Simple Fall Touches in the Living Room and a Few Changes

Happy Wednesday, dear readers! I hope this finds you well and enjoying the month of October. I would like to preface this post by extending my thoughts and prayers to all of those who have been impacted by the recent hurricanes. It is heart breaking to see the loss of lives and property, and it has been on my mind daily.

No matter how big, small, grand, or plain your home is, it is your refuge and place of safety. Inside its walls dreams, tears, and laughter are shared, memories are made, and treasured heirlooms are lovingly displayed. May we all hold those we love a little closer and remember those that have suffered so much in our prayers.

“Having a place to go is a home. Having someone to love is a family. Having both is a blessing.” -Donna Hedges

Sweet friends, our temperatures have finally started to feel like fall, and I would love to invite you in for a cup of hot spiced cider and a look around at a few changes in the living room and some simple fall touches I have added.

This summer we had wood floors installed in both the living room and sitting room. A new rug was also chosen, and we moved the old one upstairs to Mr. Bleu’s office. I wanted something lighter that wouldn’t fight with whatever fabrics I wanted to use in this room. I figured something in blue was the perfect choice. God made the sky blue, and I think its color works perfectly with all of his handiwork.

Mr. Bleu and I start our morning drinking coffee and tea in the chairs in front of the fireplace. The previous wingback chairs that were in this spot were getting a little worn. So, I simply switched them with these chairs that were upstairs. The chairs are by Ethan Allen and were passed down to us from our in-laws. I had them recovered several years ago, and they are quite comfortable.

The autumn touches in the living room this year are simple. New bouquets were made in the blue and white mantel vases in shades of cranberry, deep rose, and mauve. The bouquets are accented by pheasant feathers and flanked by cranberry candles placed in antique English barley twist candlesticks.

I have to tell you about an exciting find. We have a local auction house that conducts a multi estate auction every couple of months. The auction is online and a week before bidding closes you are allowed to view the offered items. During a recent viewing, I spied this little dog painting and fell in love with it.

When I got home and was researching the painting online, I discovered that there was a certificate attached certifying that it was painted in 1888 by R.S. Moseley. The title of the painting is A Real Old English Gentleman. The dog is a champion English Wirehaired Terrier named Brittle. Upon further investigation, I found a little tag on the back of the painting from a London framer with Mr. Charles Faudree’s name on it! It is my guess that he must have purchased it for one of his clients on one of his buying trips. I can’t imagine anyone parting with it, and if it didn’t have all of this history attached to it, I would have still bought it.

You may have noticed that the royal blue Louis XV chairs got a makeover.

The chairs were purchased several years ago at a local consignment shop. They are really nicely made chairs, and it was always my dream to have them reupholstered. For my birthday this summer, Mr. Bleu had them recovered.

I adore birds and flowers so the fabric that I chose just spoke to me!

I have been collecting blue and white for the past 25 years, and there is no shortage of it in this room.

The large, framed canvas print of The Shepherdess by William-Adolphe Bouguereau was also purchased from the same local auction house. The auctions are so much fun and have allowed me to find some really nice things for a wonderful price to decorate our home. On a side note, Bouguereau’s famous painting The Little Shepherdess is on display in Tulsa at the Philbrook Museum.

“Home is where love resides, memories are created, friends always belong, and laughter never ends”-anonymous

“There is no doubt that it is around the family and the home that all the greatest virtues…are created, strengthened and maintained.”-Winston Churchill

I sifted through my faux flower bins and created the fall arrangement in the blue and white tulipiere. This summer, I organized all of my faux flowers by color in bins. It makes it so much easier to create new bouquets for each season.

A display of pumpkins resides on the table behind the sofa.

My friends, I am so happy that you stopped by for a visit! It always brings me joy!

Next week, I will share my fall decor in the entry and dining room. I wish you a most beautiful day and wonderful weekend ahead!