Tips for fall cottage charm

Kim’s love for gardening shines through her choices for fall décor. Using natural elements such as dried flowers from her garden, as well as cornhusks and pumpkins, she creates a simple but cozy fall feel inside her cottage as well as the outdoor spaces. Consider the following when putting together your own fall décor.

• GO FOR RUSTIC TEXTURES. Incorporate baskets and other fun pieces to add bits of texture to your space. “I love wicker,” Kim says. Galvanized tins and containers are another fall favorite that will add extra sparkle to your space. Display copper pots and pans on shelves or in cabinets to enhance the warm, fall palette.

• BRIGHTEN YOUR SPACE WITH FLOWERS. “Mums are the official fall flower,” Kim says. She recommends sunflowers and mums for the early fall transition from summer. Pansies are another great option, as they are durable and long lasting, especially in cooler climates. “They are a much-needed pop of color in late fall,” Kim says.

• OPT FOR DRIED INSTEAD OF FAUX FLOWERS. While faux flowers are a nice addition to any room, Kim chooses instead to use dried flowers to give a more rustic fall look. Her go-to flowers to dry are hydrangeas, which turn a mauve shade when dried. “They completely change in color, and are not as bright,” she says. “The coloring is more like fall.”

• USE A VARIETY OF FRUITS & VEGGIES AS CENTERPIECES. Pumpkins are the classic choice for many homes, but Kim likes to be creative. “You don’t have to have pumpkins throughout the whole house—instead use fruit, like green and red apples, or even pomegranates,” she says. Corn husks are another favorite, as well as different-colored squash. These pops of fall color will help add interest to your space.

|OPPOSITE| A SECOND HOME. Donned in corn husks and dotted with pumpkins for fall, this charming greenhouse is one of Kim’s favorite places, and is a functional as well as beautiful spot for her to tend to her flowers and vegetables. “We installed Dutch doors on both sides so I can open them and get wonderful air flow,” she says. A mermaid weathervane adds a touch of coastal fun.

|TOP| MINI PUMPKINS, GREENERY AND SOME RUSTIC PIECES ADD A BIT OF VINTAGE FALL FUN. Kim loves to broaden her fall palette. “I love to mix in purples with the oranges and white,” she says.

|BOTTOM| LIVABLE SPACE. Because of the small size of the cottage, Kim and her husband decided to build a deck to serve as an extended living space during the summer months. Opting to put it in front of the house, as well as the greenhouse and gardens, made the most sense given the shape and topography of the property. “Our front yard is where the Puget Sound is, and all our sun is there,” Kim says.