Early morning sitting in the kitchen bundled up in a blanket, with the heater on. I can’t be the only woman here, who tends to put the heater on too high a time or two. Then again maybe it’s just a husband trait to never let us forget, we’ve turned the dial up to 80 degrees!
Read moreFall Gathering Inspiration
The best part of hosting Thanksgiving for myself and my decorating enthusiasts alike, is deciding how you will set the table. What color scheme should you choose, and which pieces will accent everything beautifully. I’ve gathered my top inspirational finds below, I hope you find this helpful and inspires you to create something magical of your own!
Photo Cred: Cooking Light
I am loving the warm tones by using fruit as decor from the oranges, persimmon, pomegranates and apples each color reminds me of a floral bouquet. What a fun bountiful arrangement this could be to your thanksgiving table, to make it feel more elegant add candlesticks for ambiance.
Photo Cred: Martha Stewart
Harvest colors in full effect, with pale-pink and white dahlias with accents of golden hues. This bright and colorful arrangement works well with any traditional thanksgiving place setting.
Photo Cred: Martha Stewart
What is a thanksgiving table without pumpkins? Find apples and pears at your local grocery store to blend and mix throughout your home. The simplicity of the white anemone windflowers makes this scene feel light and airy.
Photo Cred: Randi Garrett Design
Gold is center stage in this formal setting mixed perfectly with colored mossy pale-green pumpkins. The hydrangeas of multiple colors compliment the china quite beautifully. The muted neutrals in this dining room allows the flowers and accessories to be the bold element.
Photo Cred: Julie Blazer
If you’re anything like me by this time of year you’re trying to push the boundaries of mixing Thanksgiving and Christmas into one, without it being too noticeable. This earthy option has the colors of fall mixed with the edgy pine-cones and gold accents to warm up the arrangement. This un-traditional option will definitely get noticed by your family and friends.
Photo Cred: Martha Stewart
A contemporary take on florals, this arrangement reminds me of an overgrown garden in the backyard of a beautiful cottage. The centerpiece speaks for itself without any pumpkins or fruits necessary!
If you’re one of the lucky ones and can pick flowers from your garden, do so! Why not? In order to make a beautiful centerpiece you don’t have to spend a lot of money find what you already have in your home and make it your own!
How do you decorate your table this time of year? I would love to hear your thoughts and any fun ideas below!
XOXO | Stephanie
Story of Autumn
The crisp autumn air, the leaves starting to change and the days begin to feel much shorter. Now that October is over, we find ourselves almost a week away from Thanksgiving. I wanted to share our living room mantel, in which I’ve decorated with fall fiery leaves and pumpkins. I like to decorate with an autumnal theme, allowing us to enjoy for a longer period of time, as early as September all the way through November. Although I am itching to begin decorating for Christmas, but I will resist the urge.
I love opening the seasonal decor boxes every time the holidays come around. This year I found these paper leaves above, that I had purchased from Micheals the year before. I thought it would be a great idea to string them together, creating a very colorful and festive garland for our mantel.
This year I am dressing up our front door with colorful foliage with an earthy edge. This simple grapevine wreath from Micheals has seen many events and gatherings throughout different seasons. All the added berries, leaves and flora aren’t glued to the piece, quite simply woven and braided into the vines. This allows for easy removal and quick change for a different season. I like to keep the foliage in our fall box in a zip lock for save keeping for next years events.
I would love to hear all the creative ways you blend holiday decor into your home? I am always up for new ways of decorating the home.
Photography credits: S. Pellegrini Living
Anika Spruce
Textiles are a big passion of mine, I love finding new materials that inspire me. The rug above is from Stark, from their new spectrum collection, called Anika spruce. I walked across this beauty when I was sourcing at the San Francisco Design Center, a beautiful transitional piece.
Aiken-Rhett House
Once operating as the main entrance of the home now resides two symmetrical parlors divided between two pocket doors. The character and details of the house are popularly known as Greek Revival.
The Aiken-Rhett House is a beautiful time capsule built in 1820. The tour takes you back into time seeing what it was like living in Charleston, South Carolina during the era. The home was passed down through several individuals who created what we see today. The wealthy merchant, John Robinson, purchased the land and built the original house. Governor William Aiken purchased the house; therefore, passing it down to his son William Aiken Jr. After William Jr.'s death the house went to his daughter Harriet Lowndes Aiken and his son-in-law Major A.B. Rhett. They went on to raise their children in the house and made renovations to the property that are visible today.
The house is now owned by the Historical Charleston Foundation and located at 48 Elizabeth Street. They’ve adopted a conservation approach holding true to the style and original state of the house. They seek to preserve and protect the building and artifacts of historical significance.
Circular plaster centerpiece located in the two symmetrical drawing rooms. From the center moving outwards with 12 radiating acanthus leaves enclosed within a plain band centered by a beaded trim. The ornate outer trim with rosettes encloses the medallion from which is suspended a glass French chandelier.
Stair Hall
Main central stair hall leading to all three floors. This room is rectangular with a wooden staircase and two octagonal-and-turned balusters to each tread.
The furniture and decor in the house are original to the families who lived there. It is clear that time has left its mark. There is still something so beautiful about the scroll work and "C" - curves that go into this floor mirror spanning the second floor hallway as shown above.
View looking up to the third story ceiling, a plaster cornice, and centerpiece consisting of 12 radiating acanthus leaves surrounded by a greek key fret band.
Verandah's of the Aiken-Rhett
Buildings in the south have two and three story porches, known as piazzas, that are strategically designed to take full advantage of the local winds. The porches also come in handy as a covering when the afternoon rain showers begin.
The columns of the porch are doric in character with turned baluster railings. The single hung windows transform into doorways that allow you to walk onto the verandahs. These windows are advantageously placed to allow for a cross breeze through the house and are extremely common in the South.
Historic Details
All of the colored photographs pictured above were taken by me on our tour of the Aiken Rhett. The information I gathered was from an audio tour and, much to my surprise, the amazing documents compiled after 1933 by the Historic American Buildings Survey. I found the information through the Library of Congress.
The black & white photographs appear to be taken between 1977 - 79.
I cannot pinpoint the era in which the drawings were created but to my understanding it appears to be after William Aiken junior died and passed the home down to his daughter & son-in-law. The drawings show changes to the structure by transforming the size of the two drawing rooms and moving the main entrance to the side of Elizabeth street.
Front elevation, drawing
Front elevation
Main entrance after the renovations
West elevation, drawing
First floor southwest room, also known as the two symmetrical drawing rooms.
Check out my other post about The Charleston Foundations additional property, The Nathaniel Russell House.
Please let me know what you thought about this post? All feedback is always welcome & helpful.
Scents of fresh blooms
Everyone should have a fresh set of flowers in the house to start the week of right. The smells of the blooms linger in the air and throughout the house. Two bouquets from the store can split into at least 3 - 4 vases. One could be the larger vase for the dining table. The second and third can be split into smaller vases for your nightstand and or dresser top. If you happen to have a larger bathroom and enough counter space the vanity top is the perfect place for a few green stems and one or two flowers. The key to creating beautiful arrangements isn't trying to squeeze one vase full but separating the flowers. I so often will only put 2 - 3 stems in the vase on the dining table. Some flowers can stand alone and steal the show themselves.
Colorful Additions
Just because it's spring that doesn't mean hide the blankets and put away the throws. Yes, the weather is warming up and maybe we don't need the fur throws on the sofa any longer. A new element in a space can change it dramatically, introducing a new color or texture like this wool throw for instance adds color we didn't have in the living room before. This can be achieved through any piece in a home through a new entry rug, table cloth and or duvet cover. It is the little changes that can make a dramatic impact and change the feeling of a space.
Decorator Showcase
San Francisco Decorator Showcase House, 2015
Every year at the end of April the biggest thing to hit San Francisco Interior Design Community comes around. It is known as the Decorator Showcase House. Groups of local designers, some known in the industry and many are using this as a platform to be known. The designers get a room in the house and transform it into something beautiful. The funds raised through this event go towards the San Francisco University High School.
This years house is at 2698 Pacific Avenue San Francisco, California 94115.
This is a must see and go to event and not to be missed. I know I look forward to this event every year and carve out an evening to attend.