The days of summer slip quickly by if we don’t take the time to celebrate sunshine, warm breezes, and light that lingers into evening. Whether you find yourself summering on the beach, relaxing at the lake, or enjoying life in the city, bringing summer blues into your home can give you the feeling of being seaside all year long.

There’s no color scheme more heavenly than blue and white: from the open ocean accented with crisp white sails to the summer sky dotted with white clouds. As many as half the people around the world say blue is their favorite color! Blue has also been documented as being the most soothing, restful color, making it perfect for bedrooms.

Blue pigment from the earliest days of human civilization was prized almost as highly as gold. A bride must have something blue. Blue flowers are coveted by gardeners almost above all others. Artists use sweeps of blue in nautical paintings that soothe and enchant at the same time.

Objets d’art and treasured collections can be used to add blue and white accents to almost any style of home. One of my favorites is Chinese export porcelain. These classic pieces are the quintessential blue and white collectible, and have been for hundreds of years.

Blue and white porcelain found its way to Nantucket Island, once the center of the whaling industry, as ballast on ships or in trunks brought home by sea captains and sailors.

Blue and white porcelain is particularly striking when used as a container for flowers. Any shape that holds water can become a beautiful vase. Bowls can also be filled to stunning effect with blue hydrangeas,

or with shells collected from the beach.

I’ve repurposed blue and white ginger jars into lamps, giving antique pieces new life while adding historic interest to a room.

Blue and white together lightens the somber tone blue can take on by itself. Even in nature, blue is often paired with other colors: blue jays are splashed with white, the peacock is mixed with green, and for the blue-footed booby, Mother Nature decided blue feet were enough,

Whether the blue is sapphire or navy, the white ivory or alabaster, the beauty of blue and white transcends seasons and years.

On the island I watch the azure sea, white-capped waves rolling to shore, and I am captivated by blue and white once again.

As we begin the dog days of summer, Frank and I are enjoying reading with the two newest members of our family: Bichons Chloe and Maggie. Frank and I are enjoying all the dog days! We hope you are, too.