Monday, October 12, 2009

A Chinoiserie Halloween


Is there really such a thing as Chinoiserie Halloween decorating? In the strictest sense of the word, of course the answer is no. But if you love Chinoiserie, I suspect that your aesthetic is similar to mine. You either skip Halloween decorating all together because you can't stand orange and the tacky decorations that abound, or you are still seeking a more elegant approach to the holiday. These are ideas I use for my own home. First, find a pumpkin patch or garden center that sells beautiful heirloom pumpkins like I've pictured here. Blue-gray, celadon green, salmon, peach, apricot, white-you won't believe the colors-none of that garish orange. Specialty grocery stores and farmer's markets are great sources for a huge variety of exotic squashes. These beautiful pumpkins, gourds, and squashes are perfecting for decorating indoors and out. Second, ordinary pumpkins, gourds, and squashes can be transformed into stunning and sophisticated decor with gold, silver, or copper leaf, paint, or glitter. Directions abound on the internet-here's a great step by step. Halloween can beautifully coexist in your elegant and chic Chinoiserie home. The picture above is an antique silver Chinoiserie pumpkin! I promise to do a follow up Chinoiserie Halloween post later this week when I get my own home decorated to show you some more ideas.

















(Photos courtesy of Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, and The Arizona Republic)

8 comments:

  1. The white pearlized pumpkin with gold is my favorite - but the naturally blue or white ones are lovely. Blue and white pumpkins with blue and white chinoiserie! What could be better? Thanks for the orange alternatives.

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  2. Looks fab! Definitely fall style with a twist :D

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  3. I'm all about the white pumpkins! I especially loved the drippy painted and glittered pumpkins. I actually saw the most sublime collection of autumn glitters by Martha Stewart --- at the grocery store!

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  4. Lovely! I have a few white and blue-green pumpkins on my dining room table right now. I thought about glitzing them up a bit, but I rather like the more natural effect (that and I'm being lazy). Besides, this way they'll work clear through Thanksgiving!

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  5. Sanity Fair-Yes, I love the idea of blue and white pumpkins with blue and white Chinese porcelain.

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  6. Averill-I agree-I leave those natural, I just glitz up the regular ones.

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