What Autumn Is…
Hello and happy Monday to you! As you are aware, I have two regular contributors on decor8 who post once monthly in addition to my own daily musings, Leslie Shewring with her Color Me Pretty column and Anna-Malin Lindgren who pulls together the always inspiring Handmade Home. Today I’d like to spotlight decor8 contributor Anna-Malin who lives in Sweden and how beautifully she has captured Autumn because it inspired me so much as I read her blog this morning. I don’t think she even set out to carry an Autumn theme on her blog for the past several weeks but she did it by simply photographing corners of her home and life and together, they composed a gorgeous visual Autumn story.
Autumn is my favorite season and I have lots of very close friends born in October – a random discovery that I only recently made when a friend brought it to my attention. There is something about the season that brings remarkable comfort from the color palette to lighting, food and drink.
Autumn means family, love, candlelight, messy “hat hair”, comfort food, cuddling, baking, cozy clothes, warm blankets, the smell of a fireplace, hiking in the mountains, walking over crispy leaves, raking the yard then jumping into the gigantic pile of leaves that smells so very Autumn-y, reflecting on what matters most, hot apple cider, pretty scarves, reading with a warm kitty on your lap, a favorite coat, spiked hot cocoa, inviting friends over for a feast. Autumn is a very sincere, honest, no-frills season, isn’t it? It’s all about reflection, too. As the year starts to come to a close, it’s hard not to pause and honestly take a look at our life and the direction in which it is going.
There is no bling or bam with Fall — it’s just this turning over period from Summer to Winter that is graceful, touching, beautiful and authentic. It’s flickering candles on the windowsill and fresh baked cookies from the oven – there’s a realness to the season that draws me in. Autumn, in my opinion, is like no other – it’s both high and low – melancholy yet full of hope – with gray weather and shortened days combined with the feeling of unconditional love and acceptance around the family dinner table.
Why do you love Autumn? What does it represent to you? I think for my Swedish friend Anna-Malin, it represents family and comfort just like it does for me. She did such a lovely job capturing the spirit of the season in these photos, wouldn’t you agree?
To see more of Anna-Malin’s photography, including gorgeous images of the season, please visit her beautiful and inspiring blog Helt Enkelt.
(photos: anna-malin lindgren)
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Google +
Flickr
LinkedIn
October 10th, 2011 at 2:01pm
I love the colors and generally coziness of autumn; although it’s coupled with a bit of pre-winter dread as I know the long months of snow and cold are coming soon!
October 10th, 2011 at 2:02pm
Such gorgeous photos! I can’t wait for fall to arrive here.
Chedva´s last [type] ..צבע: לבן, צעיר וקלאסי
October 10th, 2011 at 2:05pm
love this post! makes me want to go home and cuddle under the blanket :)
Happy Monday!
xxx
October 10th, 2011 at 2:21pm
Dear, dear Holly, you just made my day! This weekend I celebrated my birthday by going to a pumpkin patch. It was my first time ever and I so much loved it. I’ve started a photography course and one of the assignments is to make a collage of photographs representing Autumn! So I made lots of photo’s on the pumpkin fair and in my garden. I always have loved October but doing this assignment it makes me feel even more grateful and aware of this beautiful season/month.
I’m so hoping that Halloween will someday be celebrated in the Netherlands just in the same way as it is celebrated in the USA.
This is a great and wonderful blogpost of yours, i’m going to print it out! :)
October 10th, 2011 at 2:55pm
Oh, you sooo fit in time with this post! :) Because I’m just working at picturebook “What I like about Autumn”. I’m afraid that nobody will publish it as here in Poland such “artist”books aren’t popular,
but… this is pleasure in itself- to enumerating all these lovely things in this season :)
I’m happy to read your impressions on this theme.
Sorry for my bad english!
xxx
October 10th, 2011 at 2:55pm
Oh wow….so beautifully captured! The images & the words…it made me want to crawl right in and settle down for a nice long visit. And Anna-Malin’s home is so incredibly gorgeous ( I am in love with the styling on her sideboard) Just gorgeous….Thank you so much for sharing this Holly & Anna-Malin. It made my day and inspired me.
xoxo
Melis
Melissa de la Fuente´s last [type] ..Closer to home
October 10th, 2011 at 3:07pm
I’m an admitted blog lurker. It’s true. Rarely do I actually end up leaving a comment, but truly I had to tell you that I found this post to be so wonderfully composed. Your descriptions of Fall were honest and felt so genuine. “There is no bling or blam with Fall – it’s just this turning over period from Summer to Winter that is graceful, touching, beautiful, and authentic.” Funny, that’s how I immediately felt about this post.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and impressions. I loved reading them.
Kate (BirdcageCards)´s last [type] ..DIY, Your Own Way
October 10th, 2011 at 3:08pm
Holly, you never fail to inspire me. Every single thing about your blog is wonderful. One aspect that I really love, although it’s not the only one, is the accessibility of the designs. I always feel (and imagine!) that the interiors I see here could be my own! Oh, and Autumn? Wood smoke, the way the sun lights up the changing colors of the leaves still hanging in the trees, and the clear night sky.
deborah´s last [type] ..No Need to Thank Me
October 10th, 2011 at 3:10pm
Autumn for me, is the time to reflect on the year gone by and to look forward to the year ahead before all the fuss and rushing around of Christmas and the colder weather is upon us. It is a time for lots of cuddles, hugs and cosy time at home with family! A big mug of tea at the warm open fire with the wind whistling outside :)
All things nice…
All things nice…´s last [type] ..Busy, busy, busy, work, wedding & new home….
October 10th, 2011 at 3:23pm
For me, autumn is the trees. Unfortunately here in Perth, Australia there are very few deciduous trees so I feel like I’m missing out on autumn every year. In my home-town of Melbourne, autumn is so beautiful. You don’t realise how many different colours there are in nature until autumn-time. A couple of years ago my mum actually sent me a box full of beautiful autumn leaves from Melbourne just so that I could feel like autumn was really here!
Steph´s last [type] ..These are a few of my favourite things… Dining Chairs
October 10th, 2011 at 3:51pm
Such lovely photos…your pretty piccies make me want to redecorate my entire house. Maybe I should stop visiting your blog because I really can’t afford to do that : )
Lisa Graham Art´s last [type] ..Happy Art Anniversary
October 10th, 2011 at 4:17pm
SOOO Cozy! I especially love how natural and quiet everything appears…
October 10th, 2011 at 4:19pm
I wish I can visit a country when it’s autumn. Living in Asia and in the country that forever summer makes me wonder how to feel autumn in the air, I always thinking of walking in the park within the falling leave, golden, wearing stylish boot, scarf n light coat. I feel so delight to only dream about it :) happy fall season everyone
.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:23pm
@Fenny — What a nice comment, I sometimes forget about others who live where there is no official Autumn climate. I grew up in South Carolina and we didn’t have it there either. When I relocated to Boston as a teenager and suddenly had to buy a thick coat and boots, it felt exciting to me. Perhaps someday soon you can vacation in Autumn to a place with the typical Fall weather to enjoy the season, it’s really inspiring.
October 10th, 2011 at 4:34pm
Thanks holly for the quick response :) and yes perhaps someday I will smell the fall in the air and wearing my stylish boot. It’s a simple dream, but I love to dream about it. Have an inspiring day ahead for u. Xo.
Fenny setiawan´s last [type] ..a buzy bee
October 11th, 2011 at 12:21am
Beautiful post in every way.
ps–I’m really enjoying BYW already!
Elizabeth Moon´s last [type] ..sneak peak {the S family}
October 11th, 2011 at 3:36am
i heard on the radio the other day that early october is the most common time of the year for birthdays…. because it falls almost exactly 9 months after new year’s!
October 11th, 2011 at 6:03am
i’d usually go for mostly whites, but that dark grey sofa, black console and that black throw pillow looks really good, not overwhelming at all.. and the photography is sublime.. does anyone know how to get that “darkish” effect in photographs?
waveavenue´s last [type] ..2 blog posts by reg were featured
October 11th, 2011 at 7:30am
What I love about nature is that it has the power to put us in her own mood. That is why in autumn I am grateful for colder days that make us spend the days together, the colors of trees, the fresh air when you go for a walk, the smell of grilled chestnuts. My favorite is golden yellow light in our home that comes from a big tree near the window. Sun sipping trough the yellow leaves. The best thing of 4 seasons is when transformation starts and we see every day how the change is happening. There is a piece of heaven in every season, we just have to find it. Happy autumn days!
ninocka´s last [type] ..Mavrična jesen
October 11th, 2011 at 11:55am
Oh Holly I love autumn as well!! Possibly because my birthday is in autumn, but in April because i’m Australian. I live in Paris now and am loving the change of season and your description and beautiful words just reminds me of what I love! So comforting. I love receiving your updates in my inbox and am excited to get my hands on your book!
Leonie Hart´s last [type] ..my new love
October 11th, 2011 at 3:51pm
I love the flavors of fall and the change in the food: long braised or simmered food, earthy root vegetables, warming spices like ginger, cinnamon & cardamom, cider, pumpkin, squash, crusty breads,…
Susy from Your Day´s last [type] ..In My Morning Cup
October 12th, 2011 at 5:19am
Fall is my favorite season too. There is something about the look, the feel and the smell of fall. Cozy and crisp. Love these beautiful inspiring photos!
xo Trina
Trina : la la Lovely´s last [type] ..Candy Cake 3.0
October 13th, 2011 at 8:57am
I loved this post! I moved to Orange County, California recently far away from my roots on the other side of the United States. I forgot how much I love the fall because today it was 100 degrees and the only way I know what season it is happens to be because I have strep throat. This post brought back a flood of beautiful memories from past autumns. Thank you for posting this it meant a lot to me today…
October 19th, 2011 at 2:55pm
Fabulous photos that made my day. The photographer captured the autumn perfectly and I now want to get a cat so I can pet it like that lol
October 21st, 2011 at 6:36am
Land of mercy, you’re right, Holly! That was a beautiful bit of writing you did about fall. I really really enjoyed it.
Best,
Hannah
Hannah McDonald´s last [type] ..Finished Watercolor Portrait