Front Porch, Fall Style
September 30, 2009
The temperatures have dropped. A cold front is on its way. The wind is blowing the leaves off the trees. It’s officially fall in my town.
With that in mind, I’m so glad the old saying about rebuking unnecessary ornamentation specifically names the lily, and only the lily. I thank thee Shakespeare. Because I’ve gone ahead and gilded my pumpkins. Well, actually, I’ve enhanced their already natural beauty with a golden glaze. Then I stacked them high and tied them with copper ribbon.
I made a few other decorative upgrades as well. Here’s the autumn front porch tour.
A few months ago, I invested in some urns that were the perfect size, just not the right color for me. So I freshened up my fiberglass with some white spray paint to achieve a high end look. During the summer, I also purchased some gorgeous gardenia trees that lived happily on my porch until just a few weeks ago, when one perished, for some unknown reason. Its mate, still flourishing, has been transplanted to a large pot in the backyard where it will live this winter.
So what was a girl to do with empty urns? Why fill them with fall pumpkins, of course !
I found some ridiculously gorgeous Cinderellas at the local Whole Foods for an uncharacteristically low price. My dear friend Staci from South Dakota once renamed ‘Whole Foods’ as ‘Whole Paycheck’ and it has stuck with me ever since.
Anyway, the pumpkins were on sale, two for $12 dollars, and they came home with me to receive the royal treatment. Other varieties I picked up at a quick stop at the local pumpkin patch. I enhanced some of the Cinderellas with some bronze metallic glaze that’s been sitting in my craft cabinet. The same glaze I used for these fall leaves on canvas.
I dipped my brush in the paint, then wiped most of it off until the brush was almost dry. Then with my dry brush, I glazed the edges of the pumpkins. It took about five minutes. No, maybe four minutes. Total. For all the pumpkins. But I work fast.
I gave the deep orange Cinderella a full body glaze. Wait. Doesn’t that sound like something you get at a day spa? Let me rephrase. How about this: I gave her highlights. And with these kind of curves, I’ve just nicknamed her J. Lo.
But I gave the white versions a stripe like treatment, focusing most of the paint in the ridges. Yes, this is a real pumpkin. It is not a fake. Despite its fake golden glaze. Come November, she will magically transform into a soup.
Then I gingerly stacked my pumpkins, sculpture style. Of course, they insisted on some copper ribbon to go with their golden glaze. Royals are so demanding.
Next, I displayed some other varieties on the neighboring benches.
I embellished some of them as if I was giving them as a gift. A gift to my family. Awwwh, shucks. How sweet.
For their bedding, I chose dry grasses with plum tones instead of the traditional hay bale.
And this is my new best friend. What should his name be?
I splurged on a new rug from Pier One because I couldn’t resist these colors or this pattern.
I added some faux leaves garland around the front door, to add to my existing wreath that I recycled from last year.
I’m obsessed with these plum tones right now.
Then I planted in pots some mums, kale, and the most amazing deep purple basil.
Have you ever seen this kind of basil before? It’s called ‘Dark Opal Basil’ – it’s completely new to me. It’s gorgeous. And when it matures, it will soon be in my salad.
And who can resist a medley of fall squash and corn. Not me.
You sweet little sweet dumpling you.
Strawberry corn. It pops, so I’ve heard.
So here’s the front porch, all dolled up for fall.
I only have one problem. This pesky little critter, who in all likelihood will send at least one of these princesses tumbling very soon. But that’s his job. He’s three.
I’m not kidding when I say it took mere minutes to highlight these pumpkins with a golden glaze.
But you could go all out and gild your gourds like this, as seen in Country Living.
If you love this version of gilded pumpkins, learn how to do it yourself right here.
Whether they’re golden, gilded, princessy or just plain. Pumpkins are simply one of my favorite things.
What say you?
Tags: autumn
very lovely! wish we dolled up the porch/front door in the UK but we don’t. I, on the other hand, have found some lovely real-looking fake leaves in those gorgeous plum tones you describe to put in my hanging baskets and people keep commenting on how seasonal it looks :)
Very nice. It’s still in the upper 80s around here. Not feeling much like fall. But once it does… Watch OUT pumpkings I’m seriously glazing you with gold! You have such a great eye.
That’s absolutely gorgeous! I really like what you did with all of your pumpkins and gourds…well done, lady!
The porch looks great! All the ideas I am getting from blogging are swimming in my head. It is 49 right now in Georgia and the high today is only 71. I love it! Have a wonder-FALL day! :)
just beautiful – I love the combo between natural looking and fancy glaze! The colors are amazing
“Gourd”eous”!! Very pretty!
Your pumpkins look gorgeous! I “cheated” by painting plastic pumpkins. They’re cheaper, last forever, and oh, did I say I bought CHEAP plastic pumpkins? They still look just as good once I gave them a little make-up via paint brush. I’m thinking a fall banner may be next on my fall decorating to-do list.
This is absolutly beautiful!!! Where can I find metallic glaze?
Since I am living in the middle of boxes at the present, I can’t wait to unload at the new abode and try this glided pumpkin technique. They are certainly beautiful as is the whole front porch.
Your porch looks gorgeous. You have such an elegant eye. I’ve seen the gilded pumpkins before, but never glazed like yours. I think I actually like your glazed pumpkins better. I would be much more apt to glaze my own rather than guild them, that’s for sure. You know how to add just the right amount of elegance without it seeming over the top or unapproachable. I love your style.
Pretty! I love this idea! Your porch looks gorgeous!
Your porch looks great! And I love the stacked and guilded pumpkins in the urn. Very nice.
oh my goodness, I love their highlights!! Looks spectacular! and I would name him Ernest……..just cause. I especially love all the colors you’ve used, such as the basil with the small white pumpkin! Love that! It all looks very festive and autumnal!!! ;)
Suzanne
Love the front door display! Pumpkins are my obsession this year.
Absolutely stunning! Love, love, love that metallic glaze. And what an amzing price for those gorgous cinderellla pumpkins. They are hard to find around here, but I’m giving it my best effort! The whole porch is FAB…love that rug.
~Amanda
Absolutely stunning. I love everything.
Wow! I love the whole look. Love the pumpkins stacked on the urns. I especially like all the little details like the glaze, ribbons, leaf garland. I think the rug was definately worth the splurge!
Now this is magazine worthy! Kate you really did a great job on those pumpkins! I love your front porch
Those are gorgeous! And a tad more realistic than the diamond studded pumpkins
I posted the other day! But I have to go with sparkle! Your porch is fit for a magazine
cover!!!!Fall-icious!!!!!
m ^..^
Kate, this is just gorgeous! I love the subtle gilding of the pumpkins. What a great idea – so classy and festive. I sure wish I had a front porch to decorate!!
PS – where on earth did you find strawberry corn? And the Dark Opal Basil is AWESOME. it tastes great!
Just gorgeous. Your porch screams Fall beautifully! And I’m lovin’ the Pier one rug. Great colors.
Beautiful! I think I may have to give in and do the stacked pumpkins in my urns. It certainly seems to be all the rage. Great job with everything.
pk @ room remix
Beautiful! I absolutely love decorating for fall and halloween. Your glazed pumpkins are brilliant! Thanks so much for sharing.
OH gosh! I love this!!!
Love the Fall look! I have the same front door as you and always hesitate hanging a wreath over it….I didn’t spy any hanger…how is yours hung?
Love your blog and ideas!
How fun that your simple and quick pumpkins look immaculate and lush, while the more time-consuming (and more costly, no doubt) method is much less appealing! To me, at least. Oh, if only our new house had a front porch – or if only we got Autumn in Texas! ;)
Love your porch it looks very inviting!
This is gorgeous!!! I want to copy everything, lol. Lovely photos of it all too.
Also, I’m doing my first giveaway on my blog right now if you’re interested:
http://www.mooreminutes.com/2009/09/pleated-poppy-giveaway.html
I’m in love with your blog!!!!!! Wonderful projects… I wish I get the time to make some of them for my house…
Gorgeous – I especially like the ribbons tied around the stems.
Will you come and do my house please?
Gorgeous! I must do this TODAY!
Absolutely stunning! Everything looks fantastic and the glazed pumpkins are my favorite. Great job!
That is lovely!! I love the rug you got – so eye catching!!
I just posted about the Gourd I monogrammed for our front porch – it’s nothing as elaborate as yours, but you can see it here if you’re interested > http://paulsbride.blogspot.com/2009/09/fall-gourd-decor.html
oh, and I meant to ask – will the paint seep through and affect the pumpkins for soup or is it really safe to eat ‘painted pumpkins’?
Love those shiny glazed pumpkins!! And the ribbons and twigs you tied to the others. Simple but so pretty. Thanks for sharing these great ideas!
You did a gorgeous job! I love the glaze on the pumpkins! Ooh and the rug is wonderful too!
Hahahah J.Lo….that is hilarious! I love how they are taller than your 3 year old. He can’t resist!
I do believe you have inspired me to paint my pumpkins!
Gorgeous! I love that new rug!
Well done, love it.
So so lovely, Kate! Your little guy is just adorable…I’m surprised the pumpkins have stayed up that long. ;)
That owl looks like a Cornelius to me…I dunno….
Love the J. Lo. ;)
your porch looks fabulous!
Gorgeous front porch! I painted my pumpkins gold last year and my husband thought I had lost my mind…maybe they just needed highlights! I will try that this year! ;)
Thanks for the ideas!!!
looks greaT! AND i love the rug you have too! its fab!
My husband is starting to hate you, I keep talking about painting everything white! Everything looks magazine perfect. I’m just getting my things out and deciding what to do this year. I love playing with holiday things.
Sue
Beautiful! Love them all!
I am coming out of lurkdom to say that is truly gorgeous!!!
Oh it’s gorgeous! Love the idea of glazing the pumpkins! My boys want everything scary! I told them they can make the outside scary but the inside is all mine :)
Love the pumpkins. You’re the best!
Wow, that glaze is such a great idea, I love it. I’ll be linking Your porch looks gorgeous, I can’t wait to do mine!