Birch + Bird Vintage Home Interiors

Despite being spoiled with some glorious fall sunshine, the autumn rainy season has now officially arrived here on the West Coast. I’ve got to admit that, although crisp sunny days are sublime, there’s something about cozy sweaters, roaring fires and hot cups of tea that make our climate not so bad after all! It also makes it easier to get some projects done around the house…like my pending paint job perhaps…or baking a batch of Creepy Witches Fingers for the kids’ school Halloween parties. Spooky looking but super easy and a single batch makes 60 cookies…ideal for 2 classrooms. Recipe, here, from Canadian Living.

Today’s showers put me in the mood to browse for some more decorating inspiration, mixed in with some fall fashion essentials, good books and teacups, of course! To see the product links, click here. I think this chair from Anthropologie is such a show stopper…what are your thoughts? Definitely not a neutral piece!

Hunkering Down for Fall by birchandbird featuring vintage jeans

As much as I love autumn, I really love winter…actually, I really love Christmas. Like, really love Christmas. So, as the stores start madly unpacking all of their holiday garland and glitz, I feel as though I’m packing up the last of my fall finds,  as soon as the weekend’s festivities are over, of course.  I’m not one to rush time, there truly are not enough hours in my day, but I can’t wait to start sharing holiday inspirations, gift ideas and recipes…for the next 2 months, watch out!

I recently discovered the work of New York Designer Steven Gambrel via Canadian House & Home and his work is simply stunning! The homes featured in his portfolio are categorized as either City or Country  and I think this rural underground wine cellar is beyond incredible! Can’t you just imagine the conversations, not to mention the wine!, flowing at a dinner party held here? What I wouldn’t give to be invited or, better yet, to be the hostess in this space!

1. Apartment Therapy 2. S.R. Gambrel

We spent the afternoon out at my in-laws’ farm in Chilliwack last weekend. It was wet and a bit blustery but we put our galoshes on and had fun mucking around the property, barns and….oooooh…their own haunted house! Well, I don’t think it’s haunted but it is very old, packed with finds from Grandpa’s old auction days (yes, a love of “junk” runs in the family!) and we’ve even seen the odd bat up in the rafters! Spooky but oh so fun!

Len & Len is a North Vancouver based Etsy shop that I discovered earlier this summer. AJ Robertson is the designer behind the lovely, handcrafted jewelry and I really love the organic lines and the simplicity of each piece. I bought the Birch Bark cuff for my dear sister-in-law Amy’s birthday and it was tough to give it away! And this Harvest Moon necklace…can’t you just hear Neil Young strumming now?

Orange and rust colours can warm up your decor all year round. Suzanne Dimma, editor of House & Home, had the brilliant idea of mounting this armoire in the front hallway of her first home. Flowers are an inexpensive way to add colour and personality to any room and this lovely fireside patio…what better way to enjoy the last of autumn’s lingering evenings?

1. House & Home 2. A Beach Cottage 3. House Beautiful

Well, I’m off to get some Trick-or-Treaters into their costumes for school…wishing you all a sunny and dry weekend full of tricks and lots of treats!

If it weren’t for my girls, Halloween could just be another day, besides the candy, of course.  I can’t help but get sucked into their excitement so today weI spent about an hour decorating our front door.  The girls requested spooky.  So I did my best and stayed within my requirements of easy, fast and cheap.  If you are looking for some quick and easy ways to bring some Halloween spook to your trick or treaters this weekend, this is for you.

Keep it simple.  You don’t need to go all out to get your Halloween on .  This entrance looks haunted yet still maintains it’s dignity and the colony of bats would surely spook trick or treaters.  Black paper and a pair of scissors is all you need to replicate this look.   Don’t you love white pumpkins?  If you are like me and not interested in the mess of cleaning out a pumpkin, then don’t!  A sharpie is all that’s required.

Country Living

Line your walkway with these friendly little pumpkins.  Once you’ve cleaned them out, mark off a pattern and take care of the rest with a drill.  Flame-less candles are a safer option for glowing pumpkins.  If you happen to have done some pruning recently, use all your scraps to haunt your porch.  Pots of sand would hold them in place and hang paper crow silhouettes to finish off the look.

Canadian House & Home Good Housekeeping

If spooky isn’t your thing then try a few of these ideas.  Buntings are everywhere right now and why stop at Halloween?  Bridget at Everyday Chaosmade this one out of burlap and twine but you could get the same feel with kraft paper or even newspaper.  These sparkly pumpkins could be a great excuse to buy Martha Stewart‘s glitter collection.  A group of these glamorous pumpkins on a doorstep would certainly add some glitz to a normally dreary day.  Oh and don’t forget to use spray glue!

Everyday Chaos Martha Stewart

If you happen to have one, apparently a drywall knife works wonders on a pumpkin.  It’s worth a try.  I’ll  pass that tip along to my husband who is the expert pumpkin carver in our house.  I love the idea of carving out your house number for a classy pumpkin display but the sky’s the limit.  A monogram would also look very chic.  If you happen to be hosting a party this weekend, why not greet your guests with these ghostly trees.  One would be as impressive.  Just outside my easy, fast and cheap criteria, this pumpkin project will require your sharpie, drill and drywall knife.  But I definitely think it would make a grand Halloween entrance.  I love the subtle yet eerie touch of the dead branches above the door.

Sunset Good Housekeeping

And if starting at the front door gets you into the Halloween spirit, then don’t stop there!  Lily has many more spine-chilling ideas here.

Happy Halloween!

My four year old daughter, Sadie, is enthralled with the “fairy houses” or mushroom clusters that have been popping up around our yard for the past several weeks. There was an especially amazing “fairy city” growing on an old birch stump that she loved looking at until the cold weather sent all the fairies to their holiday homes!

Mushrooms and funghi have made a comeback over the past couple of years, thanks to the popularity of woodland themes, the revival of all things vintage and eat local campaigns. The tireless artists and crafters over at Etsy seem to especially love the ‘shrooms…I made a treasury last night and found it hard to narrow down my top 16! This post wasn’t any easier, let me tell you…

1. The Queen of Re 2. Easter In Harlem 3. Stylin Recyclin 4. Vintageer

One of my favorite Etsy shops is Woodland Belle and Mai McKemy is the artist behind all the dreamy woodland inspired designs. Her tiny terrarium rings and necklaces are especially unique…each is carefully handmade to order and is a one-of-a-kind piece enclosed in real glass. Like I said, dreamy!

Etsy isn’t the only source of mushroom inspired goods. From kid’s rooms to the kitchen, funghi is on display! First up is Ferm Living. There’s been a bit of an overkill in wall decals, in my humble opinion, but I think these orange ones are sweet and subtle, especially for a kid’s room like this! And I love the idea of this wallpaper on a single kitchen wall, maybe behind some open shelves. Mushroom soup anyone?

wall decals …wallpaper

Terrain has so many great finds for the home and for the garden. The sachet would be a lovely hostess gift, as would the silver salt and pepper shakers. A new take on the seasonal classic, this natural looking wreath is a beauty and would easily fit into both autumn and winter decor…love it!

sachet …wreath …salt & pepper shakers

This set of dessert plates from West Elm are almost too pretty to use! They would look so lovely hung on a kitchen or dining room wall, similar to some of the ideas Rachel posted last week here. Or wow your dinner guests with a field study inspired table setting…moss, branches, the works!

dessert plates

Next up is Anthropologie…one of my all time favourites! The toadstool pouf is beyond adorable! White ceramics are a weakness of mine and I really love the simplicity of this canister. Doesn’t the toadstool plate looks like it stepped straight out of the ’70′s? Perfect for retro inspired holiday spreads!

pouf …canister …plate

I’m totally envious of the toadstools that Maria over at Live Beautifully has pop up in her backyard…why not prop them in vases instead of flowers?  Simple and earthy and oh so lovely! Imagine them on wedding tables…

Mushrooms, the fruits of the funghi world…just be sure to avoid the magic variety at all costs!

I’ve spent a fair share of time devouring shelter magazines, blogs, design shows and books.  I can’t get enough of it really.  For example, if I’m visiting with a good friend and they have a design magazine or book sitting in my view, it calls to me the whole time we’re chatting.  “Look at me…look at me…look at me.”  And don’t get me started on design blogs, both Lily and I pretty much melt into our computer screens.  It’s very distracting.  I might need help.  Most of the design I’m interested in is for real life.  But there is another level of design that I love that’s for the .2% of the population that can afford it.  And it’s not Donald Trump’s gold encrusted penthouse either…sorry Donald.  It’s over the top without the gold filigree.  Go ahead and dream a little…

Catherine Martin is an award winning and globaly renowned set and costume designer.  Her resume is impressive to say the least.  Her projects are mostly within the film and theatre industry and you may be familiar with her work in Moulin Rouge.  When she couldn’t find exactly what she wanted for her own home she went ahead and created her own.  And why not? In 2008, she started designing the most extaordinary rugs, wallpaper and paint.  If I were so lucky to own one of her rugs, I don’t know that I’d want to cover it up.  They are so very magical.  And the wallpaper…there are no words.

The very accomplished, Amy Lau, curates spaces that are timeless, modern and always with an amazing infusion of colour.  I saw her the first time when she was featured on HGTV’s Top Ten, showing off her very sublime living room.  I love how she integrates mid century pieces and how brave she is with colour, something I need to work on.  Her style is real and comfortable.  I’d have to say, she’s probably my favourite.

Kelly Wearstler is quite possibly the definition of over the top.  A well-known trendsetter, her glamourous and dreamy spaces span residential and commercial applications.  I appreciate her exquisite talent although I’m not sure I’d want this look for my own home. But I could definitely see myself spending a night in one of her rooms at the Viceroy or at least walking through the lobby.  And if your budget allows, you can add a little Kelly into your own home.  She has a several product lines with a wide range products including furniture, dinnerware, fabric and wallcoverings.  I love the kelly green and white trellis wallpaper.  Don’t you?

So, there you go.  This is what I think rich design looks like or what my design would look like if I were rich…

Halloween is just one week away and my kids have already been wearing their costumes all weekend! We hit Walmart yesterday and stocked up on candy but I should’ve known better than buy my favourite chocolate mix…once again my healthy goals have been sabotaged! More reason to hit the gym harder this week!

When it comes to decorating this time of year, I lean more towards harvest style decor and veer away from blood and guts…I’m a total wimp when it comes to horror movies of any kind too! But I do have an odd interest in vintage anatomy illustrations and props. I found these simple yet spooky decor ideas that could be done easily, many with things you might already have kicking around your home, especially if you have a doctor in the house!

Style At Home

Last minute company coming over and not a single Halloween decoration in sight? This drink cooler could be carved out in no time or use up your extra paint cans and add some simple stripes or dots to these no-carve pumpkins.  I love how they’re displayed, casually piled in this fireplace…

1. Martha Stewart 2.Good Housekeeping

Nothing could be easier than this candy display, found on House of Smiths. Fill glass vases and canisters with ghoulish goodies from the grocery store, tie on some hand written labels, display on floral moss from the dollar store and…voila! Instant table centerpiece!

Rachel and I love owls! She’s got a lovely pair that live in the ravine behind her home and one got close enough for us to get a good look a few photo sessions ago…so wise and mysterious! Looking to avoid cavities for your kids? These DIY owl pellets are an amazing idea! I don’t know if I’m ambitious enough to make them this year but I’ll definitely be saving them for another time…even for scientific party favours! And this vintage owl pirate is too cool…

1. Martha Stewart 2. Grandmother’s Attic

I love birds but there’s something about crows and ravens that is slightly sinister…maybe it’s because they’re too smart! And there’s that love of shiny objects…Anyway, this wall decor could be easily recreated with kraft paper taped to the wall and I’m so in love with these terrariums! What a fantastic idea for any holiday and so easy to make with the kids!

1. Better Homes and Gardens 2. Country Living

So go rummage through your closets…or Grandpa’s garage…and see what ghostly specimens you can bring out just in time for the trick or treaters in your neighbourhood!