Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Falling for Fall

Fall haas finally arrived in NorCal....oh we've had cool weather here and there and bits of rain. The reason I know the season is finally upon us is the UGG factor. I measure the season by how long I can wear my UGG boots (well in reality Costco's Kirkland Shearling Boots) without my feet getting too hot. The last couple of days I've been able to wear them for most of the day only taking them off in the afternoon to cool my feet when the sun was warm. When winter is here I will be able to wear them all day - the UGG factor.

This is my favorite time of year! I want to have a fire every night and cook tummy warming foods and bake all day. Of course that's not quite my reality....

So I've had the house decorated since the day after Halloween, but I've been so busy on a few other projects I haven't had time to share.

Let's start with a bit of outdoor decor.  (I see this on my way out and back in every day). You can find the info on the buffet here.




A hint at my upcoming post on the front porch.


And now a few inside shots.

I scored this wood tray at the Alameda Flea Market a couple months ago for $10!  I knew it would be perfect on the dining table with all the colorful squash.

Still using my summer candle sticks, but somehow they work with the white pumpkins.
(This is a weird shelf we have on the way upstairs and if I don't have it decorated, it just gets piled with junk...confession - it sill gets piled, in fact I threw all the stuff on the floor so I could take the picture...just keeping it real)



In the kitchen.. I added photographs this year and am loving the effect. I took a bunch of pictures at a couple different farms a couple weeks ago and picked my favorites to frame. (shout out to my friend Sara  for acquiring a jillion of these in all sizes and letting me pick some)




and the family room - see the photos in the back peeking out....




Found this milk glass vase at a consignment shop for $10.

$7 Ikea throw adds some warmth and glow.


Anyone noticing a trend with my decor...it's pretty much all natural. I still have a tub in the garage that I never opened with ceramic pumpkins and other odds and ends. I love the simplicity of the pumpkins and twigs.

If only I had a few more weeks to enjoy before it's time to decorate for Christmas....I better start earlier next year.


Linking up here

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Reasons to Skip the Housework

Friday, October 28, 2011

Fantastically Frightful Friday

..say that 10 times fast.

Halloween is almost upon us, and I feel this year our family has been able to really enjoy the ghoulish decor.  We've been to a couple parties, we decorated early and we are baking!

It's almost time to take the decorations down, but before I do...here are a few of my favorites....



 





I definitely have a thing for skulls.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Bringing Nature In Through Photography

I've been shaking things up at Chez Milton. Some rooms are getting completely redone, others just reconfigured and a few,  just new touches here and there. I don't have an endless decorating budget (sad face) so I am always looking for inexpensive ways to freshen up a space.

In the last couple of weeks, I have been to a couple local farms, a road trip and a short adventure trip to Seattle.  When I finally downloaded all of my pictures, I noticed a trend in what I have been photographing.....nature - or more specifically, flowers and food!

I'm thinking these would be great in a kitchen.







And these for a great autumnal display. The pumpkin pictures could be printed to make great name tags for Thanksgiving....or how about adding a few pictures to your mantle.






I've been on the hunt for some artwork with bright green for my office redo. I came across these flowers at a gourmet market in Seattle. Stay tuned for the office update with a few of these on the wall. (I actually snapped these with my phone... (gasp) I didn't have my camera in hand!




All of these beauts were photographed at the farmer's market in Seattle. I've been using a macro style lately and I love the effect. You get to see all of the intricate details up close and you have the opportunity to capture interesting angles.





One of the many benefits of taking pictures at a farm, or farmers market is that the items are all displayed beautifully - so just point and click not hassle with staging!

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Gothic Black Flowers

I know Halloween is all about the ghouls, goblins, spooky and scary,  but I have to bring in a touch of simple elegance....oh and did I mention, cheap. So that's cheap, simple elegance.

I popped into the local dollar store and bought faux (sounds so much better than fake) flowers.  The best part is there are 5, count then 5 flowers on each stem!  

I sprayed them with Rust-oleum satin black


oh and this was one of the fastest projects to date...




So that's cheap, quick, simple and elegant all of about $3.