A summer home tour showcasing modern French farmhouse style with affordable decorating tricks and practical ways to stretch your budget while achieving a luxe look.
There isn’t much a fresh bundle of supermarket flowers can’t improve.
Between spilled coffee, preschool drop-off scramble, and the occasional meltdown, flowers have become my go-to pick-me-up—whether they’re for guests or just for me.
A simple pitcher of blooms really can lift a room and make even a hectic day feel a little more put together.
I won’t pretend that I greet visitors in a spotless June Cleaver outfit. Most days, unexpected company finds me shoving dishes in the sink, tucking toys out of sight, and hiding laundry in the least visible rooms.
Today I made a little effort and hid the laundry just for this tour—consider yourself lucky.
If you’re new here, about a month ago my husband Robert and I closed on our new-to-us 1960 Colonial in the suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina, so spring has been full of painting, updates, and a lot of adulting.
For summer, I wanted a calm, peaceful home with simple decor that still feels styled and intentional. That’s why we leaned into a modern French farmhouse vibe—comfortable, relaxed, and a little elegant without being precious.
Sometimes all a room needs is one well-placed pitcher of flowers to feel complete.
A few weeks ago our breakfast room looked very different—now it’s painted and refreshed to reflect our style.
We’ve been painting and updating to push the house toward the modern French farmhouse aesthetic. It’s cozy and approachable—perfect for summer cookouts and casual family dinners. My goal was a space that feels both slightly elegant and utterly livable, where elbows on the table aren’t a problem.
One of my favorite finds was an antique farm table scored for $110 on Craigslist. Battered, honest furniture like that is ideal for a family home—it invites everyday use and gains character with time. We plan to freshen it up soon, but I love its current worn look.
We also found French bistro-style chairs for around $75 each on a discounted retailer’s site. They’re durable, comfortable, and technically designed for outdoor use—an unconventional choice that works beautifully inside.
A gaslight-style lantern we picked up at a big-box store for about $90 became a focal point. To add texture and a bit of history, I repurposed a pair of chippy antique banisters into a wall planter filled with faux greenery—an easy project that adds instant character.
The living room remains a work in progress, but I’ve kept it simple with a couple of blue-print pillows and layered textures. Comfort comes first here—those pillows often end up on the floor during family movie nights, and that’s perfectly fine.
We’ve been enjoying our comfortable, budget-friendly seating for cozy evenings, especially during frequent summer storms. There’s something so comforting about listening to rain on the roof while the family cuddles up with a bowl of ice cream.
A framed set of botanical prints in wood-look plastic poster frames is a great inexpensive art solution. They sit perfectly above a $35 Craigslist bench and look far more expensive than they are—proof that clever framing and placement can elevate budget finds.
Now that we have a pool just outside the back door, this area will soon be full of towels, flip-flops, and happy chaos. I’m excited for that—it’s exactly what summer at home should feel like.
If you’d like to shop pieces similar to what we used, here’s a quick list of the types of items that helped create this look:
- French bistro chairs (we found ours secondhand)
- Lantern pendant light
- Jute rug
- Driftwood charger plates
- Aqua blue napkins
- White pitcher for fresh flowers
- Cement planter pots
- Ceiling fan
- Overdyed blue rug
- Patterned blue pillows and cream textured pillows
- Woven tray
- Under-bench baskets for storage
- Simple coffee table
Thank you for stopping by for a peek at our summer-ready home. My hope for you this season is simple: relaxed days, a little bit of beautiful chaos, and the small luxury of a bundle of flowers when you need one.
