As usual, here are my favorites from my stack of this month's magazines.
The photos that I scanned don't do these photos justice. The moody color palette and luxurious silk lit à la polonaise make this bedroom (which was originally the living room) dramatic and opulent. I also think the bird hanging from the lit à la polonaise adds a touch of whimsy to the space.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Elle Decor.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Elle Decor.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Elle Decor.
I love
settees and in this month's Elle Decor they have a guide to
The 10 Most Sensational Settees.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Elle Decor.
Better Homes and Gardens had some great fall decor ideas this month, I especially like the pumpkins used as place cards and the hodge podge of mismatched chairs surrounding the table, and there is just something about that kitchen island with the rounded ends that makes it stand out amongst all the white cabinetry.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Better Homes and Gardens.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
These raffia laundry bags from Linens Limited look so clean and classic, but at $100 each eek! I would assume it would probably be easy and much cheaper to just use a stencil to paint the labels on inexpensive laundry bags.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
Orange is one of my least favorite colors, but with the sophisticated hues in this month's House Beautiful I may need to reconsider.
ACE PAINT YUMA B21-6

BENJAMIN MOORE ORANGE SKY 2018-10

BENJAMIN MOORE SOFT MARIGOLD 160
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of House Beautiful.
Real Simple has instructions for arranging faux flowers, branches, and succulents. While I'm not usually a fan of fake flowers some of the arrangements in this month's Real Simple look like the real deal.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Real Simple.
The "Bishop's House" shown below was inspired by the homeowners' friend and former next-door neighbor who was a retired Episcopal bishop. However, the inspiration for the exterior of the home came from a colorful crayon drawing made by the daughter of the homeowner. In honor of their friend the bishop, the family incorporated the Gothic architecture common in Episcopal churches into their home with stained glass windows, seating in the breakfast room made to look like church pews, leaded glass, a groin vaulted foyer, and a pool house made to mimic the entry arbor of Christ Church on St. Simons Island. A more whimsical and comical touch is the secondary staircase which has finials carved to look like chess pieces (another nod to the bishop). This home is highly personalized yet these personalized details only add to the old-world style of the home rather than detracting from it's charm.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
The photos below are of Cow Rock Cottage, the Southern Living 2009 Home Awards Best New Cottage. I can see why with views like that. Rustic elements such as the front steps made from local granite and the poplar bark shakes make the cottage fit in perfectly with the surrounding landscape.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
In the October issue of Southern Living there are step-by-step instructions for creating "A Family Command Center". I may end up using the instructions to create a smaller version of the one shown below for my laundry room. You should be able to find all the necessary supplies for this project at your local office supply store or online stores like
containerstore.com.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
I've seen wine corks used for making bulletin boards,wreaths, vase filler, trivets, as well as many other things, but I would never have thought to use them as knobs for kitchen cabinets. The corks were attached to the cabinets using brass wood screws. Simple and original. Love it.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
This framed envelope is so charming and is probably a great conversation starter in a dining room. The homeowner had an envelope addressed by his great-grandmother scanned enlarged and scanned by a local printer.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Southern Living.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Architectural Digest.
This house is inspired by barns, but to me it looks very much like a school house.
Photograph courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Architectural Digest.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Allure.
Photographs courtesy of the October 2009 issue of Glamour.