For the Love of Fall

With summer behind us and the days getting shorter and the nights colder we start to retreat more to our homes for evenings by a fire and snuggled up watching a movie. Fall scents are in the air and the brisk weather has us taking out our cozy blankets and setting up our guest bedrooms for the arrival of holiday guests. It is my favorite season. I love everything about it. The way the sky looks and how the sun peeks through the changing leaves on a tree. Pumpkins, mums and sweater weather. It always reminds me of my mom and days walking home from school and smelling her home cooking a block away. I love that Ava Rose has that same feeling coming home from school. A delicious home cooked meal waiting for her, a cozy throw to snuggle up with and a comfy blanket to go to bed with. Fall is also the time when we stock up our shop and our online store with everything you need to prepare your home for guests and to get ready to settle in and enjoy your home.

Here are some of my favorite picks this fall. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. 

New Selke Fleece Blankets in so many gorgeous colors! Super warm and super cozy!

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Throws that feel like your most comfortable sweater

Soft fleecy robes to snuggle up in. 

 The evenings begin to have that Autumnal chill, but inside it’s toasty as friends come together to share food and candlelight. Our favorite Fall Candle Cranberry Orange Scented!

Happy Fall! I am going to put on a pot of minestrone soup for tonight's dinner. Enjoy your day!

Selecting the Perfect Runner for Your Staircase

Dash and Albert shared some fabulous tips on how to select the perfect runner for stairs. One of the most common questions we are asked is how to select the best runner that will hold up in high traffic, hold up against pets and kids and easy to clean. This guide from Dash and Albert is perfect for giving you some wonderful ideas. We also offer free design assistance and would be more than happy to help you pick the perfect runner. Shop the entire Dash and Albert collection at Lavender Fields.

Beautiful New Arrivals from Taylor Linens

Summer seemed to go so quickly this year. It just seems like yesterday that we were preparing for the end of the school year and planning summer fun. Now we are planning for back to school and fall. Fall is my favorite season but I still wanted to enjoy summer a little bit longer. Sleeping late, long lazy days and kicking back a lot from work. I am excited however with all the fall introductions. We have so much to share with you. Our first fall arrival is the new collections from Taylor Linens. Gorgeous heirloom quilts, soft scalloped matelasse coverlets and shams, pretty pillows and gorgeous sheets. We look forward to working with you on creating a bed of your dreams.

Sophie Collection

Evelyn Collection

Hannah Collection

Jasper Collection

So much to share with you!

I have so many projects I want to share with you! So little time always! If you have been following me for the last 10 years you will know I am always working on my 1920's Arts and Crafts style home. It is always a work in progress. Summertime seems to be the time when I get the most done so I have a lot to share with you and I am so excited.

A little background first for anyone that does not know me. I am a single mom with a beautiful kind hearted soon to be 7 year old daughter named Ava Rose. We live in a big old house and have lots of furry rescued friends. They make our home. I also have a retail shop in Port Jefferson Village, New York and an online shop which you probably know about if you reached this blog. Juggling it all can be very challenging but I would not have it any other way. I love everything about my life and I love sharing it all with you.

So for this summer here is my lineup of projects. Some are not always so much fun as there is a lot of basic upkeep on a big old house.

For outside:

• I just had a picket fence put in the front of the house and we have been busy painting it. Ava Rose is a big help! (beautiful but not so much fun painting!)
• I am also working on adding a few new garden beds and weeding and mulching. (not so much fun! it's hot!)
• We are adding to our fairy garden and expanding it. (fun!)
• We are also planning on doing a beautiful mosaic when the weather cools down a bit. (fun!)
• Refinishing old vintage outdoor furniture. I selected a pretty robin's egg blue for the color. (fun!)

Inside:

• Painting all the baseboards and radiators (not so much fun!)
• Planning a guest bathroom makeover. This has been real fun I am work with Dawn from My Hydrangea Home on this project and it is coming very soon! (super fun!)
• Installing new bamboo floors in my office and soon to be family room. (super fun!)
• Painting all trim. The trim gets yucky and needs to be refreshed often. (not so much fun!)

I will have lots of pictures to share with you real soon for now I need to get back to work!

Preview Bella Notte Linens Fall Collection

We are pleased to introduce the Bella Notte Linen's Fall Collection. All collections can be ordered on our website or by calling us at 866-898-5461. We offer Free Design Assistance, Free Swatches and Free Shipping. We ship worldwide. 

INTRODUCING JOSEPHINE: EMBROIDERY ON SATIN

Bella Notte’s Fall 2015 Introductions are a rich offering of color, texture, and print. In their first collection, Josephine, an exquisite orchid embroidery adds tonal detail to​ a classic​ satin. Finished by one of their latest domestic embroiderers at the base of the Appalachians in South Carolina, Bella Notte is proud to extend their tradition of supporting US businesses with this collection. Offered in a Duvet Cover and Shams with inset detail, Pillowcases, Accent Pillow and luxurious bordered Personal Comforter, Josephine stuns in each and every piece. 

INTRODUCING OPHELIA: WATERCOLOR PRINTS ON SILK

Ophelia's whimsical watercolor print floats dreamily atop Silk Charmeuse, blending cool tones of Mineral and Seaglass, and warm tones of Powder and Heirloom Rose. Offered in a Personal Comforter, 20" Throw Pillow, and Pillowcases, this decorative offering is a pop of color that exudes sophisticated bohemian style.

INTRODUCING SLOAN: SILK VELVET WITH SATIN RUCHING

Satin ruching adds a regal finish to Silk Velvet in a luxe intro, Sloan. Offered in Shams, a Duvet Cover, Personal Comforter, Throw Blanket with Satin Ties, and Accent Pillow, this collection is fit for royalty.

INTRODUCING CHLOE: COTTON VELVET WITH TRECENTO RUCHING

Trecento ruching lends vintage glamour to Cotton Velvet in Bella Notte's latest collection, Chloe. Offered in Shams, a Duvet Cover, Personal Comforter and Bed Skirt, Chloe reimagines the romance of Celeste with beautiful simplicity.

INTRODUCING ARIELLE: SILK CHARMEUSE WITH PINTUCKING

Lustrous Arielle, the new Silk Charmeuse collection, is trimmed with layers of pintucking. Offered in Shams, a Duvet Cover, Accent Pillow, and Personal Comforter, Arielle is a tailored sister to beloved Valentina.

Shop the Bella Notte Collection at Lavender Fields

Reflecting on Summer

Summer means so much to me. It brings back so many childhood memories. Starting Memorial Day Weekend my parents would pack up the car to take my sister and I to our house in Sullivan County New York. I can still remember the Chevy Nova my dad drove and the old vintage thermos filled with coffee and ice tea. We would stop at Bear Mountain and just get out and breathe the fresh country air. Growing up in Brooklyn it was such an amazing escape to the country each weekend. I can easily recall so many fond memories. One of my favorites is the sound of the old wood screen door. I am planning on putting one in my house this summer just for the sound!

Here is a picture of me (the younger one) and my sister with our schnauzer Buffy sometime in the seventies.

Our house was near the original Woodstock location and near White Lake and Bethel. It has changed so much now but I remember asking my dad how it was driving up during Woodstock and he laughed and said he stayed away. Traffic was backed up for miles. But just thinking of that time was so much fun to me. To know how house was so close to it. We visit the site very summer.

We would spend lazy summer weekends by the lake and then take a fun trip into White Lake to visit the old grocery store for candy. Time stood still back then. Weekends seemed so long and there were no cell phones or laptops or even tv in the house. We would listen to the radio. We spent nights playing games and pick up sticks or catching fireflies.

I would love to go back to that time when my parents were still with us. But I can only remember those days and I promised my little girl this summer we will put down the phones and computers and play games and catch fireflies, eat ice cream and take road trips. I want to build those same memories for her. We still have our house and although it looks different up there now it is still summer in the country and Ava Rose is already loving it.

Wishing you a safe and happy summer of building memories for you and your family.

Lori and Ava Rose