Good morning Cottage Fix friends! I’m blogging in under glorious sun-filled skies and fresh dry air. I feel like I waited all summer long to say that. This summer was a hot sticky mess! And all though it’s still summertime and quite warm here on the East Coast, I can feel a hint of autumn in the air. Just a hint, just enough to know it won’t be long now before a hot pot of chili is simmering on the stove top and I’m pulling out the flannel pee jays. I even spotted the autumn clematis in bloom on my walk yesterday along the James River. Oh joy! The scent is just delightful.

So we had rather an uneventful weekend, and Honey spent most of it working on his own projects. I found myself with some solo time on my hands and headed to the discount store around the corner to rummage through the clearance sections. I wasn’t really shopping for anything special, but I spotted these dark gray knit pillows that happened to be marked down from there already low price—and that’s how it began. The next thing I knew I was looking for companions to add to this classic gray pair and thinking about Fall decor starting to make it’s way here at Cottage Fix. A dark gray knit is a perfect place to start I think.

Even though this pillow collection is quite different than I usually go for, I’m hopeful it will mix and match easily with my stripes and floral patterns. Pillows are without a doubt one of the easiest ways to get a fresh look without spending a fortune. I scored all of these and the bright pink roses for under 50 dollars. Ahem… cha ching! For some people it’s clothes and shoes, and for some it’s beauty products and jewelry. For me, I’ll take a new goody or two from the home goods department and a trip to the fancy grocery store please.

So as I changed out the look of the living room, it was inevitable that the sun porch would not be far behind. And since I added quite a lot of color and pattern in the living room I decided to use neutrals and shabby whites for an understated look on the sun porch. I love playing house!
On the sun porch I dressed the daybed all shabby white and along with the white painted brick and Simply Shabby Chic window panels it creates a fresh and crisp look.On the settee I kept it neutral with taupe stripes and damask, and I also added a baby’s breath bouquet (the tiny white blooms seem to last and last). I’m still digging my blue chippy paint trunk out here too, it really adds interest with all the shabby whites and neutrals I can’t wait for Fall, it invigorates me and just seems to put me in a good mood all day. The fresh crisp air is good for my soul. Fingers crossed for a fresh crisp fall. Happy Hump Day!

xoxo Sally