HOW TO INDULGE IN THE ROMANCE OF AUTUMN

By now you all know me. I like adore Autumn. Fall. whatever you call it! In this post, I'm sharing how to indulge in the romance of autumn. Autumn is absolutely wonderful here in Southern California. All the windows are still open, and we enjoy the cool, crisp breeze that wafts in. This is the month to celebrate the cozy warmth of fall. There is nothing more beautiful than celebrating the romance of autumn at home.

Antique Rose Oil Painting

Here's how to decorate your home to be at its best this season, with small, luxurious touches of autumn. 1. ADD BEAUTY TO SMALL SPOTS. The simplest way to create beauty in your home is to arrange little areas, or "vignettes" around your home. You don't need to decorate the whole house with fall colors or pumpkins to give a hint at the season. On our table in the hallway, these antique wood shoe molds make a little display with a stack of antique French books. The blue grey French silk ribbon adds a little pop of color to accent the browns of the books and wood.

Antique Shoe Stretchers

On our sideboard, I designed a little bouquet {Trader Joe's flowers} in an antique sugar bowl. A large brown and cream Ironstone platter leaning agains the wall is the other nod to the season, the silver cruet set, English domed server and antique oyster spoon just add sparkle!

Antique Silver

2. SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH PEOPLE YOU LOVE. Really, is there anything sweeter than spending time with friends and family? To make it easy to be able to invite guests over for a simple coffee and dessert, morning or evening, take your beautiful antique dishes out of the closet and put them on display. In our kitchen, under the watchful eye of Monsieur Cochon, I set our large table with a collection of antique cake plates, bowls, and silverware. It makes it so easy to invite someone over for a drink and a treat, the dishes, napkins and utensils are already set out. By leaving this in the center of our large table for autumn, I can make coffee, and have an impromptu "catch-up" time with friends who stop by unexpectedly. The bowls are perfect for ice cream, or warm apple crisp for dessert. Bonus...I can see my pretty dishes every day. {p.s.- as you can guess, that pie doesn't last very long there!} 3. ADD THE ROMANCE OF FRAGRANCE. Scent has a way of transforming rooms. Indulge in a beautiful aroma, light a candle in your living room to uplift and elevate your joy of the season.

Luxury FrenchGardenHouse Candle

I light a candle on autumn evenings once it gets dark. It's not just a delicious way to softly scent your rooms, it also has a welcoming glow. Be sure to burn your candle until there is an even wax melt each time, otherwise your candles will start to tunnel down the center. Read my CANDLE BURNING TIPS to get the very most out of your luxury candles. Another beautiful way to add a little romance to your autumn is to invest in beautiful smelling potpourri.

Bitter Orange Potpourri

This is one of my go-to gifts for all the people on my list. I chose this scent for my French Fall Home Collection this year, it smells heavenly! Made using traditional methods and only the finest ingredients.

Bitter Orange Home Spray

Every room in your house can be filled with beauty, and the sights, sounds, and scents of fall....even your kitchen! The secret in is in the small, daily luxuries and details. 4. CREATE A SPECIAL PLACE JUST FOR YOU. Not every one of us has the luxury of a whole room to create as a "just-for-me" space. But all of us can create a spot, a small little sliver of space where we can relax and refill our spirits. Do you have a spot where you go to recharge? I know you've seen my chair in the living room before. It has a tiny little French footstool underneath, and for fall, I use an antique Paisley throw for warmth. The chair is in front of our large living room windows overlooking the garden. It's the perfect spot to take a ten minute break in a busy day {and aren't all our days busy?}, drink a cup of tea, and read a chapter in a favorite book. Sometimes I just look at the birds fluttering outside in the fall garden.

Our bedroom is another favorite spot where I go to recharge and relax, even if it's just for a short time. I layered our bed with linen duvets and sumptuous velvet pillows and coverlets for just this reason, to be soft and pretty, and relaxing to the eye. I often sit on the bed and read a few emails, or catch up on my reading. 5. STORE BEAUTIFUL THINGS OUT IN THE OPEN. I have a love for beautiful storage. When you store things in unusual antique boxes or jars, everything becomes part of the decor. Gilt and glass boxes, either antique French or vintage American ones, make me smile. They add a glimmer to any space, and really up the romantic feel of any room. In our bedroom I use a stack of boxes to store my vintage rhinestone pins, and other sparkling jewelry that I don't wear every day. The large French box holds silk tassels, because the color is so beautiful. The best part of glass storage boxes is that when you change what is inside, the look of your display changes, too!

BOUDOIR GILT BOXES

On the sideboard, I keep a gathering of linen napkins, each encircled by an antique silver napkin ring, piled in a silver compote. Antique mother-of-pearl flatware is laid out on a silver salver nearby, so that when I set the table for guests, everything I need is right there. The beauty of the antiques and linens are on display for us to enjoy, but it also reminds me to use what I have. That's really the purpose of owning beautiful antique pieces, isn't it? To enjoy them, and to share their loveliness with others.

Antique Silver

6. FLOWER POWER. Never underestimate the powerful presence of flowers. Flowers have elevated the elegant style of palaces and chateaus; at one time the value of flowers {tulips} surpassed that of gems and gold. If you do only one thing to bring the romance of autumn to your home, an arrangement in the deep, luscious colors of autumn will change the look of your room. It instantly signals a change in the seasons! Use your antiques to hold floral arrangements, it brings a personal touch to your flowers. You can see how to make this arrangement here >

Bon Appetit Napkins

For this arrangement for a casual dinner, I added little containers filled with mums to an Antique Copper Fish Poacher, then layered in artichokes, ivy from the garden and a green pumpkin. Make this romantic autumn French Country rose arrangement > Art with flowers makes the same breathtaking impact! This antique oil painting, with a touch of autumn colors, is a beautiful way to add just a hint of the season at home.

Antique Rose Painting

7. GO FOR THE DRAMATIC. This is the perfect season to use bold, jewel tones in your home. Don't want to fully commit to the deeper, lush colors of autumn? Why not create a fun, colorful table setting for a special dinner with friends? I went out on a limb with this table setting! It's a little bit wild, a lot bold. But somehow, it all works. I'll be sharing this table setting next time. It may not be for you. It's usually too busy even for me, but I had such a fun time dreaming this up....you'll never guess what that gold leopard runner is!

Squirrel French Bucket

Where else can you add a touch of autumn beauty at home? Every spot has great potential to be beautiful, and hint at your love of Autumn! All you need is to use your creativity. WHAT SIMPLE CHANGES DO YOU MAKE TO WELCOME THE AUTUMN SEASON? Shop for the best in French Antiques, furniture with the patina of age, vintage accessories to delight you and your family & friends, and French Country utilitarian pieces. Treasures that make your home fresh, beautiful, inspirational and uniquely yours. Visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.com.