Finally Fall

I finally got around to unloading all of the autumn stuff this past weekend, I can't seem to catch up since Round Top. I love getting all of the Halloween doo dads out of storage & 'fluffing' the house for fall.

Unfortunately we don't have a farmhouse in the country, just your typical brick home circa 1980. We are making into our 'right now' dream home, one project at at time.

I have a disclaimer, my house NEVER looks like this.

I bought the alphabet platter at Target last year, the old books are a mystery series by Ken Holt, and the birds nest if from our backyard.

My entry hall is probably my favorite place to decorate. It's the first thing people see when they come inside & it always sets the tone. I try to change it around seasonally. In fact it's a running joke when my in-laws come over, they always have to stop and see what's new, what's changed and what is missing. I know you all can relate to that.
I collect these wicker picnic baskets, they hold my obsessive collection of Christmas books. That's a whole other post.

This is our kitchen, the dining room is now my studio so this is where we do everything. You can't really see the autumn banner in this picture. I made it 2 years ago, it's a bit tired. I need to work on a new one for next year.
The caramel apples in my centerpiece look so real my husband almost ate one! I bought them from dragonfly treasures on Etsy. I can't find her blog, if anyone knows please let me know. Her stuff was really cute. I bought a box of old flash cards at Lonestar antique mall, love them - use them everywhere.
Most of my decorating is what I would call 'the art of disguise'. I'm not big into skylights and we have 2, so this gate is how I distract from the big hole in my ceiling.
Crows have been a reoccurring theme with me this year. Actually all kinds of fowl. This one sits in an old tattered cage by our kitchen table. I switch birdcages out seasonally too.
Here's a close up.

The ledge over my kitchen sink holds my favorite Tyler candles and some awesome china that I found at a flea market in Wyoming years ago. I love the pine cones, they have that stained crackle throughout that only comes with time.
My 'spells' spice rack, a design I gleaned from an old Somerset mag. My stuffed mallard from RT lost part of a wing so I stuck it in here, looks weird and cool I think.

I love dish towels too!

Ironstone lids on my soffit spell out 'spook'.
A ledge in my living room holds my altered crow bottle, a ratty old parasol and our pet rat 'Harry'. Just kidding, I bought him from Amy at Bloom and Bee Swanky.
No roses in this house, just fowl and rodents!

In my living room, Ikea couch, garage sale coffee table, and a striped down filled chair that cost more than everything combined!

Love the old shoes! I wish I could tell you these were my Great Grandfather's and that's his picture but it's not. I just thought they looked good together.

More birds.

Giant horse apple. What are they really called?

My cute little hutch I found on craigslist. It has original tole painted flowers. The bark cloth panels cover a pass through window into the playroom. Again, the disguise.
Judy Hill duck, I'm looking for a cloche big enough to cover him.
In pictures the inside looks teal, it's not though. It's actually quite lovely.

Bought this chair from my favorite resale shop and recovered it with a damask bed cover from Tuesday Morning.

I love this table, I paid $40 for it. Painted and distressed it myself. This is were my kids eat snacks and watch TV.
This fireplace is my Achilles heel! It is our next big project. I have a huge sheet of beautiful ceiling tile to use behind the mantel and I want to knock out all the bricks and replace with old wood. I think I have hubby talked into it.

Okay, I guess the tours over. I can untie the kids!