Essentials For Fall

Cozy Up

Color and texture are what come to mind along with falling leaves and a chill in the air. Autumn is only a childhood memory if you come from someplace in the East, but the ocean here does have a wintery, silvery sheen, and many of our trees turn deep red and gold. 

NOTHING IS COZIER than the warm glow of a fireplace on a cool night. You can easily make your fireplace the room’s focal point. Update it by facing with tile or stone. Silestone slabs or poured concrete are great for a contemporary look. Consider stacking the stone for a rustic appearance. In some cases you can install these materials directly over your existing fireplace. No demolition required.

Another way of giving new life to a fireplace is by adding an interesting mantel. For the lodge feeling use a chunky piece of reclaimed wood.

Don’t feel left out if you don’t have a fireplace. Freestanding electric heaters that give the illusion of a fireplace are inexpensive, plug into a socket or can be built-in to look like a real fireplace. Wall-mounted ethanol fireplaces also are an option. 

Deborah Cañedo
Deborah Cañedo Interior Design

WARMING UP THE HOUSE FOR THE fall season is always fun. Take away all the fresh spring colors and change out to darker, warmer colors if the room permits. Instead of the hot orange that worked in the summer, go to a spice color or even rust. Take away the little sisal area rug and replace with a heavily textured shag rug that’s nice to sit on in front of the fireplace.Accessories play a part, too. Take away the clear glass and add ceramic pieces to add bulk. Add a heavy metal flat tray to the coffee table with large candles to warm up the room. Put a bucket of wood next to the fireplace, even if you have a gas log. If you have the space, add panels of draperies on either side of the windows for coziness. 

Marsha Paine, ASID, CID
Nettle Creek Interiors

START WITH COLOR. Spicy tangerine re-mains the dominant color, but it’s more saturated and juicier for fall. Don’t forget about other interesting color combinations like pink flambé, ultramarine green or bright chartreuse paired with the new neutral, grey, in all its shades. Autumn favorite colors like chocolate, bronze, gold and mocha help add balance to the more psychedelic hues.When designing your home for the cooler months, it’s important to create an intimate and peaceful atmosphere. Rearranging the furniture provides instant change. Arrange seating in groups that invites communication, which is perfect for all the holiday entertaining. Hang large mirrors where they help reflect light during darker days. Sophisticated textures in textiles, like velvet, velour, Ultra-suede and woven linens, are warm and comfortable. For a personal touch, take a photo with fond memories and enlarge it as a piece of art for the wall. 

Tamara Williams
TC WilliamsDesign

THE WORD COZY EVOKES THOUGHTS of happiness and contentment. The scale of a room or house is the first thing that comes to mind. Smaller spaces give that comforting feeling as does a roaring fire, a soft light and a comfortable place to curl up.Layering of items creates that ambi-ence as well like a carpet or plush area rug to soften the space. Furniture that is comfortable for reading, watching a movie or having an intimate chat is important. Fabrics with a nap or soft hand like a cashmere throw helps. Pillows of various sizes allow individuals to adjust the depth of a sofa or chair to conform to their body. They should be down filled so they can give as needed.Window treatments add to the layered effect. They can be sheer to add softness or lined and interlined to add warmth and fullness.Lighting is one of the most important items. Incandescent lamp light brings warmth to a space, whether a floor or table lamp that can be dimmed, or combination of task and soft accent lighting.
 
Elizabeth Thiele Barkett, ASID
Ross Thiele & Son

COLLECTIONS OF FRESH GOURDS on the table, pumpkins on the porch and sea-sonal plants bring life and color into the home. Once summer flowers die down, I am obsessed with wreaths.

Really cold weather and long, dark nights are good reasons to embrace the warm glow and sweet scents of candle-light. Whether you have votives tucked about on side tables or large hurricanes on a console, long farm table or dining room buffet, the flicker of a little candlelight goes a long way to transforming an ordinary dark evening. 

Susie Keeton 
Ross Thiele & Son