FAST FALL VIGNETTE

During my trip back home last week, I spent most of my time visiting with my mom in Miami. Unlike me, she's NOT a shopper but she was very much looking forward to going on a little Fall shopping trip with me: her personal shopper! Since she was looking for both some fall fashions and decor, we skipped the major mall scene and headed to a nearby TJMaxx and HomeGoods. The cart worked great to hold a few Fall finds for her home (a natural pumpkin, a wreath for the front door, a new vase and a copper picture frame) while the handle bar hung some new knit tops, Fall sweaters and handbags - all great scores and didn't bust mom's budget! While we were out, we even had a Miami style Cuban lunch at a local spot called Sergio's where I devoured a roast pork sandwich! After some last minute grocery shopping at Publix for dinner, we got back to her home and I did a little Fall fix-up -- just before we surprised our family-like friend Marcia (she didn't know I was coming -- but had asked when I'd visit because it's been two years since I was back home in  Florida). I asked my mom if she wanted to skip Fall and I'd put up the tree for her -- she laughed and she said no - so within the hour, I made just a few quick changes for Fall, using some items she already had plus the new finds from our shopping day...

 

My mom isn't into heavy layering or over-the-top seasonal displays. She likes to keep things simple - easy to clean-up, pack-up and put away. But just a few Fall finds from HomeGoods gave my mom the little touch of Autumn in Miami she was looking for. She only spent $65 at HomeGoods and $35 at Michael's for her budget-friendly Fall fix-up!

 

The copper frame came in handy to display pressed leaves - in a pinch faux, but my mom has some Fall leaves from New Jersey pressed in a book to switch these out for. We also had stopped at Micheal's so I could pick out a few Fall flowers for the table - to switch out from her Summer white hydrangeas. Her table is oval, so a few dark woven matts add a little texture and act as a small runner...

 

 The new wicker wrapped vase added a little texture to the glass top table and the Fall leaves looked pretty reflecting in the mirror for her entry. From the guest room, I pulled over a small stack of books in orange and mustard to stack on the ottoman (and camouflage the plug)...

 

To keep the few Fall changes small, I kept them to table-top surfaces: the entry console, the gallery wall bench, the dining table, the buffet and the coffee table -- no textiles -- this way she can easily switch out Fall for a little winter holiday decor later after Thanksgiving...

 

I spotted this apothecary jar in mom's hall closet filled with shells, and I switched them out for some nuts, gourds and pinecones she had. All of her candles are vanilla and work great paired with fresh coffee beans as filler in the glass container...

 

Also from the patio - I brought in a mustard pitcher I picked up for my mom a few years ago while thrifting - and I switched out a lighter basket with wicker spheres for this darker basket with wood chips... and added some of the mini gourds, nuts and pinecones she had...

 

The sea grass had faded from the sun on the patio, but worked great as straw and added height on the buffet. The lanterns were a previous HomeGoods find and glow nicely with lit candles inside...

 

I had my mom snap a few pics of me surprising Marcia at the door - She was so happy, and so was I. It's been too long and love the long talks we use to have. Marcia is a retired Dade County school teacher... 

 

After dinner, we enjoyed some of mom's delicious homemade Cuban flan (small price to pay a personal shopper! lol)

It was so good - and it was good to be home...

Have a great weekend!

I'll be sharing more pictures from my trip next week!

Thanks for stopping by,

Note: This post is sponsored by HomeGoods and the Happy By Design project. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

RENTSAL RESTYLE: FALL REMIX TRANSFORMATION

Even though the temps here in AZ are in the 100's (115 the other day!) I still enjoy changing the look and mood of our home for Fall. I love the light and airy coastal looks for Summer, but I also very much enjoy the depth and richness of black and brown for Fall. To transition our home from Summer to Fall I've made a few simple changes, done over the past weekend while doing Fall cleaning and organizing. Some of the things I've done are: shift most all shell displays to the guest den & loft upstairs, replaced a basket of white flowers for an antler + croc tray on the coffee table, and replaced the blue & white textiles from the living room with brown, black and leopard (plaid to come later). A dramatic difference came when I switched my white lamp shades for black shades I picked up at HomeGoods earlier this year. I relocated the palm tree to the guest den & other indoor plants are now back outside -- faux fronds have been put away until next year. I love mixing metals so switching some cool silver accents for warmer brass pieces works great! 

 

 

Fall Style Tip:

Skip the flowers for Fall and opt for the warm glow of candles in a tortoise glass vase. I got this one at HomeGoods back in 2005, and it still works with my style and mix today.

Fall is the time I also love to bring out some brown glass containers & a tortoise glass vase -- they cast a warm glow for the cooler months ahead. Although I didn't switch the rug this year (as I've done in the past) I did rotate it while cleaning so it won't get to warn on one side. Removing white jackets from books or rearranging room stacks back to black bound books helps to create the darkness in the space for Fall. I've kept the gold mirror gallery focal point behind the sofa (I made last Fall and it works - still luvin' it!) but I did switch the framed fabric and seascapes to wilderness landscapes. I did bring in two branches I picked up on the side of the road here in AZ (back in January) and I'll be adding some Fall leaves to them. Glass containers inside are washed and (sparkle!) now filled with corks I've been collecting (for seven years). I'll layer in two acorn filled containers and a gold pumpkin filled basket to the coffee table later...

 

Relocated palm in basket to the guest den...

 

 

Mixing Old & New for a ReStyle

Brass lamps: Goodwilll 2013 - Books: church thrift 2013 - Shades ('09) and spy-glass: HomeGoods 2012 - Wood statue: Target garden center '06 - Two stud black glass cylinders: Pier One '06 - Buffet: $30 thrift find Miami '06

I cleaned up our front stoop too - brushing off the dust storms dirt, polished the wood door, trimmed back hedges, hosed down windows and purged dried up potted plants (heat here is just unbearable!) We still have some more time before our dust storm season ends, so I need to wait until October to do any major Fall decor on the front stoop -- but at least it's cleaned up (for now). I'll probably set it similar to how it was last year: bark chip mulch, lanterns, leaves, branches, pumpkins and potted mums.

 

Sifting basket from Goodwill - just $3 - relocated from downstairs. Switched out the graphic B&W bed side table lamp shades for solid black I picked up earlier this year on clearance at World Market...

 

LOVE the metallic pillow I picked up at HomeGoods!

 

 

Paisley panels - just 108" rectangular tablecloths from HomeGoods, I used in our dining room in Florida...

Thrift in the Mix
Great addition for Fall Picked up this brass lamp GoodwillAZ earlier this year. I tested the lamp with a bulb in the store, but it didn't work - thought it may have been the bulb - Thankfully it was. Score at 50% off of 7.99 (had shade from other thrift lamp) Branch: found on side of road here in AZ - just need to add some Fall leaves

In the bedroom, I replaced white bedding for B&W stripes sheets, with pillows in red and tribal pattern plus a touch of gold. The only new additions I've added to my restyle are a pair of black shades in the bedroom (I got on clearance at World Market for only $9) and an awesome gold painted linen pillow I picked up at HomeGoods. Simple seasonal decor change can be created with everyday decor items collected over time & thrift. Just using a darker color palette can easily transform your home too, to be ready for Fall... 

 The last area to transform - paint white vases black & gold, and refinish mirror antique gold + add candle sconces...

 

With the Fall cleaning and organizing now mostly complete, I just have some painting projects to do next weekend (hopefully without a dust-storm) and plan a garage sale for October (after I come back from my trip back home, to the east coast - can't wait!). Have you started to prep your home for fall decor? What are some ways you transform your home for Fall?

Thanks for stopping by,

Moodboard Monday: Try A New Mix This Fall with Plaid!

There are trends and there are classics. A wildly popular print trend from this past Spring & Summer has to be chevron. Other popular trends from the Spring and Summer have been 80's influences and bright neon colors. Trends aren't for everyone and trends aren't always appropriate for every age group. But sometimes an element from a trend can be added to a wardrobe or space to give it a little pick-me-up. An example of this would be to take a classic black & white sheath dress and pop it with a neon green bag. When developing my personal style, I tend to stay away from trends, unless they REALLY speak to me - than I decide is it something I want to wear? Or is it something I want to look at and live with? Some classics that are also trends very popular for Fall and even going into Spring 2013 are gold, black + gold, black + white, white + gold, and black + white + gold. All are very classic, very sophisticated and very versatile. Another "wildly" popular print of late has been animal prints, especially leopard. Leopard is a wonderful print to use for Fall - it works well the the warmer weather and colors such as golds, camel and browns. But similar to a neon bag, don't over do it on the leopard - use it as an accent to a wardrobe or a space. The organic pattern of a leopard print can easily be combined within a space with another classic print: plaid.

 FALL ReMixed!

Try a NEW mix this Fall & Winter: Animal print + plaid

Plaid is extremely traditional, but is so welcoming during the Fall season, and works well into holiday. Inspiration for fashion or decor for plaid can be full on equestrian, western or even old English and even a rocker look like punk.  A new mix to try this fall can be pairing the traditional plaid with a pop of leopard. The trick in this pairing is keeping the color palette similar in the grouping. I'm experimenting with this mix this Fall...

 

I already had the houndstooth throw and the leopard pillow, but was thrilled when I spotted (and scored!) this pillow pair recently at Goodwill...

 

A great secondhand style find!

 

AL = American Living

Side note + Story Behind the Style: I was even more thrilled to find these AL pillows because they are American Living: a line that was exclusively at JCPenney, designed by Ralph Lauren for the chain. I had helped organize, plan and execute the first cross divisional installation of these AL "shops" just before leaving JCP. As a reward for my contributions, my then store manager, Mack Tracy Jones, gave me a gift of his appreciation: The Ralph Lauren Book. With all the changes happening at JCP, the line has since been dropped, and Mr. Jones has become a District Leader in another state, but we still keep in touch through LinkedIn messages and emails... 

Ok, back to trying a new mix for fall: plaid + animal prints...

 HABA-DASH!

PLAID as a mix of inspiration from haberdashery & equestrian influence.

Don't be surprised if or when you see refreshing prints for Spring 2013 showcasing some plaid. A master at mixing plaid prints has to be Ralph Lauren, especially for his Fall Collection. And if you are into watching period TV vs. reality TV, you'll notice classic plaid textiles featured in shows like Copper, Boardwalk Empire and Downtown Abbey...

 

Ralph Lauren Fall / Winter Collection 2012

Love the top hat!

Merge that fashion look into your decor with a black lamp shade...

 

Over the weekend, I spotted this fantastic DIY lampshade transformation featured at House of Fifty's Facebook page...

 

Check out this EZ DIY and terrific transformation at

The Little Black Door

I hope you are inspired to experiment with a new look for fall plus merge your fashion finds into your decor.

Thanks for stopping by...