Fall At The Cottage

Hello my sweet Foxes! This Fall home tour is long overdue… and as I begin, all I want to do is apologize. With all that crazy Facebook business, and hosting out of state company, and apparently my camera and myself feeling like we are falling apart, it’s just going to be what it is this year. I‘m thinking I may have worn my poor camera out, as my images are suddenly less than sharp and I have no idea why!? Unless it’s my eyes… which would be about right with the way things have been going. As much as the less than crisp images are just killing me… I have to offer myself grace this go around. So I’m choosing to laugh, and I hope you’ll squint a little and laugh along with me

THE KITCHEN ISLAND & BRICK WALL

THE ISLAND TOP:

I tend to go extra simple on the island, as I prefer the decor to be easy to move when we want to utilize it! This Fall, I used an old vintage chalkboard and layered a white metal tray, orange berry wreath and my willow pumpkin on top.

TIP: You might notice the coloring goes; dark, light, bright, than neutral. Layering this way ensures all the layers contrast with each other and really shine on their own. Making for a visually balanced & weighted vignette. 

Some new art flew in and landed over on the brick wall, and I just adore him! Try as I might… I’m always pulled towards animal decor and art. 

Tucked under the console table are two new ottomans I added for quick & easy extra seating, as well as lounging with the feet up!

They are soft and squishy for both uses. And fit like they were made for this spot! 

MY CONSOLE TABLE DECOR:

I started by flanking the table with matching lamps, and using an old vintage silver-plate tray as my vignette base. I added faux florals (from Walmart!) to a basket I inherited from my mother in law, and kept the overall styling minimal yet full, with only 2 faux pumpkins. A yummy candle is always a must.

SECRETS: Then, I decided it needed a little more warmth and texture, took everything off and added a runner. It’s all trail and error, and fiddling until it feels right. The faint putty-gray fabric and the fringe on the runner were that little extra something that made it feel complete, and well balanced.

TRICK: There is also a full size brown grocery sack crumpled in the bottom of the flower basket. This keeps the flowers from sinking down into the basket, and looking fluffy and full! 

SHAKING THINGS UP:

I flipped my living room furniture around for a fresh feel. I’ve always loved to do this, but it’s the biggest challenge in this, our smallest home. I started on the wall with the door, and removed my chunky wood shelf and flipped the sofa and the shuttered cabinet to opposite walls. 

I originally had an ivory tasseled pillow in this chair, but I accidentally bought this stinking cute embroidered truck pillow, and it got booted.

SECRET: I’ve tried to cultivate a more grown-up, refined and slightly more elegant aesthetic over the years. I’m working on balance in all things. My recent purge of my home decor storage room [click here] was a step in the direction I want to go, but I can see I’m still going to be pulled in a direction that isn’t my ultimate goal. And that’s okay. I’m leaving a lot more things in the store, by trying to stay focused on how I want my home to feel, and evolve. My problem has always been that I like and appreciate so many different home decor style! 

THE LIVING ROOM

You can see I moved our scissor lights, and they are now flanking either side of the window on the new sofa wall. I’m still absolutely mad for them. I always make sure to share them when they pop up as available on Decor Steals! My sister and I both have them and love them. 

MY OTHER CONSOLE TABLE:

I’ve touted my love for the console table for years! They are an incredibly versatile piece of furniture. You just can’t go wrong with them. I own seven between our house and The Little Cottage. I know! And this one works perfectly slipped in sideways, in this skinny spot!

Anchoring the table decor to my wall mirror, with the old shutters connecting the mirror to the table. It’s a bit of a lopsided triangle, with some height in the back, spilling towards the lower pumpkins in the front. I kept the back from feeling too heavy, by using a basket with a very open weave. I repeat a bit of black throughout the living room to tie my scissor lights in. The only new additions here are the faux leather pumpkins. I had everything else on-hand. 

SECRET: Since moving my console here was a first for this location, I styled it three times. Deleting and adding as I went, until I landed on this look. With a visual weight balance and color combination that felt right to me. I don’t always get it right the first time.

TIP: The more you practice, the better you’ll get — Promise!

This is definitely the season to adorn your home with all things cozy! Richer colors, luxurious fabrics… chunky throws and tasseled everything! 

THE DINING ROOM

The richer Autumn colors fade a bit to harvest gold, as I went softer in the dining area. I also used a lighter hand decorating both the farm table, as well as the mantel. 

Dried Hydrangeas and a set of chippy candle sticks on a jute runner are all that grace the table. Making it easy to serve dinner here nightly while we’ve got company.

THE FIREPLACE:

I kept the mantel simple. Opting to let the shiplap fireplace wall pull it’s weight. I simply added a golden hued mirror, paired it with a similarly hued pumpkin, relocated my Pear Branches from earlier in the season, and lastly added my 4-pc set of black iron candle sticks.

SECRET: Whenever I can slip it in, which is often, I like to keep our families brass kaleidoscope out on the mantel. It was a special gift to my mother in law from my husband, and it’s entrusted to us now since her passing. 

That’s as far as I’ve gotten this season. Life has been a bit hectic. Between the awful smoke we had (as recent as last week sadly), the demands on my time with the hacking situation, outdoor projects we are trying to wrap-up, trying to be a good hostess to my dad and the regular chores of running a household… I’m basically fired as a blogger. haha. Hope to make it all up to you soon with my Fall porch post and the DECK REVEAL! 

I thank you for joining me today, and for your gracious friendship over the years. The support, messages & emails I’ve received after my 9 year old Facebook account with 145,000 followers was stolen, has meant so, so much! It’s also the reason I’ve had the oomph to try starting all over again, with a NEW business page and NEW group for all you foxes!!

• Follow our NEW page on Facebook by [Clicking Here]

• Join our NEW group, by [Clicking Here]

Below you’ll find convenient clickable sources and shopping links. Some links may be affiliate. Click here for full disclosure.

Shopping Sources: 

• My Kitchen Island [click here]

• Faux Orange Berry Wreath (look at HomeGoods) – similar [click here]

• Willow Pumpkin [click here]

• Console Table Sources [click here]

• Faux Flowers in Basket, from Walmart!

• Faux Leather Pumpkins, Joann’s

• All Other Pumpkins, collected over time

• My French Wire Chandelier [click here] Kitchen in Parisian White

• My French Wire Chandelier [click here] Dining Room in French Umber

• The New Chunky Cable Knit Pillow & Throw in Tobacco are The Bluma, from Pottery Barn. Prices vary, so keep an eye on them! I got my throw for $30 off and my pillow cover was on sale too. Both shipped free. 

• My Black Scissor Lights and Gold Mantel Mirror are both from Decor Steals. I always share on my Facebook page when they pop back up. 

• My Jute Rugs [click here] I’ve had them for years and still love them! 

• Buffalo Check Embroidered Vintage Truck Pillow [click here] Only $11.87

I’m thankful for the opportunity to collaborate with Grandin Road and share some new Fall finds with you. Offering incredible quality, I’m proud to partner with such a wonderful company. And make sure to sign-up for their emails, they have amazing sales! Last year about this time, I scored my Ava slip covered chair for 50% off!

• Pear Branches (on sale now)

• Weston Ottoman in Flint

• Ozwald Owl Art

• Adeline Throw in Ivory – if you’ve shopped for these at all, you’ll know this is a good price for this size! It’s cloud soft too. 

• The Ava Slipcover Collection – I’ve had mine since last year, and I’ve got the Stain Resistant Pearl. It comes in three other slipcover shades as well.

• Squirrel Bowl [different but super darling!]

— If I didn’t list something, it’s more than likely vintage or a junque find, a DIY or discontinued. Feel free to comment here or email me at foxhollowcottage@gmail.com and I’ll get back to you! 

Wishing you a happy Fall season!! xo Shan

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