Flip, flop. Flip, flop. Flip, flop.
Don’t you love it when a word so perfectly describes the sound it makes?
And nothing says summer quite like the sound of flip flops.
In fact, I was tempted to just scatter flip flops all around my house and say, “There. Consider my summer decorating DONE!”
But then, well, I figured that since the lovely Gina from Shabby Creek Cottage invited me to be part of her Summer Home Tours I should probably show you just a tad more than that.
But, don’t believe for a second that I’m not wearing flip-flops while you’re reading this!
In fact, why don’t you go put on yours and we can just flip-flop our way through this tour together! If you’re just coming over from Nesting Place I want to welcome you to At the Picket Fence and to my home here in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon.
Come on in!
And see…flip flops! 😉
When it comes to summer decorating I like to take a ‘Beach Boys’ approach.
Stay with me here…you see, decorating for Fall and the Holiday season seems to be so much more obvious and attention grabbing. Those seasons are all like, “Look at me! Look at me!”
But summer, well, summer is cool, relaxed and nonchalant.
It’s less ‘Joy to the World’ and more ‘Good Vibrations’.
And when it comes to adding touches of summer around my home, I keep it simple and subtle.
Because frankly, once you start getting some sunshine in Oregon the last thing you want to do is spend a lot of time worrying about home decor.
I want to be outside soaking up those glorious rays of Vitamin D people!
So, I go for soft touches here and there. Like fresh flowers on the mantel next to this beautiful painting done by my incredibly talented father-in-law. This one is called ‘Here Comes the Sun‘ and I think it fits perfectly in here. You can find more of his amazing pieces on his website.
Summer in the dining room doesn’t involve elaborate tablescapes.
A simple tray filled with fresh flowers and candles makes for an easy centerpiece with plate, forks and napkins all ready for casual entertaining.
We keep things laid back even in this more formal space. Gotta make sure the flip-flops fit in here too, right?
My roses are in full bloom and I love being able to get fresh flowers right outside my door.
Even the laundry room gets a little bit of summer-fi-cation.
The breakfast nook is flooded with light this time of the year and every morning you will find me sitting here starting the day with a cup (or 2 or 3!) of coffee.
And the sideboard is all ready for friends to pop over at a moments’ notice.
How is it possible that something as simple as bottles of Pellegrino can look just so pretty lined up on a tray?
I used to be filled with a sense of dread when it came to switching out my mantel decor to welcome a new season. I would scour Pinterest and stress out over the fact that my family room mantel is dark wood instead of white. In fact, do you know that if you do a search for ‘Summer Mantel’ you will not see one single dark wood fireplace? Not-a one folks!
But, then I just channeled my inner Elsa and ‘Let it Go’! (Anyone else out there sing that song in their loudest Operatic voice just to annoy there kids? Yeah…me neither)
I remembered that what I really love and what really reflects my style are simple, natural touches. Like ferns in urns.
And frankly, that’s really fun to say. Ferns in urns.
With 2 skylights above, my kitchen stays fairly bright even on the cloudiest of Oregon days. But, in the summer…oh in the summer it is the absolute best!
The older I’ve gotten the more I’ve realized that there is less I really want. Does that make sense?
I want less filler, less stuff. It doesn’t mean that I don’t still enjoy the process of turning my house into a home.
It just means that I’m more selective about what I bring into it.
And this approach takes all of the guess work out of decorating for me.
Because summer decorating can be as simple as a little silver bucket filled with lavender.
Or a sailboat tucked into the corner of a room.
Or seashells filling bowls on tables.
It can just be flowers that you can’t help but bury your face into every time you walk by them.
Or your grandmother’s vintage cocktail napkins ready and waiting to be used by guests…who aren’t really guests…because everyone is family once they walk through our door.
And I wish you could walk through my door this summer.
I wish my flip-flop wearing feet could greet your flip-flop wearing feet. I wish I could put a nice cold bottle of Pelegrino in your hand…or maybe a Corona with lime.
I wouldn’t point out all of my summer decorations and you wouldn’t really even notice them.
Because, we would head straight out the back door and onto the deck. Where we would watch the kiddos jumping on the trampoline and running through the sprinklers. We would eat the best grilled chicken you’ve ever had after my husband smoked it on the Traeger for a few hours and you would have brought some kind of amazing dessert for us to enjoy. You know you would!
We would laugh and talk and laugh and talk and laugh some more until the sun went down and we had to light the candles in the lanterns and pull on sweaters as the temperature dropped.
And after it was all said and done, you would leave my home knowing what I think summer is really all about.
Family
Friends
Food
Fun
Who could ask for more?
Now, how about you take your flip-flop wearing feet right on over to visit my friend KariAnne at Thistlewood Farms, I know she wears ’em too!
And here is the full list of all of the incredible homes you can visit each day on this Summer Tour!
Monday, June 2nd
The Shabby Creek Cottage
The Nester
At The Picket Fence (Vanessa)
Thistlewood Farms
The Inspired Room
Tuesday, June 3rd
The Handmade Home
My Fabuless Life
Finding Home
In My Own Style
The Hunted Interior
Wednesday, June 4th
Inspired By Charm
Jennifer Rizzo
Madigan Made
Makely School for Girls
Funky Junk Interiors
Thursday, June 5th
Jones Design Company
Beneath My Heart
The Pennington Point
White Buffalo Styling Co.
Southern Hospitality
Friday, June 6th
At the Picket Fence (Heather)
Desert Domicile
Tatertots & Jello
Home Stories A to Z
Live Laugh Rowe
Thanks for meeting me here today At the Picket Fence,
Your home looks beautiful and perfect for Summer, Vanessa! I hear ya on the flip flops ~ they are my footwear of choice once the warmer weather hits, too. Love your sideboard. I have got to find some plates to decorate around the mirror in our dining area. Your fireplace mantels look so pretty. I especially love the ferns in urns.
Vanessa, you have a beautiful and bright home! I love the sunny color on your walls- may I ask what color you have on your entry, dining and sitting room?
It is all beautiful, Vanessa and I love my flip flops!
Beautiful and I love your flip-flop summer-fied style 🙂
Debbie
Your home is beautiful and I love the summer touches! And flip flops! Thanks so much for sharing, I am leaving inspired. 🙂
Sigh… your home is stunning! Your sense of style is amazing, love it all! I too am becoming less interested in “stuff”. I’m happier with fewer pieces and less clutter.
Your home is an inspiration (as are you!)
xox
Vanessa, your home is just beautiful and I love that photo of you in your light-filled kitchen! I’m a flip flop kind of girl, too. Thanks for the tour and you’ve inspired me to put some ferns in urns just so I can say it multiple times! 🙂
Gorgeous, just like you, Vanessa! Loving all the simple summer touches!
xo Heidi
Absolutely gorgeous!! So light and airy and cool. It makes me want to run home and dedcorate in white and green with pops of color from beautiful flowers. (Yes, basically, copy you!)
enjoying the tours this morning – you home is looking lovely as always
You have such a beautiful home. Thanks for sharing. And LOVE those flip flops! 🙂
Vanessa…you are inspiring me to go to my “storage room” and start taking out the summer things!….Love your home and al of the great summer touches and details….cannot imagine how beautiful your area in the Williamette Valley is….Oregon is on our “list” to explore!
Beautiful home with pretty amazing people within! Thank you for the tour!
We are so fortunate to live in the NW, but now that we’ve spilled the beans everyone is going to know the awesomeness of it hahah! 🙂 Your home is lovely, warm and welcoming in all seasons, but I love the subtle summer touches and the pretty greenery too, it makes it all feel fresh and alive! Thanks for the tour! I love being a part of it, too! xo
You are right!! Summer is all about Family and Fun!!
I have so many flip flops some regular some fancy but
I wear them all. Thank You You and your Home are Beautiful
Lisa.
Beautiful home tour, Vanessa! It is exactly what you said, relaxed and it just glows of summer!
I love, love, love your home and you look absolutely fabulous. I love seeing you have wood cabinets in the kitchen too.
Oh, Vanessa! SO good to catch up with you. I love your easy summer style. I am all about flip flops and sea shells and fresh picked flowers…
Wishing I could come out and share a cup or three of coffee with you in your breakfast nook. I know the conversation would be extra sweet.
xo
lynn
Wowwww!! Your home is very nice and clean. I really love it!
In a word… stunning! Sunlight comes to mind and is the one thing that personally gives me the most energy. Your home has that and more!
Awww thanks so much sweet friend!! So appreciate you stopping by and only wish you were coming by to visit in person. Maybe someday! 🙂
Oh… breathtaking Vanessa. Me and my flip flops will be right over in 2 shakes.
Hugs, Gee
Thank you so much Gee! And come on over! 🙂
Happy Flip-Flop days girl! Enjoy those fabulous, flower filled rooms and our short lived sunny season :))) Happy Summer!!
You home is so lovely! Wish you lived closer so I could drop in sometime!
Love your home tour, it is just gorgeous!! Every detail is just beautiful, love the picture from your FIL, stunning!!! I see you picked the lemon pic 🙂
XO
Kristin
Beautiful!
Blessings,
Cindy
Oh Vanessa what a great post and such a beautiful welcoming house:-) Love your beautiful dark woods too so much. So gorgeous!
Your roses are beautiful and I love the light colors in your home. Perfect for summer!
Your home is beautiful! I really enjoyed this tour!
I stopped by earlier and just now realized my comment didn’t go thru!:( Love your beautiful home Vanessa. The love you have for your family and home shine right thru the pics!
Everything is so gorgeous! I adore the beautiful outside of your home too
I need to know the yellow paint u used love the crispness and light in it! Your home is beautiful!
Your home looks wonderful, fresh, inviting and I love the simple summer décor. Loved the tour, thank you for sharing it with us. I am wondering what kind of plant on either side of your front door is, is it boxwood?
Look forward to the next post/tour.
Vanessa! How fun to get to know you like this. I am gonna HAVE to come sit in some of those comfy chairs and drink Pellegrino and talk all night like teenagers. Love it all! Just beautiful. Lisa~
It was a pleasure meeting you at SNAP Vanessa. Your home is beautiful and I love your carefree attitude. You will find me in flip flops all summer long as well 🙂 As I’ve gotten older I’m trying to take a less is more approach as well. Have a great summer!
Your home is gorgeous and your tour was fabulous! I really felt I was there with you on your deck with a Corona laughing and talking and laughing some more. I even got real comfy and put my flip flopped feet up!
So pretty! And yes I totally understand the “wanting less” thing! Life to the full! Melissa
Your gorgeous Summer home is calling to me, sweet friend … thanks for inviting me over! It’s gorgeous, as are you! I’ve loved watching how your taste has evolved … love the less is more … and, the fabulous soft pops of seasonal color! I envy your enjoying your home, as mine is in a state of one.big.mess right now! Ugh … “let it goooooo, let it goooooooo!” LOL xoxo
Your house is so bright and airy! I definitely get that summer vibe 😉
Such a lovely home! I put on my flip-flops just for the tour too {giggle}. Girl, I took a sigh of relief to see your dark cabinets too. We’ve talked about painting ours, but boy does that make me nervous. I felt right at home in your space — and I’ve all over wearing my flip flops 99% of the time during the warm weather. HUGS!
Your home is lovely – and so perfectly clean! Mine usually has piles of clothes in corners & shoes everywhere. Love the old dresser & the small anchor hooks look beautiful as well.
Hi! I could have sworn I have actually seen this site prior to but after searching with a few of the write-ups I recognized it’s new to me.
Regardless, I’m definitedly delighted I located it and I’ll bee bookmarking it and will bee back
often!
I love your blog!!!! found it while reading about the house tour at Thistlewood Farms and I am now a follower. Would you be able to share with me the yellow paint color in your dining room? I am sitting here in my family room with painted squares of yellow all over the walls–we want to paint it yellow but just can’t find the right one. it’s so frustrating –and time consuming. There are too many choices! The yellow in the photos of your home looks beautiful. Thank you!!
Beautiful home tour, Nice interior designing and interior furnishing!
Vanessa, you have a beautiful home! Thanks for giving us the “inside-access” with this tour!
Your house is beautiful!! I love the sideboard. Did you paint it or was it already that color? What is the name of the color?
Oh i love it. all of it. But “ferns in urns” is now going to be stuck in my head LOL. Your home is gorgeous 🙂