From the Front Porch: Swedish Summer Inspiration

Welcome to the Swedish Summer Inspiration Edition of our weekly From the Front Porch series, sweet friends.

I hope you’ve had an amazing week!

Several years ago, we were in the middle of hosting a dinner party when after one too many glasses of wine someone lamented out loud that everyone had gone, “Magnolia.”

As a proud Cuban-Italian this person’s home is filled with lots of color.

Every room is painted a different shade of sherbert.

So, it made sense they would feel that way.

Just thinking about their face when they realized my home was quietly bathed in shades of whites, pale grays, camels, and blush still gives me the giggles.

Never mind, the layers of ruffles and chippy treasure hunted flea market finds.

When they asked why the house was nearly void of color, I simply replied it was because I preferred to allow our friends, family members, and experiences to add the color to our home.

It’s a sentiment I continue to embrace today.  

What I deeply appreciated about the discussion that ensued that night was just how passionate people become when talking about their homes.

I love hearing the reasons they chose a specific color, pattern, design style, art, textile, or collection.

I love hearing their stories of home too… how friends and families come together to celebrate simple Sundays and milestone events, how they snuggle up during hard times, learn to rest and care for each other, and how the spaces they inhabit gently guide them to nourish their heart and home no matter if the day has been filled with adventure or with something more mundane. 

Just before my wellness journey began, I underwent a series of tests which revealed I needed to get serious about creating a more sustainable lifestyle.

One that was just as favorable to “being” as it was to “doing.”

As an introvert with a high functioning anxiety disorder, I knew it was important.

But it wasn’t until I saw the results in black and white that I truly understood how vital it was to daily living. 

So, this season, I encourage you to create spaces in your heart and home that help support the way you actually want to live.

For you, it might be spaces that are big and bold and filled with colorful artwork and collections.

For me, they’re quiet, uncluttered and perfectly imperfect because that best supports my nervous system and wellness goals.

There is no right or wrong way to create beautiful spaces in your life.

Simply places of respite that feel like a breath of fresh air when you need them most.

Cheering you on as you design the life of your dreams one day at a time.

A Few of our Favorite Posts From Around the Web This Week…

Beautiful Home and Garden Tours:

• A Small Farmhouse-Style Cottage on a Swedish Allotment (via The Nordroom)
• This Eco Retreat via My Scandinavian Home is giving me summer camp vibes.
• The 20 Most Beautiful Perennial Flowers to Plant In Your Garden (via Veranda)  

Seasonal Inspiration:

• Anna from Sky Lark House is such a talented painter. I’m still not over the amazing way she transformed a bust using milk paint. It looks like she shipped it over from Europe. Be sure to check out the rest of the projects the ladies of the Handcrafted Society are sharing while you’re there.
• Rachel from The Ponds Farmhouse is at it again! Wait until you see her apple makeover.
• This post, Seven Ways to Have a Memorable Summer from Kim at Cottage in the Mitten was a fabulous reminder there’s still plenty of time to enjoy the season. The post also filled with summer inspiration from 10 additional bloggers.

Health and Wellness Inspiration:

• 25 Calming Paint Colors to Make Your Home a Haven (via Southern Living)
• Why Clutter Is the Enemy of the Way You Want To Live (via No Sidebar)
• 7 Genius Phrases to Shut Down Conflict, According to a Psychologist (via Parade)

Style and Travel Inspiration:

• Carly from Kate Middleton Style Blog shared such a fun roundup of Princess Kate’s 25 Wimbledon Outfits throughout the years. The purple dress she wore this year was so pretty.
• White and Faded is one of my favorite books. Here’s a peek at Janet’s blog if you haven’t read the book yet.
• Where to Go For a Less Crowded European Summer (via CN Traveler)

Simple Pleasures and Little Luxuries:

• This H&M dress is cute and budget friendly.
• Speaking of which, can we talk about these juice glasses from Anthro?
• I was looking for some fresh wall art when I came across this Etsy shop and I’m in love with everything!

If You’ve Missed Anything from the Blog or the Archives Recently, Here’s a Peek At What We’ve Been Up To…

How to Revitalize an Old Tobacco Basket and Decorating with Baskets Blog Hop

Peach Inspired Summer Tablescape

Simple Summer Flower Arrangement Ideas

Baked Brie with Peaches and Walnuts

Amazon Prime Day Finds

(thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who shopped our links during this event!)

You can find last week’s From the Front Porch: English Cottage Edition here, if you missed it…

Swedish Summer Inspiration We Spotted Online at Amazon This Week…

(Amazon affiliate links have been provided for your convenience. As an Amazon and Impact Media Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Any sales made through such links will support us with a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read our full disclosure policy here)

• Pullover (this comes in so many pretty colors)
• Melamine Plate Set (love the bee accents on these plates)
• Eyeshadow Stick (these are so easy to use)
• Hair Bows (comes in additional colors)
• Pillow Covers (give me all the block prints)
• Sundress (a style that’s super easy to dress up or down)
• Napkins (also come in additional colors)
• Comforter Set (we use this in one of the rooms at Loblolly, it’s soft, lightweight, and great for hot sleepers)
• Honey Dispenser (this can be used in multiple ways from honey to syrup to powdered sugars)
• Basket Set (the scalloped detail on these baskets are so pretty)
• PJ Set (another great set that comes in a variety of colors)
• Napkin Rings (an elegant way to add french country charm to any tablescape)
• Rug (upgraded to this rug in the entry, it’s soft, machine washable and the colors are all beautiful neutrals)
• Notecards (notecards you can use year round)
• Shower Gel (you can use this as a shower gel, bubble bath and a shampoo)
• Striped Dress (this dress is such a pretty way to celebrate the summer season)

As always, we appreciate you more than you could ever know, and we hope your weekend is peace-filled and relaxing.  We can’t wait to share even more with you soon!

Until next time, I’ll see you on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram.

Many blessings,

CoCo