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Snowberry’s Fall Porch Decor

October 17, 2020 By Juliet 28 Comments

Snowberry’s Fall Porch Decor

Fall Front Door DecorIt’s been an unusually warm fall here in Northern California. And, by warm I mean hot.

How is it where you are?

Can you believe we’re halfway through October … and Halloween is right around the corner? I usually hold off buying pumpkins until the weather cools off a bit …. but at this rate that could be February … so off to the pumpkin patch I went. Actually, it was off to our local nursery.

This post contains some affiliate links at no additional cost to you. Please read my full disclosure policy here.

Pumpkins on Porch

Don’t you love the variety of pumpkins available now?! Not to date myself, but … when I was a growing up, we had a choice of one type of pumpkin. Bright orange. You bought your orange pumpkin at the grocery store or a local pumpkin ‘patch’ – a converted empty lot downtown.  Everyone in the family picked a pumpkin and the decision was mostly about size and carvabiity.

Mini pumpkins were not yet a thing.

Pumpkins on Porch

If you were lucky and lived within an hour of a rural area, your parents might take you on a weekend outing to a real pumpkin patch. Even then, your choice of pumpkins was pretty much the same. Orange. But it was more of a ‘authentic’ experience with corn mazes, farm animals and scarecrows.

Then, a few days before Halloween, it was carving time! This was pre-Martha Stewart and her fancy carving tools.

Carving procedure at my house went something like this …

Mom spread newspapers out on the kitchen floor and reluctantly handed us black markers. We drew faces on our pumpkins and then dad was summoned with his scalpel (kitchen knife). Once the lids were off, mom took the markers in exchange for slotted spoons whereby the process of removing the innards – so gross – began. Intermittent inspections took place until our pumpkins were declared sufficiently cleaned. Dad returned and carved the pumpkin faces.

Speaking of carving pumpkins …

I once had the great idea to host a pumpkin carving contest. My mom and her best friend arrived with an Agatha Christie book and a brown paper bag. The book cover was their pumpkin inspiration. I should have paid closer attention.  All the contestants spread out around the house, my mom and her friend staked claim to the laundry room. The book’s cover displayed a jack-o-lantern that appeared to be blacked out on the inside. All I remember is the sound of a spray paint can being shaken followed by shrieking. Needless to say, they were disqualified did not win a prize.

Agatha Christie Halloween Party Book

Look! I found it on Amazon … Google is amazing.

Okay, well that was a fun walk down memory lane …

let’s get to Snowberry’s fall porch décor.

Fall Front Door Decor

In my Fall Home Tour post, I shared five tips for bringing seasonal décor into your home without driving yourself insane.

I feel like fall décor moves through four stages. My thoughts on The Four Stages of Fall Décor:

  • Phase One (September, post-Labor Day) – a hint of fall color
  • Phase Two (October) – here come the real pumpkins
  • Phase Three (mid-October) – bring on the spook & gore
  • Phase Four (November) – remove the scary stuff, add turkeys and gourds

Fall Décor Phase One

Phase One of my fall porch décor was very simple. I added a wreath to the front door (this one is no longer available, but I love this wreath from Frontgate), layered a buffalo check rug under the doormat, added a couple of colorful plants and filled a lantern with mini cloth pumpkins and pinecones. To our porch bench I added a plaid throw, a striped pillow and a cloth pumpkin.

Fall Wreath on Blue Dutch Door
Fall Door Mat
Bright Orange Fall Flowers
Fall Lantern Decor

Fall Décor Phase Two

A couple of weeks ago Phase Two kicked in and I stuck firmly to my less-is-more policy … here’s what I added:

Real pumpkins, and lots of them. Did I go overboard?

I could certainly have passed muster with less.

Pumpkin Display on Porch

Faux fall leaves in the basket planter topped with a few small sugar pumpkins.

Pumpkins in Planter

Yellow mums to replace the sunflower that died (not enough sun apparently).

Fall Decor Mums

A larger pumpkin alongside our driveway bench.

Outdoor Fall Decor

Isn’t this a great pumpkin (Charlie Brown)? The stem!!!

Truth be told I freaked out a bit after unloading all my pumpkins. Shopping for them is one thing, artfully arranging them is another.

I’ve confessed to being challenged in the home décor realm.

I love décor, I can envision what I’d want things to look like … but the execution gets tricky.

I decided not to overthink it and I did ok. Not great, not terrible … ok. I’m happy with it.

Fall Front Door Decor

Fall Décor Phase Three

Moving on to Phase Three – spook and gore. We have no children at home, and get few trick or treaters. Plus, it’s not really my thing so I’m looking ahead to Phase Four.

Fall Décor Phase Four

Sit back and enjoy a lull in the action until November 1st when Phase Four kicks in and Snowberry’s largest pumpkin morphs into a turkey.

Stay tuned.

Fall Porch Decor Ideas

Fall Decor + Adult Beverages

Did you read my posts about perfect fall cocktails?

They pair well with the Four Phases of Fall Decor.

My personal favorite, the Aperol Spritz, is ideal for Phase One and Two. Light and easy.

Aperol Spritz Recipe

Because seasonal decorating can be exhausting, Phase Three and Four require something more substantial and the Bourbon Spritz fits the bill.

Bourbon Spritz Recipe

This week I added to Snowberry’s home décor library with a wonderful new book by Myquillyn Smith, aka The Nester, called Welcome Home. Myquillyn is all about ‘more style, less stuff.’ She’s speaking my language.

Have you seen the Netfix series by Studio McGee … Dream Home Makeover? Oh, my goodness! Seasons one and two are so good and season three is coming soon. Not soon enough. Shea and Syd McGee are the most adorable and talented couple. I can’t wait for more.

Did you see Snowberry’s (nearly) finished back patio … dressed for fall?  You can find it here.

Patio Fire Pit and Sofas

But wait, there’s more about fall!

Much more …

Less-is-More Fall Decor & Home Tour

Easy Outdoor Fall Tablescape

New Patio Decorated for Fall

Perfect Fall Cocktail – Aperol Spritz

Perfect Fall Cocktail -Bourbon Spritz

As always, I appreciate your visit and would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Until then, Cheers from Snowberry and happy fall decorating!

Unless otherwise noted, all photos in the post are by Monica Vargas Photography.



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Filed Under: Home & Decor, Uncategorized Tagged With: Fall Cocktails, Fall Decor, Fall Front Porch Decor, Four Phases of Fall Decor, Less is More Decor, Snowberry Cottage

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carol S. says

    October 18, 2020 at 6:49 am

    Love your four phase plan. Don’t think I’ve seen it described like that before but yup, it’s a good decor strategy. I think your home and outdoors look lovely. Almost bought a bottle of Aperol and still may yet. Read Agatha Christie AND THEN THERE WERE NONE for book club last October, very good. Happy Sunday!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 9:54 am

      Good morning, Carol – I love Agatha Christie and wish I could persuade my book club to go that direction. It would be a nice, comforting change. I hope you do buy Aperol and give it a try. The Italians are onto something … low alcohol and mixes well with so many things. Plus, the color! I’m glad you like my 4-phase approach … not being a huge seasonal decorator it seemed to make sense to break it down into bite sized pieces. Ha! Happy Sunday to you too! xo

      Reply
  2. Whitney Ebert says

    October 18, 2020 at 11:50 am

    Beautifully decorated with hints of fall! Love all of the different pumpkins. And gorgeous outdoor patio! Can’t wait to see more!

    Reply
  3. Heidi says

    October 18, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Juliet,
    You made me laugh with your 4 phase decorating plan, but when I thought about it that’s exactly what happens around here! I’m waiting until right before Halloween to put the spooky stuff out, since it’s just for a laugh when I surprise my family. No one else will be here, and we never have any trick or treaters because we live in the country.
    I think your porch looks very festive and I admire your bounty of pumpkins! They are always so heavy and dirty, but worth it in the end for a little fall color! I choose mine by their stems, yours with that giant stem is perfection! I have six sitting on the top steps up to the front door, and the little scarecrow my parents bought me years ago, a pretty wreath on the door and I’m done! If the weather ever cools down it will really feel like Fall!
    XO Heidi

    Reply
  4. Cheryl says

    October 18, 2020 at 12:57 pm

    I think your great at decorating and I love your blog! Love your Halloween memories!! Need to check out more on your blog!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 1:53 pm

      Hi Cheryl! Thank you so much … I’m so glad you’re here! xo

      Reply
  5. LA CONTESSA says

    October 18, 2020 at 2:45 pm

    OHHHH THANK YOU FOR THAT WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    THAT’s EXACTLY HOW IT WAS DONE!!!!!!
    EVEN WITH MY BOYS!!!WHO ARE GETTING UP THERE IN YEARS………I took them to a pumpkin patch down San Pablo DAM ROAD.When they were little HALF MOON BAY!
    I never got the taste or thrill for baking THE SEEDS DID YOU?
    LOVE THAT PUMPKIN ON ITS OWN WITH THE SWAG STALK LOOK!!!
    THAT WAS A FIND!
    XX

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:15 pm

      Thank you, Contessa! Unfortunately, our squirrels love that pumpkin too! Funny you should mentioned roasting the seeds. Our family didn’t do it … but our next door neighbors did. Getting the seeds separated from all the gobbley-gook pumpkin innards is no easy task. I haven’t carved a pumpkins in eons … have you? xo

      Reply
      • LA CONTESSA says

        October 19, 2020 at 9:26 am

        NO!!!!

        Reply
  6. Carol Karl says

    October 18, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    Your porch looks amazing. I loved hearing your story about pumpkin carving and your competition. Here in NZ, we don’t really celebrate fall like in the Northern Hemisphere – it’s spring here now but you would think it was more like fall with the weather we’ve been having. Our family do Halloween but it’s not common here. I loved reading your stages of fall decorating too. Great post. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:19 pm

      Hi Carol … I had no idea Halloween wasn’t a big deal in Australia. I always think of our two countries as being so much the same. We do go a little overboard … particularly in the last decade … driving through neighborhood so many of the front yard are elaborately decked out with spider webs, giant spiders, tomb stones, ghosts, bats and witches. And, it’s been in the 90’s all week! I do enjoy the little ones trick or treating, and seeing all their sweet costumes, but I don’t think we’ll have the pleasure of their visits this year. Thanks for dropping by the blog! xo

      Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:32 pm

      Sorry, Carol, I meant New Zealand … I know, from NZ friends, that getting the two countries mixed up is extremely irritating! What was I thinking?!!! xo

      Reply
  7. Marie says

    October 18, 2020 at 3:58 pm

    As usual, in love with all of your less is more decor! The trip down memory lane is do fun. Until moving to the PNW I had never been to an actual pumpkin patch! I also love all of the pumpkin options now, especially the Cinderella variety & the blue/green ones. Without realizing it, I see that I follow your 4 phases of fall decorating ha ha! Need to tune into the Studio McGee show everyone is raving about! Cheers Juliet!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 18, 2020 at 7:22 pm

      Really?! I’m shocked and scandalized!!! There are so many wonderful farms in the PNW. Have you been to Gordon Skagit Farms in Mt. Vernon? Definitely worth the drive. The two years we lived in Anacortes I visited multiple times each fall. In fact, you remind me to search for the photos and share in my Instagram stories. There is a wonderful nursery nearby the farm, Christensen’s. Definitely worth a visit as well. I just rewatched the first three episodes of the Studio McGee show with my husband. He’d been out of town for the weekend and I knew he’d love it. He did! Hope you have a wonderful week! xo

      Reply
  8. paulasweetpea says

    October 19, 2020 at 5:22 am

    I love all of the pumpkin varieties that are available now. It wasn’t too many years ago that just orange ones were the only ones for sale. Your porch looks great decorated for fall!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 19, 2020 at 9:53 am

      Hi Paula … it’s almost too many pumpkin choices. Right?!!! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Katie Clooney says

    October 19, 2020 at 11:51 am

    Hello, dear Juliet… I LOVED your Halloween trip down memory lane. Your Mom and Sista remind me of something that my Sista and I would do. Your home looks positively darling with just the right amount of Halloween decor. By the way… the Mr. just looked over my shoulder while I was reading your post and said he LOVES your door!!! I must say the words “Thanks Covid” 40 times a day. Have a wonderful week.

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 19, 2020 at 7:31 pm

      Yes, I can see that about you and Sista! New house rule: no spray paint allowed. Many thanks to the Mister. He’s welcome to walk through that door anytime. Perhaps he could find his way to the kitchen. Jim and I will be waiting at the dining table. You can join us! Seriously though, I’ve been thinking about you weekend … and your Big Move. I hope your manicure is holding up to the extreme sport of packing. Safe travels. xo

      Reply
  10. Southern Nell Gracious Living says

    October 20, 2020 at 7:19 am

    Beautiful fall front porch, Juliet. I love all the pumpkin varieties as well! By the time Thanksgiving arrives, I’m down to only one little bit of fall decor, and that’s the Thanksgiving tablescape! The speed of change in a blogging world!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 20, 2020 at 7:02 pm

      So true. I’m not fully up-to-speed on decor blogger-stye! Perhaps there should be a four phases of fall decor for bloggers … that takes place between July & August! With Christmas off and running by October 1st! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Jennifer Howard | Cottage On Bunker Hill says

    October 20, 2020 at 12:06 pm

    Love, love what you did!! OMG, I started watching the Studio McGee show last weekend when I was cleaning out my closet…I love watching decorating shows when I’m working on projects. I could have Chip & Jo on a loop in the background all weekend while I plow through stuff!!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 20, 2020 at 6:59 pm

      Hi Jennifer! I feel exactly the same way and counting the days until the Magnolia Network makes it debut. xo

      Reply
  12. Misty says

    October 20, 2020 at 4:17 pm

    Juliet, I am loving the four phases of fall, and the designated cocktail recipes. So fun, great post!

    Reply
    • Juliet says

      October 20, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      Hi Misty! Thanks so much, I really appreciate your support. Right now the squirrels are eating my phases one and two fall decor! We’ll see if anything survives to phase four. 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Juliet … welcome to Make Mine a Spritzer where we talk about all things home décor, classic style more! I’m so happy you’re here!
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Cocktails anyone?! It’s Friday ... traditionally Cocktails anyone?! It’s Friday ... traditionally cocktail night at Snowberry. Not tonight. But not to worry, I have cocktail recipes. You know I'm all about weddings (did you read my all-secrets-revealed blog post about @zzzissou and @melodymakhfi wedding? Linked in profile. 😉.) ... so today I'm sharing recipes for Kyle and Melody's signature cocktails.

Hers - Jalapeno Margarita with a Tajin rim (a must, says the bride)

1.5 oz Blanco tequila
Juice of two limes
1 tsp Agave nectar
1 Jalapeno (seeds & ribs removed)
Tajin rimming salt
Lime wedge rim glasses
Jalapeno & lime slice for garnish

Rub lime wedge around rim of glass. Dip rim into Tajin rimming salt. And fill with ice. Muddle jalapeno in cocktail shaker. Add ice, tequila, lime juice and agave. Shake vigorously. Strain into prepared glass. Garnish with jalapeño and lime slices.

His - Old Fashioned (Jim loves an Old Fashioned too, like father like son)

1.5 oz Bourbon
1 sugar cube
A few dashes Angostura bitters
A few dashes of water
Orange slice & cocktail cherry for garnish

Place sugar cube in old fashioned glass, add bitters & water. Muddle until dissolved. Fill glass with ice. Add bourbon. Gently stir. Garnish with orange slice (or zest) and cocktail cherry.

Cheers to you, the happy couple and the weekend! 🥃 

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Yesterday I put two open house tours on Reels. I’m still learning and forgot there’s a 60 second limit. The outdoor spaces of the cute 1929 cottage got cut off. 🤦🏼‍♀️ I used a heavier hand editing the second house so it fits … mostly. Anyway, I’m sure you appreciate a more edited version. 😆 I tend to talk, write and record more than is necessary. As Jim says, when you’ve made the sale stop talking. 🤷‍♀️ I visited a 3rd house as well and need to work on it. New open house rule … one per week! 😉

Good morning and Happy Monday! 💙

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