Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Fall Again

As the weather finally and thankfully gets cooler, I start to think about making changes for the season.  Since I've been blogging for a while, I decided to go back and check out what I've done over the years for Fall decor.  I didn't realize how much I'd done and also how the same Fall decor popped up in different locations, in different containers in my Fall mixes.

My very favorite is the pumpkin that my friend, Leila, painted.  She is an artist with a bohemian flare.  It was perfect perched on the bench on my front porch.

BOHEMIAN PUMPKIN ON MY FRONT PORCH
Another year I just added branches to the demijohn on the porch.  Usually I hate the reflection in the window, but this year the colors in the changing leaves were just what the photo needed.

FALL FRONT PORCH

Shed deer antlers are always a part of my Fall decor.  I filled a large glass container with them and added acorns, pine cones, and other Fall finds.

FALL IN A LARGE CLEAR CONTAINER IN MY FAMILY ROOM

The antlers re-appeared on my screened porch in an urn.  I found the curly seed pods under my neighbor's tree.  She thought I was crazy when I asked if I could have them.

ANTLERS AND SEED PODS ON MY SCREENED PORCH

I clipped these turning leaves from a tree in my back yard.  They're perfect on my screened porch in front of my framed ceiling tile.  Those covered demijohns do some traveling around the house too.

FALL LEAVES IN MY DEMIJOHN

In the summer my sphere surrounds a fern, but one Fall I removed the fern and added a mum and some pyracantha from the garden.

SPHERE WITH MUM AND PYRACANTHA IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE
In my dining room I added some nandina branches to my ice bucket.   Arrangements can be green and just as pretty as a floral bouquet.

NANDINA "BOUQUET" IN MY ICE BUCKET

My family room mantel is where most of the Fall change-ups happen.  It's the only time of year I actually like my rough cedar mantel.  The murky brown wood actually works in the Fall.

A blog reader/friend mailed me some velvet acorns and pumpkins.  I love them and use them all the time.  They're my favorite Fall accent.  You can see them spilling out of a silver cup on the mantel.  The backdrop is an iron grate.  I added a chalkboard to an empty vintage brass frame.

VELVET ACORNS
I always use vintage books as risers.  Some mini leather books are stacked under a cloche with a pumpkin on top.  More acorns are spilling down the books, and of course, one of my favs, feathers.

BOOKS, PUMPKINS, FEATHERS AND ACORNS
I'm always thrilled when I find old brass frames.  These have their original metal backings.

BRASS FRAMES, BOOKS, VELVET PUMPKINS
Another year I created a nature-inspired mantel.  The antlers appeared again, encircling some glass floats.  The prints are vintage book plates that I framed.  I found the turtle shell in the woods.

ANTLERS, TURTLE SHELL, GLASS FLOATS, AND FRAMED BOOK PLATES
I told you those covered bottles travel.

FOUND SHELLS AND COVERED BOTTLES

When I purchased stacks of Hermes scarf boxes, I knew those fabulous orange squares would work for Fall--or anytime.  They're sprinkled  and stacked all over the house.   The gold ibex is one of my many faux taxidermy finds.  The spiky sea urchin can be on a flat surface or can hang on a wall.

IBEX, METAL SEA URCHIN, AND HERMES BOXES
I filled this belted container with zebra grass, feathers, and seed pods..

BELTED CONTAINER WITH ZEBRA GRASS AND SEED PODS
 This last bit of Fall decor can only be credited to Mother Nature.  
The bursting pod is in the field behind my house.

SEED POD IN THE FIELD BEHIND MY HOUSE
I was amazed by all the Fall decor I had done.  I may just take this Fall off and jump into Christmas.

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Crazy Serial-Decorator Mom Updates Daughter's Dining Room

Recently our daughter moved into her first home.  She and I have many projects in the works, but none complete.  Of course we were able to pull things together somewhat and couldn't wait to share our progress.  We have a dining room sneak peek.  Oh you have no idea what else we're considering for this room.  So exciting.

She already had a round oak dining table that traveled from her apartment to her new home.  After we had the chairs, draperies, and rug in place, we decided to paint the table black.  Here's our before pic.

OAK TABLE BEFORE PAINT

With so much black in the room, the table had no choice but to accept our decision.  
 It was a very quick paint job for us.

BLACK TABLE AFTER

The draperies are from my kitchen.  The fabric is made by Schumacher and the draperies by moi.  What a lucky girl to have a crazy Mom serial decorator.  Yep there's always a change up around here.  The chairs were also inherited and I softened them up with some gray faux fur throws--also confiscated from Mom.

SCHUMACHER FABRIC, STAINLESS CHAIRS, AND FUN FUR SEATS

Not only does my daughter benefit from my constant decorating changes,  but she also gets dibs on my constantly changing store merchandise.  I carry many chandelier styles, but we thought that this wood and iron chandelier was perfect above the table.   You'll see a large canvas sea life wall art acting as a backdrop for the chandelier.  It fills the large empty wall and of course has a background in what else but---BLACK.

WOOD AND IRON CHANDELIER AND CANVAS WALL ART

We filled the gap between the draperies and the corner with a Nate Berkus faux turtle shell.
It's our color compromise.  Notice that there actually is some yellow in the rug and art too.
We're not going totally Johnny Cash on you.

NATE BERKUS FAUX TORTOISE SHELL IN THE CORNER

Please check back as my decorating partner, Sara, and I work our way around the house.

More sneak peeks on the way, promise.

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

ECLECTIC MIX AT BUCKEYSTOWN DESIGN CO-OP

I have to say that I have quite a mix at this month's sale.  But, I think that's my signature.  I'm excited to add more of the very popular bread boards.  I have some that are stenciled this month.  I have three different sizes of dough bowls, and I filled one of them to the brim with balustrade candle sticks and gold faux antlers.  I'm excited about my new santos busts and my religious statuary.  I also have some wonderful burlap-lined french baskets.   I always have a selection of clocks and chandeliers.  Recently I've been selling jewelry with a bohemian vibe.  If you look closely you'll see that I decorated a demijohn with beaded and tasseled necklaces.  New this month are small demijohns with roman numerals on them.   I even slip-covered an ottoman.  Don't miss a fabulous vintage framed bird book plate too.

Enjoy.  Hope to see you September 16-18.






























For details and directions and to see the album for the entire co-op, go here.

Thursday, September 8, 2016

My Cottage Garden At Dusk

As the setting sun traveled across my cottage garden, highlighting the blooms and iron fence;
 I just had to grab my camera.