And Here We Are Again . . .

Fall is back! Possibly my favorite season, with a few exceptions. It means summer is over. And with it my time on the porch becomes limited. The outdoor fairs and festivals I love are less frequent. Some nights in particular staying inside is just a good idea.

But that doesn't mean I've given up on summer just yet. And if you're like me, you might enjoy a few ideas to keep the outdoor part of summer alive just a little longer.

The beautiful pots and hanging baskets of the summer are gone, but that doesn't mean I can't still have color on the porch and in the yard. Mums are of course a good choice. But so are dahlias, cosmos, verbena - and even vases of fall leaves still on their branches.

Keep things cozy with lots of soft texture, especially in pillows and throws. Even blankets make a nice addition to a porch, patio, or to use by the fire pit. And the pattern of the fall? Why, plaid of course!

House Beautiful

Not ready to switch your colors to the burgundy and orange that really mean fall? Then don't! Keep the summer colors you have but just add a little fall decor. And maybe a string of lights as the natural light fades. Summer will live on for a few more weeks!

Who Doesn't Love a Thanksgiving Table?

I have to admit . . . Thanksgiving may be my favorite holiday. I take the entire week off so I can plan and cook - regardless of how many people will be around the table. It's such a great day of sharing food, drinks, laughter, without the drama of Christmas (which I also celebrate).

And a big part of the fun is setting the table. Although my "theme" usually revolves around the fall, there are still so many ways to bring in different looks and colors. Pumpkins are very often front and center. And why not? There are so many different ways to incorporate them into your table setting. I particularly love them as vases, but they can also hold candles or name tags, be painted or covered in fabrics, or just simply be.

The table can also be very simple if that's what you prefer, with the focus on the food and guests. The first Thanksgiving was rustic, so why shouldn't yours have some of the same elements?  Dish towels as napkins, a burlap runner, scattered pumpkins, pears, and apples and you have a simple, beautiful setting.

Or what about a combination? Muted tones, a more formal runner, burlap napkins, and rustic candles set into pretty florals can all work very well together to create a casually elegant look for you and your guests.

And don't forget the kids! If you want them to sit patiently while the adults dine, make sure they have things to do at their table. A craft paper tablecloth with crayons ensures they will be happy through dessert and beyond!

Whatever you decide to do this Thanksgiving just make sure you focus on the thanks . . . because that's what it's all about.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Fall Already?

Really, I mean it. Where does the time go? While the weather in the northeast may not have been too fall-like, it's very clearly fall. Leaves are changing (albeit slowly). The days are getting shorter. And if I try really hard I can smell that fall smell of gently decaying leaves. It's not cold enough for smoke yet, but still . . .

And it will be over before I know it. So I need some fast decorating ideas so the house will feel fall-like, but I'll still have time to enjoy it. And I
thought you might as well.

One of the easiest ideas I know is to place pumpkins and gourds just about anywhere. Add them on bookshelves along with or in place of other accessories. Pile them in a wooden bowl on the coffee table. Put them in candle holders in place of candles. Pile them on a cake plate under the glass top. You get the idea.

Use pumpkins as vases or candle holders. Carve out a little (for a candle) or a lot (for a vase). The candle should fit right into the hole you've cut. You will need to use another container in the pumpkin, so make sure you've hollowed the pumpkin enough so it will fit. And if you're entertaining, try this clever idea from HGTV for an ice bucket.

Snip mum blossoms (or other seasonal flowers) or branches (with the leaves still on) and place in pretty glass containers. Gather on a tray on a coffee table or dining table. Or place on your mantel for a fall touch.

The bottom line is there are so many simple ways to bring fall into your home. Ways that are easy, often right outside your door - and that ensure you won't miss the season!

Making Summer Last

I love autumn. I really do. The crispness of the days. The beautiful golden light. The leaves turning. Fires in the fireplace. But . . . I miss my screened in porch. I sit there every morning before jumping into my day. It helps ground me and prepares me for the busyness ahead. I end most evenings out there, no matter how late. Just a brief touching base with the quiet and the night helps me relax.

But that becomes difficult when it gets really chilly. Sure the fire pit is nice, but not in the morning. And it requires some work, so it's not good for a few minutes of quick evening relaxation. So I started thinking of ways to make summer last - at least on my porch.

Of course I start with throws and blankets. Not the kind I use in summer for a chilly evening, but something more serious. And in fall patterns and colors. Fall sometimes requires wrapping up. just ask my cat.

And then a friend suggested a patio heater. What a concept! For not a lot of money I can warm the porch well into autumn. There are tall styles, tabletop styles, hanging ones, lamp lookalikes, ones that make a design statement . . . I had no idea! They come in sleek metal, stainless steel, wicker, bronze. My porch is small, so I think a small table top model will do. I'm thinking something like this, although the cute wicker one might work. Or the one looking like a pharmacy lamp.

Now all I have to do is add mums and decorative kale in place of the annuals, maybe a pumpkin or two for interest and I'm good to go well into the fall.

Hmmm.....wouldn't watching the snow fall from here be nice? I wonder how expensive glass over the screens would be?

Make It Easy on Yourself

We are starting what for many of us is a stressful time of year. First comes Thanksgiving, a time of gratitude, sharing our bounty in the spirit of giving. And preparing a perfect meal with perfect decorations  . . . and having it with people we may love, but may not always get along with, particularly under stressful circumstances.

And that's just the start of the season!

Country Living

So I say do what you can to make it easy on yourself. Keep decorations simple. Do a little foraging for the perfect autumn look and feel. There are plenty of leaves available which will last well past the holiday with just a little pressing. Branches with or without berries look fabulous in simple vases. Purchase Pumpkins on a Stick from Trader Joe's for a real showstopper.

Elle Decor

Use your everyday dishes. Just do something a little different with them. Instead of napkins use dishtowels. Nicer than paper but without the worry of the "nice" napkins. Add a simple centerpiece of pumpkins and natural elements, with perhaps a candle or two.

And instead of the formal sit-down meal, serve buffet-style. No need to do anything fancy. Use the kitchen island and a couple of candles for the buffet. Let the meal take center stage.

And most importantly, remember what matters. Spend time with those you love. That's what everyone will remember long after the last of the turkey is gone.

What Happens in Paris . . .

Actually didn't stay in Paris, but came  home with me in a surprising way.

We had the wonderful opportunity to spend a week in Paris recently. We stayed at a beautiful apartment in a neighborhood just as you imagine Paris neighborhoods to be, lined with outdoor cafes and shops selling fresh vegetables, flowers, bread, wine, and cheese (among many other enticing treats). We spent our days wandering museums, visiting beautiful cathedrals, and even managed a trip to Versailles. Our evenings were spent on one of our two balconies overlooking either the Eiffel Tower or Sacré-Cœur, eating our fresh market purchases and drinking wine.


When we returned  home, we walked into our by now unfamiliar home and were immediately struck by . . . the colors! Our home does not have vivid colors but I do like color. Color is on the walls, in the rugs, and in accent pieces to bring it all together. Our apartment in Paris was pretty devoid of color. The sofa was black, the chairs gray, the bedding white with gray, the stonework in the kitchens and baths gray - even the photos were black and white. We spent our days saturated with the colors (not to mention the sounds and smells) of Paris, then our evenings enjoying the beautiful colors of the views from our balconies. 

And what I realized in a very profound way is that the colors we live with inside our homes are very reflective of what goes on in our lives outside our homes. I find color inspirational, so having a home with colors that work for me but aren't overwhelming not only makes me happy but also helps me bring color inspiration to my clients. But in Paris, the color-less apartment was a respite from our very colorful days. So if our lives outside our homes are chaotic and "colorful", then less color may be much better inside our homes.  

Paris

And that awareness has helped me fine-tune my skills in working with my clients. So in thinking of colors, what do YOU want and need from the colors in your personal environment?

Connecticut

Do you need calm after your colorful days? A little stimulus to energize you for the evening ahead? Whatever it is, the colors you surround yourself with can bring it to you.

Something Different For Fall

I know there are a lot of nice decorating ideas for fall. But sometimes they can seem a bit similar. So I started considering a few things that may bring a little difference to our decorating.

The first I came up with is a different take on a table runner. I love burlap and most of its incarnations, but webbing? Now this is cool! And HGTV gives you instructions on how to make it. 

What about changing the color of traditional fall decorating? Instead of the usual red and gold, what about a deep purple (think cabbages and eggplant), greens of late season peppers and gourds (those can be pretty bright) or even the browns of Indian corn? (Check out for most recent board on Pinterest for a lovely take on a brown and cranberry table setting.)


Another idea: select fall patterns instead of just fabrics for your pillows and throws. Fall fabrics are of course sumptious (although you might consider tweed instead of something more "traditional" like chenille). But a houndstooth pattern has always said fall (and Overstock has plenty of it).

There's also nothing wrong with the tried-and-true at this time of year - just consider a twist on the theme. If you've ever seen pumpkins on a stick (Trader Joe's and Whole Foods always have them at this time of year), they may become a fall decorating staple. And nothing beats traditional pumpkins used in slightly less traditional ways (think vases, candle holders, and serving stands).

The good news is that there are as many decorating ideas for fall as there are leaves on the trees.......so pick your favorites and have fun!
And if you need a little more inspiration, check out my latest board on Pinterest.

Late Summer/Early Fall Outdoor Entertaining

I know a lot of people consider Labor Day the end of summer. But there are actually still a few more weeks of summer. And even more weeks than that to enjoy the outdoors. In fact, late summer and early fall get-togethers can be some of the best of the year. You don't have to worry about a heat wave. Yummy fresh, local food is available, making recipes simple. People are looking for something to celebrate now that summer vacations are over. So now is the perfect time to have an outdoor party. Just keep in mind a few things to make it even better.

A great way to light the stairs

Because it gets dark earlier, have plenty of outdoor lighting. Bring lamps from the inside to the outdoors for the evening. Have plenty of candles in hurricanes or other protected containers that still give plenty of light. Place solar lighting in strategic locations. Make it safe for people to navigate while creating a warm ambience.

Prepare for cooler evenings. Have blankets and throws available. Set up a fire pit or a chimenea for both warmth and ambience. Invest in a heat lamp, especially if you would like to do this often.

Decorate for the season. Use apples, mums, pumpkins, acorns, leaves. Get creative and use these items for centerpieces, to hold food (hollowed out pumpkins make great soup bowls), as candle holders or as place cards.

Then relax..........and let the fun begin! And if you like these ideas, check out more on my new Pinterest board.