How Colorful Interiors Inspire My Lifestyle

My maximalist summer home tour with a look at home decor lifestyle tips for everyday use in the office and piano studio.

I love finding new and creative ways to use old decor to add seasonal touches to our home. It’s a money, time, and space-saving technique I’ve been practicing throughout the years! It feels good to shop the house to repurpose items and bring new life to them.

It also feels great to find a good deal on second-hand finds and I’ll be sharing the best of both worlds in today’s summer home tour. So if you love to get a bang for your buck but still appreciate a well-designed curated space, you’re in the right place.

Summer Home Decor

I’m happy as a clam to be joining Marty from A Stroll Through Life and a group of fabulous bloggers in sharing our summer home tours all week. Our master bedroom summer decor features were a huge hit last month and this time I’m showing the two rooms I use most during the workweek; my office, and piano studio.

A special welcome if you are coming This is our Bliss. I adore Rachel’s refined traditional style with touches of glam and pops of black and white. She is such a sweet lady and super stylish herself.

Make sure to scroll all of the way to the bottom to see all of the lovely homes!

Summer Workspaces Home Decor Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

These two rooms work so hard for me and they are truly a pleasure to do the things I’m most passionate about; blogging and music. Join me as I walk you through each room and share tips for easy summer decorating, a few changes/updates, and how these spaces really showcase my lifestyle.

The Office Ready for Summer

My office was a windowless bonus room when we moved. I took the opportunity to create the multi-functional workspace of my dreams during a makeover challenge a year and half ago.

A bird wallpaper and sun tunnel installation dramatically changed the room. I love to display pottery from Japan, family heirlooms, and thrifted crystal, silver, and other finds in here.

The built in cabinets keep my work items organized and I store photography and work out equipment under the two sofas. The first is a cute love seat I added fringe around the bottom.

The second is a click clack sofa that folds into a bed. We officially used the room for an overnight guest a couple of weekends ago and my daughter and I have had many girl nights. Cue the diffuser and workout music and I have a personal fitness studio.

Most of the art came from my grandpa or his lady friend who is an estate sale queen! My favorite is an African scene that my grandfather purchased when he lived here. I love hearing the stories behind the art and occasionally share them on Instagram.

The days are brighter now and I was able to pull in a live plant from the living room! Wahoo. 🙂 So far it is happy in here. I just wrote an extensive article on low-light plants and have learned a lot about plant care in dark rooms.

Bringing in greenery is one of my favorite ways to decorate for summer! I also love using baskets under tables and accent chairs for extra storage. Baskets have such a great texture and feel summery to me. Especially rattan and bamboo.

You can see a pair of weights are even color-coordinated to the office. That was not planned, however. I keep thinking about adding a fabric skirt to this sofa for hidden storage. Ha!

Back to greenery, faux stems are fun to move around the house too. I’ve had a pair of monstera leaves that look pretty darn real. I paired them in a frosted pink vase from a different room for a new summer display in the office.

The gold planter and black stand is a recent estate sale find and right now hides the chords and could totally be used as a trash can. We’ve had some really good estate sales recently here in Fort Worth and I’ve displayed some second-hand fluted silver candlesticks with some of my grandmother’s silver.

The beautiful large sakura plate was a gift from my husband while we were stationed in Japan. A few Asian pieces were recently gifted by a friend and fit in room really well.

On the other side of the desk, I have a collection of pottery and purple things. Sometimes it is just easier to display by color rather than by type! Bonus, they tie in my iPad into the decor.

I try not to get into all of the details every time I show the office because everything has a story behind it. But it makes the room very personal and a favorite spot to be in.

The Piano Studio with Summer Touches

Just to the left of the office is the front of the house and where our baby grand piano sits. I’ve taught both of my kiddos and teach students two evenings a week.

I have been in love with a pair of Anthropologie curtains for months and waited for a sale to purchase them. They look perfect next to my grandmother’s portrait on the right and my husband’s military career wall hanging on the left.

The pair of chairs used to be my grandparents and the display cabinet was in my grandfather’s office for years. I had so much fun having the chairs reupholstered and making over the cabinet. It is a really fun space to teach and play in.

The red, white, and blue rooster is a recent find! He is from Paraguay.

I brought in summer touches with fan palms and cattail (I think?) grass. The brown accents really add to all of the jewel tones. The bamboo mini chest holds teaching supplies.

Another recent change is the blue rug that came from our bedroom. We are in the middle of a ensuite bathroom renovation so I thought it was the perfect time to try the rug under the piano. It will stay there to save my marriage. lol

The baskets hold music and textiles while the stool is perfect for my smaller students to perch their feet. I really love how the front of the house has evolved. It’s the fanciest part of the open living concept. I’ll share the other side next week in another summer home tour!

Summer decorating and thrifting tips takeaways!

• Look for pretty second-hand containers for hidden storage
• Collect items that spark joy by type and/or color
• Swap plants and faux foliage from different rooms and vases for a new seasonal display

Let’s go and head over to It All Started with Paint now! I can’t wait to see her summer home touches.

Monday

A Stroll Thru Life  //  Worthing Court  //  A Pretty Life //  Pink Peppermint Design  //  StoneGable  //  Hymns & Verses

Tuesday

Southern State of Mind  //  This Is Our Bliss  //  Up To Date Interiors  //  It All Started With Paint  //  Decor To Adore  //  Cuckoo4Design

Wednesday

RemodelaCasa  //  Whispering Pines Homestead  //  Cassie Bustamante  //  Inspiration For Moms  //  Making it in The Mountains  //  White Arrows Home

Thursday

Our Southern Home  //  CitrineLiving  //  The Wood Grain Cottage  //  Grace In My Space  //  Thrifty and Chic  //  Designing Vibes

Friday

Casa Watkins Living  //  Follow The Yellow Brick Home  //  Chalking Up Success  //  Bloom in the Black  //  Quarters One  //  Clean & Scentsible