Late Summer, the new Autumn Equinox.

I’m re-christening Autumn.

With only 2 real seasons in the tropics I’ve had to re-set my dial and become accustomed a new way of living.

Growing up in England meant 4 season living. The need for change and renewal is so very important in life, and mother nature has such a creative way of expressing this that well, it’s easy to miss the diversity.

Living in tropical Queensland, the idea of only 2 seasons in a year to celebrate calls for some new re-evaluting, particulary when it comes to projecting the changing climate on my homes habitat.

Having only 2 seasons calls for ingenuity and creativity to help keep things fresh, exciting and interesting. So I am officially re-christening the traditional sense of Autumn/Winter (I say Winter tentatively as it’s not really Winter in the snow topped sense) with a new tropical season called Late Summer.

Late summer takes the best of summer living, as the days are still hot, but adds a touch of cosiness and lashings of texture as the nights draw in slowly and a refreshing coolness helps calm the days.

I have to admit as a local islander, I do love late summer. In England, if the weather stays fine past September it’s called an Indian Summer, how romantic a concept is this to gently say goodbay to a season so well loved?!

In late summer the headiness of holiday living disapates, the tourists return home and the locals once more inherit their towns back to walk freely, park easily and enjoy the sites and sounds with ease.

As a child I remember this feeling vividly. The grand old seaside town I grew up in would almost take it’s sun hat off and sigh in relief, happy in thought that Summer was a success and Autumn meant a good peaceful rest in a deck chair with only the seagulls for company.

I think it’s the same wherever you go, the coastal towns are flocked in Summer and then released peacefully back to Autumn. This happy coastal swing in life, the ebb and flow of living on a beautiful coast remains an interesting part of daily coastal living.

Late Summer for me holds such wonderful elements to celebrate and indulge in, and I enjoy nothing better than introducing these through my coastal home, to celebrate a new season and set the scene of a home in harmony with it’s new surroundings of romantic Late Summer living.

The main elements of Late Summer are so gorgeously tactile, taking their inspiring cues from Autumn.

Texture has to be the number one element in coastal living. Re-creating the beach lifestyle where sand, sea, salt, shells, linen, straw and driftwood create a striking interplay that’s both warm, welcoming and natural.

Here’s just a few of the stylish ways I celebrate the beautifully romantic Late Summer season.

I love to pour my shell findings into large bowls, glass hurricanes and place the best and most prized specimans found around the home in a meandering coastal trail.

I source natural baskets from closets and cupboards to add magazines in for an afternoons read or to keep my office organised.

I bring out the soft and cosy throws to wrap around a sofa’s arm, perfect for when a quick nights dash into the garden is called for to watch amazing sunsets or stormy skies light up an evening over palm trees.

Scented candles are placed on tables as a special treat to light up when the house is quiet and a good book is found to indulge in.

My English cookbooks and vintage crockery get an airing too, as food in Late Summer is a delight to indulge in. Each day reflects a new mood – nostalgic afternoon tea, a romantic supper, a fine Sunday roast or a hearty asian broth.

There’s something wonderful about cooking in Late Summer.

I also adore Vanilla and find it’s exotic warm heady fragrance perfect for Late Summer indulgence, from candles to cupcakes, Vanilla is just the perfect spice.

There are many more ways I celebrate Late Summer.

I’m sure over this next few months I’ll be delightfully sharing them with you all.

So how do you celebrate Late Summer?

I’d love to hear from you, and from our Northern friends who have escaped the Winter chills and are now delighting in Springtime

- drop us a seasonal line.

Happy Island Styling

 Images Pinterest

Return to Island Home.