Hello friend! Today I’m excited to be participating in the 2021 Spring Into Summer Home Tour hosted by Kristi at French Creek Farmhouse! I hope you’ll visit all of the amazing bloggers in this tour! You can find links to all of their homes at the end of this post.
My contribution to the tour is my springing into summer entryway!
My entryway faces north, but we still get a good bit of sun through our front door! I recently painted our front door white. I’ve been looking for something to hang over the door but haven’t found anything yet. You know when you go antiquing or flea marketing and you come across something that is perfect for a certain spot in your home? That’s what I’m waiting to happen for the spot over our door.
The pictures on either side of the chalkboard are new additions to my entryway. I repainted a couple of kitchen cabinet doors I got from the Habitat For Humanity ReStore to create a more layered look and give the pictures more depth. What do you think? I’m sharing the tutorial here on the blog next week.
I used a mix of dried flowers, fresh flowers, herbs and indoor plants for my springing into summer greenery. The indoor plants you see here are Pothos (also known as Devil’s Ivy). The thingamajig sitting in front of the milk cans in the lower right of the picture is a antique garden sprinkler.
I got this sweet card file from Decor Steals! Doesn’t it look like the real vintage deal? The wire baskets and wicker basket sitting on the chair (which has a leather strap so it can also be hung up) from Decor Steals too.
The flowers and plants from left to right in the picture (not including the flowers hanging in front of the chalkboard) are violas, basil, violas, more violas, even more violas, and Italian parsley. The flowers in the pitcher on the right of the next photo are French lavender.
People often ask me how long it takes me to style a “space” like this entryway or one of my hutches. When I want to completely change the look and I’m changing out all the decor, it usually takes me picking at it on and off during the day for a good week to get it to where I want it.
People also ask me where I get my ideas and inspiration for my decor. Of course I look at Pinterest, Instagram and decor blogs like everyone else, but I try to make my areas as unique to me as possible. Sometimes I hit the mark with that if I’m feeling really creative and inspired, but most of the times I don’t.
It’s hard to style things when I’m feeling uninspired, so I try to give myself plenty of time to style spaces like this when I know I have an blog hop coming up.
But then life happens, things come up, and I usually end up pulling whatever I do out of my arse at the last moment and finishing the styling, take and edit the pictures, write up the post the day before the blog hop goes live like I did with this post. I started working on it a couple of weeks ago, but I really struggled with it and it just didn’t come together until the last day, and that was mostly because I was out of time.
Why did I share that piece of not so flattering information with you? Because I want you to know that decor bloggers struggle too – and sometimes a lot – with their decor. We can’t just whip out the perfect space in no time flat – the finished product often takes a lot of time, sweat, and tears to pull together to the perfection you see on our blogs. So if you struggle with your decor – don’t beat yourself up, because even the “pros” like decor bloggers do it too.
I also shared that because I ran out of stuff to say about my entryway and had to come up with some filler, but it’s true and I hope you find it helpful 💚
The seed packet on the left is like three years old and still has seeds in it. I found it on the bottom of my seed drawer when I started working on planting my garden a few weeks ago. I’m going to plant them this week and hope some will still sprout.
I got this little crate years back – I think it was part of a gardening kit.
I had intended to hang dried flowers in front of the chalkboard for a banner, but the rats got into the storage bins that I had them in in our old house on our family property. We’re planning to fix up the old house eventually but right now we just use if for storage. Anyway, the rats chewed up all my dried flowers, but I didn’t know it until this morning when I went into the old house to get them. So I had to improvise and use fresh sweet broom, French lavender and arugula blooms for my banner. I think it turned out nice, and hopefully they will still look good up there even after they dry out.
I love all flowers and it would be difficult for me to chose a favorite, but violas would definitely be in the running. They are just so darn pretty, and variety of colors are amazing!
That’s it for my springing into summer entryway! Be sure to check out all the other homes on the tour through the links below!
Thanks so much for checking out my entryway and enjoy the rest of the homes on the Spring into Summer Home Tour!
As always, I’m totally in love with your ideas Michelle! I know you shared this one was a struggle for you but you honestly make it look effortless. I love all the layers of plants and patina you added and how it’s the perfect celebration of spring and summer. You definitely nailed this one friend! Hugs, CoCo
Thank you so much my friend! You are always so supportive and encouraging 💜💜💜 It was so fun being part of this awesome home tour with you!
Oh my goodness, Michelle! I’m having trouble picking my favorite part of your entryway because I love EVERYTHING! My eyes were first drawn to those layered pictures–what a unique idea. I love it, and I can’t wait for the post on how you did it! I also got a chuckle out of your honesty that–hey, you know, it’s hard for us too! I think you’re right that people assume our houses are styled effortlessly and always look picture perfect. Such a myth! Like you, I often spend days upon days messing with things until I get it “just right”. And sometimes I get frustrated with an area that doesn’t seem to be working and ignore it for a while until it starts to speak to me. I could totally relate to that feeling of how sometimes things just come together at the last minute…it’s happened to me so many times! Thank you for being so honest and real…that is truly something to admire! xo, Kristi
Thank you so much Kristi! I’m so happy you like how it turned out! And thanks so much for inviting me to take part in this home tour – it’s been super fun (besides my last minute struggles but that’s totally on me!) and all the homes are amazing!
I love your entryway decor it is simple stunning friend.
Thank you so much Wendy!
Oh, Michelle! This is just beautiful! You have given me so many ideas for garden-inspired spring decor. You have the most amazing pieces. I love the soda fountain sign! This is definitely one of my favorite entries on IG. Love it!
Thank you so much Kim! I’m so happy it inspired you!
Wow, you really work well under pressure because your entryway is stunning! I love all your beautiful finds and how you layered them all together. What a brilliant idea for those cabinet doors too. It’s a great reminder to look at things in a different way. You truly captured the feel of the spring and summer season! Just lovely!
Shelley
Thank you so much Shelley! I start working on home tours like two weeks in advance and I always think that will be plenty of time, but it never is! 😀
I love your entryway and the garden theme. It’s all so beautiful.
Thank you so much Jennifer!
So Cute! I love all of the florals and greenery!
Thank you so much Katy!
Hi Michelle: As always your entry is charming. Love the way you tucked the flowers into the drawers and yes everything you said is so true. Please come check out my website https.//fortheloveofold.net I think you might enjoy. I have a passion for antiques as well.
Thank you so much Shelley! I’ll definitely check your website out!
Oh my, oh my, oh my Michelle. I am in heaven! Your entryway is gorgeous! I love EVERYTHING! That sign, the sideboard, the drawers. Wow. I’m so excited to be joining you on this tour. You’ve given me so much inspiration. Thank you! x Julie
Thanks so much Julie! I’m so happy my entryway inspired you!
Love your entry!
Thank you Melanie!
Girl, you know I love all you do. Even though you say you struggled (like you said happens to us all) you make it look easy amd totally aaaahhhmazing! I love your new sign over the chalkboard. What a treasure! Waiting paid off with that one. Pinned!
Thank you so much my friend!!!
Your entry is so pretty Michelle! I love all the flowers and terra cotta pots, just beautiful!!
Thanks so much Tanya!
Michelle, I’m cracking up because it took me forever to decorate my little porch…my neighbors must think I’m nuts!! Nothing looked right and I moved it around a hundred times until it all came together…the struggle is real!!
LOL indeed it is!!! My neighbors must think the same thing when I’ve decorate my front porch for home tours and such.
Oh I would love to walk into this space every day! The pots and greens put me right in that summer mood!
Thanks so much Jess!
Beautiful entryway! I would have never thought to open some of the drawers and add decor in them. Brilliant!
Thank you so much Hannah!
Wow!! This is perfect!! Great job!
Thanks so much Kristin!
Wow, Michelle!! This is just gorgeous! I love the layers frames and how they pop against that blackboard. Absolutely stunning!
Thank you so much Jennifer!
Wow, your entryway vignette is magazine-worthy, Michelle! My eyes first set on how you used cabinet doors to hang the framed art. Love the black frames against the crackled white finish. Then my eyes went to your lovely fresh garland on the chalkboard. You did a great job pulling it together last minute (dang rats). Love the mix of interesting vintage finds with new vintage-looking finds. It’s gorgeous!
Thank you so much Marie! My hubs made that chalkboard for me using your tutorial on your blog!
Wow, Michelle! I am in awe of your beautiful entryway! It is so original and soooooooo magazine worthy! You hit this one out of the ball park, girl! Way to go! BYW… I love how to tell it like it is! I can relate completely! Pinned!!!
Hugs,
Tee
Thank you so much Tee! The decor blogger struggle bus is real!