Seasonal Living

This isn’t something Texans are forced to experience like those who live in other states. Here, it requires intentionality and intense “observance” in order to create that dynamic and festive seasonal cycle. Unless you’re in the panhandle, snow isn’t your norm, and if you blink, you’ll miss some of the vibrance that we do actually have the chance to witness. There’s more than just brown and gray in the Texas nature palette, and each of us can do our part to enhance and glorify the changes going on outside through the expression of our home and personal environments.

It’s fall. Right now, we can act the part. On October 26th the weather turned cold and rainy, it’s a perfect opportunity to begin, simply, carrying the colors and textures of fall into your daily clothing choices. Sweaters, soft reds and yellow tones with gray undertones. The same rule carries over to upholstery and fabric selections. When we’re being intentional about reflecting that seasonal quality in a client’s personality, we can plan for spaces to almost “react” to the changes in light and temperature. A room may be simple and neutral, but choosing seasonal throw pillows can have a dramatic effect on a space. Right now, I’m encouraging everyone to tuck away their blues and greens to opt for rust-colored knitted objects. Put out that cozy blanket that’s been in the closet and drape it over the side of your sofa. Don’t crank up the heat on the thermostat, turn on the fire! Now is the time to enjoy and appreciate all that wonderful artistry that the stonemasons have crafted.

Some spaces are permanently accented in tones that have year-round appeal, no matter what, it’s something beautiful and detailed to behold. But then, when it is fall, you may walk into that space and be overcome by how especially suited it is to the season. This moment of discovery and delight is one of the hidden beauties in design. You can surprise people with those emotions, something they never expected. We know we’ve achieved this when, years after a person has moved into their home, they will name a space that was so subtle before. “ We call this the ‘Autumn Hall’. I just love this ceiling in the fall, it feels like I’m standing under a tree that’s turning colors, and I especially love this space in our home right now.” Simply put, a person has found new value and appreciation for a space that they didn’t realize before. Fondness grows, and shouldn’t we keep falling in love with the places we live in? The seasons give us chances to see with fresh eyes and appreciate in new ways.

In the slaughter household, redecorating is just the beginning. We really sink into our environment. There are a few places in Texas where canyons of trees change brilliantly through the fall colors. Sometimes we’ll plan a trip outside of Texas to get that sensation elsewhere, but when we’re home, it’s rich-flavored food, wood next to the fireplace, and a constantly tilted bottle of bourbon. We’ve exchanged the glow of the television, on several occasions, for the rich evening light of a fall sunset and a quiet conversation. Some seasons are all about being outward, but fall, to us, is a chance to sink inward for a little while. The holidays are just around the corner and it’s pretty fun to begin imagining them this far in advance.

If you had taken time to really know someone and wanted to make them feel known, special, or appreciated, there is nothing so elegant as a candle or a pumpkin right now. When else can you give a piece of produce as a gift?! Uniquely shaped gourds and dried squash work too, but there’s nothing that spruces up a dreary front door like the all-embracing orange of a pumpkin collage. Hay, we have plenty of it. When you stop to think, really, the agrarian calendar is still forced to honor the changing seasons, we can’t continue to grow much in the winter months, and our fall harvests are right in line with what you might expect. Go to a farmstand and it will feel as fall as a pile of leaves.

So take action! Enjoy an evening under the stars with a warm blanket. It’s not too hard to find apple cider and to make your own mulling blend. If we are going to spend all this time creating wonderful spaces that reflect so much of our personality, then it’s imperative that we all slow down and enjoy them. So many of the homes we’ve worked on have grand patios and big vistas with outdoor fireplaces. Now is the perfect season to spend time there, slowing down, and appreciating that beauty. Now is the time to adjust to the season and prepare yourself to celebrate gratitude. We are grateful, together.

*These writings are a collaborative effort between Slaughter Design Studio, and Ben Rodgers Pivotol. We do the designing and thinking, they capture it in words and “essence” so we can share it with you!