Inspiration: Down Home Displays

 this past week i was at DOWN HOME American Country Antiques in Orange, California

shooting a story for FOLK Magazine's Holiday issue (November 2012)

there were SO many inspiring autumn display and decor ideas in the store
i found myself spinning around in circles to take it all in and photograph it!

i just had to share a few of my photos with you
(just the ones that won't be included in the magazine story)

the creative owners and dealers at this shop REALLY go above and beyond 

with their vignettes, themes, details, and presentation  - 

and the great part is you can find totally usable ideas that are easy to replicate in your home!

case in point, that wall o' crates shown in the photo up above. 

really, how much more simple can you get?

the interest is in the fact that the crates are all different sizes, filled with simple yet beautiful items.
wood crates, wire crates, wooden dresser drawers... use anything!

and then there's that metal SINK. be still my heart.

what a great idea - hang up an old metal washbasin or sink on the wall 

as a place to display seasonal decor.
it's an idea that would work perfectly on a big front porch, too...

 a picturesque gathering of gourds and pumpkins, bittersweet vines and leaves
fills an old metal wagon on top of a huge wood harvest table.

amazingly detailed and painted canvas pumpkins, made by hand - 

and i LOVE the old metal bread rack display fixture!

vintage Halloween collectables are one of the hottest items around, 

and this store has more of them in one place that i have ever seen.

look at this charming party scene using vintage items...

 i know it gives ME some great ideas! how about you?

 the two ladies who created this sweet display AND the canvas pumpkins 

won the award for  'Best Fall Theme Booth Display' - 

voted on by their fellow dealers! well done, girls!

in a spooky dusty corner of the shop, you'll find a mad scientist's lab!

creepy and gothic apothecary jars filled with specimens, 

dusty old books and yellowed photos and even a gargoyle...
if there can be a style called 'shabby chic', then THIS has to be called 'creepy chic'!

 the store completely changes with every season, 

so no matter when you visit, you'll find new delights around every decorated corner!

[and i haven't even shown you the best stuff here, because those photos are going into the magazine]

thank you, owners peggy and don arbenz for your time,

and for letting me take 245 photos of your beautiful store!

Down Home American Country Antiques

 200 East Chapman Avenue  Orange, CA 92866

www.downhomeantiques.com

Get Warm & Cozy Fall Decor in 5 EASY steps!

It really is possible to change up the look of your home each season without going to a lot of trouble. 

This former client's home is a perfect example of some simple ways to update your decor seasonally, 

and pull a warm and cozy look together...fast!

1. Use Your Existing Artwork

The painting on the wall in her dining room, above, was moved here from its 'regular' spot in a hallway.
I just had to use it here because the colors are so warm and inviting, and perfectly coordinate with the hues of the centerpiece. The painting that is usually hangs in the dining room has cooler tones in it, and looks lovely in the hallway now.

Moving your art around seasonally not only helps you to get a fresh new look in your rooms, but also provides you an opportunity to notice and appreciate your art more. It's easy to speed past this lovely work of art when it's in the hallway - but in the dining room, one can sit and enjoy the scene during a leisurely meal.

2. Freshen Up the 'Everyday' Accents

Those big urns with arrangements of silk hydrangeas on the buffet stay here year-round as 'base pieces'.
Seasonal changes are achieved by simply tucking additional flowers & foliage in there to change it up a bit each season. It's really not necessary to get something completely new - just a bit of restyling makes a huge difference. What look like leaves in the photo are actually huge velvet poinsettias in a gorgeous rust color - I nestled them into the sides of the arrangements so that they don't really look like poinsettias.  

[Be open to using things in ways other than how they are intended to be used: My client got these at 75% off at an after-Christmas sale. Because of their color and shape, they are the perfect addition to her fall decor.]

3. Life Happens - Keep Decor Flexible

The tablescape is oh so simple - which is important, because my client could remove it easily for entertaining. She had a toddler and TWIN infants at the time, so a lot of activity was happening around this table. When she wanted it to look beautiful, she could easily re-create this simple arrangement on her own.

The runner is a really inexpensive roll of spun cocoa fiber that my design partner Karen picked up at the local craft store - it comes doubled up, but we liked the look of just one layer because it's almost like the delicate veining in fall leaves. We unrolled it and let the ends just curl under the table sides. Then a collection of ceramic pumpkins was placed very causally on the runner.

In this close-up you see yet another way to use a wreath! Here, one made of wheat & various seed pods surrounds the ivory cake plate. If she wants, my client can remove the candles and leaves on the cake plate to display a fancy dessert there during her dinner party. Like I said - EASY!

ok, I am going to share something here that still baffles me.....

This woman had EXCELLENT taste. She hired an interior designer to help her furnish and decorate this beautiful executive home. She hired me to come with my design partner and decorate her rooms for every season. But she, herself, would never EVER buy a new thing for the house or move anything that was already there. Not on the mantel, not on the table, nothing. She felt we were the 'professionals', the 'experts', and knew more than she did - so she just waited around for us to come and decorate. For the five years that I decorated for her, we encouraged her to change up the entry table or the mantel or the dining room table centerpiece - nope. Wasn't going to happen. I loved working for her, but I just wanted to shake her and say "It's YOUR HOME. Live in it!!"


No one is more an 'expert' on your home than YOU are! I hope all of you out there in blogland feel 'at home' enough in your rooms that this is not a problem for you!

4. Coordinate the Elements

In the entry, I used the same trick of adding faux stems to an existing 'everyday' arrangement - a swath of bright leaves and berries tucked into this urn of magnolias adds a pop of color. A few funny little faux pumpkins add whimsy but still work with the more formal nature of the home. A snippet of the same leaf & berry garland tops the mirror on the wall, coordinating the look. The moral is: When you see a seasonal garland or bunches of leaves/flowers that you love, buy a few of them. You can cut them apart or use them whole in many different ways around your home - but the whole look stays coordinated and 'designed' because some of the elements repeat themselves from room to room.

This close-up of the mirror shows the OH SO SIMPLE garland just bent over the top edge of the frame.

And though I added the beautiful autumn quote to this photo in my editing program (as suggested in this post), it would be SO easy to use a transfer to put a quote on your mirror for the season. When the seasons change, grab a credit card and scrape the transfer ink off of the mirror.
[you can pick up beautiful 'wall words' and similar transfers for pennies on the dollar at discount stores like Ross, Marshalls, and Big Lots!]

Even if you have real, live, growing plants in your home, you can easily add some fake flowers and leaves to them for seasonal interest. Which brings me to myfinal tip of the day:

TOP TIP:
5. when your indoor flowering plants stop blooming,  you can FAKE IT!
I know I am usually all about cheap solutions,  but here's where you want to spend a bit more:
go to a local craft store or fine garden center, and get a few stems of the same flower that grows on the plant naturally. (Orchids, Calla Lilies, Poinsettias, Mini Roses, for example) and then insert the FAUX STEM right next to the real stem of the plant. Nestle the faux flowers into the real foliage, and your refreshed plant is ready for the season!

 shared online:

Cupcakes & Crinoline | Project Inspire{d}

$5 Fall Wreath Makeover

You know I love 'making do' with what's already on hand... 

here's another 'Fast, Cheap & Easy' TM project that does exactly that!
Follow along and I'll show you how to take an old wreath from flab to FAB
[and remember, these tips would work for ANY season]

 my mom had this fall wreath stored in the garage. she's used it for years, and it's okay.

she bought it on clearance at Target

[yeah, the nut doesn't fall far from the frugal tree around here!!!]

but i knew i could make it better, and look exactly like the ones we saw over at that swanky store. 

she was eyeballing those wreaths over there and i could tell she wanted one...
so i simply MADE one for her instead by making over the wreath she already had.

 i enlisted one of my TOP TIPS as a stylist: cheap fake foliage. 

 yep. i went to the Dollar Tree and bought some stems of colorful fall fabric leaves for a buck each. 

mom had a few larger branches of dull-colored leaves that i mixed in, too.

here's what you need for this project:

scissors and wire cutters [scissors cut through the plastic stem, then wire cutters snap the wire inside]

branches/bunches of fabric leaves, flowers, whatever you want to use

an existing wreath

you can start with a new bare wreath or strip a wreath completely down and start over, of course, 

but i'm just showing you how to 'pump up the volume' of something you already have on hand.

spread the branches of leaves out on the Dollar store bunches, 

and slide the leaves up toward the ends of each branch.

cut all of the small branches of leaves off of the larger branches, as shown here.

leave @5 to 6 inch stems on them.

you'll end up with a large supply of short-stemmed leaf bunches.

choose one type of leaf to start with - i selected the dull brown leaves to use first, 

because i wanted them to be in the 'background' of the arrangement.

simply begin inserting the stems right into the existing wreath at regular intervals

[think of it like a clock, and insert them at 12,3,6, and 9...etc.]

by pushing the stems into the wreath structure, they should stay in place with no problem.

[you can always add a drop of hot glue if you are worried about windy conditions, etc.]

when you tuck them in, nestle them behind the existing foliage as shown here.

continue around the wreath until you have used all of that type of leaf. 

you'll have a balanced arrangement working with one type at a time.

this first step has already filled out the wreath, making it more lush and abundant

now take the brighter, more vibrantly-colored leaves and insert them into the wreath

place them closer to the front of the arrangement, right next to the existing flowers, etc.

again, place them evenly around the wreath

[at 2,4,6,8,10, and 12 on the clock, for instance]

this helps to keep the wreath's rounded shape intact as you work.

after adding the additional leaves, the wreath looks three times its original size!

 for just a few dollars, we've revamped an old wreath and made it fresh and new

(and just like something that costs $125 at a swanky garden shop)

i love that!

 that's a pretty big improvement over the sparse twiggy 'before' shot, don't you think?

and yes, you CAN do this with REAL leaves, too! [read that as FREE LEAVES]

here are some great ideas for using wreaths in fresh new ways:

* lay them on a table as a centerpiece -
with a candle, cloche, bowl, or pedestal in the center.

* sit them on top of an urn or planter, then nestle a flowering plant in the center.
makes a beautiful 'collar'.

* use them as a 'tree skirt' for a small holiday tree.

* loop them over the bracket of a wall-mounted lamp

* hang them in multiples - connect wreaths together with beautiful ribbons
and hang vertically or horizontally

shared online:

chic and crafty thursdays @ the frugal girls

'Fast, Cheap & Easy' Idea: Fall in Focus

In a companion post to this one on Saturday,

here is another 'Fast, Cheap & Easy'TM idea for decorating with FREE natural elements:

 use your camera!

 head outside, in search of natural elements that reflect the beauty of the season.

you might come across some gorgeous grasses, waving in the breeze, like these...

which are located in a median strip next to the parking lot of a car dealership!

[art class #101 tip:

by focusing in closely on the grass in these images and making it fill the entire photo, 

everything around it disappears. even the car lot. ]

even if you live in the heart of a city, 

you can find natural elements to photograph:

*head to a local park, museum, library, or even indoor courtyard at a hotel for great landscaping

*go to the farmer's market or green grocer to find fresh local food and flowers

*visit a local home + garden center or nursery for beautiful foliage and flowering plants 

snap photos to your heart's content (don't we LOVE digital cameras for just this reason?!)

and then head home to print them out - 

in full color for a blaze of fall, or artfully subtle black & white -

and frame them 

 [cheap frames available at dollar stores, thrift shops, and target dollar bins]

hang your finished work on your walls, lean them on the mantel or bookshelf, 

clip them with binder clips to a wire or ribbon strung across a wall or window,

or take them into your office for a lovely seasonal change at work.

in small spaces, this is a perfect solution to 'too much stuff'

and

it's an easy way to personalize your rooms each season.

while you are editing them, here's another idea:

add a quote about nature or fall right over the top of your image. 

[adding a layer of text is an option in almost every graphic/photo editing program. 

OR you can print out a quote on a piece of clear acetate, 

then place that OVER your photo when you are framing it.]

if you don't have a favorite verse or quote to use,

finding them is easy - a simple Google search gave me dozens to chose from.

check out my 'fall quotes' search results here

VIP Pumpkins!

look what you can do with my sweater pumpkin tutorial!!!

if you'd like to make your own versions of my original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins,

you can get the tutorial here 

this is Big Bear (been in the family for decades, and is very, very well-loved)

holding some VIP (Very Impressive Pumpkins) that i recently made 

for some VIP (Very Important Precious ones) kids in my life...

when i came across some very elusive sweaters with orange stripes, 

i knew i just had to make these with them.

my nephew, nieces, and grandsons will be the happy recipients of these fall treats.

over the years, i have seen so many different and creative versions made using my tutorial...

please share your photos on the HOMEWARDfound facebook page

or leave a link in your comment here so we can all see what you've made!

Back to Nature

the best thing i learned as a display designer & stylist is this:

there is a LOT of FREE STUFF out there waiting to be found in the world!

it's just waiting to be reinvented into something else.

it's free for the taking (sometimes it takes WORK, but it's worth it) 

and once you get into the habit of looking for it,

you'll be picking up stuff everywhere.

i am NOT talking about dumpster diving this time, either!

nope. i'm thinking about your yard. the alley behind your house.

the vacant lot at the end of the street. the park, the office complex, the schoolyard.

the ditch next to the country road on the other side of town.

i'm thinking of all the trees that drop leaves and pinecones and seed pods

of all of the weeds and grasses that grow in clumps and through cracks in sidewalks

of all of the ivy vines that climb over fences into schoolyards

tumbleweeds that blow across deserted parking lots 

thistles and cattails that grow in ditches by the side of the road

and of all of the dead branches on old trees laying in piles next to dumpsters.

all of those elements of nature are out there, waiting to be discovered.

waiting to be gathered, brought inside, and arranged with purpose on a mantel, table, or shelf

so that the gorgeous colors and delicate details can be seen up close

every photo here shows simple grasses used in various settings

all of the grass was free for the picking practically everywhere i looked...

all i had to do was cut it with a pair of scissors

or pull it out of the ground, shake off the dirt, and use it.

it really doesn't get much easier than that!

so when you head out on a drive this weekend, look on the side of the road -

and see if you can't discover some really amazing feather grass

or maple leaves or seed pods in a eucalyptus tree to add to your Fall Decor!

all photos by debkennedyimages [for retreat, 2009-11]

Pumpkins, Remnants, and A Beautiful Mess

I am so very pleased to announce that my Original Sweet Sweater Pumpkins

are being sold by Kymberley Fraser in her beautiful retail shop, A Beautiful Mess!

Located in Agoura Hills, California, 

this 2-year old retail boutique is a mecca for stylish shoppers

including celebrities, designers, and media decorators.
It's just undergone a refresh for the season, and is loaded with fall bounty!

Kymberley will ALSO have a full harvest of my pumpkins in her always STUNNING booth

at the Remnants of the Past Antique Show in San Luis Obispo, CA in October! 

This show is produced by my friend Judy Watkins, 

and has been featured in many magazines and publications (recently in 'Where Women Create').

Rachel Ashwell named it one of her Top Five Shows to attend, 

and it is host to the very best dealers of antique, vintage, and artisan goods on the West coast.

That's a photo of Kymberley's booth from the June show... see what I mean?

Such inspiring presentation and stylish goods.

[I can't WAIT to see what she has planned for the fall show!]

I am honored that she wants to include my pumpkins in her lovely setting,

and I'll be heading up there with a van FULL of them for her!

I've also volunteered to be her slave during setup for the show, 

and will be in her booth for the event on Friday night and Saturday. (not Sunday, though).

I am looking forward to being at this absolutely wonderful show once again...

A Beautiful Mess

28875 W. Agoura Road Agoura Hills, CA

www.aBeautifulMessAntiques.com

Remnants of the Past Antique Show

October 19 - 21 2012

Alex Madonna Expo Center

San Luis Obispo, California

www.RemnantsofthePast.com

 booth photo courtesy of 'A Beautiful Mess' by Kymberly Fraser