Planing a garden in which there’s something blooming from early spring to late fall is one of the most rewarding gardening strategies, and one of the trickiest to implement, especially for beginners like myself. Each year comes with new gardening lessons and some lessons are more painful to absorb than others (I still ache for those hydrangea shrubs we purchased on an impulse soon after our move, shrubs that never flowered in our Zone 5b). One thing I’ve been learning more about lately is choosing locally-grown plants based on bloom time so there’s something pretty in the garden throughout the seasons, and less heartache for the gardener. 

Good morning, friends! Hope you had a beautiful summer weekend! We’re spending a few days on the Cape but after a busy day yesterday everyone is sleeping in, and I miss you, so I thought I’d sneak in and quickly share with you the latest addition to our furniture family – an antique armchair I got from Facebook Marketplace a couple of days ago that I’m very excited about!

I don’t know about you but it’s been a while since I fell head over heels in love with a house I saw in a magazine. It’s been a while since I lost myself researching the paint colors, sources, the designer’s reasoning behind certain decorating choices etc and I miss that feeling. I miss the quickened heart rate and the enchantment, and I wonder if it’s me that’s changed, or the homes we see more and more of. That glossy perfection where everything is brand new, tailored and custom made for a space just doesn’t appeal to me. I am drawn to character, age, interesting details, quirk and things slightly off, worn and warm. Objects found and objects cherished for what they represent more than their monetary value.  So, since I don’t have a cute new home to show you today that has all of these attributes, I thought we could go down memory lane and visit some old favorites here on Café Design, houses that for whatever reason have left a long-lasting impression in our heart.

Happy Birthday America! You make a welcoming home! Since I couldn’t find any patriotic décor in our home, this picture I snapped the other day of our family room will have to do. It’s where I’ll be for the next hour, devouring an intriguing new book, listening to some lovely tunes… Wishing my American friends a very happy 4th of July!!!