Dough Bowl Pumpkin Centerpiece On the Antique Sideboard Buffet

Hi Friends, this post is a bit overdue as I had wanted to get this out at the beginning of "Pumpkin Season", but I had to be out of town for a bit. I think most of us try to refresh our faux pumpkins every few years to keep them updated and looking crisp and new. I had a few in my fall squash stash that really needed a mini makeover.

This year I thought I'd try to revamp a few of them a bit with a new paint finish technique and while I was at it to replace some of the fake stems with some real pumpkin stems from the last few years. I try to salvage stems from live pumpkins at the end of the season, so I had a few nice ones put away ready for this year. When I pick out a pumpkin I always consider if the stem is intact and interesting, because not only do we want a pretty pumpkin shape, we also love an iconic stem that's eye-catching. Replacing a fake stem with a real one goes a long way in giving a faux pumpkin a real pumpkin look.

The antique sideboard/buffet in the Hearth Room is a wonderful spot for a larger seasonal display. It's a great place for collections and a nice flat space for tureens, pottery bowls, baskets, crates and now with this a dough bowl decorated for Fall. The sideboard is a family piece from my great-grandmother that I've had since we got married. When we moved here I knew it would work perfectly in our Hearth Room as a piece for display and storing table linens. So before we moved to this house it lovingly received a paint transformation.

When it comes to faux floral garlands and accents I always turn to a woodsy "nature" look. I use faux hydrangeas throughout the year and in the fall combine them with fall leaves, pumpkins, pears, apples, and pomegranates. Here I've used a wired type garland/wreath with fall fruit and leaves. I tucked in hydrangea blooms and extra faux pears for a fuller look.

Hard to believe that I hadn't had a dough bowl up until last Christmas. I'd always admired them, but I just didn't know if I would be able to use one for a centerpiece. Last fall I broke down and found a couple on Etsy. They had a great price so I decided now was the time and I'm so glad I did, since they are so versatile and easy to decorate.

Amazing how that real stem fit on this faux pumpkin.

Now back to the paint refresh I used when I grabbed a few of the worst faux "offenders". At first I thought I'd just give them another coat of chalk paint, but found this great paint technique with tons of wonderful texture. Wendy at WM Design House shared a great video on a paint and baking soda mixture that she was using for a rustic look with her own faux pumpkin arrangements. Here's a pic of the one that caught my attention. I love how Wendy uses so many natural elements in her designs.

The baking soda and paint technique is super easy and it dries quickly so if you still have some bedraggled specimens hanging around, you can get a fresh new look in just an hour or two. I did a "thickish" coat of the soda/paint mixture, then once it dried I dry brushed on a second coat of a bit darker chalk paint. Then finished off with a light coat of clear spray acrylic.

Here's a look at the Hearth Room from earlier this fall. This was before I put together the dough bowl with pumpkin but I changed things up not long after. Below is another one of the pumpkins that got a refresh. 

Here's my September Mantel in the Hearth Room.

Hope you'll come by the link party on Monday evenings.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey

Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest

 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode,  Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage

Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home,  

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  Fabulous Friday at WM Design House