Hey Friends! I’m super excited today because I’ve joined our host Kelly at The Tattered Pew and several other blogging friends to bring you the Bloggers Best Summer Home Tour. Each day of the week has six beautiful posts that you don’t want to miss! If you’ve hopped over from Midwest Life and Style, welcome! I’m so glad you’re here. Didn’t you love Jen’s tour? There’s a lot to see so let’s get started – a country home tour with simple summer southern charm.
A Country Home Tour With Simple Summer Southern Charm
If you’ve never been here before you may want to check out the About Me Page. That way you’ll have the short version of me and why, if you peruse the blog, you see two different houses. If you have been here today, hello again! Today I’m sharing the really simple way I added summer to the country house.
Driveway on side of house
Let’s start with a tour of the front porch. We are only down here about twice a month so the chores if maintaining an almost 100 year old home pile up. But we enjoy the porch every chance we get. It has fantastic views of moss covered oak trees, pine trees that reach the sky and the animals that roam around in the pastures that surround the house.
Front Porch
Decades ago, long before we took over taking care of the house, the Misters mom wanted to paint the porch. Well as you can see we need to replace several boards and paint it again I’m thinking I don’t want to ever paint the boards. It’s a paint-pealing nightmare so they’ll stay the natural color.
Most of the time I use vintage treasures to decorate with. Like this old fireman’s bucket and the rusty plant stand. I never have to worry about mulch in the planters. We just pull the Spanish Moss from the trees and stuff it everywhere.
The front door opens right into the living room. It’s an extremely awkward room to decorate. We only have one full wall (where the mantel is now) and that itself used to have a door going to one of 3 bedrooms. This house is a square box. Everything surrounds the dining room that sits in the middle of the house. The dining room used to be the back of the house until the Mister’s grandmother added a back porch and an indoor bathroom. Yep, we have one full bathroom off of the back porch.
Living Room
This year I decided to keep the main rooms calm and peaceful without adding much color. When I see white and green together it immediately cools me off. Last year the living room was filled with color. Mostly pink but with a little orange and yellow. It was also before I added the mantel. If you’d like to see that, click here.
This being a genuine farmhouse I’ve tried keeping the same semblance by repurposing as much of the old stuff as I can. Like using old ceiling tins as wall decor under the mantel and above the windows and an old navy footlocker as a coffee table with much needed storage. One thing they didn’t think to build were closets! Ayi yi yi!
I also use crocks as plant holders, porch columns as coat racks and bank bags as lumbar pillows. A while back I had the cutest old chippy chair break. When it did I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I use the seat as a side table, the chair back as wall art and the spindles as table decor. Hopefully, if this happens, you’ll try these ideas instead.
Our Bedroom
Just to the right of the living room is our bedroom. I’ll be honest, I added colorful sheets and quilts to “bring in color”. I felt pressured into adding color because of one comment from a friend. Why do we (I) do that? I’m going back to the white. Anyway, we found the fantabulous awning in Round Top, TX at the Antique Fair. I’ve been hunting for one for years. Now I’m looking for a small chandelier to hang just underneath it. Hope it doesn’t take me as long as it did to find the awning.
One of the many things on the list of things to do is paint these orange wood floors. That is not my vibe. I want white floors like in the mudroom and guest bedroom. Now those are super cute floors! Who cares if they get scratched up?! That’s part of the charm. 😉 Our room isn’t grand in size but I love so many things about it. I love the bed bench we made, the baby bed used to hold quilts and throw pillows and all of the other pieces that surround us.
Well I hope you enjoyed our country home tour with simple summer southern charm. I’ll share more another time. Next up is Brendt at She Gave It A Go. I bet you’ll love her style as much as I do. Don’t forget to scroll down and see everyone else’s posts this week. Grab a comfy chair and a coffee though – there’s a lot to see! Then come back again tomorrow to see Friday’s posts. So many bloggers with so many fun summer decorating ideas!
You can visit the Bloggers Best Summer Home Tours all week long by clicking the links below!
Monday’s Tours
The Tattered Pew / Stonegable / My Wee Abode
White Arrows Home / Fiddle Leaf Blog / Dabbling and Decorating
Tuesday’s Tours
The Flowering Farmhouse / Sanddollar Lane / Cottage In The Mitten
Up To Date Interiors / Bricks ‘n Blooms / Cottage On Bunker Hill
Wednesday’s Tours
Open Doors Open Hearts/ Pasha Is Home / Shiplap and Shells
A Blue Nest / Cloches and Lavender / Simply 2 Moms
Thursday’s Tours
Cassie Bustamante / First Day of Home / Midwest Life and Style
County Road 407 / She Gave It A Go / Robyn’s French Nest
Friday’s Tours
The Ponds Farmhouse / DIY Beautify / Follow The Yellow Brick Home
My Thrift Store Addiction / Tatertots and Jello / Sweet Pea
your home setting looks so peaceful! love the porch and the curtains- what a great place to sit and sip coffee, wine, lemonade!
Author
We enjoy it and it really is peaceful out there. Thanks so much Cassie.
Hi Cindy I’m not on Instagram much these days but I was so delighted to see your country house you know it’s my favorite. It just screams charm and simplicity and I love it hope you are all well
Author
Barbara, I’m so glad you commented! How are you? Spending time with those grandbabies?! I miss chatting but hearing from you just made my day. Big hugs!
Cindy your summer home tour is simply perfect. I just love the porch and all its chippy goodness! So fun touring with you. Happy Summer! 🙂
Author
Thank you Ann Marie. We definitely have a LOT of chippiness around there. Some good, some not so much. Always a work in progress, right? Happy Summer!
I loved seeing never seen before areas of your home. I so much enjoyed every single picture that you shared.
Author
Really? Thank you Paula. That makes my heart smile. 🙂
Oh Cindy your home is just so charming! I was in love with just your side driveway and then it just kept getting better! So many cool features (I don’t know how you do it without closets)! The awning from Round Top is so cool! Round Top is on my bucket list! Thanks for sharing your home and joining me this week. Pinning!
Author
Thank you Kelly. There are only 2 teeny tiny closets in the entire house and it’s terrible. Everything is stuffed in bins under the beds. Bleh. Hope you do come to Round Top one season. You can stay with us! We are just 40 minutes from there. Thank you for pinning and inviting me to tour with y’all.
Your home is beautiful all dressed up for summer, Cindy. My favorite is your stunning porch. So welcoming and inviting. Happy to be joining you this week for the tour. Pinned!
Author
Awe, thank you Jen. We love the porch and I enjoy changing it up often. We (I) spend most of my time out on the porch during Christmas. I love the cold and all the blankets. Hope you have a great week and thank you for the visit!
Cindy, your true farmhouse is so wonderful! The setting is beautiful, the animals are so cute, and your decor is spot on!! I really love your little spot of Texas.
Author
Thank you so much Stacey. We are so grateful to have it and hope to keep the memories alive for years to come. Crossing our fingers the kids love on it when we’re gone. By then it’s probably going to need A LOT MORE love. 😉
Great tour Cindy, love the road leading up to the house. The awning you found at Round Top is one of my favorite pieces. I don’t know why we listen to others and feel pressure. I have forced myself to stay true to who I am with my décor and what I love because that’s us.
This porch gets me every time too.
Author
I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling the pressure. I keep telling myself stop doing what you don’t want to do and that I don’t have to “fit in” but there’s that little voice (thankfully it’s getting smaller) saying you suck at this. I’m going to try and force myself too. Thank you for the encouragement Cindy, I really appreciate it.
I SO enjoyed your tour, and seeing angles of the farmhouse I haven’t see before! I’m always amazing by what you do with other people’s ‘trash’, and even your own (referring to your broken chair projects… love those ideas!) Lovin’ all your neutrals and greens, too, my friend! And I get succumbing to the ‘pressure’ of comments! You do you with your home decor, girl!
Author
Thank you Julie. Reading your sweet comment makes all the difference. Believe me, I leave a lot of “trash” right there on the curb. LOL. Have a great weekend.
I think you are a very blessed person to have this home, it is a great place to decorate and enjoy. You so lovingly have made it a pretty place to visit.
Author
We really are grateful to have it. I never thought when we took it over that it would be this much fun (most days) to take care of or that I’d ever ever ever think about moving down there full time. Who knows what the Lord has in store of us. Thank you Marlene for the visit. I always love reading your comments.
What a pretty home tour. I love old ceiling tins and considered putting that type of ceiling in my laundry room. The old quilts and colorful sheets are beautiful! So fun touring with you this week!
Author
Thank you Kim. If I could ever find enough tiles that I could actually use for the ceiling, I’d snatch them up for my laundry room too! Hope you enjoy your summer.
Cindy, I always love seeing your farmhouse and how beautifully you decorated it with all your found treasures. And don’t let people pressure into changing your decor (unless they start paying you rent) 😉
Author
I literally laughed out loud at “unless they start paying rent”. Sometimes I can stand up and say nope, not happening but for some dumb reason, other times I don’t know what comes over me. Oh well. It will be a good spare set of sheets and they do coordinate with two of the quilts but I’m going back to white. 😉 Thanks for making me laugh.
Cindy,
I loved your tour and that awning above the bed is adorable.
Author
Thanks so much Rachel. I’m trying to find the perfect chandy to hang underneath. Happy FriYay!
Cindy, this is bona fide farmhouse style, done right. Love it. Happy summer.
Author
Oh my goodness Rita, you just made my day! No, my month! Thank you so much. Hope you enjoy your summer as well.
what a stunning property and home you have! Love the cottage touches!
Author
We are so thankful to have it Ana. Thank you so much!
Cindy,
Oh my goodness, friend, your summer home looks lovely!
I especially love your porch…just beautiful.
Loved being on this hop with you my friend!
xoxo,
Brendt
Author
Awe, thank you so much Brendt. That makes my day. We do spend a lot of time out on that porch. Hope you have a wonderful summer.
Cindy, I was enthralled by the view of the driveway leading to your home–how picturesque! I am smitten with the awning over your bed, too! From one southern girl to another–LOVED your tour!
Author
Awe, thank you Cecilia. The driveway has always been my favorite part of the property. We add lights around the trees during Christmas and it really feels magical. Glad you liked the tour. Makes my heart smile.
Cindy!! I loved your home tour!! You had me at the long driveway!! My heart felt like it was home!! Your home is beautiful and so welcoming!! So happy to be doing this hop with you!
Author
You are so sweet Aliya, thank you. We try not to take the home and property for granted. Glad to hop with you too!
You had me hooked with the first pic of the driveway! What a charming country home! I love that you use antiques to decorate, and the green and white is so calming for summer!
Author
Thank you Leen. The drive is probably my favorite spot on the property. Happy summer!
I want to curl up on your porch and enjoy some Texas tea with you, Cindy! You might have to kick me out! Your country home is so charming and has such personality. I love how you’ve decorated it too. It fits the style of the home so well. My brother has a place in the country, and it’s like being in a different time zone. Relaxed central time! Fun to hop with you again!
Author
Awe, thank you Crissy. If you can drag yourself away from your pool, you come on by! I’ll make the tea! 😉
Your driveway looks like a scene from a movie…it’s so charming!!
Author
Thank you. It’s my favorite spot on the property. 🙂
Your home is like a breath of fresh air Cindy. You’ve styled it so beautifully. I would love to have a porch like yours, it looks so relaxing and peaceful. I love everything about your summer tour.
Author
Your comment makes my heart smile Kim. It’s just what I needed today. Thank you!
When I think of real farmhouse summer living, your country house comes to mind. Your porch is always a favorite! It is just wonderful! I love how you are making the home more “authentic” using old salvage and decor. I absolutely can’t wait to see the floors painted white!
As always I am loving the touches of green mixed in with the white all around. Love the colorful quilt in the bedroom, but next time you question something “Do your own thang!” You do it so well, my friend! I am adding color to this home because it just looks best with all the old woodwork, but I still love all white or mostly white spaces too.
So fun to hop with you here, but so bummed I completely zoned out and missed this month’s Pinterest challenge. Old vases from thrift shops? Seriously…how many do I have????
I have had a hard time switching from teacher mode to summer blogger/gardener mode after such a stressful school year. I am just now getting into a groove and routine, so maybe next month I will be organized.
I am digressing from this tour comment….
Beautiful tour! I hope you enjoy some relaxing time this summer out on the porch and that the heat isn’t too unbearable.
Happy summer!
Author
Your sweet comments always make my day Amber. I will remember your words of advice from now on! And thank you for noticing that I like to use more salvaged pieces. With so many people loving the “new” farmhouse look, it pushes me more and more to the old and (somewhat) authentic. Believe me, I LOVE NEW and in that old farmhouse, somethings (like the shower) need to be new and not redone. Then there’s the budget. We could completely redo the house from top to bottom because it needs it something terrible but until we decide whether or not to add on or move it somewhere else on the property (we aren’t getting rid of it unless the Lord burns it down) for now, it get’s the lipstick on a pig treatment. 😉 Hope you can switch to summer mode soon! Thank you again for the smile.
This is such a beautiful retreat space for your family, Cindy! I love all the details you’ve added to make celebrating summer there extra special. You constantly inspire me with your gorgeous farmhouse style and the way you blend salvaged finds with family heirlooms. I could hang out with you on the porch any day of the week. Big hugs, CoCo
Author
Awe, that would be lovely! We’d laugh the day away and fill our bellies with good southern food and tea. 😉