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simple lovely style is akin to shabby chic light...very light. spare use of pale pinks, cool greens or barely-there blues could accent the clean canvas of creams, whites and a touch of warm wood. worn furnishings are right at home here, so we can make good use of squishy couches and a bit of natural wood showing through chippy paint. a very few well-chosen flea market finds are the treasures that shine in the midst of a sea of white.
simple lovely style need not come from piling lovely accessories onto an already complete space. the main furnishings themselves can easily do the work of conveying simple lovely style. the choice of table + chairs, couch, or lamp can be as subtle or as literal as desired. craigslist, garage sales and flea markets come in handy, if furniture is needed, but any couch could benefit from a soft cream throw...or... a big, squishy, white slipcovered couch could be great as well. no need to overload that couch with useless frilly throw pillows. existing dining furniture could be painted white...or some thrifted chippy pieces could be employed instead. a modern lamp with a white shade can sit in a simple lovely room just as happily as a drippy crystal or italian tole chandelier. the choice is open.
while i think it is commendable to live with the furniture we have for as long as possible, i do feel that it is ok to make a change. sometimes it is possible to reinvent the pieces we already have. sometimes we might like to switch out an object entirely. craigslist has made it quite easy to let someone else benefit from the things we want to let go...and also to find something we love a bit more. simple lovely style is a great way to see a previously loved item's potential. sometimes making a change is just what helps us to see our homes as enough...and beautiful.
there are choices aplenty for the well-edited use of a few simple lovely accents. natural elements can be collected from our immediate surroundings or from a treasured adventure: floppy roses or queen anne's lace from the side of the road plunked into a jar or a chippy pitcher...a fallen bloom floating in a lone teacup...an time-weathered perfectly pink dress hanging in the bedroom...seashells scattered on a window ledge...pale blue stripes on a kitchen towel...grandma's floral plates in the cupboard...estate sale lace-edged pillowcases on the bed...an old mirror leaning against the wall...a sea-scented candle flickering. the trick is to use only two or maybe three accents in each room. restraint keeps it minimal...and lovely.
as long as we start with less stuff and a clean canvas, simple lovely can be easily achieved. add that creamy throw to the existing couch. paint a chair or two white...and sand that paint back a little, if desired. find some wildflowers, light a candle, make a cup of tea, lean back and think some lovely thoughts.
favorite lovely inspiration:
house of bliss
shabby chic
vintage whites blog
love,
jane
simple lovely style need not come from piling lovely accessories onto an already complete space. the main furnishings themselves can easily do the work of conveying simple lovely style. the choice of table + chairs, couch, or lamp can be as subtle or as literal as desired. craigslist, garage sales and flea markets come in handy, if furniture is needed, but any couch could benefit from a soft cream throw...or... a big, squishy, white slipcovered couch could be great as well. no need to overload that couch with useless frilly throw pillows. existing dining furniture could be painted white...or some thrifted chippy pieces could be employed instead. a modern lamp with a white shade can sit in a simple lovely room just as happily as a drippy crystal or italian tole chandelier. the choice is open.
while i think it is commendable to live with the furniture we have for as long as possible, i do feel that it is ok to make a change. sometimes it is possible to reinvent the pieces we already have. sometimes we might like to switch out an object entirely. craigslist has made it quite easy to let someone else benefit from the things we want to let go...and also to find something we love a bit more. simple lovely style is a great way to see a previously loved item's potential. sometimes making a change is just what helps us to see our homes as enough...and beautiful.
there are choices aplenty for the well-edited use of a few simple lovely accents. natural elements can be collected from our immediate surroundings or from a treasured adventure: floppy roses or queen anne's lace from the side of the road plunked into a jar or a chippy pitcher...a fallen bloom floating in a lone teacup...an time-weathered perfectly pink dress hanging in the bedroom...seashells scattered on a window ledge...pale blue stripes on a kitchen towel...grandma's floral plates in the cupboard...estate sale lace-edged pillowcases on the bed...an old mirror leaning against the wall...a sea-scented candle flickering. the trick is to use only two or maybe three accents in each room. restraint keeps it minimal...and lovely.
as long as we start with less stuff and a clean canvas, simple lovely can be easily achieved. add that creamy throw to the existing couch. paint a chair or two white...and sand that paint back a little, if desired. find some wildflowers, light a candle, make a cup of tea, lean back and think some lovely thoughts.
favorite lovely inspiration:
house of bliss
shabby chic
vintage whites blog
love,
jane
