Colorful Fall Touches Around The House | 2018

September 19, 2018

Hi friends. We moved into our new house just over a year ago and while I haven’t done an official house tour, I have shown you bits and pieces of our decor. To be real, I’m still decorating, searching for the perfect piece of art to go over the sofa, and adding finishing touches to our decor. I’m hoping to finish up a few things before I start decorating for Christmas and plan to create a video tour to share with you. Until then, let me show you my fall decor!

Even though I don’t traditionally do much decorating for fall, I did add little touches to our living and dining room. If you’re expecting traditional fall colors and lots of plaid and leaf decor, hold tight because my fall decor is a little untraditional. It’s all about color.

THE COLORS OF FALL

I LOVE COLOR and have lots of bright tones and patterns throughout my house. So as not to stray too far from my design aesthetic, I used bright elements to decorate for the season. I replaced the pink peonies that were on the coffee table during summer with these beautiful yellow sunflowers. Sunflowers are one of my favorite flowers and I just love how bright and cheery they look.

I moved the decor around and switched up some of the books. And I filled a vintage brass pedestal bowl with handmade felt acorns. Even more color!

The acrylic tray got replaced with an animal print tray that I snagged for under $5 at a flea market. I always have a touch of animal print in my decor and fall is the perfect season to showcase it. You might have noticed that I didn’t change the pillows on the sofa (yet), but think I’ve found the perfect fall combination. Stay tuned.

There are no big changes to the fireplace hearth except the addition of white pumpkins nested amongst my blue and white jars.

We have a small console table that sits next to the door leading out to the deck. The pink and gold pumpkins along with the orange peonies give this little vignette a fall feel. In case you’re wondering, the beautiful peony stems cam from Hobby Lobby.

FALL FLOWERS

Over in the dining room, I dressed up the buffet with an eclectic mix of items. I grouped brown tortoise hurricanes with small blue and white ginger jars and a velvet pumpkin under a glass cloche. Then I added small green and white pumpkins to the mix. I love the reflection in the mirror at night when the candles are burning.

design tip: to prevent candle wax sticking to the bottom of a glass hurricane, place a few drops of water in the container. The water will prevent any candle wax that drips from hardening.

Have you noticed that I have pumpkins of all shades and sizes. I found some really cute ones this year and couldn’t resist. The green pumpkins are from Micheals and orange velvet pumpkin is from HomeGoods. The white ceramic pumpkins are from Hobby Lobby but I painted the stems gold…just because!

I sat a grouping of colorful pumpkins on the kitchen peninsula and love this little spot of happiness. Grouping pumpkins in different finishes and materials makes the grouping more interesting. The gold pumpkin is from HomeGoods, the small orange pumpkin from Target Dollar Spot and the pink pumpkin is from Michaels. I shared a picture of the pink and green pumpkins on Instagram and so many of you loved them.

I even got my cocktail bar in on the fall fun by adding small pumpkins to the monkey bowl. Sometimes it’s the little things that make the best decorating moments.

To finish off the dining area, I did decorate the table for fall. Here’s a sneak peek. I’ll be sharing the full tablescape tomorrow as part of a fall blog hop so make sure to check back. You can see my fall tablescape from last year here.

That wraps up my fall home tour! I hope you enjoyed looking around and seeing the just like my decor, fall comes in a variety of colors. If you’re new to my blog, I hope you’ll consider subscribing. You can do that by filling in the pink box in the sidebar.

Fall Pillow Finds | My Favorite Picks For The Season

September 16, 2018

When it comes to fall decorating, I don’t go overboard with my decor. I like to scatter a few pumpkins here and there and replace spring flowers with fall blooms. I also change out the pillows on the sofa for ones with more of a fall feel. Since I’m not big on pumpkin designs, I look for patterns that represent fall through their colors and/or texture. Investing in these types of design gives me more versatility when I’m decorating and I can keep them out until I start decorating for Christmas.

I’ll be sharing my fall home tour on Wednesday where you’ll get to see the pillows I’m using in my fall decor. Until then, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite fall inspired {and budget-friendly} styles for you to shop.

FALL PILLOW PICKS

No. 1 There is so much to love about this Carpet Print. From the vintage inspired design to the soft, muted colors. This pillow would look great paired with a chunky wool throw.

No. 2 I love the texture, colors and boho vibe in this lumbar pillow. It’s a generous size and would look great on a sofa or accenting a bed.

No. 3 The colors in this floral lumbar pillow just scream fall and the plush fabric gives it a cozy feel. With so much color, this is a great pattern to mix and match with other colors. I also like this velvet design and this floral pattern.

No. 4 How fun is the diamond shag pillow? The combination of rich, warm colors and soft texture made this a fun pillow to add to a family room or play area.

No. 5 This multicolored pillow just might be my favorite fall inspired pillow because of all the color. And I love the black over-stitch that gives the pillow even more dimension.

No. 6 Tapestry designs are trending right now and this woven tapestry is a beauty. The colors are rich and warm and the design is perfect for traditional or eclectic design styles.

No. 7 This hook and loop pillow from Wayfair has a global look to it. I love the nubby texture and abstract pattern. Definitely a fun accent for more modern or boho design styles.

No. 8 I think animal prints are perfect for year round decorating, but for fall they are a great way add an elegant fall feel. This hide cheetah print is a showstopper and will pair beautifully with stripes of floral patterns.

What’s your favorite way to decorate your home for fall? Do you go all out or do you make minor changes to welcome the season?

The Christmas Tree Shops–Store Review and What I Bought

March 12, 2018

Hi friends. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

On Saturday the hubs and I had some errands to run including a stop at The Christmas Tree Shops and That. I’ve heard lots of talk about this store and have seen some amazing finds pop up on Instagram. Just the other day one of my instagram friends posted this image showing the chic pieces she scored at her local store. Aren’t that planter and lattice rug just gorgeous! (sadly these items were not at my store).

After seeing Cathy’s post, I immediately jumped on the computer to see where the closet Christmas Tree Shops was located. I was surprised to find that there was one about 25 minutes from me.

When we drove into the parking lot and I saw andThat! on the building I was a little confused but once I did a little reading about the company it all made sense.

The Christmas Tree Shops andThat!

If you’re not familiar with The Christmas Tree Shops and That!, let me give you little background.

Christmas Tree Shops started as a holiday gift shop on Cape Cod selling holiday and seasonal decor. As the success of the company grew, they started to expand their offering selling gifts, home decor and big name closeout items. In 2012, the company began expanding beyond the New England area and added the name And That! so consumers would know the store sells more than just seasonal products.

I’d describe the store as a mix of World Market, Hobby Lobby and At Home all under one roof. You’ll find craft items, seasonal decor, decorative accessories, housewares and even wine. I was pleasantly surprised to see such a wide variety of products and was even more amazed at some of the prices.

One of the main product statements they have on the floor right now is melamine dinnerware and serving piece. The prices ranged from $1.50 to $5.00 with lots of colors and patterns to choose from.

In addition to melamine dinnerware, I spotted these wine glasses. At first I thought they were glass but they were actually made of clear plastic. They looked like the real thing and were only $1.50 per glass. This is definitely something to buy if you do a lot of entertaining or host big family gatherings around the holidays.

These summer motif melamine trays also caught my attention because they were only $1.29! These would be great as a summer hostess gift or to use for outdoor entertaining. (note to self: go back and get some of these)!

p.s. if you’d like something with more of a designer look, check out these marble swirl melamine trays I spotted online.

Another product that stopped me in my track were these monogrammed tea towels. Like the trays, there were lots of different patterns available. I actually thought about getting some of these to use as dinner napkins but wasn’t in the mood to dig thru the bin to find multiple M’s. I think the price on these was under $3.

The store carries a great selection of placemats including these 4 styles which I loved. I also saw the navy and natural jute mats below and had to snap them up because I love all things blue and white and because they were only $1.00 each!

There was a small selection of accent furniture and while I liked the look of some of the pieces, the quality was not there for me. I do think there were some good options for a beach house or guest room that doesn’t get used a lot.

I’m always on the hunt for pillows and saw several styles that I liked including this one with a beautiful crewel work design on the front. The only downside is that most of their pillows have polyfil inserts but you could have those replaced with down it you found a design you really liked.

This collection of blue and white Shibori pillows were nice. The blue lattice design on the bottom shelf was oversized and would look great in triplicate on a bed.

There was a nice selection of bedding and curtains including Waverly designs. This blue and white damask design was really pretty with the ticking stripe pattern on the back. You could easily pair this with navy or off-white bedding to build a really stunning look.

After pursuing the textiles area, I headed over to the decor department. There was a little of everything.

These round wood monogram board were cute. They are not cutting boards but are meant to be used as decor. I could see one hanging as part of a gallery wall or in the middle of a wreath. I think they were around $5.99.

Lots of pineapple decor. #arepineapplesstillathing?

One thing I did notice about The Christmas Tree Shops is that they are on top of the trends. They had copper and brass well represented throughout the store. Here’s a look at some of the candle hurricanes they had.

If you’re looking for inexpensive decor to style bookshelves, tabletops and such then I would say this is a good store to check out. This marble-look jar was really nice and less than $10.

There was a big housewares department with kitchen accessories, paper products and gift items. If I didn’t already own about 20 water bottles I would have picked up one of the insulated floral bottles below.

Pretty blue and white paper napkins.

And of course I had to check out the giftwrap. Most rolls were $2.99 or less and there was a nice selection of stylish designs including a few I’ve spotted at HomeGoods.

This is just a snippet of what the store had to offer so If you go, plan on spending some time looking around. According the website, the assortment changes all they time and new products are introduced weekly.

If you live in the Atlanta area, you can visitThe Christmas Tree Shops in Kennesaw at 845 Ernest W. Barrett Pwky NW. And if you don’t have a store near you, you can shop online here.

Happy shopping!

Inspiration Notebook: October 2016

October 4, 2016

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Happy Tuesday. I hope everyone is having a great start to the week. You might have noticed that its been quiet here on the blog lately. Between design projects, non-profit meetings, creative projects and traveling, I’ve neglected the blog. I’m happy to say that things are settling down just a bit and I’ve found my way back to the blog. I’ve got so much to share with your this month starting with my Inspiration Notebook for October.

This month I’ve filled the pages of my inspiration notebook with beautiful images that are inspiring me and that represent the beauty of fall.

♦ OCTOBER INSPIRATION ♦

Autumn Decorating Idea–Fall Leaf Branches

September 26, 2016

Fall Decorating Idea: Fall Leaf Branches

Last week the hubby and I headed off on a road trip to visit my mom in Oklahoma. Our travels took us through three states and lots of countryside where I really started to notice the coming of fall. Trees are starting to turn, leaves are beginning to trickle to the ground and the warm, rich colors of fall are starting come alive.

One of the things that struck me on our drive was the simplicity and beauty of fall foliage. Since I don’t do a ton of decorating for fall, I’m loving the idea of a few fall leaf branches placed in a jar or vase. The leaves add color and texture, the branches create visual dimension and a natural touch like leaves makes any space feel more inviting.

Decorating for fall doesn’t get any easier than that!

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Clip and gather branches of brightly colored leaves and arrange them like flowers in a decorative vase. Clear containers let the beauty of the leaves stand out while colorful glassware creates a more modern look and feel.

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With so many varieties of leaves just outside your door, it should be easy to find a color that works with your décor.

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For a dramatic centerpiece, gather several large branches into a large vase or pot. Let the branches extend up and out to create a more organic arrangement.

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Large groupings of leaves can create a visual backdrop over a mantel just as a mirror or piece of artwork would do.

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If you like the idea of decorating with fall leaf branches, here are a few tips that will help your arrangements last:

Choose bright-colored branches that have not peaked in color
Clip branches with a sharp garden clippers
Remove 2 to 3 inches of bark from the end of the branch and then pound the end of the branch flat. This will help the branch absorb water better.
Place branches in a container with a mixture of 1/3 glycerin and 2/3 warm water. Branches should last for a couple of weeks.

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When it comes to fall décor, do you go all out or do you like simple touches?

♦♦

I’ll be back tomorrow to share some high-end designer looks you can hack on a budget.

What I’m Loving About The Fall 2016 Color Trends (and some product picks)

August 24, 2016

Even though temps are still in the 90’s and the air is sticky, I can feel the coming of fall. There is something in the air and I can definitely feel my mood changing. I’m looking forward to the season officially arriving.

In anticipation of the first day of fall I did a little web search to check out Pantone’s fall color picks. I’m excited about the colors that were selected because ~~all~~ most of them are great colors when it comes to decor. Of the 10 colors that made the list, there are a few that I’m particularly drawn to. Today I’m sharing what I’m loving most about the fall 2016 color trends plus I’ve rounded up some product picks to get you started on your fall decor.

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AURORA RED

Red is my favorite color and even though Aurora Red is a bit more russet in tone, I’m still a big fan. It’s a color that will mixes easily with neutrals and grey and it works both as a statement color and as an accent. A mirror or accent pillows is an easy way to add this color into your mix for fall.

Aurora Red Product Picks:

The Suzani Appliqué Pillow Cover would make a great accent pillow for a sofa, chair or bed. And with the popularity of blue and white, I could see this being a great fall update in a blue and white bedroom.

The Malone Campaign Desk is a great piece for a small foyer, hallway or guest bedroom. The brass accents really jazz it up and I love the clean lines and simple details.

LUSH MEADOW

Yes I love emerald green and yes I’m excited it made the cut for fall. The Pantone version, Lush Meadow is a bit softer than a traditional emerald but it still has the life and energy that has made this shade of green so popular.

Lush Meadow Product Picks:

Garden stools continue to be a popular decor piece and this Safavieh Chinese Dragon Stool is a stylish way to add chinoiserie and emerald green into your decor for fall. #ineed

Here’s a green table lamp I know you’re going to love. The green glass (a hot style trend for fall) and the faux wood grain lampshade make this Jade Table Lamp a stunner. And you won’t believe the $139 price. #iwant

SPICY MUSTARD

If you’ve followed color trends for the last two years, you’ve seen the surge in the popularity of the color yellow. Spicy Mustard is the color Pantone has identified as a trend for fall and I love the rich and luxurious look that this color adds to decor. And If given the opportunity, I’d would definitely own a yellow sofa.

Spicy Mustard Product Picks:

I recently spotted this Bradberry Downs collection rug and think it would be an awesome rug to spice up a living room or dining room. And I love that it can work with black or wood stained furniture and both silver and gold finishes.

If you haven’t jumped on the x-bench trend, the Safavieh Palmer X Bench is a great way to do that. I love the pattern and nailhead trim and would nestle a pair under a console table or at the foot of a bed.

This Large Glass Vase caught my attention on the H and M Home site not only because of the beautiful mustard color, but also because of the $12.99 price point. #greatbuy

SHARKSKIN

Grey continues to be a hot, hot trend in decor and the focus for fall is a rich, classic shade of grey with an enticing name…Sharkskin. p.s. you’ll continue to see the popularity of grey for kitchen cabinets too!

Sharkskin Product Picks:

Grey is one of my favorite colors to decorate with in a bedroom. It’s a soothing and relaxing color with a sophisticated edge. The Asher Organic Duvet is a favorite for fall especially mixed with black and crisp white.

This classic chevron patterned throw is the perfect accessory to drape over a chair or sofa. And it would make a great gift too.

RIVERSIDE

Unlike Serenity which is a Pantone 2016 colors of the year, I am a fan of the blue they picked for fall called Riverside. I love the steely grey undertones of this color and how well it mixes with the richer colors you always see during fall.

Riverside Product Picks:

I can already envision this Unlimited Beads Blue Dinnerware set as part of a fall table setting mixed with orange and white pumpkins and lush greens. #yesplease

I’d love to get new lamps for our bedroom, and this Blue Ceramic Table Lamp would definitely be on my list of options. The matte blue base and the lattice design lampshade really make it stand out.

So friends, even though we’ve got a few more weeks to enjoy summer, I’ve got fall on my mind and ideas in my head.

How about you? Are you dreaming of fall and which of Pantone’s fall colors are your favorite. Do tell!

My Inspiration Notebook–August 2016

August 1, 2016

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Here’s where I’m getting my inspiration this month…

What’s inspiring you for August?

Spring Inspiration–Decorating Ideas and Tips

March 1, 2016

I can’t believe the weather we’ve had the last couple of days here in Atlanta. Spring is definitely in the air and I’m super excited for its arrival. The other day I was driving and noticed that a few cherry trees had started to bloom and that daffodils are popping up everywhere. All these signs of spring have me thinking about decorating for the season which is not typically something I do a lot of. This year though, I want to add a few more spring touches to my decor and rounded up a few ideas and inspiration that just might inspire you too.

When we lived in Seattle there were tulip fields about 60 miles outside the city. Every year we’d take a drive to look at the beautiful rows of tulips and buy bundles and bundles of tulips for $5.00 ea. The tulip festival took place around my birthday in April so tulips hold a special place in my heart.

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