Mountain Decor

There is a plethora of blog posts and magazine articles about getting the “beach” look for the summer.  This time of year, the words summer and beach are synonymous.  However, I would imagine many people alternatively go to the mountains or lake instead of the beach. In Arizona, we are blessed with beautiful mountains within an easy driving distance and with the altitude comes cooler temperatures. So let’s head to the mountains and check out some mountain decor.

Adding some decor touches

When I go on vacation having a completely different decor/scenery helps with the “winding down and being on vacation” mode. Getting out of the daily grind and going on vacation means a slower pace, lowering my shoulders, spending time with family, being subdued and taking in the gorgeous scenery.

Any home can be decorated to feel like it belongs in the mountains with only a few of the right accessories.

My friend, Kristin, from White Arrows Home lives in a gorgeous mountain cabin in Wisconsin year round. She is the expert at decorating her log cabin, fondly known as Camp Paradise in a rustic style. Check out her blog here. She just opened a new store, too, so if you are looking for unique items, she does ship!

Utilize your space

What is a vacation getaway without a cozy place to read or nap?  I purchased this day bed years ago in a junk store.  At that time, the chippy paint style was not as popular and the frame is very white and very chippy.  I spray painted it a satin Moss Green from Rust-Oleum which is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. Plus it blends in nicely with the colors of the forest.

The striped fabric seems fitting for a daybed in the screened-in porch. The bed actually slides out so the bottom cushions sit side by side~making a double size bed.  The pillows were my first attempt at sewing a welt on my own.  Don’t look too closely at my “rustic” mistakes!

Rustic Elements

In the same screened porch, we have a small table with 2 chairs and a vintage wicker lounge chair, perfect for a morning coffee.

Most of the furniture is cobbled together~leftover pieces from our home and garage sale finds.  But it all seems to work as cabin living here is casual and comfortable.

A Place to Gather

There is nothing better than family and friends gathering around a large table. This dining room set is a thrift store find and table leaves slide out to accommodate more seating.  The ladder-back chairs complement the mountains decor.

My friend, Linda Frederick, from Arcadia Design and Stitch made the seat cushions and pillows out of this sweet fabric.

Special Touches

Small accents like these old snowshoes are reminiscent of outdoor winter sports. Just a tip if you are looking for snowshoes~~they were much less expensive here in the Phoenix thrift stores than those in the mountains.

I love anything faux bois (French for false wood) which is the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains in various media. Since last year, I am consistently adding items with a Black forest motif to make the cabin feel more Scandinavian. To see my post about accomplishing that, click here.

This songbird arched mirror comes with a finish which lends to the rustic vibe of the cabin. You can find it here. Not only is it helpful to have a mirror in the front hall by the door, but it pairs nicely with the Black Forest bear and acorn shelf.

This simple, inexpensive bench was found at a junk store and I recovered it myself in cowhide. Situated right in front of the fireplace, it is the perfect place to warm up on a cold evening.

Find it in Nature

Being surrounded by beautiful Ponderosa pine trees, there is an abundance of natural material to use.  

We collect pine cones during our walks and they make the perfect centerpiece in an old dough bowl, or as a place card holder!

Accommodate the Weather

The temperature in the mountains can vary significantly. During the summer it is warm and toasty during the day, but the afternoon storm clouds move in and it can get chilly. As a result we have blankets and quilts scattered throughout the house. This vintage camp blanket was purchased one summer from Camps and Cottages during a trip to Laguna Beach, CA. 

One of my favorite shops in Laguna Beach, the owner, Molly English, is a talented designer. We became fast friends and I have all the books that she has written on camps and cottage decor.   Her latest book, Contemporary Cottages is filled with wonderful inspirational ideas and decor.

Show off your Collections

Collecting quilts over the years, provides each bed with a quilt. And each quilt has its own story.  

This sweet quilt in my daughter’s room was purchased many moons ago (before children) during a cross country trip. Hidden in a corner of an antique store, it was filthy and nearly black but I could tell that by the intricate stitching that it was a keeper.  Hauling it home, the quilt is placed in a bathtub filled with cold water and Ivory Snow. Miraculously, after a long soaking, the dirt floats away and the quilt came to life. You can imagine my delight when it was finally clean!

The maple four poster bed is mine from childhood.  I recall my mother stopping by the roadside and buying it for $2.50.  It was painted a bright red and she lovingly refinished it to its natural wood grain.

The quilt in my son’s room was made by his paternal grandmother.  It’s hard not to admire all the work that goes into these beauties. Does anyone know the name of this pattern?

A simple red and white checkered coverlet is in my other daughter’s room.  It pairs nicely with the Burberry fabric on her side chair and bedskirt.

The guest room has two twin beds and it is very difficult to find matching quilts.  However, a side trip to Bisbee, AZ many years ago yielded these yellow darlings.  The vintage fabric has some wear and tear but they are so sweet with the darker bed frames.

Whether summer means the beach or mountains to you, it is a time to enjoy your surroundings. Or maybe just adding some summery touches around your home is enough to make you feel like you are on vacation. The best part is to just enjoy it all~the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, as they seem to fly by so quickly.

Wishing you a summer filled with rest and relaxation!