why 'seasonal' decorating?

i get that question a lot: "why do you change your home decor with the season?"

it's not such a foreign concept, really. most people do this at certain points in the year -
Halloween, Christmas, Fourth of July, Easter.

they bring out decor elements that are specific to those holidays to enhance their enjoyment.

i grew up with a Mom who did that, making holidays special.

decorating for winter, spring, summer, and autumn is a similar approach...

simple, subtle changes in color and accessories can make a dramatic difference

in how a room feels, and how i live in it.

for example, the room shown above... it's filled with warm neutral hues and soft textures,

the perfect place to cozy up on a rainy fall day.

but i wouldn't want to live in it like that during a hot summer!

with a few simple changes, the mood shifts and the room feels appropriate to the season.

 

every season brings a new design scheme, refreshing the space and me with new energy. 

and when i say 'new design scheme', i'm not talking totally redecorating a room.

i'm not advocating spending a bundle - of money OR time - several times a year.

easy changes - swapping out colorful accessories and bringing in touches of nature - 

are my main methods for bringing the beauty of a new season indoors.

it doesn't take a lot of money or effort to get results like this - just imagination!

continue reading to see the room above change through the seasons of a year...

tiki style tablescape

our Hawaiian holiday style continues onto the dining table...

using what we had on hand already, along with a few simple and inexpensive additions,
i was able to create a table that reflected the island style of our 'Happy HULAdays' Christmas decor theme!

as always, i try to keep the decor simple and easily removed, so we can play games or craft here.
'continue reading' to see the details...

a POKEMON Christmas Tree!

...and now for something COMPLETELY different...

My youngest daughter Brianna loves to decorate for Christmas - 

she's very creative, and used to work with me as I decorated the wineries in Washington.

She has a special challenge when it comes to holiday decor:
My grandson's Birthday is on December 18th, and she doesn't want to overshadow that -
but she also doesn't want to wait until AFTER that day to put up the tree, 

so she decorates their tree in his birthday theme each year!

THIS YEAR, she has outdone herself... with a POKEMON theme!

continue reading to see some really fun ideas...

oh, Christmas tree!

 my friends, I just don't 'do' Black Friday.

that one horrifying trip to the mall for a Cabbage Patch Doll back in the early 80's was enough.
I was an 19 year old new mommy and was seriously traumatized by it all.
.

ever since, I've spent the day after Thanksgiving 

happily hiding from the world and decorating my house for Christmas...

and then that turned into decorating other people's homes and businesses.
in the course of decorating all those trees
(about 25 trees each year, give or take - that's a lotta' tree decorating!)
I've learned some helpful tips and come up with some ideas:

I found an easy tip that really makes trees glow 

i also turned a really cheap material into fun 'tomato cage' Christmas trees!

this year, I've been making some trees

to sell in my homewardFOUND shop at our Dec 2 Shop Hop event.

 'found' materials have been a big part of that process...

 last year, I created and shared a 'vintage lace Christmas tree' on a tomato cage

this year, I shrunk the idea down to size!

recently I found some funky old bristle brushes in a thrift shop, 

and of course I don't SEE them as that - I saw TREES!

they turned out exactly as I envisioned them, and I really like 'em!
I mean, REALLY like them. I am torn about selling them.... 

I've shared a lot of Christmas tree decor themes over the years,
and I hope they continue to inspire you!

The tree is up and fluffed and lit in our living room, but I have NO IDEA
what the theme will be this year... we'll see what I come up with
as soon as I get alllllll those decor boxes out of the garage and into the house!
(The only tip I have for that is 'get help!')

to all who are visiting from the Funky Junk Interiors DIY Salvage Junk link party, welcome!

a Vintage White Christmas

as you might expect from an  

a) decorating enthusiast  b) visual designer & stylist 

and c) owner of fifty-plus tubs of assorted Christmas decor, 

i try to mix things up every year when i decorate my home.

i love what i have, i just want it to be fresh and interesting each year.

one year, my theme was 'a Vintage White Christmas', 

with some burlap and lace thrown in to echo the popularity of Danish-Euro style...

all this white pine-bough loveliness came about as a last-minute addition to my decor plan!
 

in the midst of decorating, i went into the local thrift shop [i know, i know....]
where i spied two huge plain cardboard boxes labelled
'White Xmas Tree: Part 1 and Part 2'. and they were taped shut. 

i asked how much for the tree, and was told  

ten bucks - plus 50% off, so a total of FIVE BUCKS.
and you already know what happened next... i said SOLD! so fast it wasn't funny!

the gal cut open the boxes so I could check out the tree, 

and it was a really NICE white nylon tree from the 80's. 8' tall. No lights. 

 Now, I already had a decent white 7' white tree, pre-lit, to use that year......

but here's a hot tip for you:  

NEVER pass up a decent faux tree for a good price.

You may not need another TREE, but you can use the branches for decorating with!
and that's exactly what i did.

instead of using my usual cut greens from outside in the decor,

i stayed with a very light, soft palette and put white branches 

on the chandelier, on the buffet, on the dining table, on the tables in the living room, on the entry table...

 everywhere, basically. 

and then i added heaps of ornaments and candles and more to the chandelier 

(and i have to say i just LOVE those fancy blown glass ornaments)
and to the buffet, the dining table, the tables in the living room, and the entry table.....  

 filling jars, bowls, serving trays, cake pedestals, and other everyday containers with beautiful ornaments

is an easy way to spread Christmas cheer and your color scheme all through your home

remember my original 'white glass light globe pumpkins' i shared here in my fall posts?

well, THIS is what i do with CLEAR light globes!

i put them into arrangements with greens and ornaments, 

and then tuck a night light on an extension cord inside them.
turn it on, and it glows beautifully - while being very safe.

[i use them outside this way, too, 

and have photos of that to share in another post...]

a sweet way to add 'a little something' to a simple candle: 

a vintage crocheted collar, a silk ribbon and a vintage rhinestone clip earring 

wrapped around a glass hurricane shade.  a candle in a glass jar inside the shade burns safely. 

and because i am truly NEVER 'done' decorating, i made a change after i took the photos...

i put white bubble light bulbs into my chandelier!

my grandma Ward had bubble lights on a tree when i was little, 

and they always bring back sweet memories for me.

these white ones were just too perfect to pass up

[and my grandson LOVED them, so the tradition is passed on!]

this soft, monochromatic Vintage White Christmas theme was so restful

and serves as a basic decor scheme that allows for changes through the years:

the next year, i added seashells for a really beachy theme

and another year, i had a swanky black and white theme...

i'll share those soon!

making a happy home

a brand new year is a fresh new start, in so many ways...
every year, i choose a single word to be my intention and focus (rather than resolution).
i like this approach, as it is more about 'be' than 'do'.

THIS year, my word is 'happy' - for many reasons.

Mom and i also select a word that is our shared 'Word of the Year',

something that reflects a purpose or mission or quality that we intend to pursue together.

and this year, that word is 'HOME'.

we chose it for a few different reasons...

but the really amazing thing is that as soon as we decided on it,

all KINDS of things started showing up to 'confirm' that it was the right choice:

things like songs, and sentiments in cards from friends, a book that a friend of mine was selling, 

and us noticing little objects we had around here already

that would bring the word 'home' resonance in our home and our daily life.

and when i combined my word with our word, it really came to life...

continue reading to see how our winter decor evokes a 'happy home'!

Tattered N' Torn Christmas Decor

silver and white are staples for the Holiday decor in my home. 

yet each year, i add something new like

another color [or non-color in the case of clear glass]

to breathe new life into the rooms we live in. 

one year, I decided to bring in browns, coppers, bronzes, and wood. 

i love the warmth and masculine touch it brought to the decor...

i call this look 'Tattered & Torn'

and i hope that you will find some inspiration for your own home, table, or party decor here!

hanging on an old door turned pegrack at the entry to our Cottage,

leather bags and a weathered chair hold knit scarves, mittens, holiday decor and a sweet teddy bear

on the white mantel, a gathering of silver serveware is dressed up with

a floral arrangement, candles, and ornaments galore...

one end of the mantel holds this tiny nosegay arrangement, 

made with a dried hydrangea blossom and one of my chenille stem poinsettias 

simply placed in a silver mint julep cup with a crepe paper collar.

stockings made from old linen fabric and the trim from a vintage dress hang from brown bows.

the buffet in the dining room held another arrangement of silver pieces, 

loaded with ornaments, florals, candles, and silver flatware.

i like STUFF, what can i say?! i load things up for an abundant look... 

[no, i honestly never used this as a server!]

on the wall, a huge twig wreath is flanked by two wire baskets

filled with dried hydrangeas, vintage paper, and ornaments

 adding scale to the wall arrangement.

ah, and the lamps? new. i paid something like $14 each at Marshalls for them.

i took some muslin fabric and swooped it around the white lampshades, and tied it with string.

the warm creamy ivory light made this room glow!

the arrangement features a sweet birds nest, 

with a tiny ceramic brown bird decorating HER nest with tinsel!

celery glasses hold my silver flatware, ready for a party...

my grandmother's silver sugar spoon on display...

 a beautiful tiny arrangement of a dried hydrangea and dried roses,

in a silver creamer...

 on the dining table, a centerpiece is created on two trays that are easily removed,

and the tall arrangement in the center coordinates with the ones on the buffet and mantel.

the tablecloth is actually a beautiful piece of sari fabric...

up above the table is a simple chandelier with linen shades,

and several wire garden baskets hung upside down... just because i could!

[tho they DO coordinate with the wire baskets on the wall above the buffet...]

and finally, the Christmas tree... this one was pretty unique. 

i had a small white vintage tree  - and then found a vintage aluminum tree on craigslist!

[i LOVE craigslist!]

since you can't put light strands on an aluminum tree (fire & shock hazard)

i just nestled the two trees together(a bit like trees grow in the forest...)

and then decorated the white one with large white C9 lights,

and an array of ornaments, vintage finds, and crafted goodies:

the brown stars look like gingerbread - but they are pre-cut felt stars from the dollar store, 

painted with brown textured patio furniture paint

those silver beads are on bendable wires, able to swoop and loop through the branches.

tiny buttons on wires and gold acorns dance on the branch ends...

my white santa mugs again, this time suspended as tree ornaments with brown ribbons.

[people always ask where i found white vintage santa mugs... 

these came with red paint on them, just like the ones you always see in antique stores. 

i simply soaked them in hot soapy water, then used a credit card to scrape off the softened paint]

the other ornaments are beads and charms on wires,  with the names of my family members on them

i had some silver candle clips, so i added these long white tapers to the tree.

and no, i didn't light them!

a vintage painted ornament in the perfect copper & brown colors,

and a new star... i found six of these at a thrift store. they were PINK.
i spray painted them silver, and now they look perfectly vintage!

salvaged fan becomes a backyard table!

this big old orange thing might just look a bit familiar to you...
it's the industrial fan housing that i grabbed right outta' my neighbors' trash can
and turned into a pumpkin in a previous post.

honestly? the pumpkin project was an afterthought.
THIS was the reason i grabbed it before the trash truck arrived...
to make an accent table for our backyard fire pit area!
it was a simple assembly, using things i had on hand already
and it makes a world of difference in this area of our yard.

continue reading to see how just three simple elements created this table...

Orange You Glad You're Here?!

While much of our home decor this Christmas is in neutral tones
(ivory, cream, tan, rusty brown, bronze, copper, and gold),
we decided to leave the bright orange decor already in the entryway.
(click to see more about the Joyful sign)
This happy hue brightens that small, dark space right up!

The addition of a tall, skinny tree in the corner added some light,
and a chance to create a fun, lighthearted feeling...
yet very different than the fun tropical tree decor that we created at the old house!

Continue Reading to see what we did... 

painted 'chocolate' pumpkins on a sweet sweater cake

a fitting conclusion to my recent faux food project posts,

this one really takes the cake....

this project came about because i had some tiny styro pumpkins,
which made me start thinking about making a very REAL cake

like my Mom used to make every fall when i was a kid.

it was always a round two-layer chocolate cake with chocolate icing

and adorned with tiny orange candy pumpkins all along the top edge.

i loved that cake.

we took them to school fall celebrations and church harvest festivals.

we took mini versions - cupcakes - to friend's houses.

we never brought any of it home, either!!! everyone loved it.

instead, i decided to make a fall 'cake' in my own style...

because deb does NOT need more calories!

continue reading for the before and after...

fall decorating in gradient tones

September rolls around and it's supposed to be 'everything Pumpkin Spice'.
but honestly, that's a stretch when it's still triple-digit summer heat outside - 
sometimes our geographic location just doesn't vibe with popular seasonal decor
and it's time to get outta' that box!

rather than go full-on with leaves and pumpkins everywhere, 

i came up with a way to use what i had on hand with a fresh look:

arranging my stash of pumpkins in a color gradient.

while the color spectrum runs from clear to brown,

arranging things this way gives a 'fall feel' with a bit of whimsy.

continue reading to see how easy this approach is!

Tree of Life...

Over on the HOMEWARDfound facebook Page, 

I asked if you collect and use vintage & antique ornaments in your Christmas decor.

 In today's 'Bonus Post', I'd love to share a story about ornaments,

and how they are so much more than just 'decor'...

Over seven years of decorating her home,

one of my residential decor clients has become a dear, cherished friend

This was the weekend in December that I would normally go to her house to put up her tree. I'm missing her this year, and thought I'd reflect on what she's taught me...

Fran is a lovely lady, widowed, who lives in a modest Seattle home. A home that holds the immense treasures that only a lifetime of living, loving, collecting, and fond memories can produce. Some things may have monetary value, but the true worth of Fran's 'estate' is that every single item comes with a story....

Fran's impressive Christmas ornament collection dates from the late 1800's. 

Some ornaments came from her grandmother, then her mother added to the collection, then Fran added her own - three generations of Holiday memories. Each precious fragile bauble is lovingly swathed in pristine white tissue and laid gently in original boxes. Packed into plastic tubs, they are safely stored all year - until the lucky day that I get to go to her house and help her unearth them.

As each box is opened and each little wad of tissue unwrapped, Fran's eyes dance and her smile grows wider. Occasionally I see a tear in her eye, as a memory catches her breath. I hear every story...'These we got on our honeymoon in Spain...' , 'This Dresden angel was mom's', or 'My niece made this for me when she was 7' (she's 40 now). Precious memories of happy times, all brought out into the light each Holiday season. 

[I think it is a remarkably SMART practice to purchase ornaments as souvenirs when traveling - less to pack, inexpensive to buy, and you get to relive the memories each year]

It took hours of work, but it was truly a labor of love - for Fran, and for me. 

She started out as a client and is now a dear friend. We love our time together to chat, visit, catch up, and share Holiday memories. And after the hours of chatter and gasps and the occasional 'Oh Dear!' when one of the oldest ornaments is found to have deteriorated beyond repair (SO sad), all of the special ornaments end up on the tree - and somehow manage to look more beautiful every year!

 It's not a 'designer' tree, not a theme tree...it's a tree of life. Fran's life.

Her life as a child, as a daughter, as a wife, as an aunt. 

It's her story, beautifully told.

Even the old ornaments that are broken and damaged are used...

I heap them into her collection of silver hotel serving pieces, and they look absolutely perfect. In decorating as in life, the lack of perfection is often what is most charming. And damaged doesn't mean something isn't still useful.

Many years ago, she called me to ask if I could help her "bring the Christmas Spirit back" into her home, after her mother died. Which was two years after her husband died. That same year, she lost her brother. Too much for one person, I think. This woman has known so much in life...growing up the daughter of an immigrant farmer, to create a career in broadcasting and hotel management, to her wonderful, loving marriage to a successful businessman who adored her, then figuring out life as a single woman on her own for the first time in her life.

Joy, sorrow, love, loss, pain and passion have touched her, and yet she is vibrant in spirit, young at heart, and a gracious, caring person. I am in awe of what she has experienced, what she has learned, and how she easily admits that she really still has so much to learn. She impresses me. I respect her, I admire her, and I love her dearly.

Fran told me each year as we parted that I make her holidays worth celebrating.... 

How do you respond to that, except with tears and a hug?! 

I treasure this woman, and am so blessed to have her in my life. We share stories, laughter, lots of tea, and lunch. And Love is the Christmas Spirit that she brings to me. Now that I no longer live in Seattle, I will miss decorating for her, but our friendship is still shared across the miles by phone calls.

Before I left Washington, I created a photo album of all of the photos you see above, which are of her own ornament collection, and gave it to her when I took her to tea at the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel in Seattle. That was where I delivered the sad news that I was leaving Seattle...and the happy news that our time together has been so meaningful to me. With these photos, she can enjoy her beautiful Christmas ornament collection and her memories any day of the year... and so can I.