Summer Design Inspiration from Traditional Home

Well, it's officially JUNE, so HAPPY SUMMER! After a crazy, cold, snowy winter in Cleveland, we have been loving these past few beautiful, sunshine-filled weeks.  As these warm summer days lure us outdoors, it is fun to find inspiration in patios, gardens, and porches from the design experts.  I pulled some of my favorite summer-celebratory photos, courtesy of Traditional Home.  I even included a few photos that had summery interiors for good measure.

With regard to color scheme (for everything from planters to pillows to flowers to dinnerware) I often struggle between the neutral, organic, monochromatic, sophisticated look (i.e. Hamptons) versus the fun, bold, bright color (i.e. Moroccan / Mediterranean / Southwest / California) schemes.  The best part about pulling together this post is that I get to enjoy them all!

Additionally, sometimes it helps to look at inspiration photos before you go hunting for outdoor furniture and decor pieces since it can be hard to picture how one individual item might interplay with the big picture...These photos can give us ideas for different furniture styles and color schemes, hand-selected by professional designers.  Yet, you can often find a similar look with good looking pieces from TONS of sources out there without the hefty price tag (Costco, Lowes, Home Goods, etc.). 

Love the neutral, organic materials and landscaping (red brick, stone tile, terracotta square pots)...allowing the charming pool house to take center stage

How adorable is this fun and colorful grandmother's mudroom so
well-equipped and organized for her grandchildren visits?

Love the soothing blue color scheme with pops of complimentary orange...
those orange lanterns are to die for!

Another great example of natural, organic colors and materials in
beiges, creams, taupes, and browns...

I adore this simple table setting against the lush green backdrop...The chevron navy and white stripe tablecloth provides a subtle graphic pattern behind the pops of yellow in the lemon centerpieces...

 

Love the mix of materials, styles, and pops of red...and LOVE the various boxwoods in terracotta pots surrounding the pool....

Beautiful, sophisticated neutral color-palette, love the English-garden feel, square planters, lanterns, outdoor curtains, cabana stripes, and mix of luxe (marble table top) with rustic materials

Love the neutral backdrop in window panels and furniture upholstery for bold pops of color (and pattern) in throw pillows, rug, ottoman...Also, love the color combo of blues, grass-green, and pink!

A great example of my forever-obsession with the cabana stripe (esp black and white) when paired with lush greenery / landscaping

I love the rattan furniture in this quiet little hidden reading nook...

A playful mix of colorful directors chairs surround this cheerful outdoor dining space...love the outdoor kitchen area!

Beautiful, monochromatic, neutral color scheme + delicate/feminine furniture lines mimicking those of the balcony = chic, urban outdoor living space

Again, the organic materials in the brick floor and wall, lush landscape, and simple outdoor furniture create a calm and relaxing outdoor retreat

And again here...

And here...

I have always LOVED wicker chairs such as these and incorporating blue dinnerware...so crisp and summer-y

Oh my goodness, my kids would be in heaven here!!

Evidently, this is an old home converted into a contemporary art gallery, who knew?  LOVE the FULL-GRASS pool deck...sprawling-estate feel...so luxe!!

I have always had a soft spot for the terracotta roofs of such Spanish-colonial homes...They have such a warm, earthy and cozy feel.  With the ample existing landscaping, a minimal use of planters provides a calm, airy outdoor space...

The HUGE bush of blue hydrangeas is so gorgeous I could cry!  The subtle periwinkle tones in the elegant blue stone pool surround is a perfect complement!  Additionally, the crisp and white lounge chairs mimic the architecture and create a beautiful outdoor setting.

A simple floral arrangement of a single flower (in this case, sunflowers) add color, warmth, and cheer to this cozy outdoor dining nook...

Remember the adorable Grandmother's colorful mudrooom from above?  This is where her six granddaughters sleep when they stay at her Grand Traverse Bay home...in this sweet and colorful bedroom (there are actually 3 trundle beds) 

Another guest bedroom in the Grandma's (from above) home...LOVE the mix of oranges and pinks!   With all due respect, it might be a bit much in terms of pattern....With the boldness of color, I may have opted to use only one pattern here, but I love all three: large-scale buffalo check, zebra, and Greek-key, what the heck, just throw them all in together!!!

How adorable, she used this summery Lilly Pulitzer fabric to cover the kitchen barstool cushions...

And here...do we even need to mention the crazy-cottage-cuteness of these bold yellow lanterns?  If these don't shout summer, I am not sure what does!!