Modern Glamour in Black and White

 

The good thing about moving is packing. Not that it is fun, or uneventful, but it does allow you to see your space without all of the "stuff", so you can see the possibilities without all of those things that you are so artificially tied to. Moving into a new place, also gives one the opportunity to nest a bit. Different layouts, different windows, different flooring, can either stress you out, or give you a chance to be creative without spending too much.

So, I ordered my white Pottery Barn slipcovers (mine are white and no longer on pottery barn, I got them on ebay for way less, so I linked to the 'natural' color). As a brave soul ordering white with 2 toddler boys, I decided I will try it and bleach those babies if I need to. Especially after reading Holly's advice in living with an all white home in her Life in the Fun Lane blog. She has some great slipcover advice here and here. And This Stylish House has great advice as well.

With all of this white, I am thinking charcoal gray and black for the next place. So, when I came upon this home featured in Domino, of J.Crew's creative director, Jenna Lyons, it made me realize that a dark and elegant place with touches of stark white, can still have warmth and uniqueness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Treasures in Fall Decorating

 

put your treats in little baggies and hang from a tree- sweet! 

This monster of a post is going to be in three parts. Harvest style,  touches of whimsy, and more pumpkin ideas!  Sorry to make it so long, but, folks, we are running out of time. Halloween is almost here so these ideas need to get out NOW! Next post will be treats and MY decorations here, so you can see what I have been a-brew-in. Enough talkin, start imagining how you can apply some of these ideas to your festivities or your home... If you really want some amazing ideas like decor, glittered pumpkins... then go visit Martha's Halloween page. Also,  The Decorated House has some great tips on painting those plastic pumpkins using Fusion spray paint! I personally can't handle anymore overload, (as you can see from my extra long Halloween posts) so the link is going to have to do!!)

Part 1: Getting Creative. Skulls, pumpkins and monsters are not the only thing Halloween decor is made of, so use something you have lying around, or in the attic, watch faces, keys, vintage baby carriages, anything!

woodcutter axe framed, think faerie tales here - curious sofa

jarred fairy lights with creature faces, brilliant! -not so idle hands

witchy legs -curious sofa

wicked witch of the east- old painted dollhouse and witch legs - curious sofa

doll hands, vintage treasures -sadie olive (follow link for more)

clock face, pedestal cake stands, witch sillohette - sadie olive

autumn bird mobile -awe!!-  emilie friday

watch faces and an awning, very 'Sweeney Todd' - curious sofa

Part 2. Decorate that Door! I will be skipping this part since I'm cooped up in an apartment, but for those of you who can, try skipping the foam tombstones, and pull out that wheel barrow, throw some hay and pumpkins in it. Put up some lights, twigs, painted gourds, garlands, candles, a wreath, urns, flowers, corn, create a welcoming theme for your entry way...

painted gourd ghosts, and vines - bhg

martha stewart

 vintage characters, cotton, broomsticks, pumpkins and wheat on a carriage - curious sofa

 

pottery barn

good housekeeping

spell a message to your guests -country living

halloween outdoors

Part 3: Decorate those Pumpkins! You can paint them, carve them, glitter them, but arranging them, that is the magic of a display. Pair odd sizes together, sort in sections of threes, cascade them down steps, or a table....

gilded pumpkins, so fancy, but not uppity -country living

paint them white, then add black polka dots, stripes and swirls - house of 3

or, after painted, stencil them, stamp them, put them in urns and candy dishes- house of 3

paint them natural colors, in plaids and other patterns, and disperse them with natural pumpkins -bhg

ooh, a candelabra! I would love to this this lit. -bhg

glue mini ones to a moss covered foam wreath, then tie with a ribbon

fall bounty on a fabric wreath, so charming - craftstatic

acorns, pine cones, nest, sweet bird, can be up all season! love the peach and pinks! -knock knocking

Harvest filled pumpkin. Hollow it out, insert a water filled jar and fill it up, put on a pedestal. Easy!

love the plaid and argyle painting. with a nice shiny coat of sealer/polyurethane -country sampler mag

or a pretty, primative harlequin design

Henna pumpkins! I used to do henna way back when, got certified and everything. The key to it is having proportion in negative and light spaces. So basically, keep the design centered and even, thin lines, then swirl away. Start small in the center, and then build out from there to create, paisleys, flowers, lace designs...  here are some free ebooks, or google for more. Henna kits can be bought at craft or beauty places like Sally's.

Classic black and white. Simple vignette includes boxes, leaves and a frame. Don't have pretty boxes that fit your theme? Then wrap it in paper. Store the paper in the box and change it out during the seasons.

paint your pumpkins, hot glue ric-rac and sprinkle with moss.

 

freehand scrolls. or, you can always get this effect with those nifty vinyl stencils

skewer through a pole for a lovely pumpkin tower! put two flanking your front door or use as a centerpiece -country living

mini jack-o-lanterns on a multi tiered pedestal, ingenious!

pumpkin head in a jar! love the clear glass pedestal stands serving up gorgeous candy apples

beautiful pumpkin cascade, aqua looks so perfect in this autumn setting

dried hydrangeas, white pumpkins, candles in a serpentine pattern, lovely.

Thanks for your visit! Feel free to link to your Halloween ideas, I  would love to see what you have done!

Halloween Black & White Elegance

fireplace mantle with garland and pumpkins - good housekeeping

I have never been a fan of scary, horror type things. Not even movies. So when it comes to Halloween decorating, I love to keep it classic and elegant, maybe with a little spooky mix. I love cutesy stuff too, but my main style is classic black and white, with maybe a hint of color thrown in. So that is what you will find today. Later in the week, we will visit the orange, vintage fall and harvest style that I love. If you don't have white pumpkins, then paint the ones you have white. You can glitter, stud, rhinestone, carve, anything with them.

black vintage halloween craft supplies- painted white shop

 

I saw this home in a magazine a few years ago and had to post them! Her home had a gorgeous mad scientist feel to it. This was the design that first opened my eyes to the elegant side of Halloween decorating. Love her use of cloches, crowsm spider webs and vintage finds. 

Better Homes and Gardens (bhg)

 

the masquerade mask and milky liquid is perfect - bhg

 

mixing the black and white with harvest, it works! - country living

 

bhg - how to and more ideas at House of Whimsy

 

crows and ladders, farm style halloween - curious sofa

 

clock faces, crow and nest in a bell jar and spider webs - bhg

 

ghost cheesecloth wrapped chandeliers - curious sofa

 

black and white candy and licorice in elegant bell jars and candle tea light holders - pottery barn

 

black, white and cream pumpkins, perfect - pottery barn

 

love the bat tree in the pumpkin - good housekeeping

 

black feather wreaths, scene setter poster tablescape - apartment therapy

 

white painted pumpkin with a simple stenciled design - bhg

 

haunted tablescape with cheesecloth cobweb table cloth - good housekeeping

 

black and yellow candy table - rhonna designs - house of 3

 

black and lime transparencies - rhonna designs - house of 3

 

in the fun lane - halloween entry and how to

 

homemade simple - pumpkin preservation tips

 

black and white table scene - just a girl

 

white gentleman pumpkin, sleepy hollow, anyone? loving ichabod in a tophat- bhg

 

the painted white hutch is a perfect backdrop for the halloween goodies - pink and polka dot

 

painted spider, foix bois woodgrain and spider web on white painted pumpkins - country living

outdoor twigs are a perfect home for the crows - pink and polka dot

nailhead studded pumpkins- fabric dept supply on cave creek in phoenix