Saturday, August 16, 2008

To Every Thing There is a Season ... Decorating Transitions

Even though we still have a lot of hot summer days ahead of us in Mississippi, my thoughts have already turned to fall. Fall is my favorite season when it comes to decorating, and I've been daydreaming about some things I'd like to do.

I guess I'm just tired of my summer decor and ready for a change. In this post, I'd like to share with you some "vignettes" of my summer accessories, and then in a few weeks, I'll post pictures of the decorating changes I've made for fall.

I'll start with my breakfast room ...

I know that silk flowers are in the top five on the "Decorating Mistakes" list, but sometimes it's impractical to try to use real flowers or plants. I love my collection of seasonal silks I've accumulated through the years and update them periodically.

In early spring, I put silk dogwood branches
in a magnolia vase on this chest ...


When spring turned into summer, I replaced
the dogwood with these wildflowers ...

This is my kitchen which is at the other end of this room ...

Next, let's move into the dining room ...

I love the simple elegance of orchids and used
this silk one on my sideboard for the summer ...

This is my summer centerpiece for the dining room table ...

And moving into the living room ...

More silk wildflowers on a sofa table ...

And REAL ivy plants on the mantel,
with silk grasses in the brass urn ...

I splurged on these silk lilies in the spring and
liked them so much I left them all summer ...

And last, but not least ... This is the summer wreath hanging on our porch door which opens into the breakfast room. It features miniature birdhouses, watering cans, and a little bird nest with two birds sitting in it ...

I'm looking forward to visiting some of my favorite shops during the next couple of weeks to see what's new for fall, but first, I'll visit my attic. It's always fun to get out all my vines and berries and gourds and ... hmmmm ... did I say "gourds?" That reminds me of a gourd project I'm going to work on this weekend and want to share with you, hopefully next week.

I think it would be fun if we all shared the way we make the decorating transition from summer to fall. I showed you mine ... how about showing me yours ?

Sincerely,


12 comments:

Blogger said...

Your home is so beautiful, so classic. I laughed at the top things not to do/fake flowers thing...I think as long as they look as natural as possible, it's fine, I mean, really, who can afford to keep fresh flowers all year long in their home? I use alot of the 'grassy' looking things right now, works for me, HGTV! ;)

Can't wait to see and copy, lol, some of your fall ideas! I love fall, too, but unfortunately for me, that means SNOW is right around the corner...so I can hang on to summer just a little bit longer :)

Bella

StitchinByTheLake said...

Do you hire out? Because I seriously need some decorating help and I don't care about the silk flowers rule. You could use all you want. I've reached that point where I just want a redo - oh not a big one. Not furniture - just arrangement and accessories and different. Please? I'd let you sit on my deck by the lake after you got done and I'd bring you iced tea and cookies. Not homemade cookies but cookies are cookies. blessings, marlene

nikkicrumpet said...

Well as always...I adore your home. Real or silk doesn't matter when you put it together so beautifully. Now I feel challenged to actually make some changes seasonally in my decor. Right now it's the same all year. I like the idea of those subtle changes...Now I'm gonna have to run around the house and see what will be easy to swap out! Thanks for the inspiration.

Unknown said...

Hi Janie,
I think the silk flowers you've chosen are beautiful....for most people having fresh flowers evertwhere and taking care of live plants in the house is a bit too much. Personally, I just can't do it, and think the silk flowers add a warm and special touch to a home.

Your home is beautiful! I look forward to seeing what changes you feature in the coming weeks.

You could be an interior decorator! I agree with the others...I need to take you shopping with me!
diane

Picket said...

Girl I have always loved seeing any thing in your beautiful home...every room is just so pretty and I love silk flowers and that wreath on the door...oh my word I wish I had one like that! Ca't wait to see the Fall things you come up with and that gourd project! lol Have a great weekend friend!

Anonymous said...

Dee from Tennessee

Wow..your home is beautiful.

I don't have room in my house for silk flowers but I do like them. (I once read a columnist who mentioned that she liked them too....despite the fact that she had "made fun" of her granny for using plastic flowers.So did one of my grandmothers and how she would have LOVED the realistic silk flowers available now!)

Laura said...

Your home is beautiful!! Looks like something out of a magazine!

Jill said...

Janie,
Your home is absolutely beautiful and so elegant which I am sure is just like you!

Thank you for sharing, I like silks too, good silk flowers that is, and I really love decorating for fall, also!

~Jill

Lamp Tramp said...

Your home is so beautiful, love looking at your pictures

Karin said...

I didn't put anything out for Summer. My husband left for Iraq last Spring so it was an odd Summer for me. I didn't decorate or putter in the yard or do any of the things I normally would. Didn't get to vacation or go antiquing, barely got in a little thrifting. Nothing to show for the Summer :(

I'm definitely gearing up for fall, though. I have to show you the gorgeous tole planter I found. I couldn't believe my good luck. I'll have to ask your advice abut what to put in it- it's huge.

I love all your florals. I do a mix, some fresh and some silk. My daughter loves to pick out flowers at the grocery store- hard to tell her no!

bj said...

I do believe your home is the prettiest I've ever seen! I love all of it !
As I've told you, I don't care for fall decorations so I am going to wait until you show me yours before I even try changing out anything....
love, bj

Ocean Hammock Residents said...

Hi Janie!

What a treat to discover your blog thru Bella. Great to see more views of your wonderful Southern home!

Best,
MK