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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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September 25, 2013

Nature Inspired Fall Decorating & A Break-Up

Welcome to Fabulous Fall! I’m joining the amazing Jennifer Rizzo today along with 7 other talented bloggers to bring you some ideas and inspiration for Decorating with Natural Elements.

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You know, I used to have this “faux” ficus tree.

Nature Inspired Fall Dining Room Decorating Ideas from atthepicketfence.com

I vividly remember seeing this big empty corner in our first apartment after we got married and telling my husband that we really needed to put a ficus tree there. I mean, my mom had one and his mom had one and surely that’s what married women do, right? They go buy ficus trees!

Fall dining room decor from atthepicketfence.com

I took my newlywed self to the craft store and pulled every single ficus tree they had into the aisle so I could study them from all angles. Kind of like when you’re picking out a Christmas tree and need to make sure there aren’t any “bare” spaces.

Except in this case, I knew that at least I could bend the branches if I needed to fill in a spot!

I finally made up my mind and picked out THE BEST ficus tree and proudly took it home to our apartment and plunked it in a corner and declared the space “decorated”.

Natural fall centerpiece with pumpkins, hydrangeas and pine cones from atthepicketfence.com

That ficus tree earned it’s keep. It went from apartment to apartment to town-house to first home. But, along the way it got sad…and more sad…and even more sad. Even though it was “faux”, the branches seemed to droop and the layers of dust began to build until it had a slightly “gray” tint to it.

It was at this point that I decided I would have to break up with my ficus tree. It wasn’t working for me anymore. I needed something fresh and new.

We had a “it’s not you, it’s me” conversation and I loaded it into the back of the car and donated it, trusting that it found a lovely new home in which to reside….and that they dusted it.

Pumpkin in urn fall dining room centerpiece from atthepicketfence.com

You see, I’m not one to ever declare that there is no room for “faux” in my life. I have “faux” orchids and “faux” boxwoods and I put on my “faux” face everyday thanks to foundation, concealer, tweezers, eye shadow, mascara, eyeliner and blush. 😉

But, there is just nothing like “real”, is there?

Fall dining room tablescape from atthepicketfence.com

Real pumpkins, real gourds, real dried hydrangeas and real branches from the maple tree in my backyard.

They just give off a different vibe than the faux…you know? (Like my rhyming skills?)

Grapevine wreath and maple tree branches centerpiece from atthepicketfence.com

 A faux gourd would look fine…but a real one with a twisty stem sitting on a plate  just makes me smile.

Fall pumpkin place setting from atthepicketfence.com

 And there is nothing like the soft rustling of corn husks.

Indian corn and burlap ribbon chair wreath from atthepicketfence.com

Indian corn fall chair hanger from atthepicketfence.com

It seems I have a slight “thing” for corn husks. My corn husk wreath has made an appearance many a time around these parts but I never get tired of seeing it. Although you might be! 😉

Corn husk wreath hanging on mirror from atthepicketfence.com

 And it’s just as easy to add real wheat to an urn as it is to add faux wheat, isn’t it?

But you simply can’t compare the beauty of the real deal to it’s faux counterpart.

wheat in an urn for fall decor

 I think my favorite thing about decorating with nature is how uncomplicated it is. The beauty of the elements, like pumpkins piled high in a silver bowl, stand on their own.

No need for too much embellishment.

pumpkins in a silver bowl for simple fall decor from atthepicketfence.com

 Now, don’t get me wrong…

Fall dining room table setting and centerpiece decor ideas from atthepicketfence.com

I’m not going completely and totally au naturale.

There will be foundation, concealer, tweezers (thank the good Lord!), eye shadow, eye liner and mascara.

There will be faux orchids and faux branches and faux berries and faux boxwoods.

But, more and more, there will also be nature. The celebration of the beauty of this Earth and all that is in it.

And I know with this approach to decorating I won’t ever have to have another “it’s not you, it’s me” conversation again!

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Now, how about some more ideas and inspiration for decorating with nature?

Check out all of the other projects being shared as part of this fun Fabulous Fall Party!

 

Fabulous_Fall-Decorating-Ideas-Unskinny-Boppy-watermarked(1) Jennifer Rizzo button fall-mantel-thistlewood Nature-inspired-fall-dining-room atthepicketfence.com
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44 Comments Filed Under: Autumn, Crafts, Decorating, Dining Room, Good Ideas, Home Tour Tagged With: fall, fall crafts, fall decor

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly @ Eclectically Vintage says

    September 25, 2013 at 4:50 AM

    This is one instance where natural is preferred! As for my hair and makeup routine, going natural could scare small children.
    Kelly

    Reply
  2. KellyinPA says

    September 25, 2013 at 4:51 AM

    Everything is just lovely! The centerpiece is gorgeous and I love the corn husks on the back of your chairs. May I ask how you attached the burlap to the chair?

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:34 PM

      Hi Kelly! I laid the burlap on the top of the chair and then pulled one end through the little key-hole type opening in the back. Then using the ribbon I tied the corn to the the burlap. Easy peasy! Thanks for coming by!
      Vanessa

      Reply
  3. Cheryl @ The Creative Me and My McG says

    September 25, 2013 at 4:57 AM

    Your table is lovely…I just threw my faux ficus to the garbage last week…for sometime now it has been out in the garden by the water feature…Nature has been providing us a great bounty and never lets us down even in decorating – great inspiration!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:33 PM

      Thank you so much Cheryl! Glad to know I’m not the only one tossing out the ficus trees! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Jennifer Rizzo says

    September 25, 2013 at 5:21 AM

    It looks lovely! I love the ficus tree story :)I love the way the pumpkin and branches are in the urn with the wreath.It so simple, but so pretty.

    Reply
  5. Judy says

    September 25, 2013 at 5:23 AM

    I just lugged my faux ficus up to the attic last week. It’s the last step before it leaves the house. I have to do these things in stages, you know. You house looks stunning with all of it’s real fall decor. I feel like I need to go shop this morning for some real pumpkins. You have totally inspired me…as usual. Gorgeous!!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:37 PM

      Thanks so much for this comment sweet friend! So appreciate you coming by! 🙂
      Vanessa

      Reply
  6. Lydianne says

    September 25, 2013 at 5:48 AM

    Stunning! Everything is just beautiful. I just love your blog and always find so many ideas to use in my own home. Thank you for the beautiful pictures and all of the wonderful information you provide to us beginners out here.

    Oh and btw, Roll Tide!

    Reply
  7. Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions says

    September 25, 2013 at 6:42 AM

    Your dining room looks beautiful, Vanessa! I absolutely love that centerpiece! I wind up mixing faux and real pumpkins in with my décor. Also, I did the ficus tree thing, too. : )

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:57 PM

      Thanks so much for coming by Kathy!

      Reply
  8. Richella @ Imparting Grace says

    September 25, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    Stunningly beautiful decor, Vanessa–all real! Or maybe we should say all “organic.” Plastic is a real material, after all. I posted yesterday about how to make faux pumpkins look more real, which is a fun challenge. . . but always the real-life element looks the very best. Nothing beats the beauty of the things God made!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:56 PM

      Thanks so much sweet friend!! I need to come see your faux pumpkins because the organic ones only last so long! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Lily says

    September 25, 2013 at 6:57 AM

    Stunning! This is much better than my fake pumpkins, you can roast these later and not need to have any more holiday bin décor in storage. Brilliant!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:56 PM

      Thank you Lily!
      Vanessa

      Reply
  10. Karen Watson says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:06 AM

    So gorgeous Vanessa!! I love how the leaves perfectly match your Pumpkin in the urn, the green and orange combo is really striking!!
    xo
    Karen

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:55 PM

      Thank you Karen!! So fun to be apart of this challenge with you! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Beth@Unskinny Boppy says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:09 AM

    Hey, I hear big eyebrows are back in style! Time to go au natural in other areas! 😀 And I, too, gave a dusty ficus tree the boot a few years back. What was with those things?? They were like a requirement in the 90’s.

    Love your real-deal decor, Vanessa! This was such a fun challenge!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:55 PM

      ROFL!!! Not sure about going all out with the au naturale Beth!! 😉

      Reply
  12. Thistle says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:15 AM

    I’m trying to type….but I’m laughing so hard at Beth’s comment! Awesome job Vanessa!!!!!! Everything looks amazing and that cornhusk wreath is a celebrity!

    Happy day to you rock star!
    karianne

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:55 PM

      Hahaha!! I hadn’t even seen Beth’s comment till I saw yours! LOL! Thanks for stopping by friend!

      Reply
  13. Linda@Coastal Charm says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:30 AM

    Luv your Fall décor…the chairs look GREAT!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:35 PM

      Thank you so much Linda! Appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
      Vanessa

      Reply
  14. Pamela says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:37 AM

    Looks beautiful Vanessa!

    Reply
  15. jp says

    September 25, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    Everything is just beautiful and the added detail to the chairs brings everything so together!
    JP

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:35 PM

      Thank you JP!

      Reply
  16. Shenita says

    September 25, 2013 at 2:32 PM

    Great post, Vanessa! I think we all went thru the faux ficus tree phase…lol! Your natural decor is gorgeous! You’re right. There’s nothing like using naturals elements in our decor.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:54 PM

      Thanks Shenita!! You can’t always use the real but it sure is pretty when you can, right? I still love me some “faux” though! 🙂

      Reply
  17. penny says

    September 25, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    I was married in the 70’s when we had real ficus trees that dropped leaves like Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree dropped needles. 😉 We also had a love affair with corn husks back in the day. Love all your natural touches. Mother Nature gives us the best materials in all seasons. Happy Fall.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 25, 2013 at 6:33 PM

      My mom had a real ficus and the leaves did the same thing Penny!! LOL! Thank you so much for coming by today!
      Vanessa

      Reply
  18. Debra@CommonGround says

    September 25, 2013 at 8:31 PM

    that wonderful pumpkin in the urn is Fall Tablescape perfection!

    Reply
  19. Yvonne @ StoneGable says

    September 26, 2013 at 4:36 AM

    I’m with you Vanessa! LOVE the real deal when it comes to fall. Your home and images are exquisite! LOVE the pumpkin in the urn!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:36 PM

      Thank you so much Yvonne! You know how much I admire everything you do so that is definitely a high compliment! 🙂
      Vanessa

      Reply
  20. Helen says

    September 26, 2013 at 6:29 AM

    The faux ficus tree reminded me of the really live one that moved with us from Alabama to Texas in the ’70s. And it lived a long life without dust…lived on my loving care! Ha! Seriously, it lived years. Vanessa, I love your urn arrangement and might have to copy it for my foyer! Thanks for the inspiration,
    Helen

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:27 PM

      You must have the magic ficus tree touch Helen! Thanks for coming by! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Abbey says

    September 26, 2013 at 7:10 AM

    Love this Vanessa! Those natural elements are the essence of fall and you’ve balanced them so nicely with your decor.

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:26 PM

      Thank you Abbey! So glad you stopped by! 🙂
      Vanessa

      Reply
  22. Lisa says

    September 27, 2013 at 8:25 PM

    The entire room is beautiful! I do think that the little extra touches on the chairs make it absolutely perfect though! Just gorgeous!!

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      September 30, 2013 at 8:24 PM

      Thank you so much Lisa! 🙂
      Vanessa

      Reply
  23. Bev says

    October 2, 2013 at 4:35 AM

    Beautiful! Your fall touches are wonderful; I especially love the Indian corn on the chairs.

    Reply
  24. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    October 2, 2013 at 12:29 PM

    Oh wow, your dining room is stunning. I love your urn centerpiece, so beautiful and the decor on the chairs is so pretty. Thanks so much for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

    Reply

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