Decorating for the fall...Do you?

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Autumn is here.  I am finding it hard to believe, since we hit 90 degrees here today, but the calender says it is, nd who am I to argue with the calender?

This yearly marker is making me think about the 2 ceramic pumpkins I have in the basement.  I guess it is time for me to bring them up.  I am also thinking I need to bring in some kind of spicy scent.  I am sad to say this is the extent of my Autumn decorating. 

Now, I know that many of you decorate for the seasons.  The questions I have for you is...How far do you go? Do you go all out?  Or just a few pieces here and there?   Do you re-use the same items? Or do you get/make new ones?  And where do you stash your stash when it is no longer fall?

Or are you like me, and not really do much?

In the past, I never even thought about changing my decor, except for adding some Christmas decorations after Thanksgiving.  But lately, I have been coming around to the thought of some seasonal changes.

Anyways....Where do you fall?

-Laurie

Chalkboard feature wall

Image via Wikipedia

Even though I have momentarily  put a hold on my projects (for reasons I talked about here and here).  I have found that, like all addicts, putting down the paint brush proves harder than it seemed.  After holding off for all of 24 hours, I was back painting.

This time, I was back in my sons room.

I wanted to finish his feature wall.  I knew I wanted to do space "themed" space.  I am just lucky that his interest in space coincides with my need to do is room.

Anyways, I had some left-over chalk board paint that I knew would work.  I was picturing a Copernican Solar system chart for his wall and some constellations (Yes. Pottery barn had the same idea, here).

As I am unable to afford Pottery Barn, and I like to do things myself, here is what I ended up with...

Initially I was only thinking of painting one wall, but I needed something to do with the door (when his sister moved out, she had left it quite girly).  See...

I decided to paint the door in chalkboard as well, which led to the whole wall in chalkboard and gave me the place to put the constellations.

I had a lot of fun making the constellations.  Secretly I wish they were to scale and proper relationship to each other, but sometime you need to just let it go. Really just let it go...

 

For the solar system, I  initially purchase paint pens to make the circles, but I think I bought the wrong kind, because they just did not keep a good bead as I was painting with them on the wall.  So I had to hand paint the rings.  

They are not as perfect as I would like, but my theory is, when the chalk residue builds up the imperfections will be less visible.  At least that is what I am hoping.

I have not finished the rest of his room.  I am working on it.    I will reveal in it's entirety soon enough. Tell me what you think?

-Laurie 
 

What's Not Working Wednesday...My matle

My struggle with accessories.  Or maybe I should state it is a lack of willingness to buy accessories.  What... you say?  

Yes I love decorating, but when it come to accessories, I have to Love them (with a capital L)before I will buy them.

Pair that with the fact  my mantle is skinny, skinny.  Then add the TV armoire that is squished right next to the fireplace.  All of that has made my mantle a disaster.   It is in need of serious attention.

Here are some of my lame attempts to do something with it....

I have to say I have not put too much effort into it.  The whole corner is just out of whack and balance due to the huge black box crammed into the corner.  

Of course I need to tone down the brass (an easy fix), and I have been wanting to paint the whole mantle white, which I think will look nice.  But what to do with the TV....

We have been considering getting a flat screen. But that opens a whole other can of worms (should I place it above the fireplace or not).  Is is tacky to install it over the mantle, is it too high to watch in the small room, is it better to place it on a smaller cabinet, but keep it in the corner.  I do think a flat screen will help in the end, I am just not sue how.

This is my latest attempt.  I think it works better, but still not quite right...

In the meantime, here are some pretty images of what others have done...

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 Enjoy!


-Laurie