sunday simplicity.

Love Made Visible via Ruffled

"Not from the past you’ll come, but from that deep

Where beauty murmurs to the soul asleep:   

And I shall know the sense of life re-born   

From dreams into the mystery of morn   

Where gloom and brightness meet. And standing there   

Till that calm song is done, at last we’ll share

The league-spread, quiring symphonies that are   

Joy in the world, and peace, and dawn’s one star."

- from "Idyll" by Siegfried Sassoon

my late summer in instagram

We started the summer with Mr. Q's second relay triathlon.  This one was held in Roanoke at one of the city's parks.  Mr. Q's team had added a new runner and the three of them took second place!  Also, NEW CAR WOO.  We are loving our Crosstrek!

Just messing around with my morning routine.

Chicken and waffles with my BFF Breeze and my other favorite friends for my 29th birthday.  It was also my "golden birthday" because I turned 29 on the 29th.

The country townhouse, ready for D-Day and Independence Day celebrations.

Summer means lots of patio lunches and dinners, and more time to cook!

My container garden has done really well this rainy summer, and the colors make me smile every time I look outside.

Preparing for camp by building a whale with my fellow adult volunteers and getting the campers' medications organized on opening day.

Probably the most "summer camp" picture ever.

Mr. Q and I went to our favorite Brazilian restaurant for our anniversary and I convinced my health-conscious guy that we needed to treat ourselves to tiramisu.

My mom and I spent a day in downtown Roanoke pretending to be tourists.  We visited the art and science museums and had lunch on the market.

Back to school haircut - my fist from my new hairdresser.

A few views of my classroom in action.  Lots of neon to keep me happy and awake!

Beautiful Wisteria Ridge, where Mr. Q's cycling club had their end-of-summer cookout and fundraiser ride for Roll Over Cancer.

Treats!  I made this Oreo cookie poke cake for the Roll Over Cancer cookout.  The cookie butter was a treat from my friend Jess's trip to Trader Joes.  So amazing!  It's probably a good thing we don't have a TJ's around here, actually.

Linking Up:

home envy: colonial interiors

Last month, when we got back from our vacation in Williamsburg, I shared some of my favorite features of Colonial homes' exteriors.  Today, I've rounded up a few features I noticed inside Williamsburg's homes, government buildings, and shops that look just as beautiful in modern home interiors.

Robert Webb via Homes of the Rich | Elizabeth Roberts Design via Remodelista

I was so impressed by the beautiful black and white marble flooring in the entry of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg.  Classic black and white patterns look great in stately homes as well as in smaller doses in urban spaces.  

Cote De Texas | Kathleen Walsh Interiors, LLC via Houzz

House Beautiful via Attic Mag

Butler's pantry from Southern Living

Another Governor's Palace feature I loved was the butler's pantry just off the entry.  The open shelves inside held an assortment of antique bottles and pitchers.  I love open shelving in modern kitchens, and though it's a touch often associated with farmhouse decor, it's just as appropriate in a Colonial home.

 

via Liz Marie Blog | Tobi Fairley

Columbia Cabinet Works | Sara Gilbane via Attic Mag

Throughout the Governor's Palace, Delft tile and pottery were integrated into the decor. These classic Dutch earthenware designs are charming, and Delft pottery is still manufactured today.

Margot Austin via Decor Happy | Country Living

Windsor chairs were introduced in America in the 1720's, and the classic style is easy to find.

Chinoiserie reading nook by Simplified Bee | Annsley Interiors via Decor Pad

A style known as "Chinese Chippendale" became popular in America in the late 18th century, and I fell in love with two emerald-green chairs I spotted upstairs in the Governor's Palace. I love the idea of painting this style in a bright neon color for a fun, modern look in an office or on a patio.

Gild and Grace

The Governor's Palace also boasted some beautiful wall paneling.  This is an interior feature that looks very luxe but can be DIYed as well to match any decor.

Todhunter Earle Design via Boxwood Cottage

Let's talk plaid... done with too heavy a hand, a solid-color plaid or checked fabric can look like a bad 80's flashback.  Done in small doses on a few coordinating pieces, the design is so cozy and welcoming.

David Mitchell via Alicia B. Designs

Talk of the House

Yvonne McFadden LLC via Houzz

No Colonial home tour is complete without a master canopy bed.  Like plaid furniture, canopies can sometimes cause '80's deja vu, but today's versions are much less frilly princess and much more modern escape.

Wick Design via The D Pages

Benjamin Moore

Cynthia Palampore duvet cover from Pottery Barn

Finally, palampore prints are a simple and easy way to bring some Colonial style into your home.  In the 1700s these designs were exported from India and were very expensive.  The most popular designs represent plants and flowers.  Today, palampore patterns are a staple at some of my favorite home goods stores, from Pottery Barn to Pier1, on everything from throw pillows to shower curtains.

Do you have any Colonial or historical touches in your home?  What is your favorite decorating style?

Thanks to Wikipedia for helping me learn about Colonial designs!