common ground : September 2013

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Decorating with Fall Naturals

I think we're seeing a trend in decor more and more each season, and that's decorating with nature's elements. I've found "mixing" faux and naturals goes a long way in making my home more inviting and giving it a more uncomplicated and spontaneous feel. There are so many beautiful, well made silks and faux elements that I'll never give them up, but finding that balance of combining the two has become a place where I'm enjoying the creative challenge.

If you read my post earlier in the week, you know that we've been literally neck deep in having a new roof put on our home. This was a more involved fix than just a composition roof, as after a really bad hail storm in June, we've decided to follow what everyone else in our 25-30 year old neighborhood has been doing, and that's replacing wood shake shingles with new super nice top of the line composition shingles. So, I've been under "house arrest" this week, as I didn't want my car out on the street for over a week. I opted to just stay home and not risk a flat tire or worse yet, vandalism.

So, I've had to play in the house this week, when all I want to do is get outside and do some puttering with plants and pumpkins. "Hedge Apples" are pretty common around this area; also called "Osage Oranges", I've been looking at them through different "decorating eyes" these last few years. What used to be a nuisance in the middle of the road, and half eaten messes, now I'm finding their wonderful color and texture to be something worth celebrating.

I bought two of these wonderful antique pottery flowerpots a few years ago,

after seeing them at Meloney and Brian's Seed Box Open House.

Anyone know the name for this type of flowerpot?

Somehow I got it in my head they were called "Vanilla" something or other?

You can see just part of Mel's great collection.

Sorry the photo is all blurry; that was 3 years and 3 cameras ago.

back to hedge apples...

I added some other natural elements on the coffeetable on the sunporch, so I at least could make a little vignette. Oh, and I added in a sunflower head that Julie sent me. love it!

Preserved leaves, hydrangeas, and bittersweet all join in.

And of course, anyplace you have sunflowers

you will automatically have some birdies.

just a little nibble

Here's a really ugly photo of what I've been looking at all week.

30 years of tree debris, dirt, rotten shingles,

and torn off guttering looking out from the Living Room.

See the plywood against the house?

yep, that covered all the windows so it was like a cave downstairs.

I couldn't go down there it was so depressing.

what you can't tell is that this pile is at least 3 feet deep.

uh huh...

And this is what most of my prints and wall decor look like

after 5 days of pounding on the roof.

sort of like how my head feels...

But the good news is that most of the new roof is on and they're working today on the details, so the end is in sight. now for clean up... And making my hubby take me out for dinner!

Hope you're having a great weekend...

we're expecting rain, but I think we're covered.

joining in on these parties:

Blissful Whites at Timewashed
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Knick of Time Tuesday
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Savvy Southern Style
TTT at StoneGable

xoxo,

Friday, September 27, 2013

Be Inspired #158

Hi Everyone!

Looking for ideas and inspiration for Fall?

Come share your projects, recipes, diy, decor,

and more, here at Be Inspired!

There are few things in decor that are iconic to me, and a white cupboard or hutch filled with ironstone is one of them. This wonderful example can be found in the kitchen at Kate's Place. Simple and symmetrical, filled with a collection of brown transferware and white ironstone, I always love seeing how Kate decorates it for the current season.

Great chalkboard in an interesting frame welcomes the Fall Season.

Kate's been decluttering and has achieved "simple" with perfection!

Anita, from Far Above Rubies has mixed some beautiful

dried Hydrangeas with family keepsakes for a "Glamorous Fall Vignette".

Yvonne from Stone Gable gave us a wonderful tutorial for
her beautiful No Sew Fall Leaves Pillow.

Distressed Donna from Down Home shared how she took a plain Jane stained shelf and transformed it into a fun and unique Numbered Cabinet.

Need some Halloween fun? Kelsey from White Cottage Boutique gave us a Spooky Halloween Village created from a Dollar Tree Christmas Village. So cute, and I know that the kiddos must love this!

I'm a bird lover as so many of you are, and when I saw this photo of Goldfinches on the Sunflowers I got my thrill for the day. Debra from Frugal Little Bungalow shot this wonderful "in motion" pic of this adorable little guy, while they were having a delicious Fall snack in her garden.

Each Christmas my sis makes the traditional Cinnamon Monkey bread so when I saw this Pepperoni and Mushroom Monkey Bread Pizza from Barb at The Everyday Home I knew I had to have this recipe!

I love my chocolate, and it doesn't have to be fancy. You'll want to check out this recipe from Ms. Toody Goo Shoes for her Plain Jane German Chocolate Cake. Doesn't it look so moist and yummy?

thanks so much, gals, for all the great inspiration!

Today Leslie Janson is in the Sponsor Spotlight,

where you'll find wonderful vintage

upcycled jewelry, pillows, and home goods.

Hope you'll visit Leslie's Shop for beautiful

handmade, eco-friendly, one of a kind gifts.

thanks Leslie!

Time to link up the goods!

If you have trouble linking up, be sure you have a link back to Common Ground within your post. (please make sure you have my newer url www.commonground-do.com)That way you're sure to have an opportunity to be featured. Thanks a bunch!!

Hope you're having a wonderful week,

xoxo,

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

A Fall Mantel for when you don't know what else to do...

Things don't look much different this year than last year, here on the Living Room mantel. No matter what I've tried, I just like this look the best, so "that's my story, and I'm sticking with it". I did do a little tweaking though, and changed out one small thing. These are the "after photos", you'll see the "before photos" a little further down. Originally, I had tried a small white ironstone tureen, but things looked a little boring, so I replaced it with the old oval tray. It added a little more "Fall" to the mix, and was a little larger focal point.

I need to keep things symmetrical in here, otherwise things look off kilter. I've tried experimenting early on and it just didn't work. So these big Wolff Pottery vases are pretty much a fixture here, no matter what the season. I love their height, especially stacked on book bundles.

The Hydrangeas are a mix of dried and faux,

with some real bittersweet and faux berry branches.

I always love to layer the mirrors...

Right now this is a faux pumpkin in the Pottery Barn urn. I'm behind on more real pumpkins due to the fact that my roof is being replaced this week, and it looks and sounds like a war zone outside.

Prepare yourself, these next pics are scary...

this is just a small fraction of the chaos.

Yikes...it's just day one.

and the fur girls are traumatized already.

Now back to something less crazy.

On the end tables I have these little bifold frames from the 40's and 50's.

This one has some Fall graphics from old postcards.

and on the other one...

Potpourri and a small glass accent dish from my bud, Julie.

And if you remember we found this big heavy iron relief in St. Louis earlier in the year. I think it must have come from an old parlor stove. I guess it will have to stay here, I can barely drag the sucker around.

OK, so here is the first attempt, I took these photos a couple of days ago. There are basically some of the same shots and angles of the room and coffee table, I just thought I'd include them anyway. Call me predictable, I can take it...