What are some of your favorite summer memories? Mine was my first – and last — attempt to be a beauty queen. One 4th of July, our tiny country club in Atchison held a beauty pageant for little girls. Even then I was into props, so I borrowed the neighbor’s poodle, slipped on my plastic high heels and sashayed around the pool for the judges. I lost. To a pretty little girl with long blonde hair. Not surprising, since one of my favorite summer games was to play cowgirl and roam the neighborhood – our ranch.
There is so much nostalgia layered into summer, isn’t there? Independence Day fireworks, watermelon and fireflies. This summer, salute those sunny, lazy days of your youth and celebrate a bit of Americana by using red, white and blue in your décor. Here’s how:
Accent with a Pop of Red, White and Blue
When we think about decorating with America’s colors, we often imagine a stars-and-stripes filled country look, right? Here’s my challenge to you: Tip that stereotype-filled apple cart over and experiment with all the glorious ways you can present red, white and blue together in your décor. Check out the room scene above, taken in one of our galleries at Nell Hill’s Briarcliff. The blue rug and the red and white striped sofa applaud these glorious colors, but make them fresh and new.
The secret for stretching our beloved color palette out of its well-worn groove is to also toss in a bouquet of unexpected colors, like we did here by adding this paisley pillow in coral, citron and turquoise.
Big clocks are huge this summer. And my heart hammers hard for this lovely red rimmed time piece. Using artwork like this, that features just a tiny band of red, is an ideal way to poke in subtle touches of our patriotic color scheme.
Check out this fabulous table display of red, white and blue that our visual design team created at Nell Hill’s. It is vibrant with energy and does a great job of highlighting our color scheme in a new and different way. Why does it work so well? The wide mix of objects in the tableau pulls in divergent shapes, sizes and patterns, which are knit together by repeating colors.
Does your home have a color palette that doesn’t currently include red, white and blue? No worries! Check out this example of how we dotted in this color triad using a few accents. You wouldn’t think this primary color pair would work so well with the emerald and pumpkin colors in the room, but it does.
One more example of how you can go small but get great results with our hero colors.
Set the Table for Summer
I think summer tables should be fun and casual, simple to execute. And pulling in red, white and blue through your dishes, table linens and serving pieces is an easy way to give your table an instant summer feel. When you are planning a summer picnic or backyard BBQ, our color combo is as natural as corn on the cob and apple pie. To me, they say “summer.”
Pick out some serving pieces that look fun and fresh in red, white or blue, like our happy beverage urn at Nell Hill’s. Then, fill it with lemonade or ice tea.
Your table linens and glasses can help carry out your patriotic color palette. I’m crazy about these red and white gingham topped cups, inspired by Grandma’s Mason jars, which were always filled with delicious pickles and jams, lovingly made from summer veggies and fruits.
We began carrying this darling line of dishes a few years ago at Nell Hill’s, and they continue to be popular sellers and one of my very favorites for adding some charm to a table. You can mix red and blue together for a playful table.
Or, you can showcase just one color: red …
… or blue. I love these dishes paired with wicker chargers, or fun summer placemats and napkins. They are just so happy!
Want a more romantic feel to your red, white and blue display? Mix our proud trio with its softer shades of pink and pale blue.
The line of Pip dishes we’ve been carrying at Nell Hill’s for a few years is a perfect way to give the colors new life. These dishes are so gorgeous, even the food I prepare looks good on them!
Next Week … One of my favorite ways to celebrate my family and heritage is to use family heirlooms in my decorating. I’ll show you how to do the same in your home.
Gerry Rhodes says
June 23, 2014 at 2:18 pmYou are such a great story teller. I loved your run for beauty queen and your ranch in Atchison.
franki says
June 23, 2014 at 3:09 pmJust fabulous ideas and displays…THEY are a beauty, too! Still “hoping” I’ll be able to stop by your store this Saturday…family reunion in KC…we’ll see how it goes… THANKS for your wonderful blogs, too!! franki
Pat Kahn says
June 23, 2014 at 5:34 pmI love receiving your blog and I have purchased your Christmas decorating book. I wish you sold items on line…..it is like dangling a carrot in front of a horse and not letting the horse eat it. This is how I feel when I see your lovely items and can’t purchase any of them.
Keep blogging….I have used several of your suggestions.
Pat
Judy Kelly says
June 23, 2014 at 5:43 pmI always look forward to your e-mails. Visited your store once and haven’t had the chance to get back – LOVED IT! Do you have a catalogue on line? Can’t seem to fined it.
Thanks, Judy Kelly
Mary Carol says
June 23, 2014 at 6:01 pmHi All! We did have an on-line store at one point, but I missed my one-on-one contact with folks (call me old fashioned, I guess — I just want to give everyone personal customer service) so now we work with all our out of town customers via our toll free line and email. Please give us a call at 877-746-4320 or email at marycarol@nellhills.com to talk about any of your decorating needs, items you see in the blog or on our Facebook page, etc. We would love to talk with you, hear what you’re looking for, then help you make your home lovely. We can ship just about everything in the store to you, lots more than was available at our on-line store.
Joy Hale says
June 23, 2014 at 8:48 pmNell,
Do you carry the Gramma’s Mason jars with the gingham top and red straws in your store? If so, how much are they per jar or are they sold in multiples? They just seem to spell out SUMMER and I love gingham!
Joy Hale
Heather says
June 24, 2014 at 8:17 amLove Love Love the fabric choice on the red striped chair–paisley with coral, citron and turquoise. Do you sale the pillow or the fabric in bolt form. Please let me know would love to get a sample to check on colors. Thank you, Heather
Mary Carol says
June 26, 2014 at 7:53 amHi Joy, yes we do sell those adorable cups. They come in a set and are $22.50. Come on by the store or give us a call to reserve some for you, 877-746-4320.
Heather, I’m crazy about this combo, too. Yes, we sell both the pillows and the fabric by the yard. Call us at 877-746-4320 and ask for the fabric department. We’ll get you taken care of!