Another summer is coming to an end, and we all know what that means: it’s time for the Annual Eternal Pink of Perfection Gala! Before we close up the summer house and head back to the hut until spring, we do hope you’ll join us for a long weekend of fun, friends, food, and foolishness!
The house and gardens have never looked lovelier. The tulips truly outdid themselves this year, and now the roses seem determined to send summer out in a pink blaze of glory. You must come see them.
Where to stay
Your rooms are all ready, so of course you’ll stay with us!
What we’ll do
We have loads of entertainment lined up, with something for everyone.
You’ll probably never want to leave the grounds, but in case you do, you can walk, scoot, or take one of the cars in to town (Henry can drive shuttle if you’d prefer) for some sightseeing, shopping, or a little local flavor.
You know we’re going to feed you…
What to wear: Dress Code: Pink
Come as you are, darlings, of course, as long as you’re in the pink. See the gallery below for some sartorial inspiration and fond memories from previous galas (you may see yourself there…hello, my beautiful people!).
If you need something pink to wear, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!
What to do when you get here:
Come to the gatehouse. If no one is there, use the phone to call the house, and we’ll send someone down to collect you.
Say you’ll come!
The party starts when you get here and lasts until you leave, so come early and stay late! We can hardly wait to see you!
xo always,
Margot Hamilton Wainwright
*This is a flight of fancy, aka: work of fiction, inspired by a recent deep dive down the rabbit hole that is free stock photo sites. More on that later. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it even half as much as I did. Want more pink inspiration? Here’s my Pink Pinterest board!
“I go to Nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put together.” – John Burroughs
On the back of her tiny 1920s house in south Arkansas, my grandmother had a sleeping porch. It was screened in to keep bugs and other critters out, while letting cool breezes in, with heavy canvas blinds to roll down against rain. Piles of quilts on the big iron bed kept sleepers warm through the relatively temperate winter nights.
Except during the hottest summertime, the sleeping porch was the most coveted bedroom in the house.
Those are the two basic requirements for a sleeping porch: a porch/deck/balcony, set up with a semi-permanent (or at least seasonal) place for sleeping. Screens, blinds, and everything else are optional.
Bedding down on a sleeping porch is like camping, but not.
It is magical.
“With a comfortable bed and a sufficiency of blankets no place can equal the out-of-doors in affording refreshing sleep, in any season of the year.” – Woman’s Weekly Supplement, 1923
My dad and his brothers were born in that house. It was years before they got electricity, and decades before they got air conditioning. For them, the sleeping porch was a year-round bedroom, as was common at the time.
Above: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, author of The Yearling, and Cross Creek, slept and worked on this porch in Florida from the late 1920s through the early 1940s.
“I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to.” ― Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
I’ve happily lived with/slept on several sleeping porches since my childhood, and still do every chance I get. I sleep so well when I’m closer to the natural world. In terms of self-care, sleep and nature are favorite easy go-tos for me (and millions of other people). Combine the two for a double dose of self-care.
Sleeping porches may be less common than they once were, but they’re not unheard of. Look at these lovely spaces:
Take a look at my Pinterest board for even more magical sleeping porches!
Sleeping porch alternatives
No room for a bed? Try a hammock – they’re made for sleeping outdoors!
But what if you don’t even have a porch (or deck, or balcony) at all? You can easily design your current bedroom to capture the look and feel of a sleeping porch. You probably have most or all of what you’ll need; it’s likely to be more a case of taking things away than adding. If you don’t have what you need to create this look, check your local thrift stores (and my affiliate link down below!), and follow these simple guidelines:
Keep it (relatively) simple.
Use bamboo or matchstick blinds on the windows, layers of white + colorful bedding on the bed (white vintage bedspread + colorful woven throw, or colorful vintage quilt + neutral, textured throw, etc) , a rug that wouldn’t seem out of place on an actual porch.
Reinforce the mood with wind chimes, simple decor, plants.
Remember that a sleeping porch is a place for sleeping and relaxing only, not a dressing room, so stow your makeup/jewelry/vanity elsewhere. Hide the tv and computer.
Put up a pallet accent wall, or paint a wall to look like stucco, or the outside of your house.
When weather, air quality, and security permit, sleep with your windows open! Bonus: sleeping with a window or door open may lead to better sleep.
Feeling creative but don’t want to make a big mess, or spend a lot of money or time? These quick and easy boho DIY crafts will deliver a big bang for your buck. You may already have most or all of the supplies you need, and if not, don’t worry – creative substitutes are often where the real fun comes in! Best of all, most can be completed in an hour or two!
I can picture these DIY boho door tassels in so many color combinations, maybe with a bell or two added.
Gathering your own stones for these painted mandalas could be part of the fun. You can also buy small bags of stones at Dollar Tree, or bigger bags at Home Depot or Lowe’s. This craft takes a little longer than the others because you have to be pretty careful (PRO TIP: practice making your dots on a “test rock” before you start), and you have to wait for each coat of paint to dry before adding the next layer.
Here’s another project with infinite possibilities: this DIY boho chic tray. Any tray with a relatively smooth surface + any paint + any paper/fabric (like: wallpaper, wrapping paper, tissue paper, memorabilia, maps, I could go on forever…) + Mod Podge (or something similar) would work.
These quick & easy 3-D framed botanicals are made with thrifted frames + fake flowers and greenery. You could use dried leaves, twigs, and flowers instead, or feathers, or jewelry. It’d be fun to change out seasonally.
If you were going to pick one of these crafts to make, which one would you choose? Tell me in the comments below! (I’d make the beaded windchimes. Honestly, I probably have enough stuff to make several!)
