Simple Summer Style Open Shelving in the Kitchen
Just a quick note: I wrote this prior to the current events surrounding the tragic death of George Floyd. I will be taking time away from social media, but I will be back Friday to share with you some resources and good news for Feel Good Friday because I believe it’s needed right now.
I know I have said it before, but I can’t believe summer is almost here… like later this month it will arrive. It feels like this year has been sucked into some sort of time and space vacuum, yet here we are with the seasons passing. While I love summer, I am a super simple decorator when it comes to this season. With all three kids being home (I mean, they’ve already been home, but I mean on any given summer here), there is already so much more stuff around the house, so I prefer to keep it less cluttered. Today I am going to share with you how I restyled my open shelving in the kitchen with a couple of small changes and nods to the season. I am joined by several other bloggers today sharing their summer styled mantles and vignettes. (A huge thanks to Krista for organizing all of us on this hop!) You can find all of their links at the bottom of this post as well, so make sure you visit for some summer inspiration!
For me, summer is about outdoor adventures like hiking, road trips, flea markets, beach days, grilling, and ice cream! When I restyled these shelves, I tried to bring some elements of those things that speak summer to me personally. (By the way, you can read all of my shelf styling tips here.)
The first change I made was adding this vintage style “Ice Cream” sign. Emmy and I found it at a vintage market in Maryland and she fell in love with it. We’re all passionate about ice cream, but I’d say she takes the cake… or the cream? When we moved here, we placed it in her bedroom on her gallery wall because we just didn’t have the right spot for it.
Well, this spring, her room got an update and we didn’t have a place for it there any longer. Perfect timing though, because I love having it in the kitchen for summer!
Just to the left of it, I placed some pink vintage glasses for some added color, plus, let’s be honest, those are the perfect goblets for an ice cream sundae, served with one of those special long spoons. We are definitely going to need a make your own sundae bar one night!
Oh the shelf just below, I kept my vintage black and white woodsy photograph because, as I mentioned, summer is all about outdoor hiking adventures. I also added a worn dark gray seashell I found years ago. It’s far from perfect, but those imperfections make me love it more.
Not in the photograph above but worth mentioning is the bottle of Trader Joe’s French berry lemonade that sits on the shelf with the glasses. It looks perfect because it’s pink, but it’s also highly functional. My good friend Lindsay introduced me to it, and Emmy is now hooked. Summer is the perfect season for lemonade, and this one is by far the best ever. I wish I could provide you with a shoppable link because you need it in your life… if you live near a Trader Joe’s, do yourself a favor and go get some.
As you can see, our shelving wraps around the kitchen, so I added some small touches all around.
Just to the right of the hood, I added a little rifle paper recipe box we’ve had for some time. i love the Spring color it brings. On top of the box sits a clay dinosaur Emmy made in elementary school. I’ve got some other clay projects hiding on my shelves as well, like the piece of cake she made, and a turtle that Sawyer made.
Summer also makes me think of my chickens (that we had to leave behind in Maryland). I dream of , and watching hens run around my back yard again here, but for now I’ve placed this adorable rolling pin my mom gave Emmy on the shelf, and to the left of the stove I also have a chicken cutting board.
Wrapping around the corner, I added touches of summer with artwork. Here you can also spy Emmy’s clay piece of cake.
My brother took this black and white photograph in his travels in his early twenties. I have a few of his pieces around my house and they are some of my favorites.
Above his photo on the top shelf sits a piece of art I bought at Nest Fest maybe 4 or 5 years ago. It reads, “Take the Scenic Route” and I think it’s such a great reminder for the easy days of summer when we aren’t in a rush to get anywhere. Take the time to enjoy the ride, the music playing on the radio, and the beautiful backroad scenery. Did I happen to mention that road trips are my favorite? I know things will be different this summer as far as actual travel goes, but there is still plenty of time to discover dirt country roads with the family, with roadside stands along the way.
As you can see, simple is my favorite way to pay homage to a season, but there’s no better season to be simple than summer…. It’s all about laid back vibes, spending time outside, and easy living, right? (Well, I have a toddler so maybe easy isn’t the word!).
Thank you so much for checking out my summer style shelves today! I will be back next week with a couple of full on summer tours, and you can be sure to expect more simplicity from me. In the mean time, I am going to go gather some sprinkles, syrup, and long spoons. 😉
Hope to see you next week!
Today I’m joined by some of my blogging friends who are also sharing their summer mantel and summer vignette ideas.
Just click the links below the images to be taken to their post…
Simple Thrifty Summer Mantel Decor at The Happy Housie
Easy Summer Mantel with Peonies at Modern Glam
Effortless Summer Mantel Ideas at Grace in My Space
Summer Entry Way Decor Ideas at Lolly Jane
Summer Shelf Styling Tips at Finding Silver Pennies
Outdoor Garden Bench Vignette at Craftberry Bush
Simple Summer Living Room at House by Hoff
The Summer Edition of our Coffee Bar at My Sweet Savannah
Eclectic Summer Mantel at JoAnna Anastasia
Simple Summer Style Kitchen Shelving at Cassie Bustamante
How to Create a Summer Mantel with Character at Sincerely, Marie Designs
Summer Mantel Decor at Rambling Renovators
DIY Bedroom Plant Shelf at She Gave it a Go
Summer Mantel Decor at Amidst the Chaos
How to Create a Fresh Summer Mantel for Free at This is Our Bliss
Summer Hutch Styling at Clean & Scentsible
Bright Simple Summer Mantel at Tatertots and Jello
Easy Summer Mantel Styling Ideas at Cherished Bliss
Boho Summer Mantel Decor at Life is a Party
Easy Breezy Modern Minimalist Shelf Styling at This is Simplicite
Summer Mantel at Rooms for Rent
