Fall Transition - Pottery Barn - Winston Salem

I haven't really toured any of the home specialty stores since we moved to North Carolina. Since I'm feeling a little better and the fall season is just around the corner, I thought I'd go take a look at my nearby Pottery Barn in Winston Salem. Most retailers are now in fall transition, but Pottery Barn still had a good assortment of outdoor living still set. In an effort to create space for the next seasons merchandise, summer clearance deals were neatly set, in some not so focal areas. Hints of new fall assortments, such as new brass lighting, velvet pillows and leather specials were set front and center. Here are a few new favorites...

 Loved the smoked glass!

 

Funky industrial style brass lighting...

 

Great grey linen shades paired with aged brass and acrylic...

 

Loved this brass globe...

 

Simple window display, focused on brass...

 

Lots of neutrals - and plenty of paisley patterns...

 

Still featuring grey wall color, but deeper and darker...

 

Rich texture with jewel tone crewel and velvet pillows...

And speaking of pillows...

I couldn't pass up a clearance find on a great pair of leopard print pillow covers for Fall!

Thankfully, I didn't see any Halloween set (yet) but I'm sure it will be out for August.

 I love summer - but I'm looking forward to enjoying fall this year - especially the leaves changing color! How about you?

Thanks for stopping by!

 

WELCOME FALL!

Some of my fondest memories I have of fall are taking walks with my mom (usually just a few blocks up to the mailbox or neighboring park) crunching and kicking leaves around as we walked hand in hand. I also loved falling into leaf piles with neighborhood friends after my dad raked the yard, and have had a few acorns fights (I was a bit of a tomboy at times). Now I not only miss those times, but I miss the serious change in weather and the beautiful leaf colors. A few years back, I had visited my Godmother up in Jersey during the month of November. I can remember not being able to breathe in deep enough - the smell of wet leaves after a cool autumn rain...

 

 

This week I unpacked my Fall decor I had stored in the garage. Since we were moving during Halloween & Fall last year, I had donated some pieces before we moved. I was able to find a few pieces thru thrift, and I'll be working on getting some of it displayed this weekend. I already cleared and cleaned the front stoop which after the dust storms we experienced here in the summer was disgusting. Not gardening out front like I did in Florida is another adjustment I've had to make in this new area, climate & lifestyle. I'm SO looking forward to getting OFF this damn computer and getting creative with my hands again. Physical problem solving, lifting, moving, "making something out of nothing" is where I believe my true strength in creativity lies. I did it DAILY for YEARS (in heals!!) and having converted to flat sandals and a chair has been like a death to me....

 

I think this year instead of jumping into the warm tones of reds and orange first, I'm going with more of the rustic greys, golds, browns and black. After Halloween, for Thanksgiving I think I'll layer in more reds and oranges like the spicy colors in  "Pumpkin Patch" created by Color Specialist Donna Frasca of Charlotte.

 

I'd also like to get to some more outdoor art shows, have a fall picnic and 

finally get back to biking...

What do you like about Fall? Is it the change in the temperature in the weather? Is it all the beautiful colors in the fall foliage? Is it reflecting back on childhood memories? Is it looking forward to all the family gatherings coming up just around the corner? Is it just simply a beautiful and creative means of expressing your creativity while decorating your home? or is it a combination of all of these?

Welcome fall and 

thanks for stopping by!

Seasonal Decorating: Packing Up Summer Decor + Fall Transition

Over the long Labor Day weekend, I took the time to take down all my summer decor. Using the dining table as a staging place, I collected all the shells, silver vessels and white + blue textiles I had used in my summer restyle. I also emptied and cleaned all glass containers and switched some cylinders from light colored candles & sand to black. Removing these lighter decor elements was a quick way to start the summer decor transformation to Fall. To transition into Fall, those summer whites will be replaced with more blacks, browns, woods, branches and a few more touches of gold (brass).

 

Having a staging area to collect all summer decor helps during the transition...

 

Some of the seaside finds (these coral are from Key largo), 

I'll shift into the guest room while the rest I'll pack up until next year...

 

Classic B&W stripes can work not only for Summer decor, but can also work for Fall...

(Think Football referee)

 

Ziploc bags and totes help with the summer decor storage...

 

Recycled Chinese soup containers work great for storing or sand fillers...

 

Ziploc bags also work great...

 

Warm water & soap + towel dry helps bring back the shine to seasonal glass containers...

 

To empty sand from bags yes you can pour, but to make even when splitting between containers, using a measuring cup helps to scoop it out...

Later in September I'll add either red or orange + layer in + mix into our decor plaids, pine cones, autumn leaves, acorns and pumpkins. In the meantime, just shifting from light colors to dark is making a simple & dramatic look. Another seasonal decor update I'll be doing is switching some framed photos of Florida beaches for more rustic scenes of horses and barns I shot from a visit to Georgia one Fall, along with a few local shots from here in Arizona + some Ansel Adams prints I found while thrifting...

Seasonal updates can branch into other sense and areas of your lifestyle.  

Here are some other ways I transition into Fall...

 

I love Bath & Body Works scented candles, but even budget friendly Glade has some new scents for Fall like Autumn Harvest & Black Berry Jam - plus they come in smokey glass containers you can reuse later in your decor. For Fall nail color, my fave is OPI Lincoln Park. For this years Fall personal scent, I tried a sample of Lady Gaga's new scent FAME - and love it! It's a little heavier than the lighter Cool Water I like to wear in Summertime...

 

Hair color goes darker for Fall too:

This weekend I tried a new shade from Loreal. Love the warm deep tone for Fall vs. a lighter copper with highlights for I do for Summer. Doing a DIY base hair color is a good way to save some money at the salon: the base is done, and they can layer in participial low lights (for face framing) plus a cut & blowout. 

Wardrobe changes will also happen: inspired by some looks in magazines & Pinterest, I've already been spotting some simple finds through thrift like jackets, scarves, and this hounds-tooth clutch for only $4 at Goodwill...

 

Flavors for drinks also change: In the summer, I enjoy white wines like a crisp Pinot Grigio; but in Fall, I prefer darker reds like Pinot Noir. For coffee (besides pumpkin spice) I also enjoy cinnamon - hazelnut.

Back to Fall transition for Fall decor: 

Here's a sneak peek at simple change I made to the coffee table from Summer to Fall...

 

Here's the coffee table with more of the whites from Summer...

 

And the lighter look of the living room from Summer...

 

Summer came and went so fast this year. Since last year we were selling and moved during the Fall, I didn't get to enjoy Fall or Halloween decorating. I know I'll be enjoying the Fall season more this year...

Do you decorate for the seasons? Or just the holidays? 

How do you transition into Fall?

Thanks for stopping by!

Pottery Barn Trunks, Fall and the Look for Less From Thrift

Tuesday I received a new catalog from Pottery Barn. Like many of you, I enjoy flipping through their styled images, looking for seasonal inspirations - then go thrift it for less! Since I was going to be near their store location in Chandler yesterday (after meeting a friend for lunch!) I popped in to see if the store reflected the catalog (sorry - can't help it - it's part of my retail DNA) Although they didn't have any Halloween set (yet) like featured in the catalog, there were still several artfully arranged vignettes and store presentations to be inspired by - for Fall - which next to Christmas is probably my fave time of year to decorate...

GREAT colorway display of candles in fall color tones...

Love how it relates to the striped linen bench...

Another colorway display used for dinnerware...

A colorway is how a store displays all colors available in a selected item...

LOVE the layered woven rugs...

(I've been layering rugs here in AZ too!)

Lovely vintage inspired workspace display mixed with colored glass

greats customers at the secondary entrance (from the parking lot)

Loving that suazanni stool and great fall colors at their mall entrance focal point...

Last year, I had wanted to do this and this year I WILL:

Frame photos of horses - I took several shots on a trip to Georgia in 2010, so this will be a great way to personalize our space for Fall...

Lately, I've been obsessing with silver...

I started a little collection, but through THRIFT...

These I scored at Goodwill, each under $5

vs. Pottery Barn's pieces which could be $30 or more each...

Love the look!

I thought this was unique:

I ticking stripe covered pinboard on a small metal easel - vintage inspired vibe...

GREAT conversation piece for a coffee table

and fun way to display collectibles or photographs...

The trunk trend continues....

This little lovely was $399 vs. thrift from $99 down to $8

My thrifted trunks for the guest room...

Top at $8 and bottom was $20

LOVE the farm-style dining table with its black legs + apron and wood stained top

(I think it was $899 - but don't quote me, need to recheck that)

It reminded me of my thrifted dining table I refinished for my workspace upstairs...

My thrifted table I refinished was $24.99...

It was white and light wood butcher block I picked up at Goodwill

(I think last December - January)

Loving the vintage vibe of this vignette - workspace display...

Autumn leaves displayed in vintage-inspired color glass vessels...

Stacked vintage-inspired luggage, baskets and colored glass lamps with woven shades,

just like on the catalog cover...

Pottery Barn cover...

If not through thrift, antique shops can be another source for

matching up a Pottery Barn look for less...

If you're in Miami, check out Stoneage Antiques...

or a vintage market in Phoenix called Sweet Salvage...

Last year, I didn't really get to enjoy Fall (or decorating for Halloween at all because of the move) so I'm really looking forward to it this year... Where are some of your fave places for inspiration or to collect thrift?

Thanks for stopping by!