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Not much can beat lazing in a backyard hammock on a summer afternoon. The blooming plants, the warm sunlight, the nap-inducing sound of birds... who wouldn't want to lose the to-do list and lounge for a while? To bring that breezy feeling inside your home — and make summer last way beyond Labor Day — try these simple ideas.
Photographs by Mark Lohman From Romantic Prairie Style by Fifi O'Neill.
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1
Dining Out
Media Platforms Design Team
Painted bistro chairs clustered around a farm table make an indoor meal feel like eating alfresco. Tap your inner tree hugger and use branches as curtain rods to continue the rustic mood; the chandelier adds a surprising touch of old-school glamour.
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2
In Bloom
Media Platforms Design Team
Sweet floral cushions and curtains paired with distressed wood create a lived-in look that's perfect for summer's lazy days. A bucketful of hydrangeas is as complicated as a centerpiece should get.
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3
Take Cover
Media Platforms Design Team
To instantly summer-ize a room, add flowing white slipcovers and tablecloths. Don't iron — just pull from the dryer slightly damp, then smooth with your hands (feel free to reward yourself with a lemonade).
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4
Blue Skies
Media Platforms Design Team
The angles of a window frame play off the curves of an iron bed. A whitewashed color scheme and the unexpected appearance of a birdcage with candles give it garden-cottage chic.
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5
Table of Contents
Media Platforms Design Team
As relaxing as sitting outdoors: a flea market cafe chair pulled up to a side table loaded with cut blossoms. Sheer curtains catch breezes from the window.
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6
Pretty Dreamy
Media Platforms Design Team
Lined up along a mantel turned headboard, mason jars show off blushing roses — or whatever is blooming in your flower beds. Linen-like grain-sack pillows will be just fine when your guy throws them on the floor.
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7
Door to Door
Media Platforms Design Team
With their size and affordability, salvaged doors — once cleaned, sanded, and waxed — make a great focal point for a simple bed. This almost-matching pair are propped casually in place. Two metal chairs, parked side by side, repeat the symmetry.