Pumpkins, Cornstalks & Spiders - Oh My!

Every year, the owners of this beautiful house put on a fabulous fall display. Their yard overflows with fall décor and is truly one of my favorite destinations this time of year. It is just too pretty not to share!

Take a look at the front entrance.

Have you ever seen so many pumpkins?

Love the wreaths with spider centers.

Notice the large spiders across the balcony.

Each lamp post surrounding the property is decked out with corn stalks, mums and cabbage.

The side entrance is just as festive as the front.

Lots of pumpkins here too!

There are even pumpkins in the flower beds.

A big thank you goes to the homeowners for sharing their fall/Halloween holiday spirit with the community! It truly has become a tradition for my family as well as many other families I know to visit this spectacular home during the harvest season. I can’t wait to see what they do next year.

Cozy Up for Fall Giveaway!

As the days get cooler and the nights a bit longer it is the perfect season to bring warmth and cozy style to your home. Whether planning a complete room redo with new carpeting, end tables and curtains or just adding a few fun accessories, fall is the nesting time of year.

To help feather your space, CSN in conjunction with Red Door Home is giving one lucky RDH follower two fabulous prizes – a Dash and Albert throw and a large letter appliquéd pillow cover from the RDH Etsy store!

The Dash and Albert throw is available in many wonderful color combinations and the appliquéd pillow cover will be customized to your specifications.

To enter:
1. You must be a follower of RDH.
2. Leave a comment telling me your favorite decorating colors.
3. For a second entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and/or facebook page and leave a comment with a link.

Entries must be received by midnight on Tuesday, October 12, 2010. Contest is open to United States and Canadian residents only. Randomly selected winner will be posted on Thursday, October 14, 2010.

My First Tablescape Thursday - Fall Lunch for Two

So excited to participate in my first Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Between Naps on the Porch. I decided to start out simple and pretend I was setting the table for myself and a close friend. Hence the name, "A Fall Lunch for Two." I used only what I already had on hand. To keep things light and airy, I opted for a monotone color palette.
What I used:

Table and chairs - antique oak English dough table from a North Carolina flea market

Chair seat cover - vintage grain sack

Plates - vintage white Independence Ironstone by Interpace

Napkins - linen from Pottery Barn

Flatware - stainless steel by Dansk

Glasses - vintage finds from a yard sale

Small silver salt & pepper shakers - vintage finds from a yard sale

Table runner - made from new linen. To learn how to make one for your table see my tutorial, "A Simple Table Runner."

Glass candle stick and candle - Pottery Barn

This was such a fun project. I will definitely give it another try again some time soon. Please let me know if you have designed a tablescape. I so enjoy seeing the creativity of others.

Fabulous Fall Decorating

There has been some talk lately in the blogging world about fall and holiday decorating. Some people love it - others don't. Here are some pictures of a house that I have photographed before (Saratoga Style). I love what they have done - although over the top, I am sure for some.

Even though I, and most people, can not afford the volume of pumpkins and gourds shown here, there are some great take away ideas that we all can use. Keep your decorations natural - no plastic! Use a variety of materials - pumpkins, baskets, gourds, mums, cabbage, hay, and vines. Keep your decorating cohesive - every lamp post is done the same as are the displays lining the walkways and near the back gates. Decorate the entire house (if you can) - not just parts.

The walkway leading to the front of the house is lined on both sides.

Close up of the front walkway. Notice the jockey statue - a tradition in Saratoga Springs. Most are painted in the color of the owner's racing stable silks.

Looking inside the front gate. Look how big those pumpkins are!

Close up of one of several lamp posts surrounding the house. Notice the statue of the ballerina. I am sure she is a tribute to the New York City Ballet which is in residency here during the summer.

The front fence also is covered. If you look close you will see a horse statue in the background. This horse is one of several made by local artists which are on display through out Saratoga Springs. It is hard to tell from my picture but this is a chocolate horse with a gold foil wrapper. One of the ears has been "bitten" off.

Close up of the front fence. Love the hay hanging down and all the vines wrapping around the pumpkins and gourds.

The side gate also includes an abundance of decor.

Close up of the side gate including another jockey statue. This one is painted differently than the one at the front of the house - same colors, different silks pattern.

Finally - even the planters surrounding the house have smaller pumpkins. I hope you enjoyed seeing this beautiful house all decorated for fall. It is truly a treat to drive by and see. A big thank you to the homeowners for sharing their holiday spirit with all of us!