We have been spoiled with an insanely long Indian summer – that is said with the utmost gratitude to Mother Nature – but I do love me some cool fall days. Think bundling up, tucking into a good book with a juicy glass of pinot on a covered porch or better yet, in front of a fire.
This is the time of year to still leave the windows open a little but also a time to prepare for the cooler months. I don’t get super seasonal in my design around the house but admire those who do. Here are some of their favs with one of mine thrown in for good measure.
Orange it up!
I love orange. Whether as part of a tablescape – gourds piled into a low bowl or pie pumpkins in a row down the centre of a white table clothed dining table – or more dramatically as a compliment to greys (the new beige BTW) as cushioning, it is the happiest of colours. It provides a graphic, fun pop.
Rolling out the Carpet
Although I store my rugs through the summer, allowing for more open and brighter spaces, I will be bringing them back for the cooler months. They are lovely underfoot and warm up a space instantly.
Dahlias, Sunflowers and Hydrangea, oh my!
I am always on the hunt for great, seasonal fresh flowers to play with – the fall being my very favorite time of year for its offering. You can buy them arranged but they can get expensive and are usually half fillers like salal and pitt. Ever the skeptic, I always wonder just how fresh they are too. So I found an amazing supplier on Bayview Ave. called Passion Fruits – their walk in flower fridge makes my heart skip a beat. As does it’s near wholesale pricing. For containers and vases, IKEA is THE very best place. Their assortment of sizes and shapes, opaque and clear will make your head spin. And you should never spend more than a couple of dollars on a container that will be left behind as part of a hostess gift. The star is the flowers: don’t upstage them. I go twice a year and load up always using the exit to access the lower floor so as not to spend half a day making my way through the maze that is the Sheppard Ave. IKEA.