Growing up, I wasn’t the biggest fan of fall. Oh, I loved the hot apple cider, wearing sweaters and boots, and of course the changing colors of the leaves…but sweaters turn into coats, leaves need to be raked and before you know it, winter is upon you! At the first sight of mums in the grocery store I would be resigned to the fact that summer was truly over. Maybe that’s why I never really caught on to fall decorating (and I still don’t like mums!) I also never really cared for “fall colors” anywhere except on the leaves of the trees. Nope, fall and I just didn’t really get along.
All that changed when I moved to Santa Barbara. Sure, the nights get cooler and mums can still be found at the grocery store, but there is no bitter cold impending winter and certainly no snow or ice. I can still wear sweaters and boots, I just don’t need that winter coat! Alas, we don’t get the beautiful autumn foliage, but a trip to the East coast in early October can fill that void. I prefer to do autumn in a simple Cali style…at least that’s what I’m calling it!
In summer, it was all about the blues…
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- Blue felt fresh for summer.
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- Sea glass inspired the colors on these shelves.
When I spotted my first mini white pumpkins of the season at my local grocery store, I was ready for a more neutral color palette for fall.
These little pumpkins stayed on the counter for 3 days. They were just too cute!
Of course white is my favorite palette, but with a bit of black, some green and textural whites, fall feels very different than the one I remember in my childhood!
The addition of a rustic vintage linen runner from Terrain (I don’t think it is available online) and a gaggle of pumpkins transforms the spot where the huge bowl of sea glass used to reside.
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- Simple style
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- White on white…
Lots of neutral texture replaces the blue pillows and throw.
Neutrals can be cozy too!
Corks replaced the sea glass on the coffee table.
Candles, a white pumpkin or two, and lots of greenery feel fresh for fall.
I also bring back the few rugs that get rolled up for summer…
One tiny lone pumpkin is the only touch of fall in the kitchen…
The TV console got an update with more blues and greens. I love having eucalyptus all year round.
Wicker, wood, greenery, and one tiny pumpkin bring the shelves into the new season.
The bedroom bench got a mini refresh and some white hydrangeas add just the perfect neutral touch.
If you have been following this blog or my Instagram, you know that when it comes to entertaining, I like to keep it simple. Hosting a dinner party for six on a beautiful September Santa Barbara evening, I wanted to keep with the white, green, and a bit of black theme. So I kept the runner and the mini pumpkins on the table, added votives, hydrangeas, green wine bottle glasses, and some gorgeous oversized linen napkins from Hudson Grace. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. Of course then I actually had to make the food! I almost always set the table the day before or in the morning to free up my time preparing for the actual meal. It makes life easier.
Green and white…
Let’s get this party started!
It may be a bit warm for a fire in the fireplace, but candles add a nice glow. I purchased the flatware at West Elm a few years ago.
When darkness arrives, the string lights outside light up the patio…
Perfect way to enjoy a fall evening in Santa Barbara! The chair pillows are from Serena and Lily. The sofa pillow is from Annie Selkie.
While I’m on better terms with fall, I still don’t know if I will be buying mums anytime soon. 😉
All those touches of green look great with the neutrals. Fall at The Little Glass House looks warm and inviting, Elizabeth!
Thanks so much, Eva. It’s about as fallish as I get!