magical oversized paper flowers

A quick and fun little post for you today. For my lovely sister's 30th birthday last month, I made these awesome, huge paper flowers and have been meaning to share! I used a mash-up of the instructions found here and here.

We felt a little like Jack and the Beanstalk for a few days as they took over the living room. For easier transporting, I left the flowers unattached from the stems until arriving at the park and simply attached them with zip-ties upon arrival. They were a hit, and made for such fun photos!

And just because it was such a beautiful and lovely day, I thought it would be fun to share a few more photos. After a picnic in the park, we rented pedal boats! I haven't been in a pedal boat since childhood summers in Michigan, and wasn't sure if it would be fun or a flop. We ended up having a great time being silly, and also really enjoying how peaceful it was out on the water on this gorgeous day! 

simple, everyday fall decor

Everyone who knows me would say that Summer is my favorite season. I love warm weather, going barefoot, warm sun rays on my face and the carefree feeling of it all. It's true. But…I have to admit that the slight change in the air lately has me pretty excited about Fall!

I was pretty late to the party this year in terms of adding some Fall-like decor at home. We've had a really warm September & October, and the weather really influences my decorating choices. Decorating for me engages multiple senses. It's about the feel of the air, the scents wafting through the window or through the house, and the sounds around me. It's all inspiration, and plays a part.

As the years go by, I find myself gravitating more and more towards simple ways of bringing beauty into our lives. Going all out with seasonal decor is fun (and I will always do this for Christmas!!), but in the everyday, it's just not practical for me. Maybe this will shift at some point, but right now, I need to lower the expectations I place on myself and keep it simple. And the thing is, I end up finding joy in these little things.

These beautiful sunflowers were left by our sweet house sitters after our recent vacation. I split them into a couple of small vases, added clippings from a backyard succulent and called it good.

And call me crazy, but some days it really just comes down to the subtle changes in the light that filters in through our blinds. It's warm and comforting and suggests a change in the air...

The below was an accidental grouping that was caught between styling projects, and ended up staying this way for a few days. Nothing especially seasonal about this, except that it's sometimes fun just to switch up your everyday objects for a change of scenery. You'll see them with new eyes. :)

Remnants of a drink station after a women's Bible study at our house. I especially love the scarf-as-tablecloth.

So, let me just encourage you today. If you're feeling overwhelmed about the idea of decorating for the season, here's an easy plan: the next time you're at the supermarket, pick up just one interesting-looking pumpkin and a bunch of flowers. Maybe light a candle or two. For a few dollars and very little effort, you'll have added bits of warmth and beauty to your home. It's worth it!

If you're interested in working together to make your home a place you love, please contact me for 

more information at katiegaviganinteriors@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

color couples with Chairish

Chairish has quickly become one of my favorite go-to sources to find unique pieces for clients.  They've done an amazing job curating a diverse, interesting and practical inventory…and the fact that it's ever-evolving makes it that much more impressive. I can always count on finding just the thing, whether it's an accent chair, lighting or accent tables.

What you might not know is, they also have a blog. When they recently asked me to share their post on "color couples," I was happy to do so! The color pairings they've pulled together, below, got my wheels turning about interesting color combos. First, I was inspired to pull together some of my favorite images highlighting Chairish's featured "color couples"…

house & garden uk

domaine home

elle décor

original source unknown

house beautiful

amber interiors

Then, I couldn't help but have some fun with a little color exercise of my own.  I set out to create a couple of rooms featuring bits of pink or purple, with the goal that the rooms not feel feminine… and of course using a few key pieces found on Chairish!

bright berber rug  |  classic, casual sofa  |  danish modern chair  |  brass pendant  |  mid-century floor lamp   
coffee table  |  black marble lamp  |  geometric pillow  |  purple lumbar  | modern city photo

I realize not every guy would go for this, but it was fun to find masculine elements to ground the pink found in the rug. To me, the velvet lumbar pillow kind of bridges the gap between the pink family and the darker tones. And while the artwork has softer tones to help bring the room together, it feels very edgy and masculine. The deep-seated linen sofa keeps things from getting too serious - comfort is always a priority in my book. (For some fun accent chair browsing, be sure to pop over to their site -- I'm telling you, so many great pieces!!)

For this simple, sophisticated dining room, I imagined the artwork as the starting point. Pull in a subtle purple rug and then pile on some stylish neutrals.

modern art  |  chrome + leather dining chairs  |  rug  |  dining table  |  pendant  | elephant statue 

Which color pairings are inspiring you lately? With the change of seasons, are you feeling darker colors, or maybe neutrals? Don't be afraid of color... life's too short for that.

Interested in working together to make your home a place you love? Contact me for 

more information at katiegaviganinteriors@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

lately

Stopping by with a few updates from my life as of late…

Last week, I helped a client install a gallery wall. She has an amazing art collection, and it was a treat to arrange about thirty pieces throughout her home. Most were included in this large wall in the living room, with a few others elsewhere in the house. I wish I could have captured a picture of this entire wall for you! It's quite a sight.

I've also been out and about a lot over the past few weeks - antiquing, thrifting and sourcing at various stores. A few goodies that caught my eye...

And lastly, we've spent a few evenings with friends and my sister (my only immediate family who's local), which I've really appreciated. I took an unintentional break from email for just over a day (I know - not the longest break!) and was reminded that I need to do this more often! Running my business, I tend to work a lot of weekends and it's easy to get sucked into this habit. The way I'm wired, I definitely need breaks and am determined to do better with this! Hope you're well and enjoying these last bits of summer!