Good morning! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend filled with fun in the sun like I did! I always love Memorial Day weekend, it really truly is the kick off to the summer months. BBQ, good company and a little bit of vitamin D is a great combination to get you in the mood for warm weather. I had an amazing weekend filled with just that! Here's a random assortment of inspiring interiors I wanted to share with ya today;

via Decorpad

via 7th House on the Left

via Betsy Burnham

via Nursery Notations

via Bright Bold & Beautiful

via Little Green Notebook

via Dayka Robinson

via Style at Home

via Decorpad

via Design Sponge

Have a wonderful week!

Coastal Living's 99 Days of Summer

There is no denying two things in my life. . . 1) Every time the latest issue of Coastal Living magazine arrives in the mail, you'd think it was Christmas morning for me. I honestly get THAT EXCITED. It's my favorite magazine in a world where glossy publications almost don't exist any more, so needless to say I'm always ecstatic when it arrives. . . 2) I LOVE SUMMER. There is no denying my passion for the hottest season of the year and all the fun and exciting things that go along with it.

Imagine my enthrallment when I flipped through the pages of the May issue of Coastal Living and saw their article titled "99 Days of Summer" which is a compilation of 99 inspiring, 'summery' things to do between Memorial Day and Labor Day. It's one seriously fun list. I thought I would recap a few of my favorites for ya'll!

Day 5 - Honor National go Barefoot Day on June 1st and treat yourself to a pampering pedicure. Or head out for a long walk on the sand - it's nature's foot massage!

via here

Day 14 - Stage a backyard family production.

via Pottery Barn

Day 16 - Get a cool new cover-up.

via here

Day 23 - Don't let skyrocketing gas prices bring you down; kick up your kickstand in beach cruiser bliss. Take a spin on your bike and enjoy the exercise and fresh air!

via here

Day 42 - Whip up an easy smoked salmon dip: Combine 8 ounces low-fat cream cheese, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons capers, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill, and 4 ounces chopped or crumbled smoked salmon.

via Martha Stewart

Day 44 - Get yourself some coastal bling. What better beachy bauble than a necklace or bracelet made from sea glass?

via here

Day 46 - Refresh any tired piece of furniture with a new coat of paint.

via here

Day 49 - Jazz up your ice tea with lemonade frozen into ice cubes.

Day 53 - Use gingham to trim pillows or tie back curtains, or even pull back your hair with gingham ribbon. it's hip again! 

Day 54 - Punch up your home's palette with something tagnerine, Pantone's 2012 color of the year. 

via here

Day 56 - Make beachy place cards. Use permanent markers in summery hues to write guests' names on smooth beach rocks, clam shells, or small pieces of driftwood.

Day 59 - Eat at the closest food truck to you.

Day 64 - Add instant beach house charm to any room with the right wallpaper.

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

Day 65 - Soften up a bench or hammock with an easy homemade pillow. Sewing a pair of napkins together is any easy way to create an instant pillow cover!

Day 67 - Line the path to your house with pinwheels, or plant them in window boxes.

via Flickr

Day 68 - Make a cook quickie cocktail with champagne. Pour 3 ounces champagne and 3 ounces lemonade in a tall glass. Top with 1/4 ounce Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur. 

Day 73 - Browse your local bookstore for an inexpensive, beach coffee table book.

via Lonny

Day 79 - Add a simple, easy coastal touch to a room by filling a glass lamp or glass vase with shells or driftwood.

via here

Day 80 - Grab a list of open houses in your area and take a tour.

Day 89 - Dine outside. (Something I do ALL the time in the Spring and Summer months!)

via here

So what do you think, will you try out some of these fun tips this summer? I sure will! To see the entire list of 99 Days of Summer, go here.

Painted Signs

I've been on a crafty kick lately and have been making all sorts of goodies for my house! My latest obsession is painting signs using reclaimed wood. The first one I painted is made out of a discarded picket my husband and I picked up on a walk near the beach while we were on our honeymoon. I brought it home with the intentions of painting something on it. Six months later I finally got around to it. . . I painted "Santa Cruz" on the old, white washed fence picket to commemorate our wedding and honeymoon destination and hung it in our bathroom. I love the way it turned out!

 Beachy + rustic = perfection!

Next up, I made several signs for the backyard. We planted a vegetable garden this year (which is growing like crazy!) I used a couple old  pickets we had leftover from when we replaced our fence a while back to create several signs for our garden. Take a peak; 

There are a million different ways to create these types of DIY painted signs, but I used this technique in particular (which I saw on Pinterest) and was very happy with the results! 

 

What has Pinterest inspired you to do lately?! 

House Envy: Lakeside Bungalow

This stunning lake side home in Toronto was featured in House & Home magazine this month and really captured my attention! Home owner and realtor Emily Norris maximized the views and cut costs while remodeling this bungalow for herself and three young children, but didn't sacrifice on style. The result is a cheerful and bright beachy home with touches of luxury and sophistication. The house was designed to take advantage of the gorgeous lake views and to bring elements of the outdoors in. I am literally obsessed with this kitchen (especially that gorgeous island!) and the folding doors that open up to the outside patio. This is a home I can totally see myself living in!

If you would like to get a better feel for how the house is laid out, or to hear all about the details that went into the design process, you can view a video tour here!

Featured Designer: Mona Ross Berman

It's been a while since I've posted about an interior designer whose portfolio catches my eye and intrigues me. (Maybe after blogging for 3 consecutive years you start to run out of  favorite designers!) Anyhow, Mona Ross Berman is a Philadelphia designer who was named one of the top ten designers to watch for in 2012 by Trad Home Magazine this month. Her interiors feature fresh ideas, bold patterns and colors while being sophisticated as well as stylish. Take a peak at a few of my favorites;

Good stuff, right?! To see more of Mona Ross Berman's portfolio or to read more about this talented designer, visit her website here.