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Sunday, October 16, 2011

How I add Warmth to My Home In The Fall



I have never made claim to being a texture gal. I tend to like a more refined look with smooth or shiny textures. Except this time of year when the Fall weather starts I do bring in a few rougher textured items for my Fall look.





There is nothing prettier than the patina of an old cutting board. I am always on the look out for cutting boards, and I use them all the time. It seems as if there is always at least one on my kitchen counter. When we fix toast it sits next to the toaster with butter, knife, jam, and cinnamon sugar ready to be placed on the toast while it is still piping hot.

I am on the look out for several smallish boards to serve bowls of hot soup and crusty French bread………












When entertaining guest I  always have a cheese platter.  I prefer to use a pretty cutting board to display cheese, fruit, and fig spread.






For the Fall/Winter months I have a few cutting boards that I leave out as a decorative touch to give a warm cozy look to my kitchen.


 BASKETS













The other texture I enjoy for the Fall months is in the form of baskets. I just purchased a new addition to my basket collection while visiting Tyler Florence’s shop in Mill Valley California with two of my blogging buddies!!…..


Fall 2011 003 (600x800)
It is a nice big tray that I will be able to use for lots of things when I entertain. I love the texture it adds to my kitchen placed behind my vintage milk glass lamp.

I also purchased a candle at Tyler Florence’s shop called Sunday memories by Park Hill candles, it is a warm, lovely scent, and I love the glow it has shining through the wicker basket holder it is in………


Fall 2011 006 (600x800)

While shopping at The Alameda Pointe Antique Flea Market I also purchased a fun French shopping basket on wheels. It makes a perfect addition to my family room. It is holding magazines by my reading chair………


Fall 2011 009 (600x800)















There is nothing quite as pretty as a basket overflowing with different kinds of breads.

I love to do this in an over-sized basket, it is so fun choosing different kinds of breads to go with a hot bowl of soup!

Now I am getting hungry for a wonderful crusty French bread and fresh roasted tomato soup.

I will leave you with a wonderful soup recipe I just made that I think you will love for a nice,easy Fall meal……





Click HERE for the recipe, you will be thanking me once you taste this delicious soup, I promise!





I served mine in darling white handled bowls from Crate and Barrel. The soup is topped with a garlic and butter crostini and  your favorite cheese. I chose Havarti for mine. Trust me this is soooo easy and well worth trying. It is a new favorite of mine.

These are just a few of the ways I warm my home up for the Fall/ Winter months with the addition of textures. What do you do to cozy–up your own home? We always can use some new ideas!!! Whatever it is I hope that you are …….

“Enjoying the Process!

Kathysue
Posted by Kathysue at 6:53:00 PM 26 comments

Saturday, October 15, 2011

A Sophisticated Pretty Halloween



Since I no longer have small children living at home I try to elevate my Halloween décor up a notch. I prefer a pretty, or sophisticated look over the scary look that is seen this time of year. I even like the cute side of Halloween.(I will do a post on that later!)

As most of my readers know I don’t do orange for the Fall, or for Halloween. My apologies to all of you orange pumpkin lovers. I look for black and white combinations that lean more towards the pretty, or sophisticated side of Halloween. Here is a group of images that I have saved in my picture files and on Pinterest……..



This would be so easy to duplicate. Just think of all the ugly not so popular discarded vases that are still on the shelves at the thrift stores. A can of flat black, or even chalkboard paint would give you the look of jasper ware.




Source: nood.ca via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

I thought these were actually pretty renditions of a Halloween owl. I think flowers or even votive candles inside would look really pretty all lined up on your window sill to greet your trick or treaters!






A sparkly chandelier ornament makes such a pretty little napkin ring for a Halloween dinner.



Another can of spray paint!! This time in high gloss with shiny metal upholstery tacks makes for a pretty pumpkin.


Source: bhg.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest


How about a pumpkin candelier? I can not imagine cutting these pumpkins with all these pretty shapes, but I do have some pumpkins that are  carved somewhat like these that I ordered from Grandinroad several years ago. Unfortunately they no longer sell them.





Easy to do! Again, go to Goodwill or your local thrift store and purchase a broken lampshade. Strip it and spray the metal part black. Silhouettes are easy to find online, you can make a copy and put it in a frame and you can have this whole set-up!





This is just pretty!! This could be used for Halloween or for Thanksgiving as shown by the,”be Thankful!”




Simple white plates with the addition of black crows makes for an easy and striking decoration for Halloween.



This is a great example of mixing your textures. This is so sparkly and yet the clusters of hay give it a nice texture as well as the grapevine pumpkins. Simple cream candles keep this arrangement pretty and sophisticated.











I love, love this simple glowing arrangement. I am on the look out for some lanterns to paint white!









I remember when Eddie did this on his apartment mantel. I just loved the black rick-rack against the white pumpkin. He always does such amazing and inspirational ideas on his blog. He is now a regular contributor to Woman’s day and Southern Living magazines too!!




I don’t know about you all, but I know a lot of little girls that would love this butterfly pumpkin made with hinges and wire!!





If you like a little glitz in your life how about a spray can of metallic paints to do the trick?



Just a simple application of self adhesive black numbers, and you can add these to your porch with the numbers of your home’s address.



Source: bhg.com via Kathy Sue on Pinterest

Purchase a pair of ladies lace nylons and put them over a white pumpkin, and you have created a beautiful lacy pumpkin. Pretty not scary!!








More tacks to add a pretty scrolling design to your pumpkins. A simple and yet very pretty way to add a sophisticated look to your pumpkins.

I don’t know about you all, but I feel more inspired just writing this post and pulling together all of these images.

“Enjoy the Process!” Of:

Adding a sophisticated or pretty feel to our Halloween décor

Kathysue
Posted by Kathysue at 1:00:00 AM 16 comments

Friday, October 14, 2011

Bringing In A Touch Of Fall!


Fall is in the air or at least it feels like Fall first thing in the mornings with the crisp air. As the day goes along and we get temps in the 80’s it actually feels more like Spring.

I am starting to see a little evidence of the Fall season in some of the surrounding trees. Their leaves are starting to change and fall to the ground.

In spite of the weather I am trying to get in the mood for Fall by adding a few touches here and there around my home.




Sarahs Visit 10 2011 and fall touches 002 (581x800)
I added a jade colored pumpkin in my living room.




Sarahs Visit 10 2011 and fall touches 004 (600x800)
A special vase with a Fall bouquet is added to the entry table. Next to it I have a crystal bowl filled with amber by Cote Bastide. It has a wonderful warm fragrance that is a soft fragrance, just enough for guest to ask,”What smells so good in your house?”



Sarahs Visit 10 2011 and fall touches 006 (581x800)
Here is a  close-up of the vase. It has a wonderful relief of shadows of trees that look very Fallish to me.




Fall 2011 003 (800x600)
I always plant ornamental Kale in my front yard right by the porch. I use touches of darker pinks and purples to bring out the color in the Kale. Kale just says, “Fall!” to me.





Fall 2011 004 (600x800)

A few white pumpkins are added next to the sweet potato vine that has taken over the black pot it is planted in.



Fall 2011 008 (600x800)
This year I added a sparkly letter,”P” to my white pumpkin. A friend of mine did this to her white pumpkin and I loved the idea so much I did one also. It is really more sparkly in person than it shows in this image. You know me I must have a letter,”P” in just about every room in my home!!


Fall 2011 006 (600x800)

Right by the door I added different colors and sizes of pumpkins. As you will notice there is no orange pumpkins at Kathysue’s home!! I just find that these colors seem to work best for me with the colors in my home.


Fall 2011 010 (800x600)
Another touch of Fall with the addition of ornamental Kale.



As you can see I have started adding a touch of Fall here and there. Next it will be time to make a few more changes inside.

I like to bring in warmth by adding elements such as

  • Cutting boards
  • Baskets
  • Black lampshades
  • More votive candles
  • Pictures with a touch of black
  • Warm throws


What are some of the Fall touches you add to your home?

What ever you do to bring in touches of Fall, remember to:


“Enjoy the Process!”

Kathysue
Posted by Kathysue at 7:17:00 AM 16 comments
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