Autumn's Golden Light

 

I was searching for a certain image the other day,
and in the process I came across some old photos that just say 'AUTUMN' to me.

The golden glowing light captured in them is my FAVORITE thing about fall...

the way the light turns more amber and deep, especially in late afternoon.
It's my favorite time of day!

Since my last two posts have been about fall decorating 

as inspired by displays at vintage shows,

I thought I'd wrap that up with a post showing images of one of MY old booths at a show.
Enjoy!

 From the glowing woods to glistening golds,
luxe velvet and satin fabric details to simple paper and leather,
I think this embodies that certain color of autumn light that I so love.
There's not a typical tree leaf in sight here, but the decor speaks to the pleasures of fall.

Yes, decor can be inspired by something as simple as the color of light 
that pours through your windows during a certain season or time of day!
Let the color of a summer blue sky or a winter snow be the touchpoint for your decor,
and you'll have created an ambience that speaks to your soul.

PS: It's not about spending money.
All of the items shown in the above photos were made or 'fixed up' 

using reclaimed and repurposed materials that were found or thrifted.

Though the look is 'luxe', the cost was miniscule.

 

Someone else took photos of my booth at that show, too...

and they ended up in Where Women Create magazine a few years later.

Where Women Create's Summer 2012 issue 

featured a story on Judy Watkins and her Remnants of the Past Antique Show,  

with beautiful photos of the show by Jenny Malott.
I am so very grateful to Jenny, Judy, and Jo Packham of WWC 

that they chose several images of my booth displays to include in the story:

Right Page: my Retreat booth & products

(looks familiar, huh?
yes, Jenny took EXACTLY the same shot that I did!)

Right Page, lower left corner: detail of Retreat booth display

Right Page: Baby Grand Piano Bar,
created with my late husband Bob Kennedy for our business, 'Retreat', in 2009
This piece truly was one of his greatest designs...

details of the piano bar:

 * exterior and interior covered with vintage player piano & sheet music
* interior re-purposed as a wine storage unit, liquor bottle & glass storage, 

and keyboard replaced with a pull-out mirrored tray for serving.

shared online:
.

Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed

 .
There's a lot more to that story....

Nostalgic Back to School Decor

I recently ran across some old photos that brought a past project to mind,
and it's PERFECT for 'Back to School' celebrating!
.

I don't know about you, but for ME, this time of year seems to stir faint memories of 

the smell of sharpened pencils and new paper

the need of a new tote bag, backpack, or lunch pail

wistful reactions to hearing school recess bells ring

and children laughing on the playground

hearing marching bands practice on the field

using typewriter fonts

and other nostalgic impressions.

Whether or not you have kids heading back to school right now,

it's pretty easy to pull together some items in a small display or tablescape

that will say 'back to school' in a whisper of neutral tones.

( If you want it to SHOUT, use bright color! )

I created this vignette in about five minutes,

by simply rummaging through my office and finding some things 

that could pass as 'school supplies':

a metal locker basket

two metal lunchpails

a small metal chalkboard

rulers and yardsticks

a large canvas satchel bag

a small metal memo board, magnet, and sheet music

a vintage vocabulary card that I treasure

 a tin can vase

scissors & pencils

a paperweight

several books in neutral tones
(total disclosure: they aren't school books - or even really old!

Two are Bibles. One is a library book. the other is a paper brochure. ;) )

The thing is, it's about creating a MOOD, a LOOK - by using what you have on hand!
If you have great vintage items, use 'em!

But if you don't, don't fret -

you'll be surprised at what you can create using everyday stuff from your desk, too!

Case in point:
I wish I had more pencils to fill up this vase, but I really don't USE pencils.
So I don't HAVE pencils, and that's ok - 

even though my designer eye wants to see a vase brimming with pencils.
Maybe I'll hit the Dollar Tree store and buy a pack for a buck. Maybe I won't. 

But I'll enjoy this little scene either way!

You can see my fave vocabulary card here, too - the back side says "Embellish". ;)
I've had that for about ten years now.

continue reading for more - in a darling vintage kitchen!

Save Vacation Finds in a NeSt

As Summer winds down and I am enjoying my social media break,
I thought I'd send you a 'postcard' of sorts...
with an idea for preserving your summer vacation memories.

I don't know how I started this practice, but years ago, I began making 

Found Item NeSts
(and no, I don't know why I capitalize it that way, either!)

When on vacation or even a day trip,
I'd pick up shells and sea glass at the shore, 

or tiny pinecones and feathers and leaves in the mountains,

and then find long grass nearby to weave into a nest.

The NeSt shown below also contained a wine cork, 

since the day had been spent celebrating a special occasion.
You can put anything into a nest!

The collected items would then go into the nest for display,

giving smaller items a lot more presence so that they were more noticeable on a shelf or table.

To my amazement, the nests never lost the smell of their place of origin -

salty sea air or pungent pine forests -

adding another level of enjoyment to them.

I've also made NeSts to observe each season of the year,

gathering up tiny mementoes of spring or fall  

like dried daffodil blooms and little russet leaves to place into the nests,

then displaying them on my mantel or entryway table...

I previously shared a simple tutorial for making a NeSt here,

where you'll see that this project isn't time-consuming or difficult at all...

a perfectly relaxing 'last day of vacation' craft!

It's truly a simple way to gather items from nature that will enhance your home

and bring sweet memories to mind whenever you see it.

Another easy idea for preserving vacation memories:

I also gather a small bit of sand from the beaches I visit, 

then place it into tiny jars with tags identifying the beach.
This would work with rocks, tiny shells, cones, and leaves, as well.
And the bottles don't have to be expensive or antique - 

in this photo, you can see that I used an empty Starbucks Frappacino bottle

and even salt & pepper shaker bases!

shared online:

Yesterday on Tuesday | Project Inspire{d}


Practically Functional | Creativity Unleashed
 

A Fabulous Fall Fete!

OK, just so we start off on the right foot here, that word is not 'FEET'! It's more like 'FATE':

fête [ fāt , fet/ ] (faet / fate)

noun

noun: fête; plural noun: fêtes; noun: fete; plural noun: fetes

1. 1.

   a celebration or festival.

   synonyms:

   gala, bazaar, fair, festival, fiesta, jubilee, carnival;

verb

verb: fête;

1.

honor or entertain (someone) lavishly.

"she was an instant celebrity, fêted by the media"

Let's go with BOTH definitions, for they certainly fit this story!

Today, I'd like to share with you some welcoming, elegant fall event decor.

I took the photos in this post back in October, 2010, at the Remnants of the Past Antique Show - 

which was held at the historic Dana-Powers House in Nipomo, CA at that time.
[it's now held at the glorious Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo]

Judi Powers (left) owns her family's historic property, and Judy Watkins (right) owns the show.

 Together, they created beautiful decor to welcome the show vendors for a party.
The gathering was held on the beautifully landscaped grounds of the farm on the night before the show.
And 'the Judys' always make things SPECIAL!

They have great style, and I know you'll love seeing what they did...

The setting was the beautiful gardens surrounding the historic house...

 a private and perfect site for weddings and parties all year long!

continue reading for more inspiration...

DIY Gold!

I'm all about sharing 'Fast, Cheap & Easy'TM ideas 
that make use of the 'everyday stuff' you have on hand...

giving things a little boost or using them in a new way 

to help you attain Seasonal Style at Home.

Well, when I saw THIS idea on a friend's blog, it was just SO easy and SO perfect
for our seasonal transition from summer to fall

that I contacted him to ask if I could share it here on HOMEWARDfound...
and he said yes!

Michael of Inspired by Charm was inspired by Jan of Poppycock 
who pinned this fun idea for painting kids' magnetic letters with paint -  
and he re-created the idea using very trendy gold paint.

Now if that's not a case of 'making do' with STYLE, I don't know what is!

Head over to Inspired by Charm to see Michael's post 

and follow his tips for adding a little gleam to your fridge!

Click 'Read More' on the left to find out what ELSE Michael is up to!

Easy Burlap & Canvas Wall Art

I change things a LOT in my home... so I like easy solutions and quick projects.

This wall art project is one that I whipped up in just an hour,

and it made a huge difference on a blank wall behind a sofa...

I needed wall art in neutral tones to add interest to this small tv room, 

and used fabric remnants to match the canvas and burlap pillows on the sofa.

Then I had to find 'frames'.... but instead, I came across some old 'cork boards' in a closet.
Only, they weren't really cork boards...

continue reading to find out what they were!

Transitional Palette: Driftwood

This time of the year, the waning summer leading into fall, brings a change -

The patriotic hues of midsummer aren't quite right now -
yet it's just not time for the deep oranges and golds of fall.

It's a perfect time to take a fresh look at your home, and let it reflect the changing seasons in a subtle way.

The photo above is one I took on a beach in Washington state several years back,

and it's a perfect example of how nature brings together a perfect color palette:

A gathering of driftwood on an island beach explores the range of tan, gray, and cream tones. 

Behind them, if you look carefully, you'll see deep green trees and tawny gold field grasses
that add contrast and texture.

From warm to cool, light to dark, that's a balanced palette.
Warm: amber, tan, cream   +   Cool: gray, green
Light: cream, tan, amber, light gray   + Dark: green, dark gray

Photography of items within the palette like this old wood boat [or the driftwood up above]

extends the color scheme when used as framed art.

Pale sage green walls and light tan carpeting set the stage 

for rooms filled with white, creamy white, and tan accents & furniture. 

Golden / Amber wood and fabric tones are a natural fit.

[note: I actually disliked that green wall color. I wanted tan walls.
But the house - which we leased - was for sale, and I wasn't about to make it look better than it already did so that someone else would buy it before WE could. 
It didn't matter. It sold anyway. They wanted my furniture with the deal :/ 
Apparently I still made it look too good!]

Silver metallics reflect the gray end of the 'driftwood' palette spectrum. 

Sparkling clear glass imitates water, 

and the addition of canvas or sheet music in ivory warms up the combination.
[the canvas-covered dresser from my last post would look perfect in this setting]

The following images are great examples of a transitional neutral palette,
featuring displays that I created for the booths that my former business had at Vintage shows...

RETREAT at BarnHouse Marketplace . Battle Ground, WA . July, 2011

[and if you came here from the HOMEWARDfound facebook page,
the table that I showed a sneak peek of is in that shot...
oh, look, it's ALSO in the photo below!]

RETREAT at Retreat Vintage Market . Camano Island, WA . June, 2011

RETREAT 'Taj Ma Tent' at BarnHouse Marketplace . Battle Ground, WA . July, 2009

The aesthetic of that business was all neutral tones, texture, and seasonal focus

built on re-imagining and re-using salvaged materials in furniture & decor.

Now, I realize that my displays are MUCH more theatrical than the average home decor is...

but they offer some great examples of using a neutral palette and seasonal texture.
You can see the 'driftwood' palette in play in all of them.

And with the addition of more warm colors - golds, browns, oranges - in September,

this look transitions perfectly into fall!

Dresser ReStyle - with Canvas!

 While HOMEWARDfound is generally about seasonal decor ideas,
sometimes I like to pop in 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' TM ideas for furniture, too...
totally do-able projects for you, some from my previous business [RETREAT].

This dresser was found on the curb, for free, back in 2009.
With lines like the ones on those drawers, I couldn't pass her up!

The case was solid, but the veneer on top and on the drawers was just wrecked.
No amount of putty and paint was going to make her presentable...

she went beyond needing mere 'makeup' into the realm of 'plastic surgery'!

While I was sanding her down, I had a brainstorm...

The dropcloth that she was sitting on in the prep room had some great texture.

I looked at the drawers, and then at the dropcloth, and that light bulb went on:
I would cover the entire dresser with a new canvas dropcloth!

Dropcloths are a great way to get a LOT of fabric for a ridiculously low price

and they come in many sizes and weights. 

I used the heaviest weight for this project, which covered up all of the 'blemishes' in her complexion.

continue reading to see what i did!

I Have a Sink-ing Feeling About This...

Here at HOMEWARDfound, my goal is to provide you with as many ORIGINAL ideas 

and as much seasonal inspiration as I possibly can. I'll go to [almost] any lengths to do that.

Heck, I'll even throw in the kitchen sink!

 In my 35+ years of designing and styling home decor and retail displays, I've come up with some whopper ideas.

But THIS one is one of my faves - and it was a mistake. uh huh. a total fluke. great story, too.

But you don't want the story, you want PICTURES!

BRILLIANT IDEA, right?!!!!! thank you. thank you very much.

[it's really not brilliant... scroll down to the end of the post and read the story]
Perfect in your store or show displays. Or garden. or... while GLAMPING!

My friend Marybeth ended up with that sink for her sweet shop poppyseeds,

and did exactly the same thing with it.

[That shot on the left above was taken at her store in Washington in June!]
She also did something similar with another sink she has:

Can you say CLEVER?!
Long before Marybeth took my sink to her store, 

and before I sat it on that cart, I used it on top of a pedestal:

The top of the wood pedestal was hollow, so the sink fit right on top perfectly.
The addition of a bucket full of herbs was a charming touch, outside the entrance to my farm store.
I later added lots more buckets of blooming flowers & herbs...

Here's a shot of the whole storefront while it was being worked on:

That was a huge (tall, deep) garage, turned into a store on my farm on an island.
The barn door on the left and the double doors on the right replaced the regular garage door,

for a much more welcoming entry. The awning up above was found for $10 bucks at ReStore -

and it was a perfect fit down to the last inch. Some things are meant to be!

I miss it, and wish I was still there on my farm with my store and my show...
but then, some things are NOT meant to be. 

It was all dismantled when we moved out. The barn door now lives at a neighbors' house.
It looks like a garage again. (BOR-ing)

I've used some other sinks in displays, as well...

 *The sink on the left is a double-bowl + countertop unit that topped a bank of vintage metal cabinets.
I filled one sink with white holiday ornaments (that looked like soap bubbles!)

and it held white milk glass & ceramic dishes in our booth at the Farm Chicks show in 2010.

* The sink on the right is sitting on two wood sawhorses (out of the photo),

and holds the same holiday ornaments and clear glass dessert plates & cups

at the snack bar area of our Petite Retreat Summer Market in 2010.

What do I always say?
Don't think literally about the stuff you have. Move it around.
See it differently. Use it in a way it's NOT supposed to be used!

Sinks aren't just for kitchens and baths...

They are great in store & booth displays, and even in the garden!

I would NOT, however, recommend using toilets for those purposes. [wink]

ok, NOW here's the story of my sink:

I was at a vintage show, unloading the trailer, setting up the booth with furnishings and accessories

and I needed to move the vintage enamel sink from the trailer across the parking area and to the booth.

And I was tired. I didn't want to carry it. (those things are HEAVY) so....
I plopped that sink on the top of a folding wire cart that I had stuffed with burlap fabric in the trailer,

and then I rolled the sink over to where I wanted it - which was in a chair.

But when I looked at the cart, and saw the sink sitting there, and realized that it was TOTALLY secure 

because the sink's apron was wrapped around the top edge of the cart

and that it was awfully darned easy to maneuver it around like that, 

well, the proverbial LIGHT BULB went on over my head:

Leave. the. sink. on. the. cart, Deb!

I grabbed the burlap and wrapped the outside of the cart with it

- and that, as they say, was that.
BRILLIANT IDEA. from outta' nowhere. Gotta' love it!