Wish List 154 | Outdoor Rooms, Top Summer Fashion, Flowers + More

In this post: Wednesday Weekly Wish List is the place to find recommendations and ideas, personal favorites and little pleasures that will add a bit of joy to your life.⇒

Welcome to another week of the Wednesday Weekly Wishlist, a place for a little midweek inspiration! We invite you to click the links and explore what’s enchanting us right now. Enjoy!

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1. Did you know that most of us define our decorating style not only by the furniture we have or our color palette but also by what we put on the flat surfaces in our homes? Your tables, buffets, and consoles are prime decorating real estate! DECORATING YOUR BUFFET OR HUTCH, STYLING A COFFEE TABLE, and FOYER TABLE DECOR, and will give you ideas and easy-to-do designer secrets to make your flat surfaces shine!

2. AMAZON FINDS: See all the new things I’m finding on Amazon HERE.

3. FAVORITE FINDS THIS WEEK: 

UNDER $100:

• Pretty reversible summer print quilt.
• Two-tiered wooden stand.
• White home organizer with shelves.
• Portable bowl with ice to keep food cold. 
• I got this pillow, and this pillow, this one, and this one for summer. See them soon on my summer tour on June 11th.

$100 +

• This stunning raised bed garden ( I have one, and they are amazing) is on sale.
• Wooden console table with a shelf (LOVE).
• This white cement patio side table with storage.
• This attractive thin mirror fits a narrow wall space.
• This modern wingback chair with nailhead trim is on sale.

4. SUMMER SERIES: Have you discovered The Digest? It’s a new series on the blog that provides 50+ bullet-point ideas on various decorating topics. Last week’s Digest was about enjoying and commemorating Memorial Day. You might want to check out the previous weeks’ Summer Porch Ideas and the first edition: Get Your Home Summer Ready.

5. BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND MORE: This beautiful garden and its touching story are a must-see. I found this loft home in the Wonder Bread factory so intriguing. And this maximalist home in Charleston is amazing!

6. ANSWERS TO LIFE’S LITTLE QUESTIONS: Wondering the best way to clean your microwave? Go HERE. Want to know how to revitalize my hair? Go HERE. I do this about once a month and swear by it. Are you searching for the best way to make popcorn at home? Go HERE.

7. FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS: Who invented the popsicle? What is the most popular summer food?

8. SUMMER WARDROBE:

• These summery shoes are so cute!
• This wear-everywhere dress I got in persimmon.
• This feminine chambray peasant shirt.
• This summer tote comes in many colors- I just can’t pass up a great tote bag!
• Nothing looks crisper than a white boyfriend shirt that is no-iron.
• These comfortable crop jeans. I love them!

9. I took a few days off last week for some much-needed R&R—I have not taken a day off for over a decade! It was good to unplug, but I’m so happy to be back! Thanks, Ann, for your encouragement and good advice.

10. CULINARY CORNER: Easy Summer Cold Pasta Salad. This pasta salad is so versatile. Mix together cooked pasta (like spaghetti, penne, rigatoni) + chopped vegetables (like zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli) + condiment items (like artichoke hearts, olives, capers) + grated cheese (like Parmesan, mozzarella, gruyere) + toppings (like bacon, nuts, fresh herbs ). Add your favorite Italian salad dressing. Toss and serve. You can also make this a meal by adding a protein like chicken. Perfect to take on a picnic.

ANSWER TO #7: The popsicle was invented in 1905 by 11-year-old Frank Epperson. He left a glass of soda, water, and a stirring stick outside, and it froze. The most popular summer food is watermelon. Now you know!

Enjoy today! xo

1. CURRENT TOP POSTS: These Summer Decorating Ideas will uplift the living room. For summer guests, see Preparing the Guest Bedroom for Summer Visitors. And for outdoor living, enjoy these Outdoor Rooms, which shows how we update our patio each summer and take a peek at what’s coming for this year.

2. AMAZON PICKS: here are this week’s favorites from Amazon.

3. THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG I shared two renovation posts: This post about Quartz Kitchen Counters shows how to update your counters on a budget, and these Affordable Plantation Shutters for Windows and Doors can add polish to the most casual rooms (even a finished basement!)

4. CURRENT DECOR CRUSHES UNDER $50:

• This charming seasonal food art print
• This lovely berry and thread spoon rest
• This beautiful brass gold oil cruet
• This artisan handled basket tray

5. CURRENT DECOR CRUSHES UNDER $100:

• This elegant English garden pillow
• This rustic seagrass wine caddy
• This chic European brass coffee mill
• This sweet “A Day at the Beach” framed painting (sale with code – note small size)

6. CURRENT DECOR CRUSHES UNDER $200:

• This fabulous resort bamboo luggage rack (a must for the guest room!)
• This French ceramic lidded fruit storage bowl
• This Americana patchwork printed cotton table throw
• This exquisite glass flower bowl

7. For my French Country fans, you just may love this post showing how to Set a Dining Table to Reflect Your French-inspired Style.

8. FASHION PICKS:

• The most comfortable wedge heel I’ve ever owned (I bought 3 pair – 2 different colors and a 3rd that I painted silver!). 4″ high and they feel like slippers! Really.
• This delightful tiered midi dress is an update of last year’s best seller. (Comes in several colors – I love the ocean blue.)
• These super flattering fit & lift high waist flare white jeans.
• This gorgeous floral tie-front linen button-up top (perfect with the white jeans!)

9. WHAT’S INSPIRING ME AROUND THE WEB: I love the use of black in these beautiful modern natural spaces, this stunning Atlanta home exhibits the perfect mix of vintage with modern, and for those who think you can’t do anything with a tiny outdoor balcony, check out this gorgeous, yet minuscule, outdoor terrace.

10. UP NEXT: Decorating with Summer Flowers

1.) Use these tips & tricks for arranging peony flower bouquets to easily display this beautiful flower in your home. Includes how and when to cut, my favorite types of vessels, and more.

2.) AMAZON FAVORITES: here are this week’s picks!

3.) FAVORITE QUOTE: “I’m such a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Every single thing, the good and bad, all leads you to where you’re meant to be.” Found HERE.

4.) INSPIRING IDEAS: See how this couple drew on their New England roots to reinvent a 1930s Cape Cod house that already contained a lot of character, and see a collection of ideas for front porch steps that add instant curb appeal.

5.) RANDOM FAVORITES:

• a darling split-neck blue and white checked linen shirt
• this smocked organic cotton tee
• this gorgeous Threshold sheet set
• a linen-blend popover shirt in 5 amazing colors
• this cheerful set of throw pillow covers
• practical melamine dinnerware in two summer blue shades

6.) MORE INSPIRATION: see this pondside cottage in Camden, Maine that fulfills a longtime dream, and take a look at this renovated farmhouse that received a new lease on life when it was infused with beautiful Scandinavian style that freshened the interior spaces. 

7.) Do you wish you could jazz up your laundry room? (I’m raising my hand!) Here are some cute ideas for ways to add a little personality.

8.) MAKE IT EASY THIS SUMMER:

• Watermelon Mint Salad with Feta
• Citrus Banana Cream Popsicles
• Chocolate Pudding Cake
• Sparkling Orange + Thyme Spritzer
• Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

9.) If you have a garden, and even if you don’t, it’s easy to incorporate garden art into your outdoor space that reflects your own personal style. By adding a statue of St. Francis to our tiny container garden, I was able to enjoy something I love, and something that was used in my previous garden.

10.) I’m working on updating our patio for summer…it’s simple, but so far, I’m happy with my decisions. And at the end of the day, that’s the most important thing. Wishing you all a lovely week. XO