Welcome to the Fall Home Tour at Red Shutter Cottage.
When it comes to Fall, I don’t pussyfoot around. I launch myself into Fall, head first, at warp-turbo speed. Living in Southern California, the fall months are essentially a continuation of the summer months, with slight dips in temperatures. My way of coping is to choose to disregard the reality of the summery weather, and create a kaleidoscope of Fall colors and elements in my home.
I am so happy you are here, and hope you enjoy my attempts to create a salute to the beauty of Fall in my home.
Let’s begin at our entry way. This little shelf display piece and the mirror were handed down to me from my Grandmother, and I value them very highly, both for their beauty and functionality.
Thanksgiving is the theme here, with turkey Salt & Pepper shakers and a small white pumpkin from Sur La Table.
The “Give Thanks” plaque is from Michaels, and the tall white gourd came from Z Gallerie, years ago!
My parents bought this dining room table when they married, so it’s older than I am. I grew up celebrating holidays and family gatherings at this table. It actually left our home in Southern California, and did a ‘tour of duty’ with my aunt and uncle in Northern California. But then it made its way back to our home – here to stay.
I took a very simple approach here; I folded a tablecloth down, making it wide enough to act as a background to frame the runner I placed on top.
The runner and the basket are the same ones I used in my Summer Dining Room Table vignette (here). In fact, the whole approach is essentially the same. I filled my little Home Goods basket with Fall fruits, pinecones, wine corks, strands of bittersweet, and placed a pitcher with some fall foliage on top. I flanked it with two candleholders, and instead of shells attached to the candles, I used autumn leaves.
Next up is a table that sits in the window nook of our dining area. The bowl was originally the home of a silk flower arrangement that had simply gotten old, and had not aged well! I removed the flowers and gave it nice new coat of Antique White spray paint.
I filled it with a combination of fall fruits, pine cones, leaves and bittersweet.
To give it height, I placed it on top of a cake stand, and continued the layers of leaves, pinecones and bittersweet.
Moving over to the coffee table, I have a very simple vignette of a chicken wire cloche, a pitcher and a small bowl sitting on a tray. I felt that the light turquoise of the tray and the throw on the couch would be a nice counterpoint to all those bright fall colors.
I actually have a cylinder-type vase inside the cloche to act as container for all the contents. I find that it helps keep things a little more drawn together, and it’s easier to just slip the cloche cover right over the vase. The pitcher came from Home Goods, and the 2 throws were on sale at Pottery Barn. All the pillows are either from thrift shops or ones that I sewed.
On to the fireplace….did I mention that subtle Fall decorating is not exactly my style? The window frame really did come from the side of the road. I picked it up on one of my Sunday morning walks. Sailor did the heavy lifting, inserting the panel dividers, and attaching the chicken wire. I stripped the paint, sanded and repainted it.
The suitcases on the hearth are from an estate sale; the upside down basket and vase are garage sale treasures; the ceramic pumpkin is a twin to the one in the entry way.
Everything on the mantle is from my years of collecting Fall-themed decorations. I have not bought anything new for Fall decorating in a few years. (Michael’s is not very happy with me!) Many of the pieces I use in my displays are used for multiple seasons; picture frames, baskets, candle holders, books, pine cones, wine corks — all of them are versatile and flexible, easily displayed in a variety of combinations and groupings!
Thank you so much for your visit to Red Shutter Cottage. If you have any questions or comments, please do leave them below!
My very best wishes to you for a wonderful Fall!
Kristine
I am sharing at these link parties:
My Soulful Home Sundays at Home // Across The Boulevard // Silver Pennies // Not a Trophy Wife // Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Marilyn’s Treats Over The Moon // I Should Be Mopping The Floor // Hearth & Soul // Of Faeries and Fauna Waste Not Wednesday //
I have been loving the fall home tours. It struck me reading yours how each one has a different feel. Your home is lush and rich, I don’t know how else I would describe it. I really like how you built layers which is something I don’t tend to do very often. I will have to give it a try.
Thanks for posting. Leanna
Thank you Leanna! I agree, the variety of styles and color combinations has been delightful, and each home is inspiring in one way or another. I have gotten lots of ideas from the other blogs that I am tucking away for next year! The layering..??..I just experiment until something strikes me as exactly what I want! This home tour has catapulted me out of my comfort zone, but I am so thankful for the experience. Thank you for visiting.
What an amazing and beautiful home! My favorites- the fireplace and the tray. Your candles in the fireplace look like the are beaded? I love the look when they are turned on. Thank you for sharing your beautiful home.
Thank you Melissa! Those candles are just regular pillar battery-operated candles. What you are seeing is the candles through the of the fireplace doors, which is probably makes them look beaded or textured. That picture was totally random…the scene caught my eye walking through the living room one night. Thank you for stopping by!
Great job. I think you did a wonderful job! next door MomMom
Thank you MomMom – your support and encouragement are always so appreciated and helpful!
Even though the weather still says “summer” your beautiful decorations make me want to dress my home in autumn colors! Thanks for all the beautiful photos full of wonderful ideas!
Thank you …. I say ignore the weather, and pretend there is a lovely fall nip in the air! Well, it lasts until you get through the front door. Hopefully it will be bit cooler by Thanksgiving !
I love your attitude! I imagine it is difficult to wrap your life around seasonal changes when the weather does not cooperate! You certainly cannot tell that you are experiencing summer outdoors with the decor you have inside. You have a great eye for vignettes and I love the welcoming look of your family room. The candles inside the fireplace is a romantic way to use your fireplace even when it isn’t cool enough for a fire. Love it!
Thank you Debbie! I feel so lucky to have that fireplace; it is a gigantic wood-burning fireplace! Our house was built in the early 50’s, when they still built wood-burning fireplaces. I have always lived in SoCal, so I have never experienced a real, true fall in the classic sense of turning leaves and drops in temperature. (One day…!) Nonetheless, it inspires me a in a way I am not even sure I understand. So excited for the Christmas tour!
Wow! What a beautiful home you have! I love all of the layers, colors, and textures you used in your fall home tour. Your fireplace is stunning and your vignettes are gorgeous! Best wishes for an enjoyable season!
Thank you so much, Lynne! The fireplace wasn’t so stunning until we did our remodel about 10 years ago. It was floor to ceiling fieldstone, with no hearth. We drywalled over the top half, and added the mantle and the hearth; just those 3 things made a huge difference. Having the house all gussied up for fall does indeed lift my spirits! Thank you so much for stopping by.
I’m so glad you shared your fall tour! I have NOT decorated for fall yet – I’ve been holding on to Indian summer as long as possible.
Thanks for sharing at last week’s Reader Tip Tuesday. We hope to see you at this week’s party. xo
http://www.jodiefitz.com/2018/09/18/reader-tip-tuesday-weeks-craft-recipe-party-14-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/
Jodie – Thank you for your kind words… that was my very first post about fall decorating, although I have been a big fall decorator for years! It was part of a tour group, and the night before the post went live my stomach was in knots!!! The good thing about fall is that it lasts for 3 months, so you don’t need to be in a hurry to start decorating! Thank you for stopping by!
Jodie- Thank you for stopping by! I know it’s hard to let go of summer — fall means the start of the end of the year, which can feel overwhelming! Thank you so much for hosting, and I look forward to participating in future link parties!