House of Earnest

September 25, 2012

Simple or Styled?

As a type A person, I’d drawn toward organized, ‘buttoned-up’ spaces, but sometimes when I’m decorating my home, I need to relax a bit.

Both of these rooms are beautiful, but each offers something different. It all comes down to how you use your room. Do you want it to be used for kids’ homework, or entertaining? or both?

If you would have flashed these by me five years ago, I probably would have picked the ‘styled’ - with all of its rustic elements mixed with glam and traditional. But ask me now, and I find myself leaning toward the simple – which can be equally difficult to do right.

It all comes down to personal preference, but what would you say you are? Simple? Or Styled?

p.s. if you follow me on instagram, and saw my dinner last night, you probably would have known that I’d classify myself as simple… I ate beans with tomatoes and loved every second of it!

photo credit styled | simple

10 Comments

September 24, 2012

Fall Front Porch in Shades of Green

in Home Decor with 11 Comments

I always love sprucing up my front porch for fall. Partly because I can’t keep plants alive long enough to have the same ones from summer and partly because I just love to register the change in seasons and some of my favorite fall colors.

Last year, I went a the traditional route with my color scheme, so this year, I wanted to keep it soft, calming and minimal. I still love the idea of using kale, chrysanthemums, and various gourds and pumpkins, however!

A little trick I use to keep the flowers interesting is to nestle pumpkins and gourds right into the flower pot. It gives you some variation in texture and color, and can be easily moved around (just in case you need them for a fall centerpiece for an afternoon)!

I was originally going to stay with just white and green, but I threw just a little pop of light orange in there to give just one for layer of color, although I can’t say I won’t just swap it out for more green if the perfect pumpkins were to come my way! I just love what white and green do together to create a serene color scheme.

Did you get into any fall activities this weekend?

p.s. Aside from decorating my front porch, I made beef short ribs for the first time yesterday following this slowcooker recipe and Matty and I had a proper Sunday dinner together after all of our work in the yard. It was pretty wonderful!

11 Comments

September 21, 2012

Friday Faves 9.21

in friday favorites, Home Decor with 7 Comments

ONE gold geometric lamp from Land of Nod, $69; TWO It’s no secret that I like things ‘dipped’. Modernist dipped chair £395 from Folklore; THREE a beautiful embroidered pillow captures the colors of this fall, and mixes browns and blacks, just like I talked about last week. $110 from Dwell Studio; FOUR a sculptural and elegant decanter is definitely an must for a classic home bar, $155 from Empiric Studio; FIVE if you either don’t have the time or the strength to schlep a bunch of fall gourds home for your decor, Terrain will deliver you a crate of 7-9 assorted pumpkins for $68. SIX clean, modern lines and a naturally rustic finish are what makes this serving bowl from Julia Paul Pottery so special, $105.

Today is the first day of Autumn and I’m celebrating with a very fall feeling round up of my favorite things from the week. I really just love the crated pumpkin idea, and goodness knows all of these colors are right down my alley for my own home decor.

This weekend, I’m excited to jump right into some of my own fall decorating (scheduled to share next Monday) and spend some time with Matty. What’s on your agenda?

Have a FABULOUS fall Friday and Weekend!

7 Comments

September 20, 2012

Past to Present

in Home Decor with 3 Comments

I know you guys have heard me harp on the fact that I’d like to live abroad at some point, and sometimes I just can’t help myself but to cruise the international real estate sites for a little eye candy. Although I’m always drawn toward rustic Scandinavian inspired homes that are full of character, I couldn’t help but give this home a second look for it’s more modern take on a European classic.

This home in Chilworth (about 2 hours outside London), is built to look like a classic German post and beam home, but with an intensely modern spin.

I love that it is so open and the very clean lines still emulate the rustic buildings of the past. I think I could get around to a newer home if it were built to look like an old one! Plus, it would have way more natural light and closet space!

Although this home is also decorated quite modern, I think just looking at the bones, you could go with almost any decor scheme. I’m envisioning this decorated more like the barn houses I love with lots of natural elements and worn pieces.

What do you think? Love the modern take on an architectural classic?

3 Comments

September 19, 2012

Hand Made: Gourd Doorstopper

in Hand Made, Home Decor with 9 Comments

One of my favorite things about fall is that the temps die down and I get to open up my windows and doors, letting in all of the cool breezes and crisp leafy scents. This gourd doorstop is not only pretty, but is useful for keeping open doors from blowing shut (in the event of one of the aforementioned cool breezes).

Fresh gourds and pumpkins will rot before fall is over and dried gourds are too light to handle a heavy door, but I’ve come up with just the solution to keep the fall spirit alive and functional inside my home.

If you’re interested in the full tutorial, keep reading for how I made this little dried gourd into a heavy sitter for the doorway.

9 Comments

September 18, 2012

Fall into Figs

in Food, Party Style with 8 Comments

Before this week, I’d never laid a hand on a fig. I saw them in the grocery store and thought they were some sort of upscale fruit I shouldn’t bother getting to know. I always wanted to be the kind of person who was like, “oh yes, I just adore figs.” But I wasn’t…

…that is, until now. I was walking by the figs on this trip to Trader Joe’s and thought that I should definitely pick them up. I went home, cut one open, and bit into it. I decided that something tangy and creamy should accompany the fruit and settled on a tart with goat cheese, carmelized onions, and rosemary. I followed the carmelized onion ‘how-to’ from Victoria’s kitchen basics post and piled it all onto a store-bought pie crust.

It makes such a pretty presentation and the colors are just perfection.

I’m definitely not a whiz in the kitchen, but I wanted to learn something new and felt that figs, with their deep indigo color and hearty fruit, would be a good fit for an early fall appetizer. They’re on the tail end of peak season, so snatch some up on your next trip to the store and impress your friends with a little tart.

Have a FIGGY Tuesday!

8 Comments

September 17, 2012

Single Impact

in Home Decor with 9 Comments

With my floral background, I have a natural tendency to keep fresh arrangements in my house at all times. I do realize, however, that some people struggle with a bouquet and that it can take a lot of blooms (and a lot of money) to make a big impact.

A single frond of a large leafed plant makes a really big impact and can highlight a beautiful vase instead of competing with it.

I bought this one stem at Michael’s for just $5 and bent the stem so that the leaf fell right over the top of the vase opening. I chose a hammered silver vase with a lot of shine to really pop off the dark table runner. It makes a huge impact and it really cannot get anymore simple than this. If you struggle at all with flower arrangements, this is the ‘wow’ factor floral for you!

A fresh, no fuss, big impact way to start your week!

9 Comments

September 14, 2012

Friday Faves 9.14

in friday favorites, Home Decor with 10 Comments

ONE Pendleton 5th Avenue throw is made from durable wool and is ideal for a night around a bonfire ,$138 TWO Terrain’s rustic copper fire pit is beautiful, but pricey at $1998. If you’re in the market for one this fall, here is a similar version with a much sharper price tag. THREE I squealed when I saw these precious golden herb napkin rings. The rosemary is shown (my favorite), but they also come in a variety of other gilded greens. $60 for a set of four at Rain Collection. FOUR this etsy shop has such a beautiful collection of return address stamps. Get ready in advance for Christmas Card season! FIVE the design, the colors, and the texture are all perfection in this surprising find from Target, $29. SIX this nightstand (or side table) reminds me of a campaign camp chest from the ’20′s. This one isn’t antique, but that means it can be yours! The Overland Cross Table is just $395 from Serena and Lily.

It’s such a beautiful Friday morning and I cannot wait to get into the weekend. Both Matty and I are home (for the first weekend in a while!) and we’re going to spend some time with friends, do some projects around the house, and get everything ready for cooler months ahead.

Things were busy around House of Earnest this week as well!

I guest posted for Cassandra while she is sailing the high seas

My sunkissed ombre stripe pillow tutorial was featured on Design*Sponge

I was listed among this weeks’ blogs to follow on Rue la la

Check them out if you haven’t already!

Have a FULLFILLING Friday and weekend out there, guys!

10 Comments

September 13, 2012

Color Story: Natural Neutral

in Home Decor with 8 Comments

Mixing neutrals has long been my strategy when it comes to decorating my house or dressing myself. I love mixing camel with black even though I grew up thinking that brown and black shouldn’t be in the same palette (dress, home, or otherwise).

As an adult, however, I find that the combination of lovely natural neutrals is timeless and chic. This fall, I’m throwing in a bit of vibrant moss green into the mix for some added interest and just another nod to nature. Are you in agreement? Or do you cringe to see blacks and browns paired?

Have a PRETTY Thursday!

photo via interiors porn

8 Comments

September 12, 2012

Style Splurge and Save: Statement Bowl

in Home Decor with 12 Comments

I saw these two statement bowls, both in person, within a day of each other and I love them both. One of them was too stunning to ignore, so I bought it, but I’ll leave that a secret until you see it in an upcoming styled post. Which one would you splurge or save on?

SPLURGE starburst centerpiece bowl $149 from Crate and Barrel, SAVE wire bowl by Threshhold for Target $24 (not available yet online, but check you local store).

Have a perfect Wednesday!

P.S. Want more House of Earnest? I’m over on Coco + Kelley today sharing a precious date night idea (for which you don’t have to be ‘at sea’ to enjoy)