Easing from Late Summer into Autumn

The days are still hot but the nights have gotten cooler. It’s that unpredictable time of the year when a warm throw blanket added to the sofa in the evening is a good idea, even though the air conditioning was on inside the house all day. In warmer areas, like Southern California the teasing of fall is often months on end. This creates a design dilemma… how do we visually create the feel of autumn in a fluctuating climate?

Think Color

The end of tomato season in my garden is normally September. The orange and red fruit is the perfect compliment to end of summer/beginning of fall meals. Our white summer table runner has been replaced with a darker one, and I’ve added orange candle holders, that compliment my tomatoes, into the mix. It feels too early to purchase real pumpkins and gourds so I fill a few modest bowls with faux reproductions. Orange feels too bold a choice, so I chose white – an easier color transition from summer.

Think Texture

In the summer I love to cut fresh flowers and plants from the garden – white roses, rosemary, citrus blossoms and flowering herbs. But in the fall, I fill our vases with branches, dried flowers and grasses instead. They add beautiful texture to the fall palette slowly emerging in our home. I decorate for the first month of fall with apprehension, slowly cultivating the first layer of design as one that can be built on as the months progress and the holidays get closer. In October, I will add fresh Cinderella pumpkins to our front porch and branches sparkling with orange lights. In November, dried cornhusks will be added to the collection of table gourds alongside burlap accents and dried leaves. I love easing into the fall. Let it begin…