This week, I've joined more than 20 bloggers on the Welcome Home Summer Tour With Balsam Hill to share a little taste of summer decor in our homes.
I was going to show you my whole living room, but I took 14,000 photos for this project.
So I think I'll have to break it down into two posts or else your eyes will glaze over.
And no one wants glazed-over eyes behind those pretty little sunglasses.
Before I begin, I want to tell you that Balsam Hill sponsored this summer soiree (believe me, I had to Google how to spell that), and I was ecstatic when they sent me an item from their summer line to use in this post.
So, in short, this is considered a sponsored post, but all opinions are 100% my own. You can read my full disclosure policy if you have any questions.
So onto the par-tay!
I don't normally decorate a whole lot inside my house for summer, other than the good old red, white, and blue that I put out for the 4th of July. I wasn't quite ready to hoist myself up into the crawl space to get out my flags, so I decided to go with a "loosey goosey vintage eclectic summer sports" theme for my living room this year.
Since red is the main color, in a few weeks I'll just add some flags and such and I'll be set for the Fourth. I was thinking ahead, people.
You'll notice my dear deer friend from Christmas has not changed one bit.
It may have something to do with him being hung over the stairway to the basement and hard to get to, so it's a little difficult to dress him up like a Barbie doll decorate him very often. I thought the "hunter" look sort of worked with the thermoses and coasters though.
Speaking of coasters, I have a tutorial for making these Arrow Wood Slice Coasters. SUPER easy to make and no wood-burning tools needed.
And the thermoses are from my ever-growing vintage thermos collection. Or addiction. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two.
The Coke? It was red.
Not that I don't love my Coke, because that particular addiction isn't going anywhere, but I just wanted something else red in the photo and Red Bull didn't fit the bill.
Check out my awesome Wine Barrel Cheese Tray from Balsam Hill. This thing is HUGE!
It's an actual top to a wine barrel, so it should have come as no surprise to me that it was this size, but I was honestly amazed when I pulled this out of the shipping box. It is very impressive.
It has iron handles on it and the top is treated with butcher's block oil and beeswax. Although it's made to be a cheese tray (get it . . . wine and cheese), I thought it would be cute as a summer serving tray.
Or a place to park my truck.
When you have a truckload of shuttlecocks, you have to park them somewhere.
The badminton rackets and my Pleasure Chest are set to the right to complete the summer sports theme.
I'm really getting my money's worth out of that Pleasure Chest. It was on the front porch for my holiday porch a few months ago and last summer for my summer porch.
I was hoping to have my peonies in the photos, but they started to get all droopy and wimpy looking before I could get these photos shot. But since hydrangeas are my second most favorite flower in the whole wide world, I decided to go with them.
Shhh, they're store bought ((gasp)). Mine won't be blooming until later this summer, so I resorted to buying these at Kroger's.
Besides, there's just something about hydrangeas in a mason jar that shout summer to me!
UPDATED: The 2nd part of the summer home tour is up now - Sailing Away Into Summer.
OK, enough about me, go on and visit the other homes in the tour. Today's other home tours are:
Setting For Four
House Of Hawthornes (hey, that's me, you're already here)
Girl In The Garage
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Monday
From My Front Porch To Yours
White Lace Cottage
Tuesday
What Meegan Makes
Sondra Lyn At Home
Confessions Of A Serial Do-It-Yourselfer
Restoration Redoux
Thursday
Our Southern Home
Fresh Idea Studio
Sweet Pea
Friday
Serendipity Refined
Knick Of Time
Julie {Lilacs & Longhorns}
I love, love, love how you styled your cheese tray! There is just something about red!! I also got the cheese tray and I also couldn't believe how big it is when I first unpacked it! It is seriously ginormous, but I think that's what I love about it -- such a great piece for serving food or styling vignettes. Anyway-- you did an amazing job -- it makes me want to re-style mine and add some pops of red -- and drink a Coke! lol
Sondra @ Sondra Lyn at Home
How did I miss that awesome cheese tray from Balsam Hill?! Excellent job with your summer vignette! Love the red, and gotta get me some of those badminton thingys!!
Heather @ new house new home
I always love your vignettes!
Meegan
Pam, I love your vintage taste and style. It is always fun to see what you put together. The vintage wine barrel lid is just right right touch.
I love your humor and bright side of life.
Have a great day!!
Musings from Kim K.
Ok. You've inspired me to tuck away my spring vignettes. Time to pull out the summer treasures. Thanks for the fabulous tour and witty commentary. PS. I showed Chris your wood coasters last week. They are definitely a project on my to-do list for the A-frame.
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
I just love how this looks, Pam! The pieces you brought together are wonderful! I love your new tray...and I need to get some badminton shuttlecocks!
Tammy
Love it all!!!
Joanne Noragon
Pam, it's all charming as usual. I forget all these things from my childhood, and then I come here.
laura@top this top that
pam, your summer styling is perfect. love love love that cheese tray. I am on the hunt for a wine barrel or will have to buy one. off to see your coaster tutorial. everything looks great!
Kris@Junkchiccottage
Pretty and Fun Pam. Love this vignette.
Kris
Mary
I absolutely love your deer with the cap and camera. It makes me smile!
Erica
I can't wait to check out this tour! I always decorate the outside for the Summer but like you, generally stick to the 4th of July decorations for the inside. Hopefully I'll get some inspiration!
Erica
Pamela-FromMyFrontPorchToYours
Love everything Pam! Totally love your deer friend.
Robin
I absolutely love your summer welcome! The pops of red are so happy and the wine and cheese tray is one of my favorite things from Balsam Hill...it's so completely unique...and you styled it so well! I'm inspired to pull out something quite vintage and have some fun! ox
kirby carespodi
Everything looks great, but it was a little difficult to get past the "parking the shuttlecocks" line. So many comebacks to that, which I will spare you.
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces
Love that collection of thermoses and that cheese tray...so rustic and fun!