Friday, May 14, 2010

SUMMER DECOR...2010

I think those of you that visit me often, here at Gatherings, know that I love to have a decorating project! And, I love seasonal decorating in my home. So, since it is summer here in South Alabama (92 this week), I have been busy putting out the summer decor.

OK, we'll start with the mantle. I've done it a little different this year. I got these 3 new shell pics that have such wonderful colors in them!


I've used all my blue and aqua books as lifts and fillers....and they are all on the sea or Hawaii or something related. My sea birds are balanced on either end of the mantle. NOTE: Things are not about to topple off as it looks like in the pics, I was about to topple over as I tried to get just the perfect angle so as to show you the tiniest details. Anyway...I covered the mantle first with a fishing net, and added a few sea stars to it.



Moving over to the table by the library, I fixed this display. My sweetest DIL gave me this great aqua bowl for my birthday last year. Isn't it unusual? Well, I thought it looked just perfect full of coarse sand, and some beautiful shells.


Add 3 sea life sculptures, and a pic of 2 of the cutest girls to hit the shores of Maui this year.



Next comes the buffet next to the dining table. Here are some fun new things!


Have you seen these resin sand castles? We found these on Maui and I just couldn't leave it there! There were all sizes, but, this was the only size I thought I could add to the stash I was already hauling back to AL! It has a votive candle cup inside...


...and doesn't it look fun when it's lit? One of my favorites!


And, these were a serendipitous find. I ran into Big Lots to pick up something, and there on the end of the aisle were these beautiful candle holders. They are mother of pearl, and are very well made. Selling for $45.00'elsewhere'...I got them for $7.20 each!!! All I need to do is add a votive cup and candle.


A few more close ups of the summery, beachy, warm weather, fun colors of the season!


“Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.”

“My life is like a stroll on the beach...as near to the edge as I can go.”
-------Thoreau

“Why do we love the sea? It is because it has some potent power to make us think things we like to think."-----Robert Henri

"If I can't be at the beach, at least my house can look like I am."---Tonja Owens

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AND...I decided that the new vase in the kitchen needed a little more color, so I added a few poppies.

7 comments:

Melissa said...

Love it! You are so creative! I can do the big stuff, but all these accessories, little finishing touches, etc., I'm not so good at! That's what "makes" the decor, I think, so I always have to get help from Tracy's aunt!

Jill said...

Love it all! Fabulous! I used to decorate for all the seasons / change of seasons but have had to put that on the back burner this year. I did pop out a few shells and summery flowers. But the only thing on my mantle is a box if dominos. My 4th child "not me" must have stashed it there...haha.

Jean said...

Tonja!!!! Everything in this post and the previous one is just so beautiful! You are truly an artist. My daughter Lisa is a lot like you, but she didn't get it from me. She inherited it from Dick's mother who was an amazingly creative artist.

Allison said...

Love it all! My house is available if you ever run out of decorating spaces at your house!

RachelD said...

How YOU this, how evocative of your travels and your colors and your eye for wonderful details.

Of course, the stack of books caught my eye immediately---I have them stacked up like furniture all over the house.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Tonja, it is absolutely perfect.
I love it! You are really good at setting up displays.

Southern Lady said...

Oh, how pretty, Tonja! Your mantel is my favorite ... I love how the aquas and greens complement the stone fireplace, and the fact that a lot of the things you used to decorate with are keepsakes from your trip to Hawaii, or have special meaning to you makes it even better.

I love the little sand castle, too ... and the sea horse vase and the fishing net and star fish ... well, I just love all of it! You did a beautiful job of coordinating everything.