my newsletter at the top of my page.
Now please stop over to see Ann Marie’s & Ann’s from Simply 2 Moms to see their beautiful summer home tour and simple summer decorating ideas. It’s so pretty and full of beauty.
I love all the ironstone!! I recently started collecting it, but my collection so far is very small haha I think I only have 2 pieces so far. But hey, we’ve gotta start somewhere! I agree with you, ironstone is a perfect element to mix in for some Summer decor!
Thanks so much for stopping by. Two pieces is how I began. Thrifting is a great way to fin ironstone. It’s getting tougher but keep hunting!
Your home is lovely! I love how you’ve styled your dining hutch for the season, it looks perfect!
Thanks so much Cassie! It’s fun to change up every season
Your home is gorgeous, Cindy! I so much enjoyed every single picture.
Thank you Paula, I love our home! So happy I feel strong enough to take great pictures!
Cindy, your home is just beautiful! I’ve followed you for a long time and always enjoyed seeing what you do. However, on this post, you’ve shared bigger shots of the rooms and they are so pretty!! Keep it up girl!
Thanks Stacey, my MS is improving so plan to see these wider and larger shots from now on. Thank you for following for so long!
Cindy – I love your ironstone collection and all your fun summer decor throughout your home!!
Thank you so much!
Love love love all your summer touches. Cindy how fun to see so much of your beautiful home and decor. Love this tour. Going to check out some of the other homes. Your pictures of your home was like looking through a magazine. Thanks for sharing so much. Just lovely. Have a great week. xoxo
Thanks so much my friend. Feeling stronger is allowing me to take better photos. Plan on seeing more of this. You have been with me and my blog for a long time!!!
I just love love love all the vintage touches for summer!
Thanks Ana I love adding vintage and thrifted pieces to our home!
CIndy, you have such an amazing collection of ironstone! I love how you combine heirloom pieces with new antiques that you find. It’s so nice to be touring with you this week.
Thank you Anne, it’s so nice touring with you too. I love mixing pieces it keeps thing fresh.
Your summer home tour is beautiful, Cindy! Summer flowers are my favorite and I really enjoyed seeing how you incorporated them throughout your home. Happy to be touring with you this week. Pinned!
What a lovely home! All of the spring touches are beautiful. I think my favorite, though, if the crock with your grandmother’s silver. So special!
Cindy, it was a treat to see more of your lovely home. I really love your urn decor idea! Have a lovely summer! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks Cecilia. It feels great to share the views of our home
Your home is beautiful!
Thank you so much!
I love all of your simple, summery touches! It looks so beautiful in your home!
Just beautiful…..I didn’t know what to look at first! I need to go back and enjoy each photo again.
Enjoyed seeing your home Cindy. I love the way you style your pretty treasures. I can’t imagine having some things from the 1800’s. That’s fabulous. Happy Summer!
I feel very lucky to have them and cherish the sonnets.
You’ve styled your home for summer so beautifully Cindy. I’m loving all your wonderful collections, especially your Ironstone. Happy Summer my friend.
Thank you Kim!
You have such a charming home, Cindy and it looks beautiful dressed in its summer best. Those dishes from France are my favorites…along with your fabulous floors!! Happy Summer!
Those dishes are so important to me. Love our hardwood floors. Now everyone understands why I have so much painted furniture
Cindy your tour was just beautiful! I love how you decorate with so many family treasures. Meaningful décor is always better in my opinion. You have a gift for decorating and thank you for sharing it with us! Pinned!
Thanks you Kelly for hosting and having me. I love to decorate our home.
Your summer decor is lovely, Cindy. I love how you have added French touches to your home without making it cluttered. Very well done! Fun to be hopping with you!
I love your pretty home, especially your vintage collections. How special to have so many family pieces!
I have a similar Majolica pitcher than was my great Grandmother’s and it’s precious to me!
How pretty Cindy! I love all your vintage finds and the organic elements you use to decorate for summer. It’s gorgeous! xo
Cindy I love touring your home. Your home is beautifully decorated. Absolutely love your home!
Thank you so much Terrie!
Your home looks so pretty. I especially love the dessert plates in your hutch. Thanks for sharing your pretty home! So nice to tour with you this week!
Thank you so much Kim ! Great to tour with you too
Fabulous!
Thank you
Cindy,
Oh my gosh, you have so many amazing vintage pieces! Your fresh flowers were just stunning. So fun doing these tours together.
Thank you so much! Great to tour with you too!
You have such a beautiful home! I love how you incorporate antique pieces as well as thrifted pieces throughout.
Thanks Michelle, I love mixing them together
This is a gorgeous home tour, Cindy! I love all of your summer touches! Thanks for the tour!
Thank you Jayne for taking it with me!
Wow, Cindy! I had no idea you had such a wonderful collection of vintage items.I can imagine you cherish those special pieces, especially the ones dating back to the 1800s! Your home looks so elegant and welcoming for summer. I enjoyed seeing all of the details.
Thanks so much Crissy. I cherish every piece
Your home looks beautiful, Cindy. Thanks for the summer tour. xo Laura
Cindy, your home is very beautiful. I have pinned some of your photos for inspiration for a project I’m working on. Thank you for sharing.
Carol you made my day! Thank you!
Pretty home tour Cindy!! Happy Summer!!
Thanks so much! Great touring with you
Your beautiful summer home touches look so good
Thank you so much!
What a pretty home tour! I just love the relaxed, airy feeling of summer decorating!!
The feel of summer! The best! All your vintage items are just lovely! Such an airy and inviting home!
Aww thanks so much!! Msde ne happy
Cindy, your home is absolutely gorgeous! What a treat it was to visit! Every picture is beautiful. Thank you for sharing!
Your home is gorgeous Cindy! I love all the details – like that little Florentine table in your foyer! You have it all put together so beautifully! Pinned!
This is all just beautiful! I love all of your vintage finds!
What an incredible tour! You have a lovely home and so many interesting things to look at displayed so beautifully. I love how you use books in your decor and your dish collection is the stuff of dreams. xo
The tureens filled with books are so sweet. The big urn filled with odds and ends is so charming too. Thanks for sharing your home tour!
You have a beautiful home! I enjoyed all your special touches!
So many beautiful things to love! Beautiful home!❤️
Wow, such a fabulous summer tour with so much attention to detail! I am loving all the treasures you have tucked here and there and seeing more of your open and airy home. The treasures in the urn is definitely something that would fit right at home in mine house. I often fill old urns and pots with door knobs, small chippy salvage and other found objects.
I would love that view out onto the deck, it’s fabulous! With the exception our our kitchen our house is dark for a large part of the day as it faces a forest. I
I hope you enjoy the beautiful view with your deck flowers, and relaxing summer days ahead!
I really like how you mix rustic with refine
I like the family stories you tell
The soup tureen w sonnets is unusual mixture but super cool. I’m copying that look