SALUTE TO SUMMER: BUDGET TABLESTYLING TIPS


Think your everyday white dishes can't be made into something special? Think again - A simple gathering of items you may already have around the house, finally putting to use items you may have picked up in your travels, and a few items from the local dollar store can create a tastefully styled tablescape, both saluting summer and the American spirit.





Start by pulling together all RED WHITE & BLUE items from around your home. Keep your favorite magazine or catalog clippings handy - not to copy, but to keep your focus. Put all your items together on your cleared dining table. Take some time to play with combinations to give yourself a clear vision. Clear the table, and stack your findings nearby your work space - stack your goodies on the stairs and in the kitchen. Pulling all these things together first will save time later when you are inspired - or when the light goes off in your head (hence no hunting in the middle of your "groove").






The key to styling is all in how you EDIT. Not everything needs to be used, at least here on your table. Save some space on the table for food. Think ahead as to if you use an item, where is it going to go when your guest sit?







Maybe a nearby buffet can take an item or two, to help pull together the look in your space. But again, NOT every space needs to be littered with trinkets and tributes. Show your spine - collect books and remove their jackets to reveal your ideal color scheme - red white and blue. Top your stack with a thrift store federal find (only $4) of an eagle etched glass container from 1976. To highlight the etching, simply fill the vessel with water, add a drop or two of blue food dye and three tea lights (remove from tin & they will float) and a simple chic Federal-inspired accent as been created.





A collection of B&W beach photography on walls helps set a coastal summer style. This is also a great way to incorporate some of those special shots you've captured in your travels. (The two at the top I captured in St. Augustine.)






This is a great time of year to pull out those striped curtain panels. Pull them out of storage two years later and the old can seem new again. Wreaths aren't the only item to hang on your door. This string of starfish was picked up as a souvenir when in Key West. The simple addition of a patriotic scarf gives a new look to "Stars and Stripes".





Holiday spirit to...

coastal style

Think of different ways to use of other household items - shower curtains, pillow cases, bandannas, dishtowels. A clean or new shower curtain can be used as a table cover- which was the inspiration for this set. Layer table runners, placemats or chargers to create interest in your scheme. The pattern in this curtain was a great jumping off point to create two looks plus a third using traditional table runners...


RED WHITE BLUE & BAMBOO:







NEXT IS BLUE WHITE RED:




TIP: FREEZE BLUEBERRIES
to use as beverage chillers.





AND LASTLY IS RED WHITE & BLUE:







 This 'These Colors Don't Run' set is styled with three table runners already on hand (2 white & 1 red). Dollar store bandannas can become napkins. Patriotic kitchen towels can also be used as napkins, or simply drape them onto slip covered chair-backs for a simple detail. A favorite budget decor updater to your chair backs is to use pillow cases as slipcovers.






 
Simple patriotic dollar store paper lanterns turned upside down in small planters help to give some height to the tablescape. Another dollar store score was one made three years ago: simple clear plates with red white and blue stars on the rim. Layered on the white dishes, it adds to the spirit of the style. For an updated twist on your red white blue color scheme: add a shot of turquoise.






If you usually don’t decorate with red (except at holiday) opt to pick up some faux flowers at the craft store. You can reuse these at holiday, thereby giving more bang for your buck. If you have a steady income coming in - go for real. Again, souvenir shells collected over the years from travels helped add a coastal look to this to salute summer.




God Bless America!!!
Thanks for visiting and I hope the tips help!
Have a Happy 4th of July Weekend!
(And enJOY your last days of summer for Labor Day Weekend!!)




NOTE: Although I created this post for July 4th - it can be used for any patriotic placesetting you'd want to create - like for this upcoming Labor Day Weekend - the true last hoorah! to summertime...

All styling and photos by Lynda Quintero-Davids

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FLAG FOCUS FRIDAY FOR THE FOURTH!!!


HA! Say that FOUR times really FAST!!!! Happy Friday everyone! Have you put out your flag (or flags) yet?? Be sure your flag display respectfully has a spotlight on it at night or doesn't touch the ground (or water!). And since July 4th is in just two more days, here's a round up of some ideas to jazz up your table, food or home decor with - All inspired by our 'Grand Ole Flag'!! (and good ole Martha Stewart!)




















How ever you display our country's colors this weekend...
 Be it with berries, cakes, cupcakes,
paint, pillows or tablescapes...


Display them PROUDLY!!!
I'm so damn proud I may have overdone it but...
Yesterday I created and photographed over four different tablestyles
to celebrate the fourth with...
And I'll be posting tomorrow with some tabletop tips!
Do you have any tips or traditions to share?

In the meantime...

Here is another FABULOUS and easy DIY project
from Stephanie Lynn over at Under The Table Dreaming



Happy Friday and July 4th Weekend!!


THRIFTY THURSDAY: $1 LAMP LOVE - 3 DIY's AND A FEDERAL FIND FOR THE FOURTH!


With all the Internet, blog, magazine pics and clippings I pulled together for this weeks red white and blue posts, I not only got inspired, but scored a new find: a $1 lamp to love. I've had a great shade stored in the garage I found over a year ago (at Marshalls for only $7), but hadn't found the right lamp (at the right price) to work with it. Since my shopping excursions have been put a hold for a bit, I set out yesterday up to Faith Farm Thrift in Ft.Lauderdale to see if I could find a good deal....


Inside the Faith Farm Thrift accessories tent...
TONS of old record albums,
and kind of funny to see all the TV's - so neatly displayed

Scored a great driftwood-like finished frame for only $3
(one of my beachy photos will work great in here!)

THE $1 LAMP!

I was expecting to pay $5, so when I was told only $1 - I jumped on it (and checked to see that it works and it does)!! I also found a terrific weathered frame (like the gray of driftwood) with a great matt for only $3. The lamp must have been green before, so opting to paint it white is a Re-DIY... but it's just what the shade needed...





As I mentioned I've been wanting to do, I dug into my box of blues and found some other previous scores to work with a room transformation...


Shower curtain (upper print) - Marshalls - $7
Table cloth (lower left print) - Marshalls - $3
Stripe pillow cover - C&B - $3
Textured Pillow cover - C&B - $5
TIP: Shop end of season clearance one year to stock up for the next
(thankfully - I already had all this stuff! and although I don't "need" it - what I DO need is to be able TO create things...)

Sneak Peak

Although I'm not in the market for furniture, I spotted some other hip finds (opportunities to be makeover gems!!)

These would be a great add to Danenberg Antiques!!

This find was only $45!!

Along with the round up of clippings this week, I found these three wonderful and patriotic DIY's on blogs:

DIY from The Picky Apple

found over at The picky Apple
(after setting up a tablescape today, I'm going to attempt this project! I'm
usually not really a crafty person, but this seems rather therapeutic!!)

DIY found at Under The Table Dreaming

found over at Under the Table Dreaming

Stephanie really knows how
to give excellent step-by-step
photos and instructions to her DIY projects!

another fabulous DIY found at Under the Table Dreaming

Stephanie says, "The list price on this beautiful piece
of work is $129 (in a popular catalog) 
and I was able to create this
look-a-like version for just under $7.00."
GREAT JOB Steph!!

DIY from Under The Table Dreaming

One more find I scored yesterday was at the Salvation Army. They hold a special sale every week called Wacky Wednesday, and although it's signed all clothing half off, I lucked out an got this Bicentennial relic for $4!

My federal-find and it's from 1976!!

(Earlier this week I mentioned '76 was the July 4th
I remember the most - Check out the post:
Sometime Just Look Back To Your Past)


Federal-style chandelier $12,000 from Thomas Lavin
vs. my federal-find of $4 for the 4th! (NOTE: This is not a knock on Lavin, but come on - that chandelier could pay off a persons CC debt today!)



I may have passed up the Federal find, if it wasn't for the great American spirited Market Place feature in the July issue of Traditional Home...



Love it! Ralph Lauren's striped table lamp, "Delphene"
is $1000 and my lamp find was just $1!

Hope you're as inspired as I am
to create something special for the coming July 4th!!
Happy Thrifty Thursday!



Joined the link party over at Coastal Charm's Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

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