Thanksgiving often means getting together with friends and loved ones to share the spirit of the season together...plans are made, meals prepared, experiences shared. In honor of this we often pull out the special dishes and decorate our homes with festive fall accessories. But don’t stop there! Why not spruce up the outside of your home for your Thanksgiving guests? From your front walk to your back yard, extending your holiday decor to the exterior is a wonderful way to add a celebratory air to the season. Need some inspiration? Done! I've found some great examples online to ignite your imagination! Starting at the walkway, how adorable are these potted mums? Using pumpkins for a planter is clever and screams autumn harvest. What an adorable way to greet your … [Read more...]
Creating a Rustic Fall Front Porch Display
I love this video with tips for creating a charming and rustic fall display for your front porch or patio. The sample displays are gorgeous and give me a lot of good ideas for my own front porch area. Creating a Colorful Rustic Display Use a repetition of color throughout your front porch display to tie in the entire decoration. Your accent color (green in this case) can be repeated through the solid pieces like a rocking chair, bench, trellis, etc and echoed through the selection of plant materials. Gourds and pumpkins are commonly used, and look great on this patio. Brown and Orange Patio Display Old stems and seedheads are fascinating in a fall patio decoration and this diaplay in the video shows both dried yucca and dried hydrangea plants. Orange makes the perfect … [Read more...]
Welcome Christmas – Crafty Wreath Ideas
Every home needs a festive wreath to welcome guests at Christmas. There is something special about a wreath that makes the home look so inviting. Here are a few ideas for lovely wreaths that will warm any area of your home all season. Adding candy canes to a simple green wreath is a simple way to make a pop of color and a bit of old-fashioned charm. Just beware of little hands who may want to treat themselves! This wreath is full of color and personality! Depending on the theme of your home, you can use whatever color ornaments you like. I like the mix of the bright, bold colors! Attach ornaments to wreath with craft wire, or glue ornaments around a Styrofoam wreath and make your own. Hang with a pretty ribbon and watch it glisten. I have always loved using popcorn to … [Read more...]
Waiting for Fall: Planning an Autumn Porch
In anticipation of fall and cooler weather (please!) I love to plan my porch. Autumn is my favorite time of year to decorate.. the colors are amazing - all the reds, golds, oranges. There are so many ways to add spice and a little harvest love to your home, and what better place to start than your porch, door, or entryway? Love this porch! The orange pops and makes for a great color contrast. Very inviting.. always makes me wonder what the inside is like.. I love how nature can do a wonderful job decorating for fall all by itself! Using naturals like dried wheat and sticks, corn husks, and grapevine can add a beautiful fall ambiance to any porch.. A cluster of cutely carved pumpkins adds a touch of whimsy to any area - and lit at night? Like a fall wonderland! Not to … [Read more...]
Pretty Porches – Decorating an Outdoor Living Room
The great outdoors is the "living room" of the summer - and nothing is as inviting on a summer day than a pretty porch... decked in flowers and ferns, comfy rockers, soft lighting and maybe even a little music playing (Sinatra for me!) in the background. I love to look for inspiration on how to decorate my porch for summertime - I hope these great ideas inspire you too! This is a more modern porch - love the day bed and the decor - definitely an outdoor room! This swing is glorious! Naps, coffee and a good book - sigh... This is such an inviting space - small meals outside, chatting with friends over ice cold lemonade, or board games with the family while the fireflies light up the evening... The soft cushions, cute table with rocking chairs, and colorful flowers are … [Read more...]
Beautiful Fall Gardens
I love outdoor containers with lots of lush greenery and interesting shapes and textures. In the Pacific Northwest where I live, fall is the most beautiful season (in my opinion!). There is no better time to put on a cozy sweater and take a walk through some of my favorite neighborhoods! I took this photo (above) of a container that caught my attention. I love the mix of greens, and textures. This house had the most stunning window boxes and interesting landscaping. The fall colors just popped out and grabbed my attention! Isn't that window box just amazing? They framed the entrance to their walkway with some beautiful textured plants. It really invites you into a unique and special world! In the Pacific Northwest we don't have many palm trees. They really stand … [Read more...]
