Tips to Summer Up your Home:

California Style by Liz Lamont

Sunday…Sleepy…, reading a copy of COASTAL LIVING.  All of a sudden motivation comes at me and I am off to set my house up for summer.  It really jazzes me up to redo my house both inside and out at the change of seasons.  Here are some ideas to bring a little California inside your own home.

1.  Start at the Front door - take away the winter scarves and umbrellas, add some fun beachy, lakey or mountainy props (wherever you live) and you will get a fresh breath every time you co me home.

2.   This could be my favorite - I always feel that a Powder Room is the place to let your inner self shine! Kinda like when you become your real self at Halloween, show some great creativeness When the message is clear keep going - I always put reading material in for guests and family to ponder. Small or large books- something to capture their attention- maybe even to discuss afterwards! Here are some books that I love for summer!

3.  Put together some things in your home and Create a Collection.  You may not even realize you have been collecting certain items all these years as they’ve been randomly scattered throughout the house. Gather them! Add some whimsy and voila!  A nod to summer. . Here is a collection of Sand Pails I had used in one of my kids room. In the family room it says SUMMER!

4. Bring out those cushions and pillows for the patio or deck - nothing says California like living outdoors. You have another living room out there.  Use it!  If your pillows are a bit lackluster from being in the garage all winter, order some new covers but until then use some great matching beach towels.   There are so many choices now that can stay outside with out any harm from wet or fading. Welcome to your new room!

5.  For those of you who don’t live near any water, add some touches anyway.  It gets hot real fast now, so have a great jug of lemonade on the weekend for friends and family. Put a bowl of lemons on the coffee table - they may have come from the store but your house has the feel of summer already.

          

Keep California Dreamin’-xo Liz

Creating the California Home

As the warm spring days start showing up in Southern California, I am drawn to the idea of opening up my house to create that so loved indoor outdoor feeling that I have here, living in Malibu. I want to Spring clean and rearrange my house. There are lots of birthdays in our lives just now and so it is also the perfect time to start celebrating family and friends. What better way to do this than entertaining?

I want to share with you how to bring our amazing California Lifestyle into your own home. Let’s go…

Firstly-Throw open the doors and windows and let drops of sunshine blow away the long winter dullness. Experience the smells and scents of spring.

When I walk out my door the scents of orange blossoms and jasmine are intoxicating. I love to leave the windows open and have those scents fill my rooms. If you don’t have sweet scents outdoors yet,create a window box with lavender and rosemary that scents the air as the wind passes by.

California has an abundance of hiking trails and beaches and I am never at a loss to fill my home with flowers, branches all pilfered from nature.  Walk down to the beach, lake, creek or wherever you can find a bit of nature and bring it back indoors. Fill hurricanes with some sand, moss and layer with rocks, shells. Put a pillar in the hurricane and you have begun your transformation to spring.

Next..Change up your pillows and throws-put away (after cleaning) those wintery rust, greens, and browns and add some great soft greens and blues. Let the colors of the sky and blossoming leaves be your guide. Large graphic prints look current and the entire room will pop with color by just changing a few details.

photo credit House Beautiful

Now that the windows are cleaned ,(please no more rain) and the rooms have been freshened, let’s get to those parties.  Every April we get a flurry of friends from back East who have to come  to the sunshine of California. Small dinner parties are my favorite and especially Friday night ones.

I am always working so the meal has to be simple, relaxing and fun. I put my guests to work. They mostly are foodies too ,so that is not too much of a problem. They chop for salads while I get to the main course. Fish is easy and the best when fresh and simply grilled. A quick cous-cous and the dinner is practically done.  Let’s get to the table because that’s where my passion lies…

Layering and  special details are what make a great table. I love a simple white plate which always shows off  food the best. But what’s around it is what counts. Napkin rings are my weakness so I always pull out something fun, but anything to add just another layer of interest is great. I f you don’t have  some rings on hand that you love, use what’s around you. Put a piece of fruit on the plate to act as a place card.”You, my dear, are the lemon tonight!” what fun to look at your friends like fruit!

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What’s the mood? Still a bit chilly to eat outside, so what says California more than bringing in out and vice versa? I love the organic and rustic mixed with fine dinnerware-or again vice versa. The key is to mix up your things. I have recently been in love with burlap on the table. You can get it at any fabric store but I have some runners that I made for the store that are bit more polished with a detailed edge. The colors of brown and blue set the color theme and off we go.

California says ease and that’s what I want you to embrace in your own homes-casual with style- that sums up my look. Till next time…Hope You will be California dreamin’