There is a plethora of blog posts and magazine articles about getting the “beach” look for the summer.  This time of year, the words summer and beach are synonymous.  However, I would imagine many people alternatively go to the mountains or lake instead of the beach. In Arizona, we are blessed with beautiful mountains within an easy driving distance and with the altitude comes cooler temperatures. So let’s head to the mountains and check out some mountain decor.

Adding some decor touches

When I go on vacation having a completely different decor/scenery helps with the “winding down and being on vacation” mode. Getting out of the daily grind and going on vacation means a slower pace, lowering my shoulders, spending time with family, being subdued and taking in the gorgeous scenery.

Any home can be decorated to feel like it belongs in the mountains with only a few of the right accessories.

My friend, Kristin, from White Arrows Home lives in a gorgeous mountain cabin in Wisconsin year round. She is the expert at decorating her log cabin, fondly known as Camp Paradise in a rustic style. Check out her blog here. She just opened a new store, too, so if you are looking for unique items, she does ship!

Utilize your space

What is a vacation getaway without a cozy place to read or nap?  I purchased this day bed years ago in a junk store.  At that time, the chippy paint style was not as popular and the frame is very white and very chippy.  I spray painted it a satin Moss Green from Rust-Oleum which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Plus it blends in nicely with the colors of the forest.

The striped fabric seems fitting for a daybed in the screened-in porch. The bed actually slides out so the bottom cushions sit side by side~making a double size bed.  The pillows were my first attempt at sewing a welt on my own.  Don’t look too closely at my “rustic” mistakes!

Rustic Elements

In the same screened porch, we have a small table with 2 chairs and a vintage wicker lounge chair, perfect for a morning coffee.

Most of the furniture is cobbled together~leftover pieces from our home and garage sale finds.  But it all seems to work as cabin living here is casual and comfortable.

A Place to Gather

There is nothing better than family and friends gathering around a large table. This dining room set is a thrift store find and table leaves slide out to accommodate more seating.  The ladder-back chairs complement the mountains decor.

My friend, Linda Frederick, from Arcadia Design and Stitch made the seat cushions and pillows out of this sweet fabric.

Special Touches

Small accents like these old snowshoes are reminiscent of outdoor winter sports. Just a tip if you are looking for snowshoes~~they were much less expensive here in the Phoenix thrift stores than those in the mountains.

I love anything faux bois (French for false wood) which is the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. Since last year, I am consistently adding items with a Black forest motif to make the cabin feel more Scandinavian. To see my post about accomplishing that, click here.

This songbird arched mirror comes with a finish which lends to the rustic vibe of the cabin. You can find it here. Not only is it helpful to have a mirror in the front hall by the door, but it pairs nicely with the Black Forest bear and acorn shelf.

This simple, inexpensive bench was found at a junk store and I recovered it myself in cowhide. Situated right in front of the fireplace, it is the perfect place to warm up on a cold evening.

Find it in Nature

Being surrounded by beautiful Ponderosa pine trees, there is an abundance of natural material to use.  

We collect pine cones during our walks and they make the perfect centerpiece in an old dough bowl, or as a place card holder!

Accommodate the Weather

The temperature in the mountains can vary significantly. During the summer it is warm and toasty during the day, but the afternoon storm clouds move in and it can get chilly. As a result we have blankets and quilts scattered throughout the house. This vintage camp blanket was purchased one summer from Camps and Cottages during a trip to Laguna Beach, CA. 

One of my favorite shops in Laguna Beach, the owner, Molly English, is a talented designer. We became fast friends and I have all the books that she has written on camps and cottage decor.   Her latest book, Contemporary Cottages is filled with wonderful inspirational ideas and decor.

Show off your Collections

Collecting quilts over the years, provides each bed with a quilt. And each quilt has its own story.  

This sweet quilt in my daughter’s room was purchased many moons ago (before children) during a cross country trip. Hidden in a corner of an antique store, it was filthy and nearly black but I could tell that by the intricate stitching that it was a keeper.  Hauling it home, the quilt is placed in a bathtub filled with cold water and Ivory Snow. Miraculously, after a long soaking, the dirt floats away and the quilt came to life. You can imagine my delight when it was finally clean!

The maple four poster bed is mine from childhood.  I recall my mother stopping by the roadside and buying it for $2.50.  It was painted a bright red and she lovingly refinished it to its natural wood grain.

The quilt in my son’s room was made by his paternal grandmother.  It’s hard not to admire all the work that goes into these beauties. Does anyone know the name of this pattern?

A simple red and white checkered coverlet is in my other daughter’s room.  It pairs nicely with the Burberry fabric on her side chair and bedskirt.

The guest room has two twin beds and it is very difficult to find matching quilts.  However, a side trip to Bisbee, AZ many years ago yielded these yellow darlings.  The vintage fabric has some wear and tear but they are so sweet with the darker bed frames.

Whether summer means the beach or mountains to you, it is a time to enjoy your surroundings. Or maybe just adding some summery touches around your home is enough to make you feel like you are on vacation. The best part is to just enjoy it all~the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, as they seem to fly by so quickly.

Wishing you a summer filled with rest and relaxation!

Well, summer is officially here (technically tomorrow). This week the temperatures are excessively hot. One day it was 59 degrees in the morning and the next it is 113. There isn’t much one can do but stay inside with the air conditioning. Now I think I am ready to get serious about summer. Thanks for joining me today for Saturday Meanderings as we just wander around discussing whatever!

Making Summer Different

After such a stifling year last year, I want summer this year to be extra special. Remember when we were younger and summer held an exciting kind of magic? That’s what I want to achieve this year and I feel a little late in the game. So if you have any fun and invigorating ideas please share. Lazy days at the beach, reading time every afternoon, no schedule, I’m all ears.

The painting above is my first attempt at using gouache paints. To see that post, click here.

New Recipes to try

I haven’t made these yet, but here are some new recipes that I think look so delicious. Half Baked Harvest is a great blog to follow as the very young and talented Tieghan Gerard puts forth unique and tasty recipes. Coming from a family of 10, Tieghan knows all about cooking for a big group. As a result, she is a successful culinary creator, book writer and continues to get culinary awards and recognition.

Her Peach Thyme Tarts (recipe here) on are my list to make this summer, as well as her Panzella Style Caprese Asparagus Salad (recipe here). To see all her amazing culinary creations, her website is here.

The Last of the Garden

With the sudden increased heat, the garden is looking a bit fried. I am sadly picking the last of the tomatoes and soon, it will be time to let the garden go fallow. But check out these Cherokee Purple heirloom tomatoes.

For dinner, these gorgeous tomatoes make a fabulous caprese salad with both fresh basil and mozzarella. I could literally have this every single day and not get tired of it!

Does Anyone Know?

I recently heard a story about a woman being followed by what appeared to be an unmarked police car with flashing lights. She dialed 112 to tell a dispatcher that she would not pull over until she was in a more populated area (like a gas station). The dispatcher said no police were in that area and that instructed the girl to remain calm and keep driving.

When I googled this 112 number, there seems to be some conflict in whether it is true or not. I did ask our law enforcement neighbor and he states it is a legitimate emergency number, but then other websites state it is false.

I did dial it on my mobile phone and the screen confirmed it is an Emergency Number. Just don’t know if anyone has used this?

Roman Shades

If you are looking for Roman Shades, Andrea from Design Morsels has a great post about sourcing affordable Roman shades. Andrea is my go-to person when I want more details on just about anything. She does a great job investigating and finding the best suppliers. Check it out here.

Simple Centerpiece

I am sure it is the heat, but I am all about simple, fresh and light in just about everything I do these days. We recently had friends over for dinner and instead of an elaborate centerpiece, I put pale lavender chrysanthemums in small juice glasses. These flowers are affordable, last forever and I continue to enjoy them this week.

Speaking of flowers, my June monthly subscription to The Bouqs.com did not disappoint. I just get roses now, because each month I am exceedingly impressed. Since they come directly from the grower (Ecuador this time), the flowers are so fresh.

Also, I am now an ambassador for The Bouqs so please, if you need flowers, I’d appreciate it if you would order through my blog. I will get a small reward from them and it doesn’t affect your price. You can find them here.

Dining Room Table problem

This past weekend we invited neighbors for dinner. Typically we eat outside on the back porch but the weather made us long for a cooler location. Typically I always use a pad on the dining room table beneath the table cloth. But I was in a hurry and didn’t think any guest would spill anything, so I just laid down a damask tablecloth. Bad decision on my part.

Since the table did look pretty, I left the tablecloth and flowers on until Wednesday. When I removed the tablecloth, I found this! Unfortunately, no one realized that some bourbon had splashed onto the tablecloth, creating very nasty damage.

A few friends and Google suggests using mayonnaise on the stain, so let’s see what happens. I just applied it to a small section and it needs to sit for a few hours. Wish me luck.

Attracting Birds

When I thought of planting sunflowers seeds, I did envision me cutting armloads of flowers to use in our home. However, what I am discovering is that sunflowers attract lots of birds. So I’ve have altered my romantic vision and am allowing the birds to just enjoy them. The peach faced lovebirds gather in flocks now in my garden. They love these flowers so much they do not mind if I am nearby gardening. Aren’t they beautiful?

One of my Favorites

Every Sunday, I faithfully read The Enchanted Home’s Seven on Sunday. Tina lists her seven favorite things and it is just pretty and informative. She loves all things blue and white and above is a picture of her home in Connecticut. I like it when we all share things we love or those who inspire us. Plus she is over “fifty-something” (I consider that a plus!) Check it out here and see if you agree.

Well, that’s a wrap for Saturday Meanderings. I hope the rest of your weekend will be filled with lovely weather and lots of rest and relaxation!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

Also if you missed any posts this week, check them out here.

A Summer Breakfast

DIY Patriotric Garland

Last month, I introduced a new series, Room by Room, where I can share a room in our home each month. In April, the Room by Room feature is the Living Room (see post here), and this month, I will focus on the master bedroom.

What I am enjoying about this Room by Room series, is that it gives me the opportunity to really scrutinize each room, what I like about it and what I don’t like (or may change). Since the master bedroom is only used after the end of a long day, I am eyeballing my comfortable bed and not necessarily assessing the elements of the room.

When we restored and remodeled the house in 1999, the only access to the master bedroom was by actually walking through a long and narrow closet. It was a great opportunity to completely revamp the master bedroom, bath and closet footprint to create an oasis just for us.

The Privacy

Currently the entrance to the master suite is at the end of the upstairs hallway through separate French doors. A small foyer showcases a unique piece of art floating from a curved wall. Years ago I wrote about our “quote door” (see post here). This is one of my cherished pieces as it contains our family’s favorite quotes. Illuminated from behind, it is focal point as you enter our master bedroom.

Behind these French doors is access to my art studio, my husband’s office and our master suite.

Here is your first view past the entry doors into our bedroom. This antique sofa is a Round Top, Texas find several years ago. Re-upholstered in a houndstooth print, it is a new look to a very old sofa. To see the before and after, click here.

Overall, the bedroom measures 23 feet by 15 feet. There is a set of doors leading to the master bathroom and French doors with sidelights that open to the second story outdoor terrace.

Where is the television?

Above a chest of drawers is an oil painting of San Gimignano, a medieval village in Tuscany, Italy. Not only have we been there, but the art work rolls up to reveal a television beneath.

To the left of the hidden television, is a charming kidney-shape make-up table and mirror from Horchow. It appears that Horchow no longer carries this, but there are several make up tables at Amazon here. The fabric skirt is custom made and I do have one for winter/fall and spring/summer.

I would love to tell you that I use this table all the time. I like the romantic notion of having a table for glamour, but it seems to be a place where I store my perfume and pretty jars. Because at the end of the day, I’m not a very glamorous person!

Another romantic notion in this room is the crystal decanters on the silver tray on the painted chest of drawers. I can recall on perhaps two fingers where we poured a nightcap from this area! But I do love the shapes of the bottles and the silver tags.

The View

Perhaps one of the best features of this room (besides the bed), is the view. All we can see through the French doors and windows are tree tops. No neighbors, no other homes, just the mature tree canopy of our property. During the cooler months, we leave the doors open and awaken to bird song. Just lovely.

The Bed

In retrospect I am so happy we did purchase a high quality mattress. When you spend 1/3 of your life in bed, a good, supportive bed is important. Ours is a Chattam & Wells and every night I so appreciate this bed.

Quality linens and fine pillows are the icing on the cake. Since I have an ongoing neck issue, making an investment into this pillow system from Pandora de Balthazar is worth every penny.

The actual bed is upholstered in a short sage green velvet. Purchased from European Traditions in Scottsdale, I believe this store has since closed. We add picture frame lights behind our pillows for nighttime reading.

Night Stands

Though I do not like matching bedroom furniture, I did purchase identical Louis XV commodes imported from France (years ago)….back when darker finish was popular. These European cherry night stands are stained walnut and are the perfect height for our rather tall bed.

The Artwork

In addition to the oil painting of San Gimignano, there is a set of vintage botanical prints over the sofa.

I am not sure this piece is even my style anymore, but I do consider it a piece of art. Hand painted many years ago by a local artist, this commode goes extremely well with the painting above it.

Lydia and her sparrow is one of my favorite paintings.

Flooring

Like the living room, the hardwood flooring is Canadian Beech. A richly colored silk Oriental rug measuring 10′ x 12′ anchors the sleeping area.

What I Love or Would Change

The master bedroom space is perfect. With a southern and western exposure, we do not need any curtains on the windows/doors. No one can see in from the outside. The room feels spacious and welcoming.

However, in writing this post, I would probably use more subdued colors. The duvet cover doesn’t really go with the rest of the room, but I like its soft colors. Some of the furniture seems dark to me, but perhaps not enough to replace it.

There are areas that we don’t use much~the vanity, the television and the sofa, but those pieces do fill the space. I’m not unhappy enough with it to change it. However, the master bath DOES need to be completely re-done and maybe that will inspire me to re-think the master bedroom.

I hope you enjoy this segment of Room by Room. Happy Tuesday, my sweet friends!

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #643

With daily life here at Bella Terra, I tend to just take some things for granted. After having house guests the last few days, it is fun to see our home through other peoples’ eyes. Since we are immersed in our homes daily, we tend to overlook the details. I thought I would start a new series, Room by Room, where I can share each room of my home in detail with you.

Someone once told me that the photos of our house don’t do it justice. I agree. It is difficult to capture the essence of a room in a one dimensional picture. But I hope to do a better job of explaining why each room in our home is special to us.

I would like to start with our living room, because this past weekend we experienced a flood. One of our guests was showering in the room above the living room. While I was heading to the front door to welcome more guests, I heard what sounded like rain…..inside the house. Loud, torrential rain. Yep~the water was pouring down from the living room ceiling onto my linen sofa, end tables with my cherished books and the Oriental rug. A lot of water.

Here is how the living room currently looks. With towels and fans, the rug is finally dry. The sofa is stained and the plumber will arrive on Wednesday. My fear is the leak is from a broken pipe in the ceiling (or under the bathroom floor).

In spite of the current state of disarray, here is what I love about this 15′ x 28′ room. The photos in this post are collected over time.

The Light

Facing east, this room gets the morning sun. Gently bathed in sunlight, the shadows are long and soft. Each morning when I walk down the stairs, I pause to peek into the living room, grateful for another day.

The Coffered Ceiling

Original to the house, the ceiling is coffered. A coffer in architecture is a series of sunken panels in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. With our 9 feet tall ceilings there are 9 coffers.

The Fireplace

Due to its grandeur, the fireplace is the focal point of the room. Spanning nearly 10 feet long, the mantel is nice and deep (17″) which is perfect for decorating for the holidays. To see more about this beautiful mantel, click here.

When we first bought the house, the tiles around the fireplace were painted black. After stripping them, we discovered they are Batchelder tiles, which are highly desirable tiles from the early 1900s Arts and Crafts movement.

On either side of the fireplace opening are two brass hooks known as jamb hooks. Originally I thought the hooks were to secure a screen, but after some research, they are just a place to hang your fireplace tools.

The Windows and Doors

Eight panes over one make up the double-hung windows located in the south-east corner of the room. French doors to the library and family room are in the photo above. What results is a room with air flow, light and a terrific traffic pattern.

Multi-Uses

The living room’s function is divided into four areas: Main gathering, music (piano), board games and desk. The game table also makes a lovely setting for a romantic dinner. In the opposite corner, sits a black baby Grand Yamaha piano.

The inlaid Hepplewhite secretary is from Philadelphia between 1790 and 1800. The doors have 13 glass panels for the original 13 colonies.

Between the game table and the secretary sits my husband’s grandfather’s clock, from his days working at Talley Industries (who owned General Time Corporation at the time). The gentle ticking with the swinging pendulum and the Westminster chimes are soothing sounds.

The Paintings

When the children were approximately 2 1/2 to 3 years old, we commissioned Virginia Cook, a local artist, to paint them. She is such a talented person and truly captured their nature…and their favorite things.

The three paintings hang over the fireplace and are cherished items.

The Flooring

This room has the original Canadian beechwood floors. Solid wood, 3/4″ thick with planks spanning nearly 12 feet~such materials and workmanship just doesn’t exist today. But these floors have lasted for the last 110 years and will continue to do so. They are so well built that we have no floor squeaks.

Many happy holiday memories are in the walls of this room. Choosing soft blues and cream adds to its serenity.

I hope you enjoy Room by Room. Please let me know if you do and I’ll share another room soon. And also keep your fingers crossed that my plumbing problem is a minor one!

Happy Tuesday!

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #646

An easy and often affordable way to change the look of an upholstered piece of furniture is a slipcover. Not only can you change the color or fabric, these nifty fixes are easy to launder. With a busy household of children and pets, using slipcovers is a great alternative. Welcome to our monthly DIY blog hop and the focus for April is Furniture. At the end of my blog, please continue reading to see what the other talented ladies are contributing.

Yard Sale Find

Last year, I scored 4 fabulous Parsons chairs at a yard sale for $50. The lines and scale of the chairs are exactly what I am looking for in our dining room. However, the yellow buffalo check did not match at all. And the chairs are badly stained.

As you can see in the photo below, this yellow checked fabric DOES NOT go with the color scheme or formality in the dining room.

Since I did not want to go to the expense of re-upholstering four chairs, AND I did want a similar style to the existing chairs, slipcovers are a great option…especially for a dining chair.

Finding the right dimensions and color

You would think there is a standard Parsons chair size, but I can confirm that is not true. Measuring is key here. Make sure you measure, measure and measure again. Since I did purchase the two camelback upholstered chairs from Ballard Design for the ends of the table, I am looking for a similar white fabric. As you know, there are a million shades of white.

Ballard Designs does send fabric samples with the content and care of each. I do not want a fabric I will have to dry clean so I narrow my search to twill, which is 100% cotton.

Looking at the fabric samples in different light during the day, the Super White twill is the winner. Now I carefully watch for sales and discounts (as Ballard Design is frequently having sales) in order to obtain the best price possible.

In the meantime, the yellow checked fabric on the chairs is cleaned with our handy, dandy Bissell Little Green machine (best purchase EVER!). When the slipcovers arrive, I am so happy that they fit perfectly! Now it is time to put on the slipcovers.

Using a hand held fabric steamer I am able to easily get the packing wrinkles out and tightly secure these slipcovers. Amazingly, they fit like a glove.

Cost Savings

Below is a cost comparison of purchasing slipcovers vs. buying new chairs.

Yard Sale Chairs (4) $50.00 vs. 4 newly purchased Parson chair frames $988

Twill Slipcovers (4) $177 (sale) vs. upholstery ?

Total cost: $ 227.00 / $69.25 per chair vs. $291.25 per chair (new)

I love the look of these smart, white, crisp chairs around our dark dining room table.

Laundering

If someone were to spill something on the chair during a meal, I can just take it off and throw it in the washing machine. With twill, I can use a stain remover too. You also have the option of using a Scotch Guard product for extra protection.

We love slipcovers here at Bella Terra because of the wear and tear on our furniture from our family and pets. Do you use slipcovers? Now off to the DIY Blog hop!

If you like this post, please share on Pinterest.

Andrea from Design Morsels shows how to Update Furniture without Paint.

Chas from Chas Crazy Creations is sharing her Reclaimed Wood Dining Table and Chairs.

Kim from Shiplap & Shells makes a 100-year old cabinet into the perfect bedroom built in here.

Niky from The House on Silverado makes an Easy Makeover with Paint on her kitchen bar stools.

Tarah from Grandma’s House DIY makes a custom hickory workbench and shelves.

Kippi from Kippi at Home demonstrated a DIY chair upholstery project here.

I hope you enjoy all these great furniture DIY ideas! If you have time, please leave a comment as we all love those!

My daughter, Julianna resides in our guest cottage. Her plan, after graduating from college, was to live in our guest cottage for a year while she acclimated to a new job. Well, then the pandemic hit. Thankfully she is still employed and has been working virtually since last March. Our guest cottage is just that~a small cottage for guests. Since it doesn’t look like she will be returning to an office any time soon, she requires a designated place to work. Today’s post is about making a home office in a small space for her.

Finding a Place

Currently, her “office” is squeezed into the guest cottage living room. She also shares her living space with a large dog and cat. To see our sweet guest cottage, click here.

Last month, we added more internet coverage to the pool house and will set up her office here. The pool house isn’t used much during the winter months and it is a short walk from the guest cottage.

Existing Corner

Right by the back French doors, there is a cluttered corner that is the perfect small space for a home office. My first thought is go to Ikea and pick up an inexpensive desk. But we have SO much furniture here, why not use what we already have?

The Perfect Desk

The black desk in our family room is really a place for the printer (doesn’t everyone have a printer in their family room?). With the addition of the round table and 4 wing chairs, this part of the family room looks too crowded anyway.

So off to the pool house the desk goes! Actually we have two of these Drake writing desks in a black finish. The dimensions are 55″W x 25″D x 30″H. If you recall, the other one went upstairs to my son’s remodeled bedroom. See that post here.

Having a sheet of glass on top of the desk really does preserve the wood surface. Since my daughter has ruined a few desktops, this beveled topper is perfect for her.

Adding Elements

Using an existing pool house table lamp, the desk starts to come together.

A blue and white vase with faux flowers adds a touch of pretty to the desk. I love these faux peonies as they look attractive and can be added to a fresh bouquet of peonies to make a larger statement. These faux peonies can be found here.

A few other items makes the desk feel like it is ready for work~a filing basket and a place for pens and pencils. Naturally, she will add her computer and monitor, but for now, it is ready for her arrival.

This designated corner will be her office until who knows when. At least she will now have the guest cottage as her living space and this corner of the pool house as her work space.

The wing chair more than likely won’t work, but it looks good in the photos! Plus the wall behind the desk could deserve a piece of art too.

I am hoping that the pool house will be a remodeling project in 2021. For the last several years, it has been the place where the children hang out with their friends. The color scheme is yellow and blue. To see the story behind the pool house, click here.

The faux painted yellow walls are a bit dated. All the “stuff” that goes with X-boxes, video games, Wii and television viewing needs to be organized. My husband’s gargantuan Klipsch speakers (yes, from college) take up too much room. And the furniture holding all of that is tacky, at best.

Have you set up a home office space due to the pandemic? If so, what room did you use?

We are experiencing very cool, rainy weather here in Phoenix. Lots of snow up in the mountains too. Wishing you a warm Tuesday!

This post shared with Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday #627

If you enjoy this post, please share on Pinterest.