BRING SPRING INSIDE

 

 

Springtime is here, and I couldn’t be happier!

 

I love to watch our world awaken and blossom with gorgeous bright g r e e n and flowers.

This year was a cold and wet year here in Southern California,

spring is just the refresh my creativity and soul needs.

 

 

 

You?

 

 

 

We are remodeling two bathrooms here at FrenchGardenHouse

 

 

and it’s a bit of a mess.

 

 

 

 

Even with storage boxes from the master bedroom in the living room

 

 

I am really enjoying introducing fresh and springy decor to brighten up our home.

 

 

I’m just throwing a plastic sheet over the mess rest, and focusing on the pretty things in the house!

 

 

{our almost done guest bathroom….waiting for a shower door, moldings, and a counter top!}

 

 

I want to share some of my favorite ways to change my decor

 

to celebrate this bright and lighter season.

 

 

I have all the sources for the looks pictured, simply click on the photo of the item you are interested in and it will take you to the source. Hopefully this helps you recreate the look in your own home!

 

 

GO GREEN.  

 

There are so many ways to bring natural green into your rooms without repainting or reupholstering.  I love wreaths to enhance my decor, but topiaries are my favorite way to add that fresh classic spring green we all love inside.

 

 

 

 

French Pink Faux Tulips | 19th Century Gathering Basket | St.Remy Preserved Boxwood Topiary

 

 

 

ADD FLOWERS.  

 

Nothing else peps up a room like flowers, nothing.

 

 

If I had a staff {besides Bentley} and an unlimited budget, fresh flowers would adorn every table in every room here at FrenchGardenHouse.  Since I have neither, faux florals have come to my rescue.

Many of our clients have flower allergies, and our beautiful Les Belles Fleurs faux florals bring the same beauty they crave without the sneezing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

These faux peonies are my favorite way to add beauty for spring! They come in pink, and I have tons of each, I used about 21 stems in this antique barbola basket for a powerful statement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aside from the pink peonies, faux hydrangeas make your decor speak fluent s p r i n g too. The living room gets a breath of spring air with these large white cream hydrangeas arranged in the antique French jar.

 

 

 

 

The tea cart gets has this glorious bunch of Garden Dreams Hydrangeas in two tones of blue and pink, it brings me a smile every time I see this little corner of our home!  They are specially made to be able to put them in water, which really adds to the illusion that they are “real.”

 

 

 


Barbola Basket | Luxury Pink Peonies | French Apothecary Jar Similar | Serenity White Hydrangeas | Garden Dreams Hydrangeas

 

 

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN.

Go ahead, be daring. An antique French watering can can be stunning filled with flowers and used as the centerpiece on your French commode. Using unexpected garden elements is fun!  Step outside your usual decorating trick box and incorporate some of your favorite garden antiques inside your home.

 

I love the “rough” enamelware on a vintage sterling silver tray, paired with a gilt French mirror, antique French commode, and to the side, a gorgeous pillow with gardening tools made from an antique grain sack!

 

 

 

 

 


Antique French Enamel Pitcher | 19th Century Country Pillow| Antique French Enameld Blue Pitcher

 

 

ADD NATURAL TEXTURE.

Bringing in decorative pieces with natural texture gives the illusion of being outside on the porch – without having to go outdoors. A wonderful way to change things up for spring, wicker and wood elements add an outdoor, spring feeling without overpowering your decor. My preferred way to add texture to any room is with antique woven baskets. Not only do they look wonderful, they have the added storage bonus too.

 

 

 

Here in our “almost done” bathroom {our contractor mounted the sink in the guest bathroom on a piece of plywood for our Easter guests until the marble counter top is cut!} the texture of the basket adds a little earthy  look.  I love that contrast of bright shiny marble, antique gilt mirror and that country woven basket filled with lavender!

 

COLOR OUTSIDE THE BOX.

 

Spring is the perfect time to introduce some bold colors to your home.  Planting a bold, bright pink orchid in an antique French soup tureen is such an easy way to change the whole way your rooms look, without having to invest in replacing major pieces.  It’s a great way to change the look of your home without breaking your budget. If you can pick up this same color in a small throw pillow, a art print or even a candle, it gives everything that look of spring.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you are inspired to welcome Spring into your home with some of these ideas!

 

 

 

 

 

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

10 thoughts on “BRING SPRING INSIDE”

  1. Lidy, you always inspire me to get something off the shelf, bring it out and put it to use. Today it’s your lovely gathering basket. I have a basket that belonged to my grandmother that’s similar to the one you display. I have no idea how old it is…at least 80 to 100 years old. I wonder if it might have been her mother’s. I wish I had a way to know it’s age. Anyway, thank you for today’s inspiration. I will be going to France in July for a hiking trip but will also have a couple of days in Annecy to shop. I am hoping to find some wonderful tresors to bring home…maybe I’ll be lucky enough to be there on a big market day!
    Thanks again!

    1. Vicky, I love that inspiration to look at something in a different spot! How fortunate you are to have your grandmother’s basket, a true treasure. And Annecy! Can’t wait to hear all about your wonderful trip, something to look forward to this July. I am sure you are so excited about going.

  2. Yay for Spring! It’s amazing how far faux flowers have come. Beautiful! Can’t wait to see your finished renovations. Blessings.

    1. I can’t wait either Tammy! It’s a slow process, but it is already so much better than before. I agree about the faux flowers, they are amazing! At a hotel recently I had to touch their flowers to know for sure.

  3. Remodeling is always a pain and a mess but the ends usually more than justify the time and energy spent. I love every photo. I’ve been bringing color IN because we’re waiting for color OUT! Soon!

  4. Jeanie, yes, I agree! We feel so blessed to be able to renovate our 1960’s bathrooms. And I hope you will soon enjoy color OUT! Xo Lidy

    1. Thank you Shirley! I can’t wait either. I think we will feel like we are in a plush hotel every day…so much to be grateful for.

  5. Sharon Crigger-Stokan

    I so enjoy your posts Lidy and this one was particularly enjoyable with all the hints and tips. Beautiful…just beautiful! Thanks for sharing!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top