Hi Everyone!
It’s Summetime, friends, which means it’s time for outdoor entertaining, dining, and lounging, and it’s my most favorite time of the year. I know a lot of people feel like the winter holidays are the most wonderful time of the year, but I beg to differ. I’m such a warm weather chick and I love nothing more than balmy, sun drenched days.
Today my sweet sweet friend (both via social media and in real life, actually) Katrina has invited me to share my outdoor space in her Summer In Style Outdoor series and I couldn’t be happier. I absolutely LOVE her and adore her gorgeous home and sweet family. Katrina was actually one of my inspirations to downsize and I can’t thank her enough. All week we’ve seen some really pretty and super inspiring outdoor spaces and I’m excited to share ours. If you are coming over from Alexi’s, HI and WELCOME! I mean, how amazing was her ice cream bar!! So fun and festive and I walked away craving pistachio almond ice cream big time!
For those of you who are new to me, Hola! My name is Shavonda and I live in Sacramento CA with my family in our little home I lovingly call #thecottagebungalow. We downsized into our home about 3 years ago from one twice its size, and we’ve been on a journey of discovering how to make it work and live in less since. I’m a designer and stylist and looooove moody, boho/eclectic interiors. I’m also a bit of a maximalist and pretty much hoard all the things.
Here in our little bungalow Summer not only means warm weather and bbq’s, it also means we get to capitalize on our outdoor spaces which is soooooo welcome after being hunkered down indoors for months during fall and winter. We LOVE our small home but it gets tight in here sometimes!
Our home is a total fixer upper and we are slowly making the rounds so we don’t have any backyard outdoor spaces yet, BUT, the one usable outdoor area we do have is our porch. It’s one of the features about this house that made me fall in love with it and it’s my little haven. I’m a southern girl so porch living was an essential way of life back home. When I made my way out west I didn’t think I was going to get one. But we did and I love it more than pretty much anything.
I treat it as an extension of the adjoining living room so it allows us to spread out a bit. Thankfully, we live in an area where our climate is really temperate so that means I get to enjoy this space for more than half the year. It’s not completely finished, but it’s the perfect place for me to people watch, enjoy a good book, sip my morning cup of tea, and carve out moments of quiet and reflection. It’s a little boho haven and it’s my favorite spot in the house right now. I’m completely in love with our new hanging chair. It’s so comfortable and just perfect for kicking back and relaxing.
I’m also a major plant lover so I’ve incorporated several of my favorite plant babies into the space. I brought a bit of that back home vibe out here with some Boston ferns…a true southern porch staple. But it’s also super relaxed and casual, which is what Cali living is all about.
We still have lots work to do here, but I’m so happy with where it’s at, at the moment. Thank you all so much for stopping by, and THANK YOU Katrina for having me. Make sure you head over to Darnetha’s next. Give her virtual hugs for me. I know her in real life, too! And be sure to scroll down to catch the entire tour lineup). Until next time, friends….
Xo-Shavonda
{You can catch my DIY painted floor tutorial here. The hanging chair is from here. The chinoiserie set is from Craigslist. The hammock is from our vacation in Mexico, but you can get even better and less expensive (bonus!) ones here, here, here, or here! }
TOUR LINEUP
MONDAY 6/5
Chic Little House (Start here!!)
TUESDAY 6/6
WEDNESDAY 6/7
TODAY
SG Style (Its Me!)
FRIDAY 6/9
Angela says
I’m a little late to the game here, but i just discovered your blog. Love your moody, eclectic/boho style! Your porch just looks so inviting. Crazy jealous! Kudos to you. I’ve noticed you like to use moody colors. I also like moodier, darker colors, but am afraid to use them. So, have you ever painted a whole room dark and moody? Does it make it feel smaller? I just put up shiplap in my living room and i’m really wanting to do it all black, but can’t seem to pull the trigger! Everyone is telling me it’s going to be too dreary, make it look so much smaller, and that I will regret it. Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated!!
Shavonda Gardner says
Hi Angela!! Welcome to the party babe. Im so glad you found me. To answer your question, yes! I have the main rooms in my home painted black and I LOOOVE it. If you have instagram I would head over and follow me there. I share our home daily there and I have LOOOOTTTSSS of photos of our walls there in different types of light throughout the day. You can get a real idea of how things look from day to day. My IG is @sgardnerstyle.:) I also have some pictures here on the blog of the black walls as well.
katrina says
Shavonda! Your ferns look incredible and I swear they’ve gotten bigger since you got them 🙂 My two favs your pretty painted floor that looks just like tile and your hanging chair they’re both so pretty and perfect, love your outdoor boho vibes 🙂
Shavonda says
Thank you so much Katrina! Im excited to make it even more boho over time:) Thanks for having me sweet friend.
Julia@Cuckoo4Design says
I’m so in love with your hanging chair and wish I’d have room for one on our porch. Just love your porch so much
Shavonda says
I think a hanging porch swing would be FANTASTIC on our porch friend.
Cassie Bustamante says
that hanging chair is AMAZING! i love your outdoor space!
Shavonda says
Thank you so much Cassie!! Im enjoying it so much!!