I am so excited you joined me today friend!
The weather is just a smidgen cooler than the hot days of Summer, but the leaves have not started to change here in the Mid-West, USA.
Now to my Five Decorator Touches and Their Sources
If you are like me and you enjoy decorating, you may have found that there are certain shoppes that you can always count on for a specific item that you want and that is what I am excited to share with you about today.
There may be affiliate links in here which means if you click through to the website and make a purchase I receive a small commission at no charge to you. However, there may not be any! I only write about the things I truly use and only recommend the things I really love~
First Decorator Touch
Many people may think that hand soaps are just utilitarian and no one needs to be paying attention to something for the season related to cleaning your hands….I mean after all, it is just soap.
Ok, but there are shoppes totally created and surviving that sell nothing more than soaps and lotions because people love to indulge in the little things.
Indulging does not mean expensive~
I have used these soaps in my vacation rental homes and I have people writing me afterwards asking where I got the soaps they loved them so much.
So it is not a Brand, though the two samples I have here for this post are by the same manufacturer.
mmmm….Autumn for Body and Soul~
Harvest Pumpkin~ WoW!
I also had Pear, Pumpkin Spice and many others.
So if you are thrifty shopper I have probably not stumped you.
But for everyone else, these and all of my special soaps are purchased at TJMaxx!
They generally run from $3.99 to $4.99 and you will not run out of them for the Season.
I will insert here that at Christmas I often up the price a bit and visit Williams Sonoma for their Christmas Collection which also has a Dish Soap that just wafts up as you hand wash dishes and you inhale the distinct scent of Balsam and Pine.
Second Decorator Touch
Next is another little touch that adds some fun, color and spirit to the Season you are celebrating.
Decorative Kitchen Towels~
Here is an example of two of the towels I purchased last year.
Now I know you can buy decorative towels anywhere, but if you want a huge selection and a great price, well, that is what I am sharing with you today.
These towels were purchased at Kohls! Only on the 50% off day of course and if you are a regular shopper there you may even have Kohl’s cash~
I have never been disappointed no matter the Season to find a lovely and sometimes humorous or in the case of these even Scriptural Towels.
Third Decorator Touch
Oh did you already peak?
Aren’t these candles just smashing?
Just look at the colors and the ribbons and even charms!
I am just in love with them and the shoppe that I find my most favorite candles is one you hear from me often…
Did you guess it?
Pier 1 Imports. Yes this is an affiliate link because I shop here all of the time.
Not only are they the best in Candles, but their Dishes and everything Table are amazing. You can check out my Table completely from Pier 1 at 7 Layers to a Fantastic Fall Tablescape!
Fourth Decorator Touch
What is crazy?
Wine gives my husband and I a headache so we rarely indulge…but our friends and family are another story :).
This house model came with certain features that at the age of 33 we didn’t know whether we would ever grow into using them or not. One of those thinks was the “wet bar” in the “game room” which is actually just a little spot behind the family room.
Truth is we use it all of the time, coffees, cocktails, wine, it is a great little spot for entertaining and while in many plans over the past 10 years designers were ripping them out, Wet Bars are on a strong comeback since the age of the small wine fridge and we are delighted to have one~
There are a couple of things to look at in the photo above. The wooden trough is lined with metal so it can hold ice and be used for beer, soda, water, wine, etc. But I just use it to hold our Red selections. I don’t always have all of the ceramic bottle labels out and on the bottles, this is for you to see how awesome they are. If you could bear to part with one or more you could totally use these when taking a bottle of wine to a host at a Dinner Party. I did it once, but I want to hold on the rest. I use them for celebrations like my Mom’s 90th Birthday Party.
These and many other unique and beautiful items are always on sale at Pottery Barn around the holidays. I would imagine starting now in the Fall. I often stop in at this time of year and find the greatest hostess gifts and small gifts for about $10. Those would have included Chrome Bull Dog Salt/Pepper Shakers, Wine Bottle Corks with ornate glass or brass door knobs, and the next item below~
I mean can you imagine a cuter Wine Glass Charm? It is the alphabet and yes I guess that you can’t always use someone’s name because they would have the same charm but just remembering your letter is not different than remembering a grape or another fruit on a wine charm.
My sweet angel? Well I will toss that source in for a bonus…Home Goods. I don’t have a HomeGoods too close any longer and I have purchased so much over my years of decorating and staging that I try not to go too often. I need a purpose to head there. But I got two of these they were so cute. The other has a green base and at the moment has a little pine cone and leaves and acorn in it for the season!
Fifth Decorator Touch
It seems like every time I mention something it is my passion, my favorite and I guess that can’t be real.
But I really do love a great door wreath. So much so that I have them hanging on several mirrors inside the home as well.
While I have a place where I purchase unusual baskets and containers filled with florals and sometimes pop them on my door, I definitely have a favorite spot for wreathes.
Just look at the detail in this one! Wow! I am in the midst of placing burlap inside the back so I can hang in my dining room over the mirror. I personally would not put this one outdoors, it is just too beautiful. However, it was outdoors on a covered porch when I staged my son’s home to sell three years ago. It doesn’t look bad at all does it?
Okay, I know you want to know where.
The secret is …….Hobby Lobby!
These wreaths are not cheap. If you shop at Hobby Lobby already you know that every week about 1/2 of the items in the store are 50% off and then the following week it will be every thing else. So watch for the wreaths to be on SALE. Also if you can bear it you can wait until the almost end of the season and then really get a deal.
If you walk in the store and still think they are too pricey, I will just tell you look at this photo again. The quality of this and many others there are so above anything you would find in another store. These could truly hang in the most expensive boutique and people with money to burn would gladly spend $600 on them.
But they don’t cost anything near that!
Bonus!
You know I just can’t stop myself.
I love decorating and entertaining and having just had a Roaring 20’s Party last week, I had a lot of Black and Gold decor as well as Champagne.
I love purchasing the tiny bottles, I guess you would consider them single servings.
They make for a gorgeous display, chill wonderfully in a container together, make for lots of pops and the Bubbles stay fresh!
These lovelies were purchased at another favorite shoppe of mine
So Cheers to you and your decorating efforts this Fall~
Tell me what you think, do you have some favorite shoppes for certain things?
It is so nice to see what other countries do. We don’t decorate fall/autumn but seeing all these lovely photos makes me want to have a go next year.
Fiona, you are always so supportive. I can’t wait to see what you do at Christmas! You did mention your Fall is more summer, right?
Yes we are in Spring at the moment. Can’t wait for Christmas. This is the one time of the year I go all out (maybe not as much as others though lol). I so enjoy seeing what other people do to decorate.
Great post. Thanks for all the tips.
You are Welcome Denise~
One of the things I look forward to every year is seasonal soaps for my kitchen and bathroom
Great post Debbie. Even small touches can make a huge difference.
Thanks Lisa, you said it! People at our vacation rentals always rave about the details and it comes from the simple printed rugs, candles, soaps…all things under $20!
Great tips for easy ways to add designer touches to your home. The soaps look lovely, esp. the pumpkin scent.
nothing better than coming away from a sink with a pleasant scent to breathe in
Thanks for sharing! T. J. Maxx is my go to for hand soaps, too!
I just saw one I missed in my photography ….in the shape of a pumpkin! I mean, seriously darling 🙂
Awesome decorations Debbie, I have never been to Hobby Lobby but I can see why it would be your favorite store.
Different places have the best of a certain item, and I have never seen any store rival Hobby Lobby’s wreaths!
I love them all. Such great ideas!
Thank you Carolann.
Debbie I just love that wreath!! I am a frequent shopper at Hobby Lobby and if something I want isn’t on sale then I pull up my 40% off weekly coupon 🙂
Love a coupon!!! Good to know.