9/19/2011

"To Autumn"....an Autumn Buffet

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To Autumn
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O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayest rest
And tune thy jolly voice to my fresh pipe,
And all the daughters of the year shall dance!
Sing now the lusty song of fruits and flowers.
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William Blake
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Autumn 2011 at Happy To Design
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Even though we have a few more days before the calendar officially says it's autumn...I am happy to report that in our little corner of Colorful Colorado...autumn has made it's appearance!
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The days have already grown cooler and the leaves have just begun to change color.  I sooo enjoy this time of the year!  When the busy days of summer...give way to the slower...more restful days of autumn!
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I have been busy, busy with getting our home ready for the new season.  Dressed in its warm and cozy autumn frocks...we are ready to welcome the season in...with open arms!  I hope that you are enjoying the changing of seasons as much as I am. 
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Well my friends, today I thought I would share...a little autumn in my french country dining room...specifically the buffet and a new autumn vignette.  I hope that you enjoy!
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"To Autumn"
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I have created a new vignette for the buffet in my french country dining room...an "ode to autumn"...so to speak. 
It's filled with autumn's rich bounty...autumn fruit, autumn leaves, pheasants, and a few of my favorites things...
which make me feel warm and cozy!
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A "Softer" Autumn Color Palette...
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I usually go "all out" with color when it comes to decorating for autumn, but this year I decided to do something just a little different.  I chose a "softer" neutral color palette of earthy creams, linen, and browns. Of course, the dark red wall color still serves up a good measure of rich color.
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Rustic Luxe
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Rustic Luxe, a term that describes a decorating style that combines the casual and welcoming feel of a country home with the luxury of the good life.  Today’s rustic luxe decorating is all about comfort and function. An old iron bed (rustic) may be used in a bedroom with silk curtains (luxe). A kitchen may feature worn brick walls and floors made from an old barn (rustic) but the appliances will be state of the art stainless steel. (luxe) Your living room may have a worn leather sofa (rustic) sitting atop a beautiful persian rug (luxe). Shiny mercury glass lamps next to an old wooden bowl full of fruit add to the look. (Source:OnlineFabricStore.net)
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Rustic Luxe and the "Fruit of the Vine"...
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The simple elegance of a beautiful, cream colored pedestal bowl filled with autumn pears and grapes...paired with a rustic, old wooden wine crate.
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I am enjoying the contrast between the "elegant" and the more "earthy" elements of this vignette.  The beautiful, curvy lines of the tall candleholder in contrast to the rough masonary material of which it is made.  The beauty and sparkle of the glass canning jars in contrast to their utilitarian use. 
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To me, autumn is "Rustic Luxe" at its finest!  The beauty, the gracious gifts and fruitful bounty that nature brings forth and provides for our comfort...a very good life, indeed!
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"Fruit of the Vine"
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A tall pedestal fruit bowl filled with grapes and autumn pears sits front and center in this autumn vignette.
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An old wooden wine crate, a pheasant, two old canning jars filled with candles and wine corks, and a couple of sprigs of autumn flora and leaves tucked in here and there...make up the right-hand side of the vignette.  Lots and lots of lush autumn texture!
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An old wooden wine crate...
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I love the rustic feel and texture that this old wooden wine crate brings to this autumn vignette!
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Two old, lidded canning jars...
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The taller jar filled with cream colored taper candles...and the smaller jar filled with wine corks.
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...and an autumn pheasant!
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A few days ago, I decided to enjoy the beautiful autumn afternoon out on our back porch swing.  We live in the country and the back of our home overlooks a large open field.  As I marveled at the beauty of the autumn day...two pheasants flew up out of the tall, flaxen colored grass.  It was truly amazing!  Pheasants are such beautiful creatures!
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"O Autumn, laden with fruit, and stained
With the blood of the grape, pass not, but sit
Beneath my shady roof; there thou mayest rest..."
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A tall masonary candleholder with a brown pillar candle, antlers, and a spray of
 autumn leaves make up the left-hand side of this autumn vignette.
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The sprigs of autumn leaves are made of crepe paper.  I love the deep, rich greens, gold, and rusty browns...and the texture of the crepe paper give the leaves a bit of a "dried out" appearance.  They look just like a leaf after it has laid out on the ground for awhile...beautiful...
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and...I love the old, sun bleached deer antlers!
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Voila...and there you have it!  
My ode..."To Autumn"...a dining room buffet vignette!
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I hope that you enjoyed!
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My french country dining room...dressed for autumn.  If you look closely, you will see that I carried
 the same "rustic luxe" theme of the buffet...over to the table centerpiece.
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I hope to share more of the table centerpiece with you later this week...so stay tuned!
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I am joining these fabulous parties today...
Thank you, ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!
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Well dear friends, I am so glad that you stopped by for a visit today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!
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Warmest Autumn Wishes, 

39 comments:

Sheila said...

Cheri, It's absolutely GORGEOUS..You always do things up right. The pheasant is my favorite...I love the rustic luxe look.

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Hi Sweetie, Love your pheasant. When I was a kid we saw them in the fields around here all the time. Now you are lucky if you see one in your lifetime. You are right they are so beautiful.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

kristin said...

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Love everything you did! Stopping by from {between naps on the porch}

Olive said...

It's stunning Cheri. I love the white antlers and the large bowl of fruit.

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

BEAUTIFUL Cheri! I LOVE the crate and the old canning jars filled with corks and candles! Can't wait to get a close up of your table! Martina

Richard Cottrell said...

Looks like you are falling right into the season. Richard from My Old Historic House.

Babs said...

Chari, you have a beautiful look for Fall. Great look with the refined and rustic. Like the wine crate and pheasant. Very nice.

Linda said...

Stunning...I love the creat and the canning jars...what great ideas...your home is so lovely!

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Chari, thank you so much for all of your warm wishes and compliments this morning! You are truly an inspiration. I look forward to all of your vignettes! The layers, textures, rich colors...MARVELOUS! I am honored to follow you! Have a blessed day!!

Pinky at Designs by Pinky said...

Chari! I LOVE all of your vignettes on your beautiful buffet but ai am SO partial to Autumn! Love the pheasnt! I hope you are enjoying yourself today out in Colorado! Hope it isn't too cool yet! We are having beautiful weather here in Pa. XO, Pinky

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

You sure know how to do Autumn Chari! Your buffet looks gorgeous! I am loving the rustic/pretties mixed together!
Love the pheasant, love the large bowl of fruit, and the colors of your room just make this perfect!
Some magazine needs to hire you pronto!
Well I am just pluggin along dear friend, nothing too exciting, although starting plans for Addisons' 1st B-Day party if you can believe it!
Have a wonderful week,
Big Hugs,
Cindy

Pat@BPM said...

Gorgeous vignette, Chari!

Gail said...

O'Cheri your Autumn touches are just gorgeous! I love how you added the crate with the canning jars filled with corks and candles. I just may have to copy you on that! Thanks for sharing such beautiful fall touches with all of us.

Enjoy your evening,
Gail

Daphne said...

You are ready for Autumn, Chari! I love how your decor pops against the red walls. The use of neutrals earns an A+!

Debbie said...

Good grief, Chari. You even manage to make a fall outdoorsy decor look elegant!

Jenny @ Simcoe Street said...

This looks so great -- love it!

Kathy said...

Hi
Thanks for stopping by and giving me the heads up on Marty featuring my blog. I am so glad I'm here, great blog and glad we are new friends. I just love autumn, we southerners call it fall. I love everything about it, weather, colors, nature and halloween.
Your buffet looks lovely, the primative box looks wonderful along high end items. The antlers are terrific everything shouts fall colors. Thanks for sharing,
Kathy

The Vintage Chateau said...

Cheri, thanks for visiting my blog, I can tell we like the same things! I even found a wine box similar to yours just this weekend!
Karee

Ivy and Elephants said...

I'm loving the "Rustic Luxe". It makes for a feast for the eyes that will last to Christmas. Lovely, don't change a thing!
Hugs,
Patti

A Hint of Home said...

What a pretty vignette! I love the elegant with the rustic.

Unknown said...

I love Rustic Lux, so beautiful Chari, warm and inviting! Hugs Marilou

Zuni said...

Chari - this is BEAUTIFUL! I, too, love the juxtaposition of the elegant and the rustic, and you've pulled it off perfectly! Love every detail, but especially the jars with candles and corks--what a clever idea! Great job!

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

You are the Queen of vignettes! I love the way you display things. Your dining room is wonderful. Those chairs look like the most comfortable dining room chairs I think I've ever seen (read: ample room for well-fed behinds).

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

I always enjoy seeing what you do new! Love those new fall vignettes! Great pheasant! I have a small pheasant gravy boat, maybe I should use it somewhere!

Wonderful pictures!

Katherine

FABBY'S LIVING said...

My goodness dear lady Chari, you did it again! You and only you have that special touch of beauty to create such incredible vignettes!! This one is no exception, it is just fabulous, I love the pheasent, I found one in a store in wood and it was vintage, but it was a little bit too expensive for me, so that was it. Love the antlers touch to it and of course, the lovely large bowl of fruit! Stunning all. Love always, FABBY

Barb said...

Chari, this is so lovely. I love each one of the elements....especially the pheasant and the horns. I have to get some of those. Just charming and so inviting.

Barb ♥

Unknown said...

love the Pheasant too. thanks for all ur kind words. mishelle

Becca Bertotti said...

Look at this gorgeous buffet! Chari, you nailed the Rustic Luxe, for sure! I love everything you did ... all of the elements ... all of textures ... the candles and corks in the canning jars. The wooden crate is fabulous, and the pheasant is handsome! Once again, you're full of Fall inspiration!

Anonymous said...

Oh Chari you are so amazing! You have me trying to figure out where that neat old rifle shell box of Bill's is and then we have some antlers somewhere around here....oh I don't have anything like that beautiful pheasant....hmmm will have to think of something!

We are off for a few days R & R camping in our 5th wheel. It is my belated birthday outing as this was the first chance we had to take off.

bee blessed
mary

Lakeshore Cottage Living said...

First of all, I just want to say thank you for leaving me the kindest comments of the day! So sweet of you AND thank you for following.

I also want to tell you how much I love your painted floors and your lamps and well, everything! So pretty. I'm adding you to the blogs I follow as well.

Kristine

Savannah Granny said...

Chari, this is so lovely. I am loving the pheasant. He looks like he is guarding the fruit of the vine.
You always do a fantastic job of interpreting the seasons.
That photography is getting better and better. Go girl.
Blessings, Ginger

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Well, since your colors are what I have...how can I not just love it..and I do! Seeing the full view of a room is such a treat. Usually we only get very close photo's of things..and can't get the entire scope of things. This was great, Chari!

Patti @ Pandoras Box said...

Beautiful arrangement on your buffet, but what really caught my eye was the backsplash in your kitchen...love the black and white!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Oh sweetie, I just adore your beautiful 'French Country' dining room. I decorate heavily in French Country here on the Ponderosa.

The Rustic Luxe looks absolutely stunnin' in your dining room. I adore the beautiful pheasant on the wooden box. You are the best!!!

Have a marvelously blessed day sweetie!!! :o)

Eileen @ Cottage Beach House said...

Love that big white bowl cheri. And the pheasant, is such a great fall touch. All is looking wonderful.

Toni said...

The pheasant and pedesal bowl are to die for. And the antlers, kinda hidden..So pretty with the red walls..

Chubby Chieque said...

Dear Gorgeous Chari,

Sorry not to visit you as I wish to. I been travelling awhile and just came back 19th Sept.

I honestly drooling your treasure and I keep telling my hubby to get some ideas from you §:-)

He said, he will shot me for that... ha ha...

Take care, my friend and hope to see you in Stockholm...

x0x0
/chie

Jena @ Involving Color and Home said...

Chari, your fall vignette and dining room are beautiful! I love the softer colors and Rustic Luxe touches. Thanks so much for linking up to Roomspiration!

Aldin Kimiora said...

The pheasant and pedesal bowl are to die for. And the antlers, kinda hidden..So pretty with the red walls..