Summer Home Style...

Summer months are the time to link the outdoor environment with indoor spaces. In the picture perfect world, this means throwing open windows and doors to allow sunshine, cool breezes and summer scents (think cut grass, garden flowers, herbs etc).

Even when the British weather lets us down, a few little summer touches make indoor spaces look and feel in tune with the time of year... whatever the weather.

As an instant update to any interior, bring a little of the outdoors in with flowers in contemporary arrangements or casual bunches, depending on your favoured direction.

Jugs brimming with wild flowers and tall grasses are the perfect touch for fireplaces and dining tables alike whilst garden blooms gathered into posies add a friendly touch to bedside tables, bathroom shelves and hall consoles. Choose an appropriate vessel – we’re fond of the very simple chunky glass country vase (pictured left) from Live Laugh Love.

For something a little more structured, or in a city home with no outdoor space, the obvious answer lies in two of our most celebrated florists. Jane Packer’s hat basket of roses in soft shades of pink (pictured right) lends a dash of sweetness in any modern or contemporary interior.

For a more relaxed look we adore the 1920s-inspired vintage glamour bouquet by Kenneth Turner with its roses, lilies, tuberose and silvery sage drawn together and adorned with pearls. (Both make the perfect gift for a summer hostess.)

And because butterflies love flowers, this little family (pictured left) by Something Lovely in sorbet shades of pretty pink, lemon yellow and pale green makes the dream backdrop.

A summer home should be freshly fragranced so if you’re lacking lavender-crammed borders, herb gardens and acres of newly cut lawn, fake it with a scented candle from much loved Daylesford Organic. We’re stocking up on the Vine Tomato candle that’ll have you dreaming of Mediterranean summer sunshine.

If you’re keen to tap into the latest looks, dip into this season’s trend for bright blocks of colour with the Ibiza cushions at Aubergine Interiors.

If tastes are more traditional, the beautiful collection of hand-embroidered cushions (pictured right) at Caroline Zoob – stitched from antique French textiles and filled with organic lavender – hits the casual summer note flawlessly.

Brighten up kitchens, children’s bedrooms and outdoor spaces with jolly fabric bunting in bold stripes, polka dots or vintage florals: a summer decorating essential that looks as good flapping in the breeze as it does strung from trees on the stillest of days.

Decorative Country Living has some of the prettiest with this simple design (pictured left) made from vintage fabrics and available in two lengths and sizes.

Consider also your summer window dressings. Fluttery curtains are great for catching the breeze, and slatted blinds work well to filter sunbeams, but on windows or glass screens where you want to keep light in but inquisitive faces out, you need to get clever.

Sand blasted glass is the traditional route but as an easier, more cost-effective solution, visit Brume for their window film which is now available in over 50 designs. From the kooky and contemporary to the elegant and period property-friendly (pictured right), it’s an ideal solution for boosting privacy and adding a decorative touch without sacrificing natural light.

And on balmy nights, linger for longer outside with the triple heart sconce (pictured left) from Aspen & Brown. With three glass votives ready for twinkling tea lights, it makes a friendly touch in a darkening garden.

Team with pastel-coloured glass candles from Marston & Langinger and you’ve set the scene for star gazing, late night chats and lashings of wine or simply a spot of quiet reflection.

Please login below: