Design Feature

Breakfast room by Anthony Wilder Design/Build, photo by John Cole Right: Bedroom sitting area by Tracy Morris Design, photo by Greg Powers

FALL Refresh Local designers share tips for giving your home subtle updates that reflect the changing season

By Sherry Moeller

Adding the colors of fall to accent pieces, such as pillows and throws, is a subtle, yet effective way to introduce seasonal changes in a room. Candles and flowers can create just the right ambiance without going overboard. Washington, DC-area designers Tracy Morris and Josh Hildreth, along with Anthony Wilder’s Interiors Studio, share some of their favorite fall refresh tips for the home. 17

TRACY MORRIS, TRACY MORRIS DESIGN, WWW.TRACYMORRISDESIGN.COM 1. What are some ways to revamp your home for a chic, refreshing transition into fall?

For the fall season, I love considering the outside to give a chic refresh to your home. Adding fall plants to your front porch is a great way to add some seasonal style to your home. For fall and all year round, I make sure I have rugs in high traffic areas to create a soft and warm feel underfoot; it’s especially great to have on cold mornings!

2. What are your favorite fall accent colors?

For fall, I love a rich plum color or deep neutrals. They are some of my favorite tones in a home and they give an extra cozy feeling for the fall months. Incorporating these colors into throw pillows and blankets adds texture and makes the room feel even more relaxing.

3. Is there any specific area of decor that you would focus on to make a swift fall transformation?

When the temperatures start to drop, I transition to fall with warmer bed linens and extra plush blankets in the family room. It is a quick way to get ready for the cooler months and will instantly make your home feel cozy and ready for the fall.

4. How do you personally redecorate your living space for seasonal changes?

When it comes to changing my home from season to season, I like to change the feeling instead of adding lots of physical items. I stay away from too much seasonal décor that will collect dust in storage three quarters of the year. Instead I opt for seasonal scents for candles and flowers for a subtle effect. This is great for streamlining your home while still allowing you to nest as each season changes.

Library by Nestor Santa-Cruz www.nestorsanta-cruz.com

Left: Family room by Tracy Morris Design

Hearth room by Tracy Morris Design photos by Greg Powers 19

Living room by Josh Hildreth Interiors, photo by Kip Dawkins

JOSH HILDRETH, JOSH HILDRETH INTERIORS, WWW.JOSHHILDRETHINTERIORS.COM

1. What are some ways to revamp your home for a chic, refreshing transition into fall?

When fall approaches, I like to make sure that there are beautiful soft blankets on chairs or sofas - cashmere, alpaca and mohair are favorites. I also like to use cut bittersweet berries - their beautiful orange and persimmon colors are perfect in the fall. It can be fun to twist the berries into a chandelier or have it crawl out of a tall vase. Gourds and sheafs of wheat are another favorite fall element.

When fall approaches, my favorite scent I return to year after year is Cire Trudon’s Solis Rex, which I describe as the smell of a perfectly clean house. Even when my home isn’t perfectly clean, it smells that way when I light this candle; it makes me feel like the Downton Abbey staff has been through the house!

2. What are your favorite fall accent colors?

Claret is a great fall color that works beautifully as an accent in most rooms.

3. Is there any specific area of decor that you would focus on to make a swift fall transformation?

Pillows can change the way a room feels. I recommend changing pillows in a room for fall and winter. Pillows are a more affordable way to indulge in the luxury of soft cashmere, velvet or fantastic embroidery.

4. How do you personally redecorate your living space for seasonal changes?

I really value living in a home that is a reflection of our family’s history and interests. I will never be accused of under layering in my own home and as the seasons change, I use them as a chance to edit.

My husband is an enthusiastic art collector and fall usually involves an art shuffle often driven by a great new find. I also enjoy letting the change of season be reflected by what I put on our dining room table. As an alternative to flowers, I often like to use objects, such as ceramic roosters and game birds, on the dining room table.

INTERIORS STUDIO, ANTHONY WILDER DESIGN/BUILD, WWW.ANTHONYWILDER.COM 1. What are some ways to revamp your home for a chic, refreshing transition into fall?

Make thoughtful fall decorating choices to create a more sophisticated and subtle transition. Fall decorating is about adding warmth and earthiness while still expressing your personal style. Mix shapes and colors in with your existing decor to create texture and dimension. If you have a lot of cool blue colors in your home, adding some amber or warm red accessories will complement and contrast. Add warm cozy accents like faux fur blankets, wool and velvet throw pillows and fleece bedding.

Use lots of candles in varying heights and sizes to add a moody glow. Fill your flower vases with seasonal greens and flowers, such as eucalyptus, wheat stalks and dried greenery. Fill fruit bowls with fall fruit, such as pomegranates, figs, oranges, and pears.

2. What are your favorite fall accent colors?

Colors found in nature, including warm golds, rust, burgundy, amber, silver, olive, and browns.

3. Is there any specific area of decor that you would focus on to make a swift fall transformation?

The main living space, bedrooms and entry space.

4. How do you personally redecorate your living space for seasonal changes?

Candles, cozy faux fur blankets and velvet throw pillows are go-to seasonal items.

Library by Nestor Santa-Cruz www.nestorsanta-cruz.com

Family room with stone fireplace by Anthony Wilder Design/Build, photo by John Cole Left: Main floor living area by Anthony Wilder Design/ 25 Build, photo by John Cole