Bee Happy

Spring and Summer is the time to bring freshness and brightness to your home with seasonal decor. I am again using Bees with black and gold for the Spring/Summer Theme, but this year with yellow florals and decor accents. To see some of the variations possible with this theme, check out Summer is Buzzing and Summer Bee’s Knees.

Building a seasonal look doesn’t have to be done all at once. As I have said before, Take your time. I first used what I had for this look and took the time to source and purchase items to transition this look from green to yellow. Last year I found 4 yellow distressed finials and this year I was fortunate to find two more on Poshmark! You will see them scattered throughout the rooms. I purchased the pillows over the few years on sale or used through various online stores and resellers. Hint: Mckenzie-Childs has an end of Summer Barn Sale, which is a great time to purchase their items. I also found the Queen Bee side chair last year on eBay for a steal! For more on these, read my Update.

Starting in the Dining Room, I placed a table runner (actually used two) down the center of the table. I purchased these last year from William Sonoma (it seems to no longer be available). At the center of the runner I placed the large hurricane. These are from Pottery Barn and discontinued, but they have a similar style available. Further down the table on each side I placed a small hurricane. I centered a small candle stand for elevation, and then poured black pebbles before inserting the Harlequin Bee candles. Yellow orchid stems are bent around to add color and simple floral to the table. Centered between the hurricanes, I grouped a glass and brass candlestick with a gold bee candle, a medium sized yellow honeycomb orb, and a bee figure. For the place settings, I layered a black placemat, gold charger, a Honeycomb dinner plate, and a Bee salad plate. The Bee appetizer plate and individual salt & pepper shakers to the left and black glassware to the right finish the setting.

There are napkins and other items available in this WS pattern, but I feel there is already enough on the table. To keep it clean and simple, I rolled the black flatware inside a black napkin, secured it with a gold hexagon ring, and placed it at an angle on the plate.

Napkin Fold: Start by folding the napkin in half (right-side out) corner to corner into a triangle. Place the utensils along the long edge. Fold the left lower corner in and then the right lower corner in the same way. Now, just roll it from the bottom up!

In the Kitchen, new this year are floor mats with the same pattern as the WS table runner. The dishwasher features a layering of dishtowels in the WS Honeycomb and the MC Queen Bee patterns. Above the refrigerator I grouped three orbs and you can find a Bee hiding out on the countertop plant trellis! On the oven wall, Bee plates, platters, a bowl, and Tea Set adorn the counter and cabinet spaces. A Queen Bee Tassel hangs majestically from the French door. (This item triggers great memories for me as I purchased it with my friends on a trip to Vegas last year celebrating my birthday!)

The Great Room is bursting with more yellow and Bees. Scattered throughout the space are pillows, finials, candles, and decor objects to celebrate the theme and the season. As you look through the pictures, notice even the books were changed to yellow and black. The little details do matter!

Accessorizing a Fireplace Mantel:

There are many options when accessorizing a Fireplace Mantel. I first gather up my various decor accessories from my main decor look and the seasonal pieces. Then I decide which item should be the focal point, which is usually the largest. Next, I decide if I will use a symmetrical or asymmetrical layout. I tend to opt for asymmetry. I don’t always have two of everything, or maybe I just don’t like things to feel predictable! For this look, I decided to use symmetry but I still have several options. In the photos above, placement is symmetrical with three items on each side of the painting for visual weight, but not all the items are alike on each side. Here are some variations for comparison. Which does your eye prefer?

The Living Room was not forgotten. More orbs fill the table vessel and Bees show up throughout the space. Vases filled with yellow florals brighten and give movement in two places. I have had the cute little honeycomb lamp for years, and I love how it plays into this theme!

Flower Arranging:

The orchid arrangement in the yellow Bee vase was simple to accomplish. I first filled the vase with a layer of pebbles to hold the 13 stems in place. After doing so, I gave each stem a bend to achieve the desired arrangement shape and give a more natural look. I then removed a few stems at the front and sides, bent them at the bottom of the stem about 2 inches, and put them back in place. This filled the gap at the mouth of the vase and maintained the overall height of the arrangement.

The large vase in the Living Room corner matches the one in the Great Room. I simply inserted the stems at various heights, two or three depending on size, and fluffed the smaller branches all directions for a full and natural look.

The final room to receive my attention was the Guest Bath. I changed out the Michel Design Works products from the Peacock theme to the Honey & Clover pattern. This pattern is also found in the Kitchen and Bar with soap and napkins, and in the Great Room with a candle on the ottoman tray.

I hope you are inspired to try a new seasonal decor look for Spring or Summer. If you are tired of the same surroundings, changing the decor seasonally is an easier way to freshen up your look, and without the expense of buying new furniture!