Summer Cottage Dining Room Decor | Tour 2023

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Welcome! Today I'm joining the Summer Home Tours  hosted by Marty from A Stroll Thru Life where over 30 bloggers get together to share seasonal decor of their homes!  If you are stopping by on the blog tour hop from Worthing Court welcome! Isn't Suzy's home beautiful and full of inspiration?

Happy almost-summer! All of May and this part of June has been super weird for us, not too much of a summery feeling, but I sure am looking forward to those hot July months and excited to share my summer dining room tour with you! The past year or so I've been slowly transitioning my dining room (without any real intention) to a place to house all my vintage and antique stoneware and ironstone. I grabbed this hutch below from a thrift store and immediately started filling it! It's finally time to share my dining space with you full of all my antique/vintage finds!

Getting that cottage dining room feel is all about adding things that you love! For me, it's clearly the stoneware along with other random goodies like my vintage baskets, creamers, frames, and wood cooking utensils. To keep my collection from looking too busy, although it may be borderline already!...I keep the colors pretty simple with the creams, whites and wood tones. 

For my summer centerpiece, I placed a large stoneware crock I received for Mother's Day right in the center and then built around it using other small stoneware pieces. I corralled them all in this oversized tray. Also, I love candlelight at dinner time, so I keeping candles on the table is a must!

Candelsticks: link       Battery Candles: link

To add more color and texture, I threw some greens in the crocks. I love to decorate with dried greens, but now with two cats it's better off to use the faux variety. I found these greens at Hobby Lobby along with the myrtle tree in the back. 

Adding that cottage charm includes layers! As you can see, I layer everything in my house. It keeps it comfy and cozy even during the summer months. I have tried to take away layers for summer, but it just doesn't feel right in my home. So I keep them! I made these pillow cases for the heads of the table to represent a little English cottage flair.  I have a video hack on how I made each of them in 5 minutes here.

This hutch in the corner is another place to house some fave finds. The crock on top is another gift from my husband for my birthday. It's safe to say that he gets me! There are every day dishes in here along with some vintage butter pats, and vases from  my collection with Antique Farmhouse. 

A new thing I started collecting...and have recently stopped unless I find an amazing deal...are the vintage butter pats. They are the perfect little things to be on the hunt for and collect since they don't take up a ton of space! They do get pricey though. I try to keep each pat I buy under $4. I've seen some go for over $20 for those little things. Crazy! But I do love their sweet little addition to my shelves. I have some in here and on my buffet hutch. 

And now for the rest of my stoneware. They truly serve no purpose most times, just as a collection. Most of these pieces are from my contact in England, the others are from local shops and Instagram stores. (I have a list of my fave places in this post) These too are fun to collect, but get pricey! I'm at a point that I'm happy with what I have...mainly because I don't have much more places to put them :) And I should probably save some money on more useful things, ha!  

vintage inspired framed artwork: link    apothecary drawers (tutorial here)

Adding into the collection are pieces of "vintage" artwork. These pieces can be found throughout my house and are the perfect addition to vignettes and shelves. They come in a few different sizes, I chose the smaller ones for these shelves. These apothecary cabinets behind the artwork are a project I did a few years back. They don't hold anything...they are just fun to look at :)

vintage inspired framed artwork: link

Other things I use to break up the collection are wooden utensils, terra cotta pots, plates (also a birthday present), books, vintage frames, candles and a clock face even! 

The older I have gotten, and the more I have lived in my house, the more I realize it's all about surrounding yourself with the people and the things you love. My style has slowly changed over the years replacing new items with used finds. Believe it or not, the only pieces of furniture in here that are new are the white chairs. Everything else is secondhand to me. I feel like besides the story I'll give it, it already brings a story into the home. I wish I had a 300 year old home somewhere, but I don't! It's almost brand new, so this is the way I give it some charm :) 

Shop this post and similar looks:

I have lots going on, check out my social media for every day life, more inspiration, and behind the scenes here at Thrifty and Chic!

  

I hope you enjoy the tour, and I know you'll find more inspiration at Lori's house at The Stoneybrook House! You can find the full list of tours going on this week below! 

Monday June 5th

A Stroll Thru Life - Simply2Moms - Our Southern Home - The Tattered Pew - Whispering Pines Homestead

Tuesday June 6th

Eleanor Rose Home - The House of Silverado - Calypso In The Country - StoneGable - My Wee Abode - Southern Home and Hospitality

Wednesday June 7th

Worthing Court - Thrifty and Chic - The Stonybrook House - Decor To Adore - Chalking Up Success - She Gave It A Go

Thursday June 8th

Shiplap and Shells - Pasha is Home - DIY Beautify - CitrineLiving - Thistle Key Lane - Country Road 407

Friday June 9th

White Arrows Home - It All Started With Paint - Southern Crush at Home - Amy Sadler Designs

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

DIY Round Wood Wreath With Mason Jar Holder

Spring is here and summer is just around the corner! I feel like spring is a great time to get out of the rut and start doing things. There's something about the promise of warmer weather that motivates me.  I decided to welcome spring into my home with this easy DIY wood spring wreath. Is it technically a wreath if there's no center? I'm going to call it one because it's round, it has greenery, and it hangs! So, why not :)

Here's the super easy tutorial on how to make this wooden spring wreath:

Supplies:

DecoArt AmericanaDecor Metallics in Obsidian and Pearl

Round wood form (I got mine from Hobby Lobby)

Welcome sign (from Hobby Lobby)

Hot glue

Mason Jar

Metal hose clamp to fit mason jar and a small screw, wire clippers

Rope

Hanging greenery or flowers

Step 1: 

Decide what colors to use and paint! Or stain. Wood on white would be beautiful too :)

I used a small brush to brush on the paint to the wooden welcome. This was the best coverage and only needed one coat. 

I used the white pearl on the round wooden piece. To get the best shine out of this, I painted a first layer of Titanium White from DecoArt's Americana Acrylics (not pictured). With lighter colors like this, I feel like that initial white base coat helps it pop more. I then brushed on two layers of the Pearl. 

These two colors offer such a beautiful shine in person! 

Step 2: 

I lined up where I wanted the "welcome" to go and glued it on using hot glue. I didn't want it too low just in case I wanted to add some flowers to the vase.

Step 3: 

This is the trickier part. At least for me, but I figured it out so it should be easy for you! Grab the mason jar and the metal hose clamp and make sure they are a right fit. The hose clamp should be a little bit bigger than the mason jar at this moment.

Using wire sheers or wire cutters, carefully cut a little notch into the the back of the clamp, opposite side of the screw portion. Don't make it too big, just big enough that the threaded part of the screw will go through. 

Step 4:

Position the mason jar in the bottom center and approximate where to place the hose clamp. Place the notch in the hose clamp where you approximated, then screw in the screw into the notch back into the wood. 

Step 5:

Place the mason jar inside the clamp, and secure the clamp. To secure it, twist the screw portion clockwise while gently pushing metal band towards it. 

Step 6: 

Take a piece of rope, and secure it to the bottom of the edge of the wood with hot glue.

Secure the rope with hot glue up until you reach to the top of the "welcome". Then let out some rope and start reattaching on the other side of the "welcome". Keep securing until you meet it back at the bottom.

Step 7: 

Place some faux hanging greenery into the mason jar, or some cute short flowers! 

The obvious next step is to find a place for this cute little wood spring wreath to live! I moved it a couple of places around my house, but found that I liked it most on my hutch. 

I will add this to my door as a wreath soon. The "welcome" sign seems a little more fitting there. 

Interested in the paint I used? You can find more about this amazing paint here, and get some for yourself using my discount code for 20% off! Thriftyandchic20. 

Follow me on my social for sneak peaks, live videos, and fun new things that are going on!

  

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

DIY Large Wood Lantern Tutorial

Spring is here; now if the warmer weather would only stay! I am getting all amped up and ready for those 80 degree temps. In preparation, I'm adding some great new additions to my patio and porch. I've been wanting to make some over-sized lanterns for quite some time for my porch. I think lanterns just add that extra something to outdoor areas.

Today, I'll be sharing with you a tutorial on how to make one of these, in three varying sizes.

I built the largest lantern first, so here are the sizes for it:

For the smaller lanterns, I ended up using 3/4" square dowels at 14" for the medium and 11" for the small. Both the bases and top on these are from 1x8s. I made those square. My 1x8 was actually 7". So, the top and bottom were 7"x7" for both the medium and smaller lantern. Depending on the actual size of the 1x10 for the large lantern, and the 1x8 for the others will determine the actual size you need to cut your 1x3s. As you go through this tutorial, just make sure you measure what wood you have and don't go entirely on my given measurements; just use them as a guide.

Supplies:
Wood glue and/or 1 1/4" brad nails and nail gun

DecoArt AmericanaDecor Outdoor Living Paint in: Picket Fence, Wildflower, and Frosted Glass.
DecoArt AmericanDecor Mediterranean Tile Stencil
Jute
Staple gun

Step 1 

(this tutorial is for the largest lantern. It will be similar for the smaller ones besides size and minus the 1x3s at the top):
Secure the wood dowels to the corners of the 1x10. The easiest way to do this is to stand two dowels up vertical, place the 1x10 on top and then shimmy one of the dowels to one corner. Secure with wood glue and nails. Then do the next corners with the other dowels.

 Step 2:

Secure the next 1x10 to the wood dowels to all corners.

 Step 3:

Measure the distance between each dowel. Cut the 1x3's to that size. Reminder that each side might have a slightly different distance. Secure the 1x3s to the outside part of the wood dowels making sure they are flush on the outside.

 Do the same to the top part against the other 1x10.

 Step 4: 

Secure the 1x2s to the bottom of the lantern. Place each in a corner, glue and nail.

 Step 5: 

Now it's time for the top. First, place the 1x4 in the direct middle of the 1x10. Secure in place. Second, place the 1x3 on top of the 1x4, centered. Secure in place.

 This finishes up the wood part of the lantern. It should look like this.

For the smaller lanterns, I decided not to put the 1x3s on top just because they are smaller and it took up too much visual space.

 Step 6:

Paint all the lanterns with Outdoor Living Picket Fence. This took about 2-3 coats for full coverage. Or another option would be to pick a stain.

 Step 7: 

Paint the inside bottom and top of each lantern. I chose Wildflower for my small sized one. This took two coats.

 For the largest and medium sized lantern, I chose Frosted Glass.

 Step 8: 

Use the Mediterranean Tile stencil and add some embellishment. I chose to do the bottom corners of each 1x3.

 And I also stenciled the top.

Step 9: 

Add the handles. Take three pieces of jute cut at about 10" each. Knot one end, braid, and then knot at the opposite end.

 Secure the jute into the 1x4 using the staple gun.

 Here are the finished lanterns! 

These are great and big enough to add a lot of things in. Keep them empty, fill with faux flowers or potted flowers. You can even add some battery lit candles.

 I chose to use the faux variety of plants in my lanterns since we don't have many growing plants yet besides the one in the back.

 Here's a good look at the colors from above. It's almost so pretty that you wouldn't want to add anything in them, which is what you want! Something that looks good on it's own, but totally works with additions.

 The way that I see it, even though it's still cool outside, warmer weather is on it's way and it's definitely never too early to get started on all those outdoor projects! Plus, this is a great project that can be used for indoors too!



Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”