shorelines ◦ interiors by gregory ◦
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"Spring"
The daffodil is our
doorside queen;
She pushes upward the sword already,
To spot with sunshine the early green.
- William Cullen Bryant, An Invitation to the Country
Crocuses, tulips, and daffodils are welcome signs of spring in our gardens. The coloured petals and bright green stems are luminous against the greys and browns of soil and mulch. This exuberance in the spring garden usually inspires the wont to refresh the home interior. It’s a good idea. If you have space for a spring/garden room then concentrate your efforts there. If you don’t have a separate room to devote to spring, it is not necessary to break your gardening budget on a spring fling with your entire living room. Rather, invest in colourful accents and slipcovers that will transition your interior through the months of sunshine and rich colour. Keep in mind that the colours and styles of your home should nurture you year-round. The bright colours of spring and summer can seem rather aggressive in fall and winter, so the colour schemes for your hard surfaces (walls and floors) and foundation furniture (chairs, sofas, tables, etc.) should maintain a timeless appearance that works in any season.
There are two dominant colour schemes used on the South Shore. One is obviously based on the garden--the colours of leaves, grass, trees, and flowers. This earth-toned scheme of greens and browns is a comfortable background to mixes well with any range of floral accent colour. The second is based on the seashore—colours of driftwood, stone, sea, and sky. This scheme of blues, creams, and greys mixes dusty cool and warm earth tones with vibrant blue that sparkles in the sunshine and enriches the cozy orange and red flames of summer fires. Accentuate either colour scheme with the floral colours of the seaside, the coastal garden, and even rock gardens. Think of rugosa roses, real geraniums, poppies, and daylilies. Think of sea lavender—its silvery purple and green. Think of scree flowers—the white, pink, yellow, and red varieties of saxifrage.
Now, what do you accent? First, exchange the wool throw blankets for light linen and cotton. Exchange fall/winter throw pillow covers for spring/summer cheer. And if you want to really “spring” for it, go for slipcovers for your sofa and chairs in washable cotton or denim that endure the season. Have a collection of Provençal tablecloths pressed with lavender water and ready for the table. Rotate your artwork. Bring out the summer themed canvases and put away the fall scenes. Make table statements with your folk art. Collect other “art” memories during your Maritime excursions. Our lazy, hazy days are short in number, so invest accordingly.
Move the scotch and port to the back of the bar cart, bringing forth the tequila, and rum. Have your “cranapple” juice ready to mix with vodka over ice. Squeeze in a wedge lime and serve with a sprig of mint. Taste this South Shore Breeze and look ahead to our brief respite from winter. The daffodils are showing. Don’t be timid with your spring fling. Be adventurous!