Fall Decorating Around the House

The long awaited where have you been old friend crisp fall air whispered in my ear the time is now for fall decorating around the house.

More and more I find my taste aligns with simple, natural, and the work with what you have aspects of seasonal decorating.

fall-leaves-cones-1

Simplicity is defined as the quality or condition of being plain or natural; a thing that is plain, natural, or easy to understand.

Putting together an arrangement of pine cones and various leaves rich in fall colors is about as natural and easy as it comes.

gourd-antlers-1 (1)

There’s a time and a place for everything, and with the hustle and the bustle of the holiday season soon to arrive, this year’s fall decorating around the house look is brought to you by the need and the want to showcase decorative items germane to individuality, simplicity, effortlessness, and nature’s beauty.

pheasant (1)

sunflowers-pomegranates

pumpkin-spray (1)

welcome-gold

wreath-spray

Mama Places In The Home calls me from one of the hobby and crafts store we frequent for fall into holiday decor.

She is happy to report the entire stock of fall swags and wreaths is currently marked 70% off original price.

Sold!

Try, try as I may, I could not capture a good picture of the swag. The combination of a cloudy day, funky angles, and wth? exposure settings does not do it justice.

faux-pumpkins-gourd-dining-table

Gourds decorate for fall through to Thanksgiving- a small investment, big return accent.

gourds-orange-yellow-mums (1)

Some of my best shopping comes via the Facebook pages of local shops and boutiques.

See it.

Send a message.

Pull it and I’ll be right there.

stacked-gourds-pumpkin-1 (1)

Exactly what I did with these gourds.

Halloween-bar (1)

We’ll call this one fresh flowers and framed memories.

dave-darleen-desk

The year was 1998, and the event was one of the many school events-carnivals-fundraisers-assemblies- open houses we attended at our son’s elementary school.

Twenty+ years and two hair colors ago.

yellow-mum

Simple ideas, thoughtful touches steeped in warm and cozy overtones, inspired choices, natural elements, accessories, collectibles, and souvenirs near and dear to your heart and taste beautifully work the room and welcome fall into your home.

Darleen-signature-love

 

French Themed Tablescape

The beauty of a French themed tablescape is found in the ooh la la factor, and this We’ll Always Have Paris French themed tablescape focuses attention on the it’s all in the details appeal of understated elegance.

La-Fregate-cafe

Soft lighting, informal china and crystal, and benign neglect to formality describes the European sentiment.

Wacker Table Lamp

Roma Table Lamp- Classic Favs!

Incorporate a table lamp(s) into your tablescape scheme.

StyleCraft Home Collection 24.5-in Blue Table Lamp with Fabric Shade

Chelsea Blue Accent Table Lamp – Chelsea Blue Hardback Fabric Shade

Soft candlelight sets the night and the table in casually elegant fashion and romantic ambiance.

Distressed White Ornate Candle Holder, 28 in.Distressed White Ornate Candle Holder

taper-candles-for-French-themed-tablescape

French decor elements bring a palette of both deep and soft blue and green, crisp white, rich brown and citrine, soft gray, and deep wine red to the table.

French-bistro-green-chairsFlickr

Below is an assortment of tabletop accessories, serveware, and thoughtful accoutrementto illustrate the point.

wood-charger

Serveware Embossed Charger Plates Set of 4

Embossed Charger Plate-Set of 4

wood-pattern-plate-chargerFaux Wood Charger Plates

Food Network™ Resin Wicker Charger PlateFood Network Resin Wicker Charger

Lenox Chelse Muse Fleur Dinner Plate

Chelse Muse Fleur 12-Pc. Dinnerware Set, Service for 4

Thierry's cottageThierry’s Cottage – Flickr

Merletto 11" Square Dinner PlateArte Italica Merletto 11″ Square Dinner Plate

“The service and mood should be informal,
and the food, wine, and presentation extraordinary.” 

—Tomas Maier

Elama Indigo Lotus 16 Pieces Square Dinnerware Set

Elama Indigo Lotus 16 Pieces Square Dinnerware Set

AERIN Scalloped Rim Salad Plate, Each, BlueAERIN Scalloped Rim Salad Plate, Each, Blue

Dowd Traditional Blue Accent Table Lamp

Dowd Traditional Blue Accent Table Lamp

Mainstays Blue Rim Stoneware Dinner Plate

Mainstays Blue Rim Stoneware Dinner Plate

Bernardaud Tout Salad Plates

Bernardaud Tout Salad Plates

Corelle 18pc Vitrelle Embossed Bella Faenza Dinnerware Set White

Corelle 18pc Vitrelle Embossed Bella Faenza Dinnerware Set White

Pillivuyt Queen Anne Porcelain Dinnerware Collection

Pillivuyt Queen Anne Porcelain Dinnerware Collection

Vintage pieces make a wonderful contribution to tablecsapes, lending an air of distinction that exemplifies the art of classic French themed tablescape savoir faire. vintage-black-and-brown-china-plates-set-of-3

Vintage Black & Brown China Plates- Set of 3

Warwick-china-dessert-bowlsWarwick Dessert Bowls

Restaurant-de-la-tour

Restaurant De La Tour

Restaurant.

Bistro.

Home sweet home.

Ambiance is paramount to setting the scene and the table for the dining experience.

Call it an experience because dining should be exactly that- a social, sensory and scrumptious experience.

Sight (we eat first with our eyes) sound, touch, smell and taste anchor ambiance.

Faux Ivory Hixon Laguiole 20 Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 4Faux Ivory Hixon Laguiole 20 Piece Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 4

Zwilling JA Henckels Vintage 23 Piece 18/10 Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 4

Zwilling JA Henckels Vintage Stainless Steel Flatware Set, Service for 4

French antique large tureen ironstone Luneville 19th Flowers Fontainebleau pattern

lions-head-bowl

Lion Head’s Bowl

Oval+Platter

Oval Platter in Cobalt by Fiesta

BFK Dauphin antique tureen, Boch Freres Keramis, Late 1800sBFK Dauphin Antique Tureen, Boch Freres Keramis, Late 1800s

Burano+Oval+Scalloped+Platter

Burano Platter by Arte Italica

 

Antique Sauce boat French Choisy le Roi ROCHANBEAU Faience Gravy 1860's ironstoneAntique Choisy le Roi ROCHANBEAU Faience Gravy 1860’s 

Musee Five-Piece Place Setting

french linen napkins

Hotel Dinner NapkinsHotel Dinner Napkins

toile-blue-fabric

Small Porcelain Plate

Small Porcelain Plate

Napkin (Set of 6)

DII Dish Towels Check Plaid, Set of 4-Gray

DII Printed Dishtowels Style Tabletop Collection, 18x28, French Stripe 3 PieceDII Printed Dishtowels Style Tabletop Collection, French Stripe 3 Piece

https://brandcycle.go2cloud.org/aff_c?offer_id=177&aff_id=2671&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tkqlhce.com%2Fclick-7921344-15590330%3Fsid%3DA{affiliate_id}O{offer_id}TID{transaction_id}%26url%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.macys.com%252Fshop%252Fproduct%252Fla-rochere-versailles-9-ounce-tumbler-set-of-6%253FID%253D5400370

Bentwood Café Chairs

stoneware-floral-pitcher-French-tablescape

Pitcher-ZentiqueZentique Pitcher

Small European Bread BoardSmall European Bread Board

Brie

french-bread

Heather Bullard thoughtfully turns antique ephemera into these free printable French baguettes wraps perfect as take away party favors.

baguette-wraps

Click on the link below to see her post and download instructions.  Merci beaucoup, Heather.

bread-wraps

FrenchBaguetteWrap

French Baguette Wrap Printable

chipwood-basket

bistro-cheese-board

Wine Carafe

Libbey 719 8.5 oz. glass cocktail decanter

Libbey 8.5 oz. Cocktail Decanter

Elle Decor Set of 6 Wine Glasses, Blue

Elle Decor Set of 6 Wine Glasses, Blue

versailles-tumblers

La Rochere Versailles Tumblers, Set of 6

French wine glass

French Wine Glass

alpaca wine rack

El Mueble

The ooh la la of the French tablescape and copper accents.

Relaxed refinement is not an oxymoron.

C’est magnifique!

 

vintage-etched-goblets

Williams Sonoma Vintage Etched Goblets

French-themed-tablescape

French-place-setting

French Antique Digoin Sarreguemines Grey Poupon Mustard of Dijon PotFrench Antique Digoin Sarreguemines Grey Poupon Mustard of Dijon Pot

jute-tableclothJute Tablecloth

hemstitched-embroidered-table-runner

Fennco Styles Hand Hemstitched and Embroidered Swiss Dot Table Runner

Lavender Bunch

Lavender Bunch

Brie

I absolutely ooh la la love adding a few vintage and antique items to my tablescape and decorating plan.

Antique Large Round Blue Wood Cheese BoxAntique Large Round Blue Wood Cheese Box

A large antique cheese box makes a fantastic decorative accent for a cheese and fruit display.

CounterArt Tempered Glass Shades Cutting Board

garden-markers-blue-white

summer-font

summer cheese board

Small European Bread BoardSmall European Bread Board

Silea Cheese Markers - Set of 6

autumn-font

fall-board-cheese

Ornate Pedestal Riser Ornate Pedestal Riser

artichoke=place=card

Pinterest

lemon-card-2

Grab a free place card template printable, pop over to your photo editor of choice, add your own favorite French themed embellishments, colors and fonts and voilà!

French themed tablescape

Frame prints or printables such as this menu écrit en français as conversation pieces.

blue-frame-French-menu

Wall shelf-wall sconces plucked from the clearance shelves at Hobby Lobby have served as my go-to tabletop décor accessory at shop and at home.

Grindle Leaf Scroll Wall Shelf

The decorative duo immediately caught my eye as tabletop gotta have it rather than wall décor.

When you like the details, finish and presence of a decorative piece, but not in the context of its original purpose, repurpose.

Antique Silk French Subdued Blue Ombre Ribbon

Antique Silk French Subdued Blue Ombre Ribbon

From place setting to ambiance, a destination themed tablescape travels well.

Part III of Themed Tablescapes Table Escapes features decorative accessories and accents of Chinoiserie chic to set a Far East Fabulous tablescape.

Darleen-signature-love

 

Central Louisiana Mardi Gras Mambo

Welcome to our Mardi Gras ~ Bienvenue à notre Mardi Gras!

Mardi Gras is all around Louisiana and our sister states, but this invitation is to a Central Louisiana Mardi Gras Mambo Places In The Home style.

Mardi Gras

Festivities to beat the jazz band fill Central Louisiana afternoons, evenings and weekends with something Mardi Gras to do.

mardi-gras-beadsKrewe parades roll uptown, downtown, and all along the Red River replete with throws of colored beads and doubloons, go- cups (we do love a geaux-cup), and trinkets raining down to revelers below satisfying the traditional Carnival call of “Throw me something, Mister!”

geaux-cups

Alexa Pulitzer

What’s a go-cup (that’s geaux cup in Louisiana speak) you may ask?

Not to-go cup.

Go-cup.

go-cup

a cup used to hold any beverage that one may take with them while they are out and about.

Louisiana is a festival-celebration-events driven state.   Celebrating is in our DNA.  Humidity is always in the air, ergo the need for liquid refreshment.  When out and about you can guarantee (ga-ron-tee as Justin Wilson said) it is with beverage of choice in hand.

Mardi-Gras-throws

Throw me something, Mister!

Mardi Gras in Central Louisiana emphasizes the spirit of family, friend and neighbor.




dance-band

We eat, drink, decorate, dance, promenade, stroll and second line on Garden District streets of brick during the Carnival season.

This is our taste of Mardi Gras world from the Twelfth Night (feast of Epiphany) to Fat Tuesday- a living it up in Central Louisiana c’est si bon celebration.

brick-streets

Gray skies never rain on our parade.

We know how to adapt and simply take the party indoors.

king-cake-colors

Decorating for Mardi Gras gives me an opportunity to put my French themed decor accessories and accents on Mardi Gras parade.

Mardi-Gras-Centerpiece

The purple, green and gold colors and oval design of a traditional King Cake serves up dining table centerpiece idea.

mardi-gras-buffet2

purple-gold-green-mask

Centerpiece inspiration is everywhere, and the colors and design of the King Cake is as good a muse as any.

Mardi-Gras-Venetian-Masks

Taking inventory of items around the house and those plucked from a fantastic end-of-season clearance sale last year, I spied my Sportsman’s Paradise-Gulf of Mexico-coastal collection of shells, figurines and the like.

Winter is making me blue, so any and all opportunities to inject a bit of spring into my step and/or decor are welcome.  Shells and pelicans equal spring into summer perfect.

candy-Mardi-gras

This gold pelican figurine is 39 years old- a nugget souvenir from our college days at LSU.

The shell is an oldie but a lovely as well.

pelican-figurine

The curated side of my brain and the decorating side of my brain merged to come up with a fabulous pairing.

There’s a baby in a King Cake, and there’s a Louisiana pelican in this shell of a Carnival inspired candy dish.

New-Orleans-Street-Car

Our days of letting the good times roll in New Orleans ceased in favor of the local lagniappe Central Louisiana offers.

These days, home is where the Mardi Gras celebration is.

love your style

 

Practicing Design Instinct and Inspiration

Photography is a lot like interior decorating in regards to working or not working with color.  Design instinct and inspiration guide the creative process. Light, forms, tone and balance optimize not only the shot but the space. Forgive my simplistic explanation, but plainly put, some photos only work in color and others only work in black and white.

simon&garfunkel

Simon & Garfunkel 

Since finding a renewed popularity complements of a current political campaign, the Simon & Garfunkel 1968 single “America” is once again on my playlist.  The impact of a great hook paired with powerful lyrics mirrors the impact of classic design coupled with an impressive decorating style.

Red-River-Candy-Co-watermarked-initials

While discovering “America” I rediscovered another Simon & Garfunkel favorite, “My Little Town.”  You may be wondering what possible connection there could be between a couple of Simon & Garfunkel songs and design and decorating.  Design instinct and inspiration, my friends. One never knows where one will find it.  I hit the streets of my little town photographing local landmarks.  Although photographed in color, a monochromatic color scheme captured aspects of the images that color failed to.

WSH-watermarked-initials

Photo editing, enhancements and touch-ups generate a refined result. It’s the same with decorating.  Editing, enhancements and touch-ups help to achieve a polished look.  Making pretty is an exercise in trial and error, correction and confidence.  Gorgeous isn’t always achieved right out of the gate.

design instinct

Going with your first design instinct, or at the very least a tweaked variation of it, proves visually successful more times than not.  I failed to practice what I preach with this chandelier.  I was convinced a pop of designer color over my first choice of painting the fixture white would put to rest any doubt my decorating choices were in a rut or unimaginative. Fan deck after fan deck, I could not get a peace about any other color choice other than white.  The lyrics from “My Little Town” kept running through my mind.

And after it rains
There’s a rainbow
And all of the colors are black
It’s not that the colors aren’t there
It’s just imagination they lack

The pieces of the color palette puzzle finally fit when I decided to go with my first instinct.  I remembered one of my standard decorating solutions- the color white never fails to make a classic statement. The color is there, and imagination is not lacking.  I showed decorating doubt the door and practiced my own brand of design instinct and inspiration.

Love your style!

Adventures In Decorating Rental Property

During a recent all in the family design consultation the question how would mom approach decorating rental property was asked and answered.

arches at LSU campus

Flickr

Our son is on the move once again in the pursuit of higher education and stylish digs, and thus begins our adventures in decorating rental property.

He has clear and concise idea of what he wants on the education front, but questions his decorative decisions on the latter.

LSU-sticker

I’m considering replacing my LSU Mom bumper sticker with a custom sticker stating “My son and my money and my furniture, home furnishings, and home decor accessories go to LSU.”

LSU mom

It’s important when decorating rental property to be fully aware of the rules and limitations regarding changes to the existing decor, but to also keep a personal stamp of style in mind.

Color does just that.

The color palette I’m suggesting consists of his all time favorite colors.

It’s been established the living area and kitchen colors will remain as is for the following two reasons:

A neutral color palette in a common area works to your advantage.

gray paint colors BHG photo by Marty Baldwin

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Marty Baldwin

Neutral colors are wildly popular because most everyone lives well with them.

With that in mind, it’s a safe assumption a neutral color palette in shared areas will reduce the risk of conflicting tastes with the roommate.

Your security deposit dollars and post graduation time schedule thank you in advance for your consideration.

Introduce color through accent pieces and home decor accessories.

It’s much easier to add and subtract on a smaller scale than to go big or repaint at this stage of the college housing game.

nautical color palette

The decorative emphasis is on the bedroom.

The floor plan offers enough space and full walls for better furniture placement.

Windows are great, but can wreak havoc with furniture placement.

Thankfully, this will not present a problem.

Storage and a sufficient work area remain big considerations in the overall plan.

bedroom floor plan

Let me share with you a renter/lessee tip.

Before painting the interior or exterior of a property, obtain written permission from the landlord or property management firm.

With written permission from the property management firm giving the okay to paint firmly in place, we’ve reached a color compromise of sorts.

 

We both agree the 14′ X 13′ bedroom is better equipped to do a core color decorative justice as a focal point color.

Enter the accent wall.

red-accent-wall-SITC

“I Heart NY” is one of my favorite Sex In The City episodes.

Moon River.

A red accent wall.

The charismatic Chris Noth as Mr. Big.

That one red wall is captivating!

Other than my gush, our son has no point of reference.

Unfortunately, Dave the Builder does due to the years of overexposure to my obsession.

Dave suggested the above image for visual reference.

The decision has been made and we have a winner.

sw-hyper-blue

Sherwin-Williams Hyper Blue SW 6965  is the one color he is set on.

Dave the Builder insists on making a custom upholstered headboard.

It’s a practical and affordable way to bring more color into the space and to create a striking look.

One sheet of plywood, a jigsaw, upholstery foam, batting, upholstery fabric, and a staple gun will get the DIY job done.

For the next two months one thing is for sure- college decorating days are here again.

This is a refresher course for me in the ABC’s of decorating rental property, an all in the family affair, and I’m loving every stylish minute of it!