House of Hydrangeas

 {Wow.  Hanging floral halos and crisp white tables.} {Dipped treats with bows--simple and cute.} {Everything about this space is amazing.} {Tickle Me Francey by OPI...my new go-to fall color.} {Speaking of fall...it has arrived at our house!...well, at least indoors :) } Happy Friday!  

It seems everyone is in Christmas mode a little early this year.  But if you're one of the few that is still embracing fall and Thanksgiving, here are a few decorating ideas to make your Thanksgiving gathering even more beautiful. Personalized Pumpkin Place Setting.  Say that three times fast.  Painted mini pumpkins make the perfect place "cards" for your guests. Florals and produce centerpiece. Use a head of lettuce or cabbage instead of vases to hold floral arrangements.   Home Decor .  A simple tablescape makes a warm greeting for your guests.    Mantle Decor.  Nothing says fall like feathers and foliage. Cinnamon Wreath . Mmmm I love the smell of cinnamon.  It's a little treat for my nose everytime I pass one of those cinnamon brooms in the grocery store.  I'm not a big fan of using brooms for decor though, so this is a great solution.  Plus you could use this wreath on into the Christmas season.  Images via Sou...

All of that fall front porch talk from yesterday got me thinking about giving an update to my mom's front door.  It wasn't horrible, but it definitely could use a little embellishment. Before: I knew my mom already owned a fall wreath she purchased last year so the first thing I did was bring it out of storage.  That in itself added little color and life to the door, but I still wasn't satisfied. Then I remembered she had seen some house numbers that had been purchased for the mailbox but were never used.  Originally, I wanted to line them up horizontally across the door, but they ended up being too tall for the wood panel.  Since I didn't want to purchase anything new, I put my thinking cap on.  I began to wonder how they would look stacked vertically down the center panel.  I put them up there with 3M tape first so I could see the look before adding holes to the door.  This also allowed me to figure out the positioning I wanted.  Once I saw...

I had my first sightings of Halloween decorations today. While I think it might be a bit too soon for that, it did get me excited for fall. Fall is my favorite season, and I am so ready for front porches to scream "hello Autumn!" Pumpkins, mums, leaves...they all make me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.  Here are a few of my favorite examples of an entrance fit for fall. Who else wants to paint their front door red after seeing this one? A monochromatic theme goes a long way. Pottery Barn always gets it right. I'd love to sit out here all afternoon... I can't wait to go to the pumpkin patch! :) Images via 1 , 2 , 3-Pottery Barn, 4

I love these natural wreaths: A colorful statement made of backyard treasures and a mini marigold round with contrasting satin ribbon.   This room seems like the perfect fall escape, doesn't it? And what makes it even better is it could easily transition into a spring retreat when the leaves return.  You could switch out the duvet, add some floral pillows and have a room fit for spring.  Neutral rooms like this are great for quick changes in seasonal decor. Photos 1., 2. Better Homes and Gardens. 3. Chad Eiser via House Beautiful I'm off to see the adorable kiddos at the Haunted House at Jon's work! Happy Halloween weekend!

It seems our table centerpiece is ever-changing.  There's always a new look to try or an accessory to move around.  After my rustic bouquet died, I replaced it with a smaller arrangement of, you guessed it, hydrangeas.  I don't think you can ever go wrong with hydrangeas.  I also moved several of my antiqued stem glass tea light holders from the server to the table to add a little drama and height variance to the other things already on the table.  I think the final look is sophisticated and warm.  What do you think?   I also added some white pumpkins to the shelf. A close-up of the table.  The table looks beautiful all lit up at night.  Perhaps one day I'll remember to take a picture when all of the candles are lit. One of the reasons I have such a fascination with decorating our long dining room table is because I really wanted to have long tables at our wedding.  They ended up not working in the space layout of the reception site ...

Halloween is less than two weeks away now, which means it's finally time to carve your pumpkins! Pumpkins only tend to last about 14 days after being cut into, so if you've been waiting, you're now in the clear! MarthaStewart.com has a great gallery of creative pumpkin ideas you can see here .  Below are a few of my favorites to pique your interests.   One of the beauties of fall is its changing leaves.  So why not put them on your pumpkins?  Love this idea! For a more festive look than an ice cooler, try out a pumpkin.  I think it would be cute painted with the word "Boo" or "Drinks" on it as well. As far as lighting your pumpkins go, you don't have to worry with candles.  Martha suggests wrapping a glass mason jar with a string of white lights.  It's better if it's battery operated so you don't have to deal with any cords.  But either way, they'll be safer (no chances of fires) and more effective (no lights being blown out by t...

Guess where we went this morning? :) That's right...a pumpkin lover's heaven!  We spent a portion of our morning at the pumpkin patch right around the corner from our house.  This place made me so happy.  And I was so elated to see they had some gray and white pumpkins too! After squealing with excitement and wondering where I should begin, Jon said, "Exactly how much money will we be spending here today?"  Haha.  I said, "Think of it this way... for Christmas, all we'll have to buy is a tree.  I already have ornaments and everything else.  So we can spend all of our money on this holiday!" In the end, we left with 6 pumpkins and a bill of $36.  Not too bad I don't think. :) Check out our final picks.  Jon was a great wheelbarrow driver. Me and my favorite pumpkin. How could I not? Ahhh aren't they beautiful?  I want to go back already. Pictures of our decorated pumpkins will be coming soon!

The final installment of pumpkin decor ideas is here!  These last ideas are perfect for personalizing your house and home.  I hope you've been as inspired by all of the ideas as I have!  Now on to the last bunch... Carve out your house numbers on a stack of pumpkins.  Guests will be sure to find the right address.   via Better Home and Gardens Here is another example of using your house numbers.  But this time they are carved all the way through giving off a nice, warm glow.  If you're unsure of your own drawing skills, use a stencil or create your own by printing off the numbers on your computer, cutting them out and then tracing their outline onto your pumpkin before you start carving. These amazing pumpkins are so unique and easy to make.  All you need are some nail heads!  Use them to create a design or display your house number.   via LetsEntertain.com The last porch idea is one I've featured before on m...

Let the pumpkin decor continue!  Today's ideas can be featured inside and outside of your home.  I hope these can get your creative juices flowing.  October is just around the corner! Square wreaths are a great break from the norm and this leafy one, is no different.  You can bring the colorful foliage from the trees right to your front door.  And although the "pumpkin" part of this idea is minimal, it is the perfect accent to create a harvest welcome.  And it can be featured all the way through Thanksgiving! via Better Homes and Gardens These painted pumpkin topiaries offer another way to welcome guests and trick-or-treaters to your home.  The painted trees and punched out stars are a simple and unexpected way to dress up your pumpkins and front porch.   via Good Housekeeping Boo!  You can create your own spooky pumpkin message with the help of a plunger apple corer.  Who said it could only be used on apples?    Thi...