At the heart of this Turquoise Home is my love for the water, and more specifically the emerald blue waters of Highway 30A in the panhandle of Florida. I’m a beach girl at heart. I am a tried and true summer girl, even though I hate hot weather. It’s a struggle living in the South, let me tell ya.
What I mean by being a “summer girl” is that the deepest connection I feel with nature is on the white sands, looking out at the gorgeous turquoise waters of my beloved beaches. I’ve traveled all over the world to experience the finest beaches, including my favorites in Thailand, Bali, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. And they have all made a lasting impact on my heart and design style.
If I could sum up my style in one way, it’s a traditional farmhouse style with coastal influences. Never mind that I live 6 hours from the nearest beach, I like to have a sense of summer in my home all year long.
I think it’s funny that a girl like me who likes to plan and know what’s up ahead is such a summer lover. To me I think of summer as being a time of carefree and fun in the sun. Being spontaneous and barefoot, grilling out and letting the kids get dirty, taking baths every night because of grass and sticky ice cream chins. I love all of that about summer, too, just as much as I like structure and a plan.
Designed by architect Dawn Thurber and Built by Borges Brooks Builders
Do you know the feeling of not having to wake up early in the morning, being able to wear your swimsuit and cover up all day if you want to. Eating food next to the pool every night for dinner and just having late nights without a care in the world? That’s what I love about summer.
RELATED: Simple Beach Summer Mantel
I recently read an article in the latest Magnolia Journal by Shauna Niequist. She’s the author of Present Over Perfect, which is on my summer reading list – sounds like the perfect summer book to read! And she shares how she is a summer girl who keeps summer with her all year long. She found herself frustrated by the rest of the year, when she just loved those middle of the year months the most. I found myself nodding profusely as I read the article, on the shores of the gorgeous, crystal blue waters last week. She spoke right to my soul.
Built by Borges Brooks Builders
I didn’t realize this year, at this time, how much I needed a reset and a respite from the frantic pace of life. I’d been struggling this whole semester to find my groove and figure out my way both personally and professionally. I’ve floundered and wandered and felt truly depleted at times. It’s easy to just go through the motions of life and not really realize you need to get away and rest. Until you do, and then it’s like your soul breathed for the first time in a year.
When we got back from vacation on Tuesday, I felt different walking in those doors. The trip hadn’t been easy and only restful, because … well, we have two young kids. It’s a lot of work to go out of town with kids. We were also there with my 15 family members ranging in ages from 6 months to 65, so there’s a lot of people to manage and feed and consider in the mix.
On Wednesday I sat down and opened my Bible and drank my coffee, enjoying the quieter, already slower pace of summer. My youngest is already out of preschool, so once I get my big kid on the school bus, I have some alone time until my little one wakes up.
Life is already less rushed and less harried as we sail into summer.
I then sat down and opened my business binder and had a brain storming session about home projects I want to tackle and projects I want to finish. It’s normally something I do at the beginning of every year and it helps to focus my work for the whole year, but I had neglected to do that this year. I think I was so focused on my decluttering project series that I didn’t take the time to do it, and then when that was over I had forgotten.
The ideas poured out this week as I’ve been writing down every little thing I want to do for the house. I know that the list will take a long time to finish and I don’t have any expectation that I’ll finish it anytime soon, but I’m excited to have plans again and a direction. I want to accomplish as much as possible this summer while my husband is home (he’s a school teacher).
All of that to say, the break from the daily grind has been good. It’s opened up my creativity again and I’m dreaming and planning again. And in the end, I’ve learned that even though I can be uptight, I’m a summer girl at heart and I want my home to reflect that.
How to you break away and get refreshed?
What theme or season do you want to keep incorporated into your home and life all year round?
Teresa Greene
I have followed your blog for a while now. I love everything! Thank yo for sharing your ideas!! Happy Mother’s Day!
Sharon
The beach is my Happy Place😊. That pretty much says it all
Laura
Yes ma’am! I just wish I could get there more often! xo, Laura
Connie
Oh wow! This really spoke to my heart! I have always been a summer girl through and through! Love the warmth, the sunshine, the games of summer….softball, baseball…..being barefoot, not worrying about a coat, and having a carefree schedule. The beach is my husband’s (of almost 45 years) and my go to vacation. It’s my awe-inspiring, truly knowing there is a God, restful, one-of-a-kind place on this planet! And that’s really hard to achieve living in Oklahoma!!! Can’t wait ’til September when we’ll be at Vero Beach, FL!!! ❤️🐋🌴🌸🌊⚾️
Laura
Yes to all of this! The not worrying about a coat is so my happy place. Haha! And truly knowing there is a God at the ocean? All the yeses! I wish I could go to the ocean once a month! 🙂
Janet
I live west of 30A on the other side of Ft Walton Beach and I visit 30A a few times a year, I live 6 miles from the best beaches in the world; in my opinion . I am a beach girl thru and thru. The sun, the air, the waves soothes my soul. My home is by no means a beach castle but it is my sanctuary . Even tho I am 60+ ( gasp!! :)!) I do love a good beach day with my sweetheart husband of 46 years. THe smell of Hawaiian Tropics lotion is my favorite smell , I even use it as a lotion after a day at the beach. We pack a picnic of Subway sandwichs , chips and a cooler full of icie cold drinks ( a few might be alcoholic) , a good trashy novel for me, a big hat , umbrella and beach chairs and we are good for a day staycation..like you I have been to beaches all over the world but , I am so thankful/grateful to be right where I belong.. I love that you are a beach girl too! There is enough beach for all of us!
Laura
It all sounds wonderful, Janet!! I’m jealous that you get to live to close! 🙂
Christine Morse
Holy cow. This spoke so deeply to my heart that I went out and purchased the Magnolia Journal that you were talking about just to read the article…granted I am not 100% sure why I don’t get it anyways…None the less. I am the same, a summer girl through and through. I day-dream about sandy beaches and the waves crashing on my feet as I just sit there and breathe in the salty air. We live in North Dakota so it is a LONG way for a good beach but you have given me some ideas for bringing the feeling the beach to our home and making it something I add into my heart!
Candy Walsh
I’m so glad you enjoyed your vacation. I share the same love of the beach and summer like you do and will be heading that way in June!! I love all the homes you shared!
Laura
Thank you, Candy! I am so glad we went and now want to go back! Enjoy your trip in June!! 🙂
Pam
I love the beach as well. Love all the turquoise inspired photos.
Randi @ A Fresh-Squeezed Life
Oh my! This is such a refreshing, gorgeous home!
I love a good getaway to get my creativeness ticking. It’s too easy to get stuck in the day to day. Getting away brings a “big picture” to life!