Fall – Jenna Burger Design LLC – Interior Design & Architectural Consulting

Fall Front Porch… with COLOR

Written by Jenna on September 23, 2015. Posted in Decorating, Fall.

Welcome!

It’s officially Fall – HAPPY FALL Y’ALL!

This might look more like a Spring porch than an entry decorated for Fall, but you know me…

I love color. When color-opportunity knocks… I quickly answer.

I’ve been wanting to spruce up the front porch for a while with a few new elements, but of course didn’t want to spend a lot of $$$.

With my newly painted coral wicker chairs + a newly spray painted vibrant turquoise table, our front porch has taken on a new life + a whole new look.

Our front porch is certainly not a big space, but it’s cozy & Oh So Inviting; The perfect welcoming into our home.

The front door is the center point of this quaint outdoor space. It took me a while to choose a color for the door, but I went with my tried & true favorite apple green hue, Valspar Crushed Oregano.

When the time came to paint the new front door this past Spring, I knew I wanted to introduce the color of coral, but the door wasn’t the right place – it was quite the dilemma choosing a color. In the end green was the right choice and I have loved it ever since + this door which is 3/4 glass allows so much light to filter into our foyer.

I’m not a big proponent of seasonal decorating (I don’t have a huge amount of extra time + money for it), but I do enjoy adding a few touches by layering in elements amongst my everyday decor. Layers are key!

For this revamped front porch for Fall, the main elements were adorned with simple seasonal favorites.

I added mums to the vertical pallet hanging on the siding.

I tied cornstalks to the face of the pillars.

I adorned my door with a festive wreath.

And I layered in pumpkins & gourds in varying shapes and sizes.

All of which I got at Lowe’s – not only my go to for building items, but seasonal needs.

That is pretty much it for specific decor for the season. But even just those easy + simple touches layered in have a created a festive setting.

Many of the other elements for the porch were either in the same place as before or repurposed from someplace else in my house. I also rotate items in and out throughout the year or season to keep things fresh and interesting. When I find something I love, and especially if it’s affordable, I snag it. I may use it immediately or hold on to it until the time comes when I have the ideal ‘home’.

Lanterns are a favorite to fill with Fall favorites…

Some (keyword is, some) plants I started growing in the Spring are still going strong – surprising, I know. This beauty is great for shaded spots and it actually ‘died’ soon after I got it. I never got around to throwing it away after all the leaves curled up and fell off. But guess what, it came back to life and has been doing great ever since.

Adding in a few pumpkins at it’s base has instantly brought it from Summer to Fall.

I love the burst of color that the pumpkins + gourds have brought to the porch. They mix in beautifully with the turquoise lutchens bench & other elements like the orange birdhouse & yellow planted fern.

This side of the porch got a revamp with 2 new chairs & a table. The cedar chairs from before had lived long enough. I wanted to bring in a splash of color to which 2 new chairs, specifically wicker, were the perfect spot.

It’s amazing that these 2 chairs were falling apart & completely different colors. Even though they are differing styles, they are unified by the vibrant coral hue.

Using the HomeRight Finish Max hand sprayer to paint them made my life so much easier (TUTORIAL FOR > PAINTING WICKER)

I adore how the turquoise table with the rustic wood planks that I added looks great with the coral. This table is the same turquoise as the lutchens bench so it’s the perfect extension of color.

Our family are definitely front porch sitters (versus back deck loungers) and we spend a lot of time here. From watching the kids ride bikes to enjoying a cup of coffee + book, many hours are spent enjoying this front porch.

Along with spots for sitting, I also needed a place to rest our drinks or play a card game. Along with the turquoise table, I repurposed the round wire spool as a “coffee table” in front of the chairs.

That wood spool for winding large wire + cable was found on the side of the road years ago. I still love it. What I do for ‘treasures’ would amaze you. Or freak you out…

The wood spool “table” is about 24″ round so it’s the perfect size for a pretty vignette of lanterns + gourds.

An overall view.

SHOP MY SPACE.

Create a front porch like mine by shopping your home or purchasing similar items.

front door color -Valspar Crushed Oregano 6000-6C, semi-gloss finish
wreath – DIY tutorial
white garden stool – Lowe’s
turquoise lutyens bench
vertical pallet garden – DIY tutorial
bird pillow – Lowe’s
blue / turquoise ceramic pot -Lowe’s
two toned blue planter (on step) – Lowe’s
coral chairs – DIY tutorial
chevron rug – Five Below
tall yellow lantern – Homegoods
turquoise lanterns – Target
white lanterns – Lowe’s
pumpkins + gourds + cornstalks + mums – Lowe’s

Lastly, I have to show a before & after of where this front porch started years ago and how it looks now…

The stone base that we added this past Summer has really “dressed” up the foundation of the house so much. Tutorial for > Adding Stone Veneer to a House Foundation

Thanks for stopping by and taking the tour of my Fall front porch! I wish you could stay a while…

DISCLOSURE: THIS IS A SPONSORED POST WITH LOWE’S. ALL WORDS + OPINIONS ARE 100% MY OWN. AFFILIATE LINKS ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS POST.

Decorating the Home using Fall Favorites

Written by Jenna on September 15, 2015. Posted in Fall, Seasonal. 2 Comments on Decorating the Home using Fall Favorites

The chill is in the air and I’m wearing a sweater today. I’m actually lovin’ it!

How about in your neck of the woods… Does it feel like Fall yet?

Aside from my favorite Fall things like wearing oversized cable knit sweaters, going apple picking, and Sunday football with the family, I love the changing over of blankets from light linen to heavy wool, and the swapping out of pillows from bright hues of yellow to deeper plums and emerald.

And that was exactly what I did last weekend.

Check out this living room shot I snapped & shared on Instagram…

Even though I am not completely ready to say goodbye to the long, warm days of Summer, Fall has a special place in my heart. Itâ€™s the season when I got married, itâ€™s the time of year when my daughter was born, and itâ€™s when a routine can once be established as the kids head back to school.

Whether you love the look of warm, rich hues (all year round) or simply adore the Fall and want some inspiration for making a few seasonal updates, there are a simple ways to spruce up your home dÃ©cor using Fall Favoritesâ€¦

PUMPKINS, GOURDS, PINECONES, APPLES
Fall is all about nature, and layering in as many seasonal favorites amongst your everyday dÃ©cor can make a simple, but big impact look.

> Pumpkins in a platter.

> Gourds on the mantel.

> Pinecones as a centerpiece.

These are all easy and beautiful ways to decorate for the season. Gathering leaves from the yard (or faux from the craft store) can be the perfect base as seasonal go-toâ€™s are layered atop. Or after your family apple picking adventure, put together an overflowing collection of apples in a low bowl or basket that can adorn the dining table.

All simple ideas that make a big impact!

Still one of my favorites EVER… a log centerpiece with leaves + pumpkins.

tutorial for >>> log centerpiece

Fall mantel with feather

Lantern filled with pumpkins

DECORATE WITH NATURE
You may not need to go far or spend any money to adapt your dÃ©cor for the coming season. Be inspired by your surroundings. Head outdoors to collect leaves, branches, and any natural materials that would be ideal to create an eye-catching table centerpiece or wreath. Arrange a bunch of branches with leaves of varying colors in a vase or glass mason jar and display them on a dining table or entry table vignette.

One other idea is to press your leaf findings and display them in a picture frame as I did with these ferns found in my yard.

Fall tablescape {gourds galore}

tutorial for >>> Fern Art

ADORN YOUR DOOR
The front door, often thought of as the â€œmouthâ€ of a home, is the perfect place to make a statement. Have little time or a small budget, focus on the areas of the home that get the most traffic. Adorning your front door with a beautiful seasonal wreath or decorating a front porch with colorful mums will truly create an inviting and welcoming first impression.

Other seasonal favorites to decorate with can be indian corn, hay bales, and varying sizes and colors of pumpkins. Adding in a plaid throw or tweed pillow can truly create the feeling of a textural cornucopia of color for the season as well as the springboard for whatâ€™s to come in the homes interior.

tutorial for >>> Autumn wreath with plum + peacock accents

SEASONAL COLORS + PATTERNS
The unique and range of seasonal hues including reds, oranges, and yellows can lighten up not only your spirits but add warmth and contrast to your everyday interior. Beyond the typical warmer colors of Fall, other favorites include deep plum, emerald, mustard, and winter white â€“ all ideal to layer in for the coming Fall season.

Fall is all about feeling cozy and warm. Swapping your everyday dÃ©cor staples with ones that have more texture (like a new linen lampshade), will give an instant boost for the season. The simplest and least expensive way to update a space for Fall is to swap out those lighter, brighter throw pillows of Summer for a style that is more lush and soft. Try fabrics like velvet, wool, and flannel in hues of chocolate, golds, and warm pastels.

Another big impact look would be to introduce a new rug that will set the tone for the rest of the space. A rug can anchor a room and can instantly change the aesthetic of a space. A rug with warm hues and an interesting pattern could be the perfect change to immediately update a room.

Fall Front Porch

Fall tablescape {gourds galore}

SMELL MATTERS
Home is not only about how it looks, but also how it feels and smells. Making a natural air freshener using cinnamon and apples can truly make for a yummy, cozy, welcoming aroma. Or try a candle that has a wood or spice scent.

3 yummy favs…

Retwined candle / Baies Scented Candle / Woodwick Gingered Pumpkin

Autumn is truly like no other as the days turn crisp and the leaves reflect the hues of colorful candy corn. Seasonal dÃ©cor doesnâ€™t have to be elaborate or time consuming.

A few simple touches go a long way â€“ the simpler, the better.

Fall Tablescape with Gourds Galore

Written by Jenna on October 7, 2014. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall. 3 Comments on Fall Tablescape with Gourds Galore

Howdy folks! Fall is in full-swing in northern New York and as we’ve been enjoying the colorful foilage (did you see how we spent our weekend? I posted a peak on IG) , I’m finally feeling the urge to turn the house over for the season. I still have my hands filled caring for my little 3 month old + transforming my latest Craigslist find, but that hasn’t stopped me from adding in a few Fall touches. My perfect spot for the ideal seasonal setup… the dining table.

Alas, this years Fall Tablescape.

Filled with gourds, mums, pinecones, and a few of my go-to styling / decor favorites, my table is all set for the season and will lead us right into our Thanksgiving feast. Don’t you just love when one thing works for multiple purposes + occasions?!

And check out the cute box. I made it. Details on that in a bit…

Everything on my table for Fall is from Lowes, my favorite big box store because it’s my go-to spot for everything I need to build, paint, make, and decorate. Seriously! When this month’s challenge came and it was focused around Fall decorating {mums + ghords}, the dining table was just the spot. And you know I love creating a pretty centerpiece (this seasonal favorite has been pinned over 88,000 times)!

So we all know, I’m a mush for trays. Almost every surface around my home has a tray. Why? Because they are easy to move. Because they’re pretty. Because they create the most perfect horizontal vignette. So this years seasonal tablescape had to have a tray! And an easy one to make, of course.

How-To Build a Wood Tray

My cut list:

(2) 1″ x 4″ x 48″ long
(1) 1″ x 8″ 48″ long
(2) 1″ x 4″ x length TBD (explained in tutorial below)
stain (I used Minwax Special Walnut)
(2) cup pulls (kitchen style drawer pulls work great – I got mine for $3+ in the hardware section of Lowe’s)

1. I decided the length of my tray would be 48″ finished and I determined this according to the length of my table. When people are sitting at the table, the tray will probably be moved, but it doesn’t have to. At 48″ long, there is still plenty of room for people to fit around the table & have enough space at their seat. That being said, if you want to make a similar try, it can be any size you’d like.

I made a mark for my cut and used my circular saw to cut the first piece.

2. Then (without measuring) I layed the 1″ x 4″ x 48″ cut piece onto the uncut piece and marked where to make the cut #2. Following that, I cut the 1″ x 8″ piece (for the bottom) the same way.

3. Using 1″ wood nails (which have a small head), I attached the sides to the bottom.

4. Then I measured the ends and using another 1″ x 4″ board, I cut it to size.

5. Then nailed the ends onto the sides and the bottom.

6. Once the box was complete, I drilled holes at each of the shorter ends for the cup pulls and screwed them in.

One last step… stain!

7. Using Minwax Special Walnut and a lint-free cloth (an old white cotton t-shirt to be exact), I applied the stain and immediately wiped it away because I wanted to keep the look of the box a medium depth (not too dark, not too light) since the table is fairly dark.

The result…

Once the box was complete, within a few hours it was ready to fill. The power of stain can make life quite grand!

I started off with positioning the tall white vase (a recent purchased from Joss and Main) and filled it with branches that I cut down from a tree outside (a non-fruit bearing pear tree to be exact). I’ve been doing this all Spring, Summer, and Fall long and they make the best table centerpiece – they’re beautiful + cost nothing!! They wilt after a few days, but who cares, they’re free. I love the height they bring to the table.

A few days earlier, my kids collected a whole lotta acorns and upon putting them in a tall glass bowl, they made the next perfect addition for the wood box.

Then I added the pretty plum mum. Fall = mums. Am I right?! I had grabbed a bunch in an array of colors for the outside porch a few weeks back and I chose the plum colored one for the box. Deep colored purple, plum, is one of my favorite Fall hues.

Once I had some elements of varying heights and sizes, the base of the box needed to be filled. The colorful gourds and the textured pinecones were the icing on the cake for this Fall Tablescape.

So pretty + colorful, right?! I’m in love. Now that the china cabinet is almost complete, this is the perfect addition to the dining space. More details on the china cabinet makeover coming in the next few days.

Disclosure: I am part of the Loweâ€™s Creative Team and was provided with a Loweâ€™s gift card to purchase items for my project. I was also compensated for my time to use the products. No one told me what to create, what to buy, how to use the product, or what to write. All opinions are 100% mine!

Everything FALL! {all posts in one place}

Written by Jenna on September 26, 2014. Posted in Autumn, Decorating, Fall. 2 Comments on Everything FALL! {all posts in one place}

I recently had a few readers reach out asking me about seasonal Fall projects. In all honesty, other than my front porch, I’ve done nothing to spice up my home for Fall this year. Lack of time I guess. BUT, I have a slew of posts from the past on decorating for the Autumn season. It is my favorite time of year after all, so this post is dedicated (and will be updated over time as needed) with posts of mine with all things FALL…

Check out these past posts to get your excited about the season.

Autumn Log Centerpiece

Autumn wreath with plum + peacock accents

Ombre Halloween Pillow

Fall mantel {2013}

Burlap wrapped wreath with fabric flowers

Fall Front Porch {2013}

Fall Mantel {2011}

Lantern filled with pumpkins

Autumn Mantel {2012}

And that’s a wrap! All the Fall (aka Autumn) projects + tutorials from the past 4 years. I didn’t realize how much I’ve shared about this favorite season of mine.

Happy Fall Y’all!

Fall Mantel with Feathers

Written by Jenna on September 26, 2013. Posted in Fall, Mantels. 15 Comments on Fall Mantel with Feathers

My Fall mantel is complete and yes, it has feathers.

I’m into feathers this Fall.

Peacock feathers adorn my latest wreath creation for the season, and now tall feathers (not sure specifically what kind) grace my latest seasonal mantel.

For my Lowe’s October Challenge, one of the projects that the Creative Team could tackle was giving the fireplace mantel a makeover. I was surely excited and awaiting the opportunity to give my mantel a revamp. I sent the seashells apackin’ and dug out the pumpkins, ghords, and festive favorites.

For my latest mantel, I wanted something new & fresh, but started like I usually do by shopping my home before even stepping foot into a store. It’s always such a great way to create a fresh, new look without spending a lot of $$$. Most of the elements for my Fall mantel I already had on hand, but a few elements are new like the ghords (obviously since they’re seasonal) + the feathers, which I picked up at AC Moore for $2/each. They add such a unique, spicy element to the space.

In my travels over the past months, I also picked up this super interesting black sphere, which adds an interesting three-dimensional quality to the new mantel. To add in some height, I covered 3 books with plain white paper, and topped it with a pretty candle in a geometric holder + a glass filled with gold rocks.

Yes, fabulous gold rocks.

The rocks were a quick and fun DIY project that I tackled with the kids before school started a few weeks ago. We had gone for a hike at a local lake and they collected a bunch of rocks. My nifty brain got me thinking… let’s jazz em’ up with a little spray paint! It’s ah-mazing what a little flashy gold can do…

bling bling!

Another new element in the space is the mirror. It’s not new to me, but something that I purchased 2 years ago, but has been sitting in the garage ever since. It was wood, but I wanted it white, so once again, spray paint to the rescue!

Prime. Paint. And something new + magical is born.

And the result…

For now, it leans on the wall instead of being hung. I change things so much (probably too much) that it wasn’t worth another hole in the wall.

The overall space is definitely happy + festive + perfectly set for Fall.

Some more details…

My upcycled light turned vase (now a candle holder) made this years Fall mantel. Still one of my favorite upcycle projects to date…

To add to the whole composition, I added in a few more festive elements that sit at the foot of the fireplace. I brought in my thrift-store old chest (which holds the kids wooden trains) and topped with a large pumpkin and a few wonky ghords. And instead of my tall vibrant yellow lantern sitting on the mantel this time, I brought it to the floor.

O, and there’s me, photographing the most difficult space in the world. Seriously I take 100s of shots and am never satisfied. Well I tried and I hope you enjoyed.

Hi!

And lastly, in striving to always keep it real, this is how the space around me looked at the time of photographing…

All looks perfect in the shot, but there was a bunch of craziness around it.

Moved furniture.

Laundry.

Birthday supplies.

Just keepin’ it real…

I hope you enjoyed my Fall Mantel with feathers. What adorns your mantel for Fall?

To gather even more unique, fun, and creative ideas for your indoor and outdoor Fall spaces, I would definitely suggest downloading the Loweâ€™s Creative Ideas app on the iphone and ipad. Iâ€™m always checking out the FREE app for great seasonal + do-it-yourself inspiration.

Also consider following Loweâ€™s on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram as well.

Fall Front Porch

Written by Jenna on September 24, 2013. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall, Seasonal. 3 Comments on Fall Front Porch

It’s officially Fall!

I was a bit sad to see the Summer end, but I have to say, with the kids back in school and a routine once again being established, the arrival of the season has actually been quite delightful. The weather also has been chilly, so it just adds to the thought that Fall is in full swing.

To celebrate the new season, I had to give my front porch a new look. After finishing it up over the weekend + photographing it yesterday, it’s ready to share + enjoy!

This seasons front porch didn’t change much. I really just added in a few new layers of color + festive pumpkins, ghords, and mums.

Take a look…

Welcome.

The entrance of a home sets the style + tone for what’s to come on the inside. I always like to evoke an inviting, colorful, and welcoming aesthetic to my seasonal & holiday front porch creations. With it being Fall, colorful pumpkins + mums were a must.

Both bring fantastic color to the porch.

I also filled my lanterns with sugar pumpkins + interesting shaped ghords.

The vertical pallet ‘garden‘ also got a revamp. Down came the vines + spring flowers and in their place went colorful mums. I planted them a few weeks ago with the kids. It was great getting them involved and we got to use my other pallet creation that I made this past summer.

I never shared this on the blog (I kinda forgot with other projects going on), but the lutchens bench that sits under the pallet got a makeover at the beginning of the summer. It used to be plain wood (natural finish with no stain) and with the desire to bring in more color to the porch, I spray painted it in a turquoise color. It sure is an eye-catcher!

It’s amazing how something can look brand new for under $5!

The other side of the front porch is just as delightful with 2 teak side chairs and a tiered table in between. The table is from West Elm. It’s seen better days and almost got tossed until I realized outside under the covered porch was the perfect next life for it.

The table is also the perfect spot to rest a cup of tea and enjoy a few treats. Yesterday a sliced apple + an apple muffin were my treat of choice.

Even though the front porch isn’t a large space, it’s so cozy. Whether watching the kids on their bikes or simply enjoying a few (rare) quiet moments, I love sitting out there enjoying our home and ‘the fruits of our labor’.

Want to see how much it’s changed? Check out these ‘before’ photos from 2 years ago…

Quite the transformation!

Wild flowers from the yard make the perfect centerpiece. Not sure if it’s because they’re from our garden or because they’re free, but either way, this simple arrangement makes me so happy.

On my apple green front door, sits my latest wreath creation that I shared last week. I love the plums & navy hues!

Thanks for visiting! I loved having you tour my new festive Fall front porch. I hope you enjoyed.

What elements have you brought in to decorate your Fall front porch?

Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents

Written by Jenna on September 11, 2013. Posted in Autumn, DIY, Fall, Thanksgiving, Wreath. 10 Comments on Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents

I haven’t created a new wreath in a long time. I’ve had my go-to wreaths for Spring, Autumn, and Winter for the past couple of years and every few months they get rotated in-and-out. But once the chill hit last weekend and the thoughts of Fall started to seep into my brain, I knew a new and unique wreath was ready to be made for the coming season.

The front door, often thought of as the â€œmouthâ€ of a home, is the perfect place to make a statement. My apple green colored front door always gives the best backdrop to any wreath that is displayed, and my latest creation fills my heart with a happy feeling & warm thoughts. For me the front door, signifies the â€œentrance ofâ€, so letâ€™s enter this new season with my new Autumn Wreath with Plum + Peacock Accents…

This new wreath is a little out of the norm’ for Fall, but that was my goal. I passed on reds, oranges, and yellows for Autumn and instead focused on using deeper hues of plum, navy, sienna, and browns. And then I through in a bit of peacock. Fun + unique + unexpected! Exactly what I was going for...

I started off by recycling the white spray painted grapevine wreath that I had on-hand from Valentine’s Day. It was just sitting around and even though I might have used it again, I took it apart anyway. Then I scoured the aisles of my local AC Moore and picked out a bunch of faux festive “floral stems” (as they call them). Other than the berries & the peacock feathers, I don’t know any of the “stems” by name, but basically they were an assortment of styles, colors, and textures. All three always make a great composition.

One the styles I got a bunch of with plans of using them as the base. I thought they were a good neutral to then build the other stems and berries on top of. Other than the faux stems and wreath, the only other supplies was the wire and snips (for cutting the wire and the stems).

When decorating with faux flowers, I always cut it up so there are individual branches instead of working with one bunch > more on that in this post. After cutting the bunches apart, I started interweaving each branch through the grapevine wreath. Once the branch was fairly secure, I fastened it to the wreath with floral wire. Well actually I just used regular gold wire that I had on-hand, but it was hidden so no biggie.

About 10-15 minutes later, the base was finito…

Honestly, this wreath was pretty with just the one style stem, but you know me, I always need more….

At this point, there was no specific hanging point, but with the added layers coming next I needed to choose a spot. Once I chose a place for where it would hang, I started adding in the other stems + berries.

Choosing a place for where it would hang allowed me to pinpoint where on the wreath I wanted to position and see certain stems. I knew I wanted the spikey plum stems to be on the left & the peacock to be on the right…

Then came the berries…

Then the final layer. The peacock feathers…

How fun are they?!

And then the final result.

Welcome to my home…

And there you have it. My latest door creation set for Fall.

As an Apartments.com Brand Influencer, I strive to share ideas + do it yourself projects not only for those who live in homes, but also easy & affordable ideas + creations for apartment dwellers. One of the reasons I love wreaths so much, no matter if you live in a house or in an apartment, is that it sets the tone for whats to come on the inside. A wreath not only makes a door pretty, but it’s welcoming. It’s a way to greet someone without actually greeting them. And as the person that resides in the home, it’s a beautiful thing to see each time you come home.

And to wrap up this post, my door color! It’s been this apple green color for years. I’ve thought of changing it, but I’ve never come across another hue that I like better. So apple green it is! When this door gets featured, I always get asked the question – “What color is it?” Here is the info: Valspar Olive Tree WV34010

How do you don your door for the coming Autumn season?