Summer House Rules
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
June inevitably kicks off a season of observing how our clients’ homes perform when they’re lived in full-time, with doors left open and wet bathing suits ending up everywhere.
While we are a high-end design firm, we also live in the real world. And we believe in creating homes that become places where memories are made, rather than full-time maintenance projects.
1. White linen slipcovers are a lie.
They look fresh for approximately 24 hours. Then they look dingy, and you’re either washing them weekly or living with stains.
Performance fabrics (we use Perennials Lino and Sunbrella Home textiles) photograph identically to regular linen but repel water and stains. The finish has improved dramatically in the past five years, and performance fabric no longer feels like a chair in a hospital waiting room.
While performance fabric doesn’t mean maintenance-free (you still need to clean it immediately and follow the instructions on how to treat it), you’ll be amazed at how well it holds up, even to things like red wine.
2. Make the beds simple.
My rule: the bed should be makeable in under two minutes, or most people (kids and otherwise) just won’t do it.
The mistake many people make (myself included) is bedding that involves a lot of layers and pillows. What can I say, I love the look of a cozy bed! However, summer bedding should be lighter, so I swap out blankets for lightweight cotton matelassé and store my duvets entirely until winter.
You want something that looks layered but doesn’t trap heat, and you can achieve that through variety in texture and color without adding actual weight. Eliminating some of those heavier elements will also make it easy for everyone in the family to make their beds and save your sanity.
3. Keep the personality, not the theme.
I’m not big on swapping out decorative accessories seasonally. I don’t see any reason to have throw pillows commemorating each holiday, or decorative artwork that rotates as the months go by.
Instead, if you’re just craving something different for the summer, turn your attention to your outdoor furnishings. Swap out plain cushions for cabana-striped ones, or add fringed umbrellas.
The visual interest stays, and your outdoor area becomes its own little retreat for the season. (And if the beds didn’t get made and there’s a mess in the living room, you can always escape outside for a moment of zen!)
Ready for a beautiful home that’s designed for your actual life? BOOK YOUR DISCOVERY CALL
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