My Home in Summer - Show and Tell Friday

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday!  I almost named this post "My Summer Home" but that made it sound like I had a different home that I went to for the summer and that is not the case (one can only dream) so I changed the words around and named it "My Home in Summer"

The fact is, this is my little rented apartment decorated for summer....it's my make-believe summer cottage.  I must admit, as much as I would love to have a beautiful cottage, I'm very grateful that I have been able to turn a rented, 1969 unit in a 4-plex apartment complex with no quaint architectural details  into my "summer cottage".  You have to make the best with what you have and what you can afford!

I'm about a 30 minute drive away from the beach but that doesn't stop me from dreaming that I live overlooking the Pacific Ocean!  I live in my own fantasy world but I think that's what makes me a happy person!

The view below is looking down from my staircase. I remember posting a photo like this before and someone asked me if I took it standing on a ladder....  too funny!  No, I'm just standing on my staircase! (please excuse the wrinkled slipcovers, I had just put fresh ones on and it takes a couple days for the wrinkles to relax. I just don't have the time to iron them every time I change them)

This weekend I started cleaning house and next thing I knew I was bringing out every seashell I had and scattering them all over the downstairs rooms...

I like my home at Christmas and in the summer the best!  Right now, I think I like summer best. I'm sure when it's Christmas-time I will be thinking that is my favorite!

After I cleaned house and decorated with a million seashells I went outside and hacked the tree in my backyard so I could get more light in my apartment.  Now that it's in the 90s I'm sort of wondering if I should have done that! Sure it was darker but it was a lot cooler too!  

I love this old dresser that my former mother-in-law #2 gave me.  Yes I have 2 ex-mother-in-laws and they are both great!  Thank you Judy!

I moved the big birdcage I had next to this dresser up on to the landing at the bottom of the staircase, which you can see in the photo below and moved the wicker cart next to the dresser (above).  It always feels so fresh to make little changes like this!

After I cleaned and decorated with shells I went out to my tiny yard and picked flowers!

...and put together some pretty bouquets!  It's amazing the difference that little bouquets scattered all around make!  

My favorites...roses and hydrangeas...

Thanks to trimming that huge tree in my backyard, I have lot's of light now...

Before I trimmed that tree, my place was dark and depressing. I need lots of light!  It makes me happy!

As I look at these photos I remember all the things that I've done over the last 10 years that I've lived here! Everything was done on a budget. My dining room table came from the Salvation Army and it was only $125. My entertainment armoire from Craigslist was about $100. My coffee table was a hand-me-down. Sure, they needed a lot of elbow grease and white paint but I hardly remember that now!  

My slip-covered sofa was a steal from Ikea (and yes I still love it 4 years later), my white slip-covered Ikea chairs were from Craigslist.  Most of my accessories are from thrift stores, flea market and Marshalls. The shutters over my sofa I found on the curb in front of someone's home with a "Free" sign posted on them. It's really amazing how it has all come together for little money! I couldn't have afforded it all at once, but over time, little by little I've made my little rental apartment into my "beach cottage".  

On my to-do list this summer...I want to paint my coffee table a french blue.  I'm wondering if I should use chalk paint?  I would love to hear from any of you that have used it before.  I really am not looking forward to stripping the paint and I've heard that is not necessary with chalk paint so I would love some feedback on this!  With all the furniture I've painted in my place, I'm so not into it any longer but I also want it to look good! I need your feedback!

Thanks to all of you that join in on Show and Tell Friday every week and thanks to all of you who leave such nice comments!

If you are joining in on Show and Tell Friday, please remember that your Show and Tell needs to be something from your home or garden. If you would like to join in, please enter your name and leave your exact Show and Tell blog post link, not just your blog link and as a common courtesy link back to my blog.