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Fabulous Fall Decorating, Interior Decor and Styling, Vintage Style

Early Fall Decorating With Vintage & Thrifted Finds

 

Hello friends! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Labor Day has come and gone, so that means fall is here, right? Well, not exactly, but it’s certainly okay to start transitioning our home decor from summer to fall. If you struggle with decorating between summer and fall then you’ve come to the right place! *This post contains affiliate links.

 

 

Today 29 bloggers are getting together to share all kinds of ideas for late summer and early fall decor. You can find links to each of the talented blogger’s posts at the end of this post. To get this hop started, let’s take a look at some transitional changes in my living room.

 

 

Sunflowers are the quintessential summer-to-fall flowers. I have been enjoying their cheery color in the kitchen and dining room over the last few weeks. Since I am not quite ready for all out fall color and tons of pumpkins, I decided to carry the sunflower theme into the living room as my first step toward transitioning to fall.The simple addition of a bouquet of sunflowers in an elegant Mediterranean style urn and some pretty sunflower pillow covers completely changed the look of the room in no time.

 

Since everything is still mostly green outside (and it’s my favorite color), I kept a lot of green in the room too. My everyday mantel styling with neutrals and a few of my favorite vintage thrifted finds will be easy to tweak with the addition of more fall treasures as the season progresses.

 

 

I changed up my late summer coffee table vignette by switching out hydrangeas in the urn for sunflowers. The addition of a few pheasant feathers easily gave the bouquet a more “fallish” look. I also added a large cloche with a few vintage thrifted finds that work for early fall.

 

 

My rescued three-legged-estate sale-chalkware-garden squirrel has found his way out of the basement and up onto the vintage trunk in search of a few scattered acorns.

 

 

Even though it’s still a little too early for my yearly pumpkin extravaganza, one tiny pumpkin made it’s way into the cloche display.

 

 


My early fall cloche contents: a couple of beautiful thifted antique books, thrifted antlers from the Country Living Fair, an old brown glass bottle, a tiny pumpkin and moss in my DIY French peat pot, two vintage butterpats, and a couple of my handmade velvet acorns. The wood pedestal under the cloche is also a Country Living Fair find.

 

 

I just found the late 1800’s copy of Homer’s Odyssey last week at an antiques shop. It is in excellent shape. I absolutely love it’s green and gold cover. Aren’t these little acorns just the cutest? They are so easy to make. Just cut a tiny scrap of velvet and hot glue it over top of a little faux acorn. Paint the top gold for a bit of fall glimmer.

 

It seems as if someone is wanting to add my little velvet acorns to his hoard! I am okay with that, just as long as he doesn’t follow the acorn trail that leads to some fresh juicy peaches on the dining room table!

 

Transitioning to Fall in the Dining Room

 

I was having trouble getting started with the transition to fall until I found some pretty flowers at a yard sale this weekend for only $2.00. The original bouquet was made up of gorgeous dark orange ranunculus, coral and peach coneflowers and yellowish/green wildflowers. It looked a little too dark as it was, so I ended up adding some sunflowers, eucalyptus, fall leaves and yellow berries to lighten it up a bit and to tie in the other colors I wanted to use for early fall.

 

 

I created a styled basket tray as a centerpiece for the dining room table with some of my favorite thrifted finds: a small vintage bust, a bargain Tuscan style vase filled with my yard sale flowers, a shabby candle holder with a mossy nest and chippy bird, a vintage brass candle stick and candle, various antlers, and scattered acorns.

 

 

A French style urn planter from Hobby Lobby is filled with a couple of pretty vintage dishes, juicy peaches, eucalyptus, and fresh rosemary from the garden.

 

 

I found some gorgeous placemats on clearance at At Home for only $3.00 for a set of four. The pattern reminds me of a vintage rug and I love the colors! Somehow everything I used on the table just came together. I have decided to create a tablescape using these elements for the  upcoming Fall Tablescapes Blog Hop.

 

 

I also scored some beautiful mismatched plates and saucers last week at the Habitat Restore for pennies! I knew right away I wanted to use them for a late summer/early fall tablescape along with peaches. We always eat a lot of peaches from the farmer’s market this time of year, so I thought they would be a great alternative to the abundance of apples, pears and pumpkins that will be showing up later in my fall decor.

 

 

The various colors of peaches are perfect for early fall when you want a bit of orange without having to pull out the faux pumpkins (real pumpkins won’t hit most garden centers for a couple more weeks). I think the peaches look so pretty with my new vintage dishes. I found four dessert plates with the rust orange and flower pattern, and four saucers with the gold and floral pattern. I really, really, (really) want to find more of these dishes! I am on the hunt!

 

 

Pumpkins aren’t in season just yet, but mums have arrived! I also scored two little urns this weekend at a yard sale for a quarter each that were perfect for small pots of mums. They are similar in shape and style to the larger urn in the centerpiece. I have said it before a thousand times, but it never ceases to amaze me how yard sale and thrifted finds end up coming together so perfectly with things I already have, like they were just meant to be!

 

 

I filled the pots with mums wrapped in burlap and placed one on each end of the table. So easy and cute!

 

I really love all of this early fall color mixed in among my overall creamy neutral pallette. Bits of teal, green, and yellow added to the vignettes helps to keep things from seeming too dark and heavy for early September when the temperatures are still in the 90’s most days.

 

 

I am so pleased with how effortlessly and inexpensively things came together. Everything pictured is a thrifted, yard sale, or bargain find, including everything you see in the background vignette which we are about to take a look at in more detail.

 

Earlier this summer I moved the vintage chest of drawers from the living room to the dining room. It was definitely a great decorating choice, as it gives me the perfect sunny spot for styling seasonal vignettes.

 

I tweaked my French Inspired Vignette with Fresh Eucalyptus that I just shared a few days ago to create a late summer/early fall “Back To School Time” vintage vignette.

 

I dried the eucalyptus and placed it in my DIY Gray Washed French Farmhouse basket with wheat and pheasant feathers. Love it!

 

 

By Labor Day all the children are back to school! I am always inspired to create little late summer and vintage “Back to School Time” vignettes this time of year.

 

 

This charming red lunch pail is probably one of my top 10 favorite vintage treasures of all time. It belonged to my grandmother, so it is very special to me. She told me that she used to carry a sandwich and an apple in that little lunch pail to school every day back in the 1930’s.

 

 

She is 88 years-old, and now she finds it so amusing that I decorate with her old “junk!” I also like to decorate with this pail for Christmas. I open it up and cram it full of small vintage Shiny Bright ornaments and tarnished tinsel.

 

 

An apple for the teacher, old books, vintage spectacles, and dried flowers from summer gardens long since faded but not forgotten all evoke vintage late summer and early fall dreams to me.

 

 

 

 

 

I splurged when I paid $15 for this lovely oval antique frame at an estate sale this summer. With all those beautiful details, I think it was well worth it.

 

What’s the best part about the end of summer and back to school? Why, music class of course! I adore this school music book. I have often used songs from old music books like these in my elementary music teaching curriculum.

 

 

September is all about the apple harvest! Let’s sing a new song to celebrate:

“In The Orchard”

(If you can’t read the music that’s okay! You can still chant the rhythm. I have typed out the words just how the rhythm flows. Simply read it with a little waltzing- lilt!)

One-Two-Three -Skip -with -me

GailySkippingTripping’neaththeappletree!

How -we -fly-you-and-I-

MerryHappyChildren We!

 

 

I hope this post has put a little song of early fall in your heart! Before we move on with the rest of the hop, I just had to share my new-to-me vintage French market basket on wheels! Doesn’t it look darling filled with mums and the little vintage spindle chalkboard sign I threw together at the last minute? I know I am going to have so much fun styling this basket in so many ways!

 

 

A junkin’ friend of mine offered the basket to me for a steal and I adore it! I will be sharing more photos of this basket in my Early Fall Home Tour post next Wednesday as part of the Fall Home Tours hosted by Marty of A Stroll Thru Life. I hope you will stop back by for the tour!

 

Oh this photo reminds me that I still need to share a post all about the antique table cloth that I  found this summer. I don’t like to cover the rustic wood planks on our 100+ year-old farm table so I am displaying the tablecloth on the seat of our antique church pew. The tablecloth is exquisite!

 

Okay…one last photo…I couldn’t resist the pumpkins! I ended up getting my early fall farmhouse  fix by adding a few pumpkins to an old white basket under my antique china cabinet. The neutral colored pumpkins are subtle enough to blend right in with the rest of my decor as the transition to fall continues over the next couple of weeks. I am looking forward to fully embracing all the joys of my favorite season!

 

 

Now it’s time to finally enjoy one of those yummy peaches that have been tempting me all through the photo shoot and to check out all of the beautiful summer to fall transitional decorating inspiration on the hop! Next up is Marty at A Stroll Thru Life. You will love how her early fall family room makeover. Don’t forget to check out the other posts via the link up at the end of this post or more great decorating ideas.

Thanks so much for visiting today!

Amber

 

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32 Comments

  • Reply Calypso in the Country

    Amber, I love how you styled your home for the early fall. I could stare at your vignettes all day! Just the simple idea of the pretty peaches in the urn look so perfect this time of year. Love it all! Thanks for hosting this wonderful blog hop. I am looking forward to seeing what everyone shares!
    Shelley

    September 3, 2019 at 7:25 am
  • Reply Cindy

    Hi Amber love so many pieces. The frame you grabbed is worth every cent. Love the lunch pail from your grandmother. Such a special piece to have and wonderful she kept it long enough for you. Adore your basket filled with mums.

    Mums aren’t available for NJ yet. A few more weeks and about a month for pumpkins.

    I use tons of dried hydrangeas for fall. I leave them for all of fall. My home looks so pretty filled with them. Acorns are big in my home and say early fall to me.

    Cindy

    September 3, 2019 at 8:04 am
    • Reply Cecilia

      Amber, you got your money’s worth with that gorgeous oval frame–love it! As always, your home looks warm and inviting. Happy almost fall! Blessings, Cecilia @ My Thrift Store Addiction

      September 5, 2019 at 12:47 pm
  • Reply Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces

    Your early fall decor is so beautiful, Amber! It’s always amazing to see the character and collected over time feeling that thrifted finds bring to decor! Thank you so much for hosting this fun hop!

    September 3, 2019 at 9:19 am
  • Reply Rita C at Panoply

    Amber, coming to your blog on a hop is like going antique shopping! You have so many little wonderful pretties you’ve accumulated and use in your various vignettes. It’s hard to recall and comment on each and every one, but suffice it to say the sum is even greater than the parts. Your home is a beautiful display of each and every season’s displays. I am particularly fond of your grandmother’s lunch pail. Those are hard to come by, as children beat them up so badly, and having your family provenance makes it that much more special to me. Oh, and that silly squirrel. I have a thing for mamed tchoktches like my Bunny Van Gogh and your Pegleg Rocky.
    Thanks so much for organizing this hop, Amber. It’s full of fun and useful ideas for seasonal decor!

    September 3, 2019 at 9:21 am
  • Reply Christy @ Our Southern Home

    Amber, Your blog is always such a treat to visit. Your attention to detail in your decor, photos and words really put us right there with you. Yes, sunflowers are the perfect transition flower! Just gorgeous my friend!

    September 3, 2019 at 9:32 am
  • Reply CoCo

    There are so many beautiful early Fall layers and vignettes, I seriously don’t know what to pin first Amber! As always, you manage to find so many fun pieces and display them like a pro. I love the pail you have from your grandmother and don’t even get me started on all those gorgeous frames. They’re amazing! Thanks so much for putting this blog hop together. It’s always tons of fun! Hugs, CoCo

    September 3, 2019 at 9:38 am
  • Reply Marty

    I always love devouring every photo in your tours. Everything is so beautiful and each vignette is a work of art. You do have some wonderful vintage treasures and you display them so beautifully.

    September 3, 2019 at 9:38 am
  • Reply Michelle | Thistle Key Lane

    Amber, all your vignettes are so pretty, but I have to admit the French inspired vignette has captured my heart. Love the lunch bucket, the seltzer bottle and your up-cycled French basket. Top it all off with the dried flowers inside the frame. Simply stunning my friend!

    September 3, 2019 at 11:02 am
  • Reply Carol Cook

    I love how you used flowers to accentuate all your lovely treasures. The oranges, yellows and rusts are perfect and will still look perfect when you add pumpkins.

    September 3, 2019 at 11:26 am
  • Reply Michelle @ The Painted Hinge

    Amber, I love all your gorgeous vignettes and I always look forward to seeing them when we hop! 🙂 I love how you mix flea market finds with vintage items from your family and create a gorgeous room. And that frame was a awesome score! Thanks so much for inviting me to join the hop – another successful one in the can!

    September 3, 2019 at 11:35 am
  • Reply Angelina

    Every one of your vignettes is beautiful! I don’t even know where to start. Love it all!

    September 3, 2019 at 11:37 am
  • Reply cindy@countyroad407

    Love seeing your collections and new finds all dressed for early fall. Your furniture pieces are stunning as well. I kept telling my husband, come look at this, come look at this too! So pretty. Best wishes on finding more of those new antique plates. They are beautiful! Thanks for another fun hop.

    September 3, 2019 at 12:02 pm
  • Reply Jann Olson

    Amber, it is all just perfect! That lunch pail of your grandmothers is a real treasure!! Loving your flower arrangements. Sunflowers are the perfect summer to fall flower for me. The new green book and velvet acorns are so sweet. Don’t blame that squirrel at all for trying to snatch a few. Happy almost fall!!
    hugs,
    Jann

    September 3, 2019 at 1:17 pm
  • Reply Debra Oliver

    girl, you always have a treasure trove of vintage goodies. love hearing about your grandmother’s lunch pail. how wonderful that you have it! so now I’m on a hunt for mums, your’s are perfect to start early Fall! you always bring such wonderful inspiration, no matter what the season! xoxo

    September 3, 2019 at 1:22 pm
  • Reply Crissy

    My oh my oh my!! Gosh, Amber! This is so packed full of delights, I’m not sure where to begin. I don’t have a collection of vintage items like you do, but if I could snap my fingers and put a vintage Instagram filter on my home, I’d choose the Amber filter! Ha! Everything is just gorgeous and so expertly styled. That chest of drawers looks fabulous where you moved it, and all the little details are a feast for the eyes. Thanks for coordinating a great hop, my friend!

    September 3, 2019 at 2:49 pm
  • Reply Paula@SweetPea

    As always, gorgeous! All weekend I was looking forward to seeing your transitional decor and you certainly didn’t disappoint. I love how many special details you add to every area that you decorate. I love everything but my favorite is your grandmother’s lunch box. Thank you so much for organizing this fun tour. I’ve already gotten a bunch of decorating ideas to use in my home.

    September 3, 2019 at 3:00 pm
  • Reply Katie Mansfield

    Thanks for hosting this fun hop, Amber. Your grandmother’s lunch pail is darling. I also love the thrifted flowers. That squirrel is a cutie too.

    September 3, 2019 at 3:22 pm
  • Reply Botanic Bleu

    Amber,
    Your treasured red lunch pail from your grandmother is my favorite! Closely followed by your new-to-you French market basket on wheels filled with mums… I will be back to see more of it in your upcoming fall posts. You have so many other pretty French style things I love seeing transformed from summer to fall.

    Thank you for hosting this outstanding blog hop filled with so many different summer- to-fall transitional decorating.

    Judith

    September 3, 2019 at 5:37 pm
  • Reply Shannon@Belle Bleu Interiors

    Oh Amber, everything looks so beautiful and makes me dream of autumn. The sunflowers make your living room look so warm and happy. I am going to remember to add pheasant feathers to my arrangement. They make your arrangement look so elegant. Your dining table vignette is stunning! What a find with those antique plates….they are so pretty! Everything looks just gorgeous in your beautiful home! Have a wonderful rest of your week, sweet friend!!!

    September 3, 2019 at 7:02 pm
  • Reply Carol@Blueskyathome

    Amber, as usual, you have so many details in both the living room and dining room that it’s hard to pick out favorites. Love the cloches and the squirrel and the pillows and urns. Awesome that you found that book. Thanks again for hosting this amazing transitional fall blog hop.

    September 3, 2019 at 10:36 pm
  • Reply Terrie

    Your home is so nicely styled for Fall. You have an amazing touch to have a warm and cozy home. Love the book you found. How exciting! Thanks for hosting the fun blog hop.

    September 4, 2019 at 2:27 pm
  • Reply larissa

    Amber

    Oh my goodness girl every time I read your blog you blow me away with your creativity and photography!!! Every photo is perfection, I could spend hours looking at each picture! I have to say your chalk ware squirrel had my heart from the first photo! He is precious and then I read that he only had 3 legs and that made him even more endearing! I also loved the sweet red lunch pail of your grandma’s! You amaze and inspire me!! I loved it all!

    September 4, 2019 at 10:29 pm
  • Reply Laura Ingalls Gunn

    Oh that 3 legged squirrel has captured my heart! I also am inspired to collect the many acorn tops that will soon be falling in our yard to make the velvet gems. Truly inspirational!

    September 5, 2019 at 9:26 am
  • Reply Carol

    Amber, I always love your decorating and beautiful vignettes! Sunflowers are the perfect way to transition from summer to autumn. I love the way you used your three legged squirrel in the one vignette. Your white pumpkins in the old white basket look perfect! Thank you for inviting me to participate in your wonderful blog hop!

    September 5, 2019 at 10:57 am
  • Reply Marie

    Amber, you are the queen of gorgeous vignettes! I love that you have your grandmother’s lunch pail and use it to decorate for the seasons. The squirrel gathering the acorns is adorable! You’ve inspired me to use cloches to create small tabletop vignettes this year. You have mad photography skills that draw the eye in. Thank you for sharing your home with us!

    September 7, 2019 at 10:42 am
  • Reply Lora Bloomquist

    O.k., now I’ve got the fall juices flowing! All your vignettes are lovely, Amber. And that fall market basket-swoon! I’ve got my eye out for a woven/wood market basket like that; they’re so fun to syle with! Thanks for coordinating this lovely hop! Such a great combo of ladies and beautiful ideas!

    September 7, 2019 at 1:21 pm
  • Reply Chloe

    Amber, as always, I love a stroll through your beautifully styled home! Your French market basket is a gorgeous find, and I am sure you will enjoy decorating it through the year. Thank you so much for organizing this hop, it is always a pleasure!

    September 9, 2019 at 9:49 am
  • Reply Cecilia

    Thanks for sharing your beautiful fall transitions at Vintage Charm!

    September 9, 2019 at 6:52 pm
  • Reply Linda Charlton

    I think your dessert plates are the same as my china, I’s by Noritake from the 30’s and was my mom’s. All of your displays are gorgeous and I got several ideas from the pics. Thanks.

    August 24, 2020 at 5:52 pm
    • Reply Amber Lyon Ferguson

      Thank you so much Linda!

      August 25, 2020 at 5:46 pm
  • Reply Marilyn

    ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************M

    August 26, 2020 at 9:34 pm
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