Happy Memorial Day! I always consider this weekend the start of summer, even though technically we’ve got a few weeks of spring left. It’s definitely close enough that I was ready for a little summer spruce up around the house. I’m participating in a summer tour hop today, so if you are visiting from Blue i Style, welcome! And at the end of the post, I’ve got a link for you to visit Jess from Bright Green Door next. I think you’ll love her! There are also links to 18 other tours. So much inspiration!
When I signed up to participate in this tour, it was way back before we finished the bedroom and my plan was actually to spruce up our front porch and back patio for an outdoor tour. Then the rain AND the birds came. So much rain, so many birds. We’ve got two nests with eggs on the back porch and one in the front, right above the front door. They make a new mess everyday, so there wasn’t much hope for pretty outdoor photos.
Plan B worked out pretty well though! I found some great ways to add inexpensive color throughout the living areas. It’s all fresh and summery, but almost all of it can easily transition into fall and work in the spring. Here’s the floorplan to give you idea of how the spaces flow today. I’ve got new pictures of the garage entry, dining room, kitchen, and living room in today’s tour!
Starting out in the entryway from the garage, I swapped out our scarves and gloves for colorful pool towels and a beach bag on my DIY coat rack. I love it when decor is functional!
Over in the dining room, I started with my relaxed glam spring table and changed a few things to make it more casual and summery. Instead of the metallic chargers, I picked up some navy placemats from Target and combined them with a natural woven charger that I already owed. The $2 placemats were the only thing I bought for the table. That makes the bank account happy!
Placemat / Woven Charger / Silverware / Glasses / Napkin Ring / Dough Bowl (similar)
Mexican food is our go-to, especially in the summer when we can get fresh local tomatoes for our favorite pico-style homemade salsa. I figured we should be ready for the feast all the time, so I set up the server in the dining room with some essentials. I couldn’t pass up some new teal plates when I saw the LOW price. They’ll be perfect for outdoor dining!
Small Bowls (Target In Store) / Plates / Margarita Glass / Lime Juicer
The kitchen was begging for some pops of color. It only took about 5 minutes and $10 to make it feel like summer. When I was picking out the patterned navy $2 placemats, I saw the teal version that said “eat” and fell in love. But I didn’t want it on the table, I wanted it on the backsplash! Since it’s plastic, it’s easily cleanable if we have any stovetop splatters. To hang it, I just taped on a piece of rope and hung it from a clear command hook that we already had on the tile. Perfection! 
Most of our hand towels in the kitchen had seen better days, so I was pretty excited when I saw an endcap of colorful options at WalMart for $1.96 each. Because who doesn’t need a reminder that we shouldn’t limit happy to an hour!
Our first Trader Joe’s opened a couple months ago, and I’m a bit obsessed with the tins their coffee comes in. I save all of them to reuse. The Costa Rican coffee can conveniently fit right into the kitchen color scheme and works perfect as a vase for their $3.99 bouquet.
The last stop in my summer tour today is the living room. The navy from the entry and dining room are tied all the way into the living room with our year-round couch pillows. In the spring, I picked up a fun floral pillow at Lowe’s, so the only thing I added for summer was a $5 pink Bullseye Playground pillow from Target. It adds just the right pop of color to the couch. Maddie approves.
That’s it for summer, but if you’re a new reader, I’ve got room tours of most of the first floor available. You can choose your own adventure:
Master Bedroom / Master Closet / Walk-In Pantry /Office / Laundry Room
As I mentioned at the beginning, I’m just one stop of four today! Next up, click over to visit Jess from Bright Green Door. She always comes up with great ways to decorate on a budget, so I can’t wait to see what she put together for the tour!
There will also be more houses added each day this week, so make sure you come back to click through the updated list every day!
Maggie @ Maggie Overby Studios says
Your house is so bright and summery. The pinks and that aqua blue definitely don’t limit happy to an hour. What a lovely tour!
cassie @ primitive & proper says
your kitchen is so bright and cheery! aqua is one of my favorites- love that coffee can with flowers!
sarah says
I always leave with a great idea, and this time it’s that cute coat rack. I have some old aluminum sheeting we picked up at an estate sale because I loved the pretty design and I just couldn’t leave it behind. But since then it’s just been sitting in the workshop. I keep thinking about doing something with it but haven’t come up with an idea that really inspired me. But the punch out design makes it perfect for an idea like your coat rack. Oh, and I’m totally with you on the whole Mexican theme for summer. I really really dislike tomatoes, but I make my husband grow them each summer so we can have fresh homemade pico! It’s the only way I’ll eat a fresh tomato. Also, it’s a great excuse to mix up a pitcher of mojitos!
Stephanie @ Casa Watkins Living says
Love your summery touches Melissa! The placemats are so pretty, may have to get those at Target soon. I don’t have a trader joes nearby, but I love the way you use the coffee cans as a vase!!
Melissa George says
Thank you! I was so excited those placemats were so cheap. And I hope you get a Trader Joe’s at some point. It’s awesome!
Jen @ The Striped House says
Hey girl! Love your home tour (and your dog, Maddie!)!. Trader Joe’s has some amazing home styling finds, right?! I’m the same way as you, my pool bag and towel are always ready to go, and it gives me an excuse to buy cute bags and towels! Those margaritas are making thirsty, I think I want one now 😉
Melissa George says
Thanks so much, Jen! It’s always a good time for a margarita!
Rachael @ This is our Bliss says
Wow!! I’m so digging your adorable placemat-hanging-by-a-rope turned “art”! How clever 😉 Your coffee can vase is adorable, too. Beautiful summer touches all around!!
Jennifer Griffin says
What a cheery kitchen! Enjoyed your tour, Melissa!
Megan says
I love your home! This is my first visit but definitely not my last. I just adore your kitchen!!!
Melissa George says
Thanks so much, Megan! It’s been a fun (but slow!) process adding style and color to the house.
ashley@biggerthanthethreeofus says
I love that entryway idea and your kitchen is so cheerful!
Arielle says
I always love your kitchen, and it’s great with the summery additions! Now when do we get to come over for margaritas?
Melissa George says
The tequila is always ready, come on over!
Angela, Blue i Style says
I didn’t notice on my first visit, but just spotted that you have the same floral pillow on your couch that I have in my backyard. Love it! And I’m completely obsessed with your coffee can vase!
Melissa George says
Yes! I meant to mention that to you when I saw your pillows!
Tricia Canonico says
Love your fun bright style Melissa! Everything looks perfect for summer! I loved your tour and your pup! I love that you seem to love your wine just as much as I do! We need to share a drink one of these days! We’ll have to bring the dogs because I’m sure your German Shepherd and my Briard (French Sheepdog) would get along splendidly!
Melissa George says
Thank you, Tricia! Dogs and drinks would be perfect, I don’t know if Maddie would know what to do with another German Shepherd, but I’m sure she would have fun!
Sharon says
Hi, Melissa! So fun to see your home tour and check out some spaces I haven’t seen yet. I only know the ORC rooms, which are all fabulous, of course! I have the toucan Columbia Supremo coffee can from TJ’s–they really are some good looking coffee cans. And I love the other fun touches in your kitchen, especially the tea towel. I’m a tea towel addict and will head to Wal-Mart to hunt one down. Thanks for the cute and thrifty idea!
Melissa George says
I’ll have to look for the Toucan next! I’m glad you enjoyed the tour, too. Good luck on the tea towel hunt!
Vicki and Jennifer Fenton 2 Bees in a Pod says
Loved your tour! Your home and style are impeccable!
Kathy says
Such pretty colors for summer! Love the entryway, the coffee can from trader Joe’s (miss that place!) and the placemat as a wall hanging in the kitchen. So creative! The dining room has so much character and color, such a lovely space. Love everything you do Melissa!
Donna Hecht says
What is the name brand and model of your kitchen stove? Are you happy with it?
Melissa George says
It’s a Frigidaire Professional and I’m NOT happy with it. We went with the model that had two induction burners and two electric. We love the induction side and hate the electric side, even though we’ve had a similar electric glass top with no issues. The bigger problem is that the finish is peeling off the panel all around the knobs. My aunt has a similar (but all electric) model and hers is doing the same thing. It looks awful. I’d avoid that whole line. Our dishwasher has never been great (definitely not ‘professional’) , but the start button broke after 2.5 years,so to run it we have to use the 1 hour delay start. The wall oven is extremely inconsistent, and the fridge ice maker has lots of issues. Way more than you asked, but we are pretty frustrated at the performance of the whole line when we were once so excited to have an entire set of matching, new appliances. I can’t even imagine the shape they’d be in if we had a busy family or cooked/ran the dishwasher daily. It wouldn’t have lasted a year!
Alice says
I love your kitchen. What color are your cabinets? Also, what is the name of your granite? We are redoing our kitchen and I want white and charcoal gray
Melissa George says
The white cabinets are White Dove by Benjamin Moore. The Granite is Gaillo Ornamental, which varies a TON depending on the slab, so I don’t recommend ordering from somewhere you can’t physical go look at the slabs. I can’t remember the name of the island paint, but it’s a soft black. Hope that helps!