Coastal style and patriotic touches welcome July, with a festive table, new POLYWOOD porch furniture, and fun summer finds for home and wardrobe.
Ready for July!
Hello, friends!
I’m back after a week off from the blog and feeling ready to welcome July.
It was a busy and joyful visit with my family. My dad turns 92 this year, so time with him is especially meaningful. And sister time? Always good for the soul.
Now I have a few days for the “turnover” before friends arrive next week for the July 4th holiday. That means laundering sheets and towels, clearing out the fridge, cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming up accumulated dirt and pet fur — and making several trips to the transfer station with trash and recycling.
Oh, and writing this week’s and next week’s blog posts!
Summer has taken off at a full run.
This week on the blog, I’m excited to finally reveal my new POLYWOOD deck furniture! I’m also sharing a few patriotic touches I’ve added around the house for July 4th and beyond, some small-batch scented candles sent by kind Instagram friends, and a few fun summer wardrobe pieces I ordered from Quince — great dupes for some of the season’s hottest styles.
Let’s do a little summering together, shall we?
Porch Time with POLYWOOD
I’m so excited to finally share my new POLYWOOD porch furniture with all of you!
Let me start by saying that I truly loved the look of the weathered natural cedar pieces I had made for the original cottage here on the property. The Maine coast is wild and rugged — not the place for anything too precious or perfect. Over the years, the wood gained a lovely silvery patina, with patches of lichen adding to its charm.
But our harsh coastal weather also took its toll. The wood became rough, the joints loosened, and the furniture teetered on the edge of worn-in and worn-out.
So when POLYWOOD reached out to me, I jumped at the opportunity to give the porch a refresh — one that would stand the test of time.
What makes Polywood furniture so special?
POLYWOOD is a U.S.-based company that transforms recycled plastic — think milk jugs — into beautiful, durable outdoor furniture built to last for decades. It’s weather-resistant, low-maintenance, and sustainably made. I especially appreciate that it’s crafted right here in the USA and backed by a 20-year warranty.
My POLYWOOD furniture
The look of weather-worn wood suits the wild Maine coast perfectly. Our home is clad in natural cedar shingles, and the porch deck and rails are cedar too — all sun- and salt-washed to a silvery gray.
I knew I didn’t want anything too bright or shiny competing with that aged, natural look. So I chose two Nautical Curve Back Adirondack chairs, two Nautical chaises with arms, and two South Beach side tables — all in the Driftwood POLYWOOD Select Finish. The soft gray hue blends seamlessly with the cedar tones, and the GenuineGrain texture gives the look of real wood.
But unlike the real stuff, I know these pieces will last for many seasons to come.
Sun, fog, rain, or snow — this furniture can handle it all!
The porch is now perfectly prepped for summer. Morning coffee with an ocean view, an evening glass of wine with friends, and of course — Maddie has already picked her favorite seat!
You can shop all my POLYWOOD picks here and explore their full line of outdoor furnishings.
Bonus: Their July 4th Sale is on now — with up to 30% off through July 8th. Don’t miss it!
Honoring July 4th with a Few Patriotic Touches
Life has been busy, but I couldn’t resist adding just a few festive touches around the house for the July 4th holiday.
The Front Hallway
I recently picked up a small piece of vintage bunting — perfectly faded and timeworn — from an antiques mall. I knotted the ends and draped it across the shelves of antique blue and white transferware dishes in the front hallway.
In front of one of the platters, I propped up an antique book I found this past winter. Titled This Country of Ours: Its History and Achievements, it has a striking blue cover adorned with an ornate Art Nouveau design of flowers, flourishes, and the Capitol building. It was simply too beautiful to pass up and a reminder to always pick up those things that speak to your heart, even when out of season.
Inside, a handwritten inscription reads: “Merry Christmas to Rudolph from Mamma & Lena. Dec 25, 1901.” (Or something close — the fanciful old script makes it a little tricky to decipher.) It’s the kind of charming detail that always makes my heart do a little pitter-pat.
You can read more about how I style with books in my post Books in a Basket Add Color, Texture & Personality to Your Home.
This little setup is a perfect example of how just a few meaningful elements can create a festive, seasonal feel.
The Dining Area Table
With friends arriving for the Fourth, I gave the dining table a red, white, and blue makeover. But here on the coast of Maine, that translates to lobster red, cloud white, and ocean blue!
A handmade one-of-a kind quilted patchwork runner from Etsy — printed with lobsters, anchors, rope, and seaweed — sets a spirited tone. I believe the fabric is from Liberty of London, which lends it a more refined, playful edge than typical nautical prints.
At the center of the table, my stack of blue and white spongeware bowls gets a coastal patriotic twist with a tumble of red starfish. Two cordless rattan-shaded lamps flank the display — a clean, modern stand-in for candles.
I finished the table with faded red placemats and napkins custom-printed with a petite lobster and star design.
The Dining Area Hutch
And finally, I tucked in a few pieces of vintage lobster pottery among the Cornishware in the hutch — a pair of lobster claw salt and pepper shakers and a lobster pitcher. Just a few playful pops of red to round out the white and blue!
Hand-Poured Candles, Thoughtfully Gifted
I recently reached a milestone on Instagram, and the outpouring of kind messages and congratulations from this lovely online community truly touched my heart.
(If you’re not already following me over there, you can find me @mollyinmaine. I’d love to connect with you, too!)
One especially thoughtful surprise came from a mother-daughter duo, Marilyn and Carol, who sent me two of their hand-poured scented candles as a congratulatory gift.
These aren’t your average candles, though. Marilyn and Carol carefully craft each unique scent and hand-pour them using all-natural soy wax into special containers — from vintage silver pitchers to sparkling crystal and charming ceramic bowls. Each candle smells wonderful and serves as a beautiful decorative accent as well.
For my coastal home, they chose two especially fitting options:
- Welcome Home — their signature scent, a fresh and cheerful mix of sugared grapefruit, tropical citrus, green leaves, and a hint of vanilla, poured into a white shell-shaped container.
- Tranquility — a soothing blend of lavender, lemon, and bergamot essential oils, nestled in a lovely blue and white floral bowl.
Carol and Marilyn release limited collections throughout the year — their most recent launch was just last week, and their next release will be at the end of July.
Follow them on Instagram @itsmorethanahome for collection previews, seasonal decorating ideas, DIY inspiration, and recipes. You can also shop remaining pieces from their current collection — and stay tuned for upcoming ones — on their website.
Carol and Marilyn, thank you again for the beautiful gift — I truly love these candles!
A Few Summer Wardrobe Favorites
With summer finally here, I couldn’t resist adding a few warm-weather pieces to my wardrobe.
I like to keep an eye on the latest trends and then do a little sleuthing to find more affordable versions. Today I’m sharing a few new finds from Quince — a brand known for offering high-quality wardrobe staples at approachable prices. Their pieces are made with premium materials like silk, linen, and organic cotton, but without the traditional retail markups.
Matched sets
Matching tops and bottoms — made from the same fabric — are everywhere right now. And for good reason! Worn together, they create a pulled-together look with minimal effort. Worn separately, they add versatility to your summer wardrobe.
I picked up two linen sets from Quince:
- A black-and-white gingham camp shirt with matching pants
- A blue-and-white striped button-up paired with coordinating shorts
Both are made of substantial linen that feels like it will hold up beautifully over time. The look is classic, the quality is great, and the price? Let’s just say I got the full sets for less than I’d typically spend on a single piece elsewhere. Definitely a win!
The “Nap Dress” Look
The Hill House Nap Dress has been a summer staple for a few years now — known for its smocked bodice, ruffled sleeves, and easy, comfortable fit. It’s a dress you can wear around the house, to brunch, or on vacation — equal parts stylish and relaxed.
When Maine served up a rare two-day heat wave this week, I found myself wishing for a breezy dress that didn’t look like a shapeless sack. Enter Quince’s Smocked Ruffle Midi Dress. It’s a great dupe for the Nap Dress, and I chose it in a menswear-inspired blue, white, and black stripe to balance the sweetness of the ruffles.
One More For Good Measure
While I was at it — and still feeling a bit flushed from the heat — I added a short and simple linen dress to my cart. Just the kind of thing to throw on when the thermometer creeps above 80° (or… maybe not, now that I’ve bought it. Watch it rain until September, ha!).
Shop my Quince purchases
Last Week Into Next
I had a wonderful visit with my family last week! We explored the Farnsworth Museum and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, spent a foodie’s dream day in Belfast, cooked up many delicious meals together, and enjoyed a few memorable ones out, too. I’ll be sharing all the details in next week’s post!
Tomorrow is my first day volunteering in the gift shop at the lighthouse. The forecast is calling for cool, wet weather, so I don’t expect too many visitors will make the trek to the tip of the peninsula. That might be a good way to ease into things — I’m still a little nervous about the cash register and credit card machine… but I’ve got this, right?
And then next week I’ll be celebrating the holiday with more visiting friends.
Wishing all of you a safe and festive July 4th, friends!
