Decorating on a budget can be challenging and frustrating. We all want our homes to resemble the ones we oggle over when we pour through such opulent glossies as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, and House Beautiful, to name a few. I like nice things. I have a certain style - a certain way of decorating. I like clean lines, I like a comfortable, lived-in, inviting feel...I want my home to have a sophisticated and yet fun flair. My home needs to reflect my personality, my family, my passions, my past. My home is, in essence, a three dimensional scrapbook of my life.

Right now I do not have much. Most of what I owned I shared with my ex-husband. He has it all now and save for a few items that I was able to bring with me, I have to start all over... on a very limited budget. And yes, it's so very frustrating to have to start from scratch, but it's also a good thing. I have family antiques and heirlooms that represent my family, my history. I have artwork and photographs to represent my past. I am slowly getting new furnishings and accessories to represent my own personal style. And each project that I create by hand, represents not only my style but my passion. Slowly and piece by piece it will all come together. It will come together because I made it come together. It will have been created by me. Each new piece of furniture, each new cleaning supply, each new frame on the wall... As my home slowly starts to take shape I not only see a work in progress, but I see the results taking shape before my eyes. It's a wonderful thing... I see my world changing, morphing, filled with possibility and all the wonder that new beginnings bring. It's still Springtime - rebirth, new beginning, hope... And that's all I see ahead of me.

I like to decorate my home to reflect the seasons. So as summer approaches, not only do our wardrobes lighten up, but so does our decor. I'm a huge fan of bringing the outdoors inside - I always have been. I've always been inspired by nature and this is reflected in my home. In the summertime I like to accent with driftwood, shells and pretty stones that we find along the shore. I also do a lot with twine. It's so inexpensive and so pretty in a clean and rustic way. Using twine is a perfect way to add some summer detail. Twine is easy to decorate with and I hope you'll be inspired by the following images.

My obsession all started last summer when I decided to repurpose my used Orangina bottles!

via The Entertaining House

decorica.blogspot

The above is so easy to recreate. The glass bowls and containers are most likely in a cabinet in your home, if not you can find them at the dollar store, Walmart, or some place of that nature. The rope, of all sizes and color, can be found at any hardware store. This look is so simple and yet makes such a statement.

pocketfullofdreamsco.uk

www.splashofsomething.com

via Pinterest, original source unknown

via Elizabeth Ann Designs

via A Fabby Fete