Patterns & Patina: How to Layer Like a Southerner

Have you ever found yourself admiring someone’s personal style, whether in their home or wardrobe, and wondered why it feels so sophisticated? Perhaps you were inspired to create a similar outfit or room in your home and ended up feeling like yours just wasn’t on the same level of style. Today we’re discussing how mixing patterns and patina creates a personal style in your wardrobe and home that tells a story, adds character, and creates a timeless collected look.

Welcome back to our fall series Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. If you’re just joining us from Google, Pinterest, or Instagram, I invite you to browse through the other articles in the series, which can be found linked at the end of this article.

Patterns: Mixing with Confidence

In the South we never miss an opportunity to dress something up. Whether it is a specially wrapped gift, a room in our home, or ourselves, we find opportunities to express our personality and present it to the world on a visual platter.

It’s often true that the most charming aesthetics are created when patterns are thoughtfully combined and layered to create depth and interest throughout your home and wardrobe. Interior and fashion designers use this technique in both clothing and home decor selections to create a visual conversation and unique story.

Our subconscious minds are attuned to visual interest. In last week’s article, Home as a Haven, we briefly discussed how too much visual interest can prevent you from getting rest in your bedroom. Similarly, too much visual interest in your outfit or home décor can cause unpleasant clashing.

With some practice and a few guiding principles, mixing patterns to create a polished and collected look can be done by anyone. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way.

What to Pay Attention To

If you’re just getting started with pattern mixing, there are four things to be mindful of to achieve your desired effect.

  1. Color Family – Be mindful to keep color tones in the same palette. Too many different colors, or colors that don’t blend well, will end up clashing with each other. Colors that are next to each other on a color wheel or opposite from each other are usually successful choices.
  2. Scale – When mixing patterns, be aware of size and scale. For example, if you’re selecting a large floral pattern, consider a smaller stripe or plaid to complement it.
  3. Texture – Remember to consider the fabrics and materials of the patterns you’re choosing. Compare how different a velvet paisley is from a crisp cotton plaid.
  4. Balance – An important factor when mixing patterns is balance. Let one pattern be the star of the show, and the other patterns play a supporting role. For example, two different stripes can be successfully combined when one is a large bold stripe, and the other is a small, subtle stripe. Avoid being so over-the-top that you get lost in your aesthetic from trying to do “too much.”
Navy, yellow, and blue & white accents create a bedroom full of layered charm.
Floral upholstery, plaid checks, and timeworn details create an inviting sunroom.

Example Combinations

Have you ever heard people say, “Never mix plaids with stripes”? That’s not necessarily a good piece of advice. There aren’t many hard-and-fast rules for which patterns to mix, and if you follow the 4 design rules that I mentioned above, you can create endless combinations.

If you’re having trouble getting started, here are a few of my favorite patterns to combine for a polished look in both fashion and home décor:

  • Leopard + Plaid – This combination is classic and bold. It works in interiors with combinations like a leopard pillow and a plaid footstool. In fashion, a plaid blazer can be combined with a leopard belt for a touch of playfulness.
  • Paisley + Herringbone – These two traditional patterns can be combined for a refined and classic statement. Select paisley drapery panels with a herringbone chair for a timeless duo. You can’t miss when you combine a paisley scarf with a tweed herringbone jacket.
  • Floral + Buffalo Check – Florals balance the bold, graphic nature of buffalo check to create a charming and approachable look. In your home, combine a floral sofa with buffalo check throw pillows. In your closet, a delicate floral scarf pairs well with a buffalo check skirt or shirt.
  • Stripe + Plaid – These linear patterns can be combined to create an energetic, tailored look. In décor, a striped rug can be successful under plaid armchairs. In fashion, a crisp white shirt layered under a subtle striped sweater and paired with a plaid blazer will be seen as polished and sophisticated.
Learn how to layer stripes, houndstooth, and paisley for a sophisticated fall outfit. Explore this Patterns & Patina look for timeless layering inspiration.
Heritage houndstooth meets polished stripes with a touch of paisley sophistication.
Discover how to layer plaid, cable knits, and leopard print for an effortlessly chic fall outfit. Shop this Patterns & Patina look with timeless classics and modern details.
A plaid shirt and cable vest find their balance with rich patina and playful leopard accents.

Patina: The Beauty of Time

Patterns catch the eye, but patina holds attention. It’s what makes a room or outfit feel lived in. Patina adds authenticity, character, and a sense of permanence. Patina is the way a lived-in surface changes appearance, and it can only be achieved with use, age, or weathering. Patina is what gives items soul. Antique appraisers look for signs of patina when determining authenticity of an item in question. Furniture will see patina around drawer pulls and surfaces with heavy use. Jewelry and other accessories show patina in the gentle softening of shine and wear on the surface,

When we’re aiming to achieve an aesthetic that includes items with patina, it’s necessary to consider whether new items we purchase will age with time and use. Items made of acrylic, vinyl, “vegan” leather, and laminated finishes do not age well or achieve the desired patina effect. For this reason, items made of those materials should not be treated as investment pieces.

Wondering how to incorporate patina into your home or closet? Here are a few examples of what to be on the lookout for:

Interiors

  • Leather armchairs darkening with use.
  • Unpolished silver trays, candlesticks, or cutlery.
  • Natural wood: farm tables, cutting boards, frames with softened edges.
  • Stoneware or pottery with subtle crazing.
  • Seasonal touches: a patinaed copper bucket for firewood, a weathered wicker basket for blankets.

Wardrobe & Accessories

  • Leather belts, handbags, boots that soften and show character.
  • Jewelry that develops a mellow sheen rather than a perfect shine.
  • Brass buckles, buttons, or clasps with gentle wear.
An antique silver bowl, painted tray, and well-loved books bring pattern & patina to life.

Bringing it Together

Many of us understand that having a solid foundation is essential to décor and fashion. However, a well-honed personal sense of style goes behind finding colors that match. Don’t be afraid to create a style that feels layered and personal.

It’s easy to settle for beige walls and a plain sofa, but your signature look is developed when you begin to layer coordinating patterns to showcase your unique personality. When we add touches of patina to our home and closet, we can explore opportunities to add soul to otherwise lackluster choices. After patterns and patina are combined, they seem to effortlessly create spaces and wardrobes that feel collected rather than staged.

Discover how to layer leather, plaid, leopard, and chinoiserie accents for a collected, Southern-inspired living room. Patterns & Patina at its best.
A leather sofa grounds playful pattern—plaid, leopard, and chinoiserie come together with grace.
See how to layer stripes, florals, and gingham with vintage-inspired decor. This Patterns & Patina living room blends fresh pattern play with timeless patina.
Checks, stripes, and florals mingle seamlessly against a backdrop of vintage warmth.

I invite you to embrace layering styles at home and in your daily style. In addition to all the timeless Southern style recommendations that I’ve given in this article, the ultimate test is how your space and outfit make you feel. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not. If it makes you happy and comfortable, then it’s probably a good choice. That’s the beauty of a personal style – it should matter most of all to you.

Discover how to style ticking stripes, gingham, and folk-inspired prints with vintage accents for a cozy and timeless bedroom look.
Stripes, gingham, and folk prints mingle with vintage accents for a collected bedroom.

Join me next week for the final article in this series, Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Next week’s article, Front Doors & First Impressions, is all about the importance of first impressions and how your entryway sets the tone.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

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Feminine nightstand with lamp, carafe, small art, storage boxes, candle, and basket.

Home as a Haven: How to Create a Cozy Bedroom Retreat

Welcome back to the sixth installment of our weekly Friday series called Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Each week we explore ways to embrace the softness of the autumn season, create a welcoming environment to restore your spirit, and fall in love with our own homes again. If you’re just joining me here from Google, Pinterest, or Instagram, I invite you to read the other segments in this series, which can be found linked at the bottom of this article.

As the season progresses, we begin to lose daylight hours and the temperatures cool. The sun is setting earlier each day, and we begin to retreat indoors.

Today we’ll start a conversation on the importance of intentionally curating a personal haven in your home and creating a place to restore yourself… not just a place to crash at the end of the day to get some sleep.

The bedroom as a whole reflects the balance of function and comfort: closed storage to keep clutter tucked away, restful art, and layered bedding that invites you to linger.

Step One: Clear the Space for Peaceful Rest

Many of my readers are the family’s nurturers, often putting everyone else’s needs before their own. In the home, this translates into prioritizing the shared family spaces and even the children’s bedrooms. Our bedrooms become the catch all and dumping grounds for all the miscellaneous items that don’t have a designated spot. The clean laundry is often brought into our bedrooms until it can be folded and put away later.

Not only does this create physical clutter; it creates mental clutter and unrest in the very space that we retreat to get rest.

Create Processes

We need processes for dealing with items that make their way into our bedrooms. I like to use a method called “Touch it once.” For example, if I’m taking laundry out of the dryer, then dumping it on my bed, then moving it to a chair to fold it later, I’ve touched it 3 or 4 times before it gets put away. By folding each item as I take it out of the dryer, I will touch it only once before it gets put away. Doing it this way might not feel like it in the beginning, but it becomes a lot less work.

Look around your bedroom to assess miscellaneous piles of clutter. Those are the items that you’ll need to create a new process for. When we move piles of clutter from one spot to another to clean, we’re just moving the mess around and not actually taking care of the mess.

Essential Items

Next, I recommend that you only keep the essential items within sight. These would be things that support the rest, comfort, or function of your bedroom. For example, you’ll need a bedside table of some sort, a lamp within reach of your bed, and a hamper to hold your dirty laundry. Other examples are a throw blanket that gets used on chilly nights or a fan that cools you in warm weather. Essential items are ones that directly help you rest, prepare for the day, or feel comforted. If it distracts you, nags at you, or simply takes up space without providing function, it doesn’t belong in your bedroom.

Daily Items

In addition to essential items, we all have daily items, which I recommend organizing into closed storage containers. These items are practical, not decorative, and by placing them into closed storage containers we are able to keep surfaces peaceful without disrupting our routine. Examples of daily items would be chargers, medications, skincare, books, and pajamas. When each item has a designated space in a closed storage system, we easily prevent clutter from snowballing into piles. Items are still convenient and within reach; they’re just not visually tiresome or nagging.

Implementing these habits can take a little practice. However, you’ll find that if you consistently maintain these methods, it will be well worth the effort when you have a peaceful, relaxing space at the end of the day.

On his side of the bed: a leather catchall, favorite books, and a wood box for everyday necessities, proof that practicality can be handsome when it’s well-contained.

Step Two: Add Meaningful & Personal Touches

Your bedroom is probably a place that most guests won’t see. And if you’re a parent, it may be the one space in your home that’s truly yours. Your bedroom is an opportunity to create a room with décor that reflects your personality and sentimentality. By carefully selecting your furnishings and accessories, you can build an area for yourself that makes you feel at home.

Adding personal touches to your bedroom should be done with simplicity, restraint, and sentimentality. For example, a gallery wall of art or family photos creates too much stimulation and interest in a space that is intended for relaxation. Instead, try adding a small family photo in a frame on your nightstand or dresser.

You can easily personalize your bedroom by adding one small vase for flowers, a small antique dish as a catchall, or an heirloom quilt at the end of your bed. Instead of surrounding your room with your entire collections, pick one favorite that you can use in a functional way. By doing so, you’ll keep your space peaceful and uncluttered.

On her side: a small carafe for evening water, original art for a touch of beauty, and storage boxes to keep daily items close but unseen. Serenity comes from thoughtful restraint.

Step Three: Layer Comfort & Care

Repeating tones, from the bamboo shade to the throw blanket and picture frames, bring warmth and cohesion. A reminder that subtle echoes of color and texture create harmony in a room.

Gen Z is known for not using “the big light.” They’re referring to the overhead light, which we call “ambient lighting” in the interior design world. In an area like a bedroom, I tend to agree with them.

Strategically adding lamps to a bedroom for accent and task lighting creates a much more relaxing environment than using “the big light.” I recommend lamps for your nightstands that are easy to reach and turn on/off without getting out of bed. You should be able to easily fit your hand under the shade to operate the switch or use a lamp that has a switch on the cord. If you have a reading chair in your bedroom, a floor lamp can be a well-thought-out addition.

Another way to create a relaxing environment for yourself is to consider your comfort and senses. Stay away from scratchy or uncomfortable fabrics that will be next to your skin. Consider whether candles, fragrance plug-ins, and even laundry detergents are overpowering your senses. No smell is better than a strong smell.

Lastly, consider your needs while you are in your room. If you frequently find yourself getting up for water, a carafe of water and drinking glass will be helpful to you.

Soft lamplight turns the bedroom into a sanctuary at dusk, offering a place to exhale as the day comes to a close.

Step Four: Invest in Quality Where It Counts

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I love a good bargain and buying things second-hand. However, there are some things in the bedroom that I won’t compromise on. A good rule of thumb is, the closer it is to your skin, the higher quality you need to invest in. A good example of this is choosing bargain window coverings, but higher quality bedding. You won’t be laying down at night on your curtains, but you will be on the sheets.

When purchasing bedding, I recommend looking at thread count and fabric materials. If there isn’t a thread count listed, it’s most likely very low. High thread count sheets will last decades, so while the upfront cost may be marginally more, they will last incredibly longer than cheaper options… saving you money in the long run.

It’s also important to consider fabric materials. Fabric materials with descriptions like “knit, jersey, cooling” are less breathable than materials with long-staple natural fibers like Egyptian cotton. They are inferior materials that usually weave some sort of synthetic material made of plastic into the fibers. Synthetic materials don’t last very long and will need to be replaced in a short amount of time.

Most of us are on a budget, and it’s simply not realistic to invest in the highest quality of furnishings and accessories all at once for our spaces. I encourage you to make a point of switching things over one at a time until you have created a well-curated space that you deserve. Swap furniture made of composite materials for solid wood pieces, synthetic bedding for high-quality bedding made from renewable materials, mass-produced art for original art that reflects your unique personality. In this way, we create a collected space that truly becomes a haven in our home.

Layering textures – the quilt, duvet, and throw – adds depth and comfort. Each piece contributes to the feeling of being enveloped in warmth.

Step Five: Introduce Seasonal Color & Mood

I would be remiss if I didn’t point out the impact that color has on your bedroom haven. The psychology of color tells us that our emotions are subconsciously affected by the colors in our spaces. Restaurant owners, marketing professionals, and health care facilities understand that color goes beyond preference.

When choosing wall color, linens, and accessories in a bedroom, it’s important to understand the effects of your choices. I recommend tones with less saturation if you are trying to create a palette to anchor your room’s mood. Too much visual interest will hinder relaxation in a bedroom.

Today I am recommending a set of three colors, which can also be seen on the image below. Pale Oak, Cloud White, and Hale Navy are choices that you can bring into your space in a variety of ways such as furniture, bedding, lampshades, throw blankets, and artwork. They also provide a relatively neutral backdrop for you to add your personal touches that were mentioned above. If you can’t repaint your bedroom at this time, these three colors also tend to work well with a myriad of other colors.

Throughout this article I have mentioned things that I find to be useful in a bedroom space. You will find examples of these items in this curated list, which can be found by clicking HERE or clicking on the image below. You’ll find many more choices in this list than the ones pictured.

Click to shop from a list of suggestions for each of these areas.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

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The Collected Kitchen

Welcome

Ask anyone to share memories of their life with you, and they’re bound to share one or two that involve time spent in a kitchen. The scent of celery and onions softening in butter. The bowl that was used for everything from mixing a brownie batter to holding popcorn on movie night. Perhaps they’ll remember music playing on the radio as the dishes were washed. When we gather as a family or with friends, we always find ourselves in the kitchen, the hub of the home. It’s the place where stories are swapped, hands are busy, and hearts come home.

Welcome back to the next installment of Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. We’ve reached the midpoint of the series, as we’re journeying our way through topics that are dedicated to timeless seasonal living, traditional Southern décor, and creating a home you love year-round. If you’re just joining me, or you found your way here from Google, Pinterest, or Instagram, you can find links to the other articles in the series at the bottom of this article.

What Is a Collected Kitchen?

A collected kitchen is one that is curated by a combination of preference, utility, and time. You could go online to Amazon, eBay, or Etsy to order a complete set of items to mimic the look. But a truly collected kitchen evolves from time spent discovering what works for you. A collected kitchen is created by picking up items here and there to create a space of function and beauty that is uniquely designed for you.

The true beauty of a collected kitchen is that it’s not staged. The crock on the counter is there because it’s used every time the stove is turned on. The plate hung on the wall holds a memory of weekend antiquing adventures or the grandma who passed it on.

A collected kitchen isn’t sterile or empty. Chances are, you won’t see it on your Pinterest page. The counters will likely have things on them. Because we are using what we find to be the most functional and beautiful, everything isn’t going to match. If you’re looking for a “model home aesthetic,” you won’t find it in a truly collected kitchen. It’s a kitchen that feels like the warm heart of a home, one that’s inviting, personal, and well-loved.

Cream on Cream: A Canvas for the Seasons

We recently restored our 1939 kitchen. During that time, we added some custom cabinetry, installed new countertops and backsplash, and updated the flooring. The one thing that stayed in the kitchen and became a springboard for my whole design was some existing cream-colored cabinetry. As I was designing the space, I really evaluated how I wanted to feel and how it would reflect my personal style.

Truth be told, the kitchen is sometimes an overwhelming and overstimulating space for me. While my family loves my cooking, and I’m often told that I am good at it, it can be stressful for me. I needed my kitchen to be a calm space. I intentionally stayed away from bold colors and stark contrasts between materials. Using various shades of cream, along with natural wood tones in accessories, I created a space that allows me to cook in peace.

Another reason that I chose a monochromatic cream color palette was that it created a canvas for seasonal flexibility. I can mix in and swap out seasonal décor easily because I have a neutral backdrop. In fall, copper pieces warm the kitchen with a soft glow. During the winter holidays I can easily add some evergreen without clashing with anything. In spring, it’s easy to mix in pastel colors because they blend beautifully with the cream canvas that I created.

Objects That Work—and Tell a Story In My Collected Kitchen

Over the years I have found ironstone pitchers in various shapes and sizes. Some of them are the color of parchment paper with brown crazing that has deepened over time. Others, while over 50 years old, look almost new. I group them together to fill display spaces in our cabinetry, but I often get them down to use for floral arrangements or orange juice on a Sunday morning. As a group, in various shades of white and cream, they become functional art.

Through our glass cabinet doors, you can see stacks of milk glass mixing bowls and antique Ball jars. These don’t sit in storage behind glass as museum pieces that are too precious to use. Any time I’m baking, I’ll use either my vintage milk glass mixing bowls or my favorite yellow-ware bowls. The milk glass bowls are extremely thick and were made for durability that is non-existent today. I’ve actually dropped one on the kitchen floor, and it didn’t break!

An old plate rack that I picked up for $10 holds plates and platters that we use for meals. On top of the refrigerator, I keep an extra large wicker basket, which holds seasonal linens and works to fill a void between the top of the refrigerator and our tall ceilings. These natural elements add texture, warmth, and patina to create an authentically lived-in space.

Collected ironstone pitchers and antique yellowware can be seen in the cabinets next to the sink.
Glass canisters and antique Ball jars hold frequently used pantry staples.
A wooden plate rack that I found for $10 organizes platters and plates above our coffee bar.

The Working Kitchen Philosophy

We’ve all been in kitchens that are stark white with not a single thing on the counters. Or maybe you’ve seen a kitchen with open shelves that are full of framed photos and knick-knacks, but not a single cooking utensil. I can only wonder how much memory-making is being done in these kitchens. Are little hands making messes with flour while “helping” with the cookie dough? Are teenagers gathering to try their hand at cooking late at night?

When I look at the crock of wooden utensils next to my stove, I can tell which ones are the most used. My favorite spatula is worn smooth and the wood has lightened from years of washing it. It represents hundreds of meals cooked for family and friends – random Mondays and special Thanksgivings, nights after winning the game and mornings after being up with a sick baby.

A working kitchen is going to show signs of use, and I’m wondering when that began to be a source of shame. Why are we worried about being judged for using the most functional room in our homes?

Items I use daily for cooking are kept right next to the stove.

Paint Palette: The Warmth of Neutral Ground

Throughout the Falling for Home series, I have been sharing paint palettes that reflect the theme of each article. The Collected Kitchen inspired me to share a palette with two warm neutral tones for the wall and trim colors, as well as an accent tone that is reminiscent of patinated copper or vintage pantry paint. This gentle palette lets your meaningful pieces take the spotlight.

Shop the Look

I’m often asked about the vintage and antique pieces in my home. They have truly been collected over the years. You don’t need a full antique collection to create charm, just a few timeless touches that work for your space. If you’re interested in starting your own collection, I’ve compiled a curated list of timeless kitchen essentials, similar to the ones I own. You can click HERE to explore this list on LTK, or you can click the collage below to shop this style.

An Invitation to Embrace Imperfection

It’s easy to feel like our kitchens aren’t good enough to invite others into them. Maybe you’re just starting out, or perhaps you’re worried about being judged about functional “clutter” in your kitchen. Have you hidden away Grandma’s bowl for safekeeping, or are you afraid you’ll scratch your biscuit tin? Maybe you’ve seen the perfect English kitchen on Instagram or the curated collage on Pinterest, and you don’t feel like yours measures up. Whether you have laminate countertops or soapstone (I wish!), your kitchen can be filled with functional and beautiful vintage and antique pieces that are meant to be used and enjoyed daily.

I want to remind you that your kitchen is more than how it’s decorated. It is the most used room in your home, and it holds memories and meaning. Your family and friends aren’t there to judge you by the plates your meals were served on. They’re going to remember the flavors they experienced, the conversations they had, and the memories they made. Don’t wait to start making those memories until you feel like your home is show-worthy. Send the invitation. Cook for your family.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

This article is part of my series called Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:

You can subscribe here to receive new articles, seasonal inspiration, and vintage-style favorites delivered right to your inbox.

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Bowl of creamy Chicken Mull served in white enamelware, garnished with cracked pepper and surrounded by saltine crackers

A Southern Classic for Fall: How to Make Chicken Mull

A Regional Recipe Worth Discovering

Welcome to the fourth installment of my fall series, Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Throughout this weekly Friday series, we’re embracing a slow, intentional rhythm of Southern living rooted in home, heritage, and the kind of traditions that make fall in the South unforgettable.

Today’s article is all about Chicken Mull. I encourage you to use the ingredients that you already have on hand and your favorite pot, as well as to invite friends and neighbors into your home to share it with you this fall.

What Is Chicken Mull? A Brief Southern History

Although I’ve lived in Georgia my whole life, I hadn’t heard of Chicken Mull until moving to the greater Athens, Georgia area. One chilly fall afternoon, someone mentioned that it was Chicken Mull season, and I’ve been intrigued by this creamy, comforting stew ever since.

Chicken Mull is a traditional Southern fall recipe that is usually made with only 3 ingredients: water, chicken, and saltine crackers. The ingredients may be simple, but the flavor is anything but.

Chicken Mull finds its roots in the Carolinas, as well as a very specific region of Northeast Georgia. In fact, Athens, Georgia has often claimed to have invented this Georgia Chicken Mull recipe. (Locals will warn you not to confuse it with Chicken Muddle, which is an entirely different thing.)

Historically, Chicken Mull was more than just a dish. A Chicken Mull was the name of the gathering where the Chicken Mull was eaten. This would have been a church or community event held in the fall, and the Chicken Mull would have fed a large crowd.

Ingredients You’ll Need

While the basic Chicken Mull recipe uses just three ingredients, today I am using the Southern Living version that includes some herbs, heavy whipping cream, and hot sauce. To make my version of Chicken Mull, I’m using cast iron Dutch ovens, a fine-mesh strainer, wooden utensils, and sturdy kitchen tongs. This is a fun dish to serve in vintage enamelware dishes or handled soup bowls…  something that feels as nostalgic as the recipe itself.

Chicken Mull Recipe (Stovetop)

Bowl of creamy Chicken Mull served in white enamelware, garnished with cracked pepper and surrounded by saltine crackers
Abby Smolarsky | Belle Antiquarian

Chicken Mull (A Classic Northeast Georgia Stew)

A creamy, comforting Southern classic, Chicken Mull is a beloved fall tradition in Northeast Georgia. Made with slow-simmered chicken, rich broth, crushed saltines, and a splash of cream, this humble stew is a must-try recipe for chilly evenings. Serve with extra crackers and hot sauce for a taste of Athens heritage in every spoonful.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Southern
Calories: 420
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 3-4 lb whole chicken
  • 2 large yellow onions unpeeled and quartered
  • 4 celery stalks roughly chopped, about 2 cups
  • 5 cups water
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 Tbsp kosher salt
  • 1 Tbsp whole black peppercorns
  • 5 fresh thyme sprigs
  • 5 garlic cloves
  • 2 dried bay leaves
  • 1 sleeve saltine crackers crushed, plus more for serving
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Equipment

  • 5.5-quart Dutch oven or large stockpot
  • Fine-mesh strainer
  • Tongs
  • Blender
  • Large wooden spoon
  • Ladle
  • Cutting board

Method
 

  1. In a 5 ½-quart Dutch oven, add the chicken, onions, celery, water, broth, salt, peppercorns, thyme, garlic, and bay leaves.
  2. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, then reduce to medium-low and cover. Simmer for about 1 hour, or until the chicken is cooked through and brother is flavorful. Skim fat as needed.
  3. Remove the chicken and let cool slightly. Shred the meat, discarding skin and bones.
  4. Strain the broth through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean Dutch oven. Discard solids.
  5. Bring the strained broth to a simmer over medium-low heat. Stir in crushed cracker and cook for 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Carefully blend half the broth mixture until smooth (about 20 seconds), then return to the pot.
  7. Stir in the heavy cream and shredded chicken. Cook uncovered over medium-low, stirring occasionally, until heated through (about 10-15 minutes.)
  8. Serve hot with extra crackers and optional hot sauce.

Notes

Don’t Skip the Strain: Straining the broth may seem like an extra step, but it creates the signature smooth base that sets this version apart from other chicken stews. Make-Ahead Friendly: Chicken Mull reheats beautifully the next day. Some even say it’s better after the flavors have had time to meld. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

The Palette of Chicken Mull

There’s a warmth to Chicken Mull that goes beyond the post. It’s the colors of autumn comfort. For this week’s post, I’ve created a coordinating color palette that captures the creamy whites, golden butter tones, and soft sage of the ingredients and atmosphere. You’ll find this same palette in everything from vintage kitchen tools to enamel cookware, and I’ve linked a few timeless pieces below.

Whether you’re styling your kitchen or hosting your own mull supper, these pieces bring the coziness of fall to life.

Tap to shop this curated list!

A Dish That Feels Like Home

I live in an area of the South that has changed rapidly over the last 40 years. Folks from all over the world moved here to call this place home. While we welcome new cultures and diversity, I noticed a while ago that many of our beloved Southern traditions were fading like steam rising from a warm bowl, slowly disappearing into memory. Many researchers will tell you that our accents are disappearing. As we discussed in a previous article, our Southern hospitality that we are known for is starting to dampen. So when I discovered this recipe that neither I, nor anyone in my family had ever heard of, I was really excited to revive this regional recipe from Athens, Georgia cuisine.

Whether you’re a Southern peach or you hail from some other wonderful place on this planet, I hope that you will remember your roots and keep your culture alive for future generations.

So many of you messaged me on Instagram that you loved our summer recipes that we shared. I invite you to make this recipe for Chicken Mull, or to share your version with me! Tag me on Instagram so we can share a virtual bowl of stew together.

Invitation to Return

Thank you for joining me with this week’s article from my series Falling for Home. Each Friday from August through September, we’ll meet here at BelleAntiquarian.com to reflect on a slow, intentional rhythm of seasonal living, rooted in tradition, home, and memory. Join me next Friday as we explore The Collected Kitchen, a celebration of antique charm, practical warmth, and the soulful heart of the Southern home.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

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The Velvet Season: Using Texture and Rich Tones in Fall Home Decor

A Five-Year-Old’s Treasure

When I was about five or six years old, I walked a couple of houses down the street to a neighbor’s yard sale. The driveway was lined with various unrelated items my neighbor was hoping to sell. One of those things was a harvest-gold crushed velvet throw pillow. To an adult, it was probably a hideous 1960s relic from a musty basement. But when my small fingers touched that fabric- velvet for the first time- I thought it was the most luxurious thing of beauty that I had ever seen.

Being a child, of course I didn’t have any money to buy it, but I returned several times that day to admire the velvet pillow. Finally, at the end of the day when the lady was packing up her unsold items, the pillow remained, and she gave it to me.

Even now, decades later, I still believe that there’s something decadent and luxurious about a well-placed velvet pillow. It makes the whole room seem more cared for.

This is the third entry in the Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal, a Friday series dedicated to timeless seasonal living, traditional Southern décor, and creating a home you love year-round. (Find links to previous entries at the bottom of this post.)

A Season of Layers and Light

During the weeks of late summer to early fall, it feels like a quiet transition. Supple textures like velvet mimic the season’s natural softness. The transition to spring is dotted with turbulent thunderstorms, and the starkness of winter jolts us with its biting winds. But the South seems to float imperceptibly from summer to fall. It’s a soft and gentle glide into the autumn season, like fingertips trailing across velvet.

It’s easy to feel the pressure to head to a big-box store each season to buy the newest décor available for our homes. However, today I want to talk about intentionally investing in a few timeless, quality pieces that we can layer with our existing, collected décor to decorate for fall. In this way we will invite calm, rather than clutter, into our homes. We’ll use our creativity in ways that will repurpose objects we own and love with a few new things that we find along the way.

Touchpoints of Texture – Decorating the Living Room

When my kids were small they had several beloved “stuffies.” You know, those precious stuffed animals with ears rubbed thin and matted fur that was once fluffy. However, after a few years’ worth of birthday parties, I quickly learned that if a family member asked what one of the kids wanted for their birthday, my response included that we didn’t need any more stuffed animals.

Throw pillows are our grown-up version of stuffed animals. They really are! Unfortunately throw pillows take up a lot of storage space in our homes. My solution to this is to invest in some quality pillow inserts and only buy pillow covers. Not only does this save on storage, but it’s far cheaper to buy pillow covers than the whole throw pillow.

This season I traded the navy blue pillow covers that I used throughout summer for some rich, copper colored velvet ones. If you’re looking to switch your pillow covers this fall, aim for saturated tones like copper, plum, or chocolate. If you want to add more texture to your space, consider tactile materials like velvet, raw linen, or boucle.

In addition to switching out your throw pillows, another great addition to your fall décor are copper and brown glass pieces. These are easy things to “hunt” for throughout the year as you’re antiquing. A copper boiler or basin can be used to hold books, magazines, and even throw blankets. A collection of brown and amber vases set in front of a window catches the fading sunrays to cast a magical glow around the room.

A collection of brown glass pieces catches the light to cast a warm glow in the space.
An antique copper boiler is used to hold cozy blankets for chilly nights.

As you decorate for fall, don’t overlook lighting. When the daylight grows shorter, we have opportunities in the evening to create a warm, cocooned glow that invites rest with well-placed lamps and even candles. Lighting is a way to add to the rhythm of the season and awaken our senses to calm and comfort. The glow of a lamp in the corner of your living room or the flicker and scent of an autumn candle invites us to the small moments that spark peace within.

Many of my favorite fall items that I used throughout our home this season can be found in this curated grouping on LTK. You can either click HERE to find the complete list, or click the image to be taken directly there.

The Velvet Ribbon Effect – Small Luxuries

If investing in new décor isn’t in your budget this year, or you feel like you already own enough of it, there are ways to take your existing décor up a notch to freshen it up. A budget-friendly fall décor update is using some velvet ribbon. Taking ordinary objects like a stack of books, a candle, or even a piece of artwork, and tying a length of velvet ribbon around them, will transform the ordinary into a piece of intentional seasonal décor.

Well placed bits of velvet ribbon transform ordinary objects into decorative pieces fit for the autumn season.

You can find seasonal velvet ribbon at craft stores or online. Look for shades like cinnamon, olive, rust, or plum to layer with your existing palette.

In my home, I used seasonal toned velvet ribbon around a stack of books, a little amber vase, and large brown bottles. It changed them from ordinary objects into objects d’art. It’s the slightest changes– a bit of ribbon, a tempered light – that tell us it’s time to slow down in this next season.

A length of rust-colored velvet ribbon adorns an otherwise plain ceramic vase.
A group of vintage green books is decorated with some gold velvet ribbon.

Permission to Linger

Will this be the autumn that you finally allow yourself to linger? I want to gently encourage you to embrace the comfort that you create in your own home without rushing into the chaos of the holidays. Remember, when you invest in your own home this season, that quality is better than quantity, collected is better than consuming, and luxury can be quiet and accessible. I invite you to observe your own home and find ways to soften your décor this season.

Invitation

Thank you for joining me with this week’s article from my series Falling for Home. Each Friday from August through September, we’ll meet here at BelleAntiquarian.com to reflect on a slow, intentional rhythm of seasonal living, rooted in tradition, home, and memory. Join me next week for Chicken Mull, a lesser-known Southern heritage recipe.

Never miss a post – use the box below to receive the latest Belle Antiquarian articles directly in your in-box. Want to see more of our daily lives? Find me HERE on Instagram.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

This article is part of my Falling for Home series. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:

Each week during the Falling for Home series I am featuring a paint color palette inspired by the topic we discussed. The Velvet Season inspired me to create a moody, rich palette that brings velvet textures and antique finishes to mind. Perfect for living rooms, libraries, and layered interiors.

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How to Update a 1930s Bathroom Without Losing Its Charm

Updating a historic bathroom doesn’t have to mean losing its original charm. Our 1939 bathroom still features the vintage wall tile and fixtures that first caught my heart, but a few thoughtful additions gave the space new life. By keeping the original tile and layering in a teak table, relaxed roman shade, coordinating artwork, and a touch of live greenery, I created a bathroom that feels both timeless and livable. If you’ve ever wondered how to refresh a 1930s bathroom without replacing its historic character, you’ll love this approach. I’ve also included a Benjamin Moore color palette inspired by the original tile, perfect for anyone looking for bathroom design inspiration rooted in history.

Historic Bathroom at First Glance

The first time I saw the main bathroom in our 1939 Colonial Revival Home, I knew it wasn’t living up to its full potential. It’s a rather large bathroom for its era, full of the original soft peach tile on the walls and in the shower. The original bathtub is cast iron with a porcelain enamel finish. It’s very large compared to modern bathtubs. These were elements that I found to be valuable and desirable while looking for a historic home to purchase, and I wanted to honor them in my design.

The bathroom as it looked when toured prior to purchasing the house.

When we viewed our home prior to purchasing it, the large space under the window had a tiny vanity and some wall shelves. After purchasing it, I wanted to update it in a way that made it more functional, while keeping the vintage charm typical in a 1930s and 1940s home. Since nothing was broken, I was able to update without replacing anything major.

The walls in the whole bathroom have peach-colored tile. In this photo you can see a built-in storage cabinet that is set into the wall.

Refreshing a 1930s or 1940s Bathroom

As you might guess, the peach tile was the springboard for the whole design. This color might have been a reason other homeowners would have ripped it out. However, I knew that finding the right paint color to complement the peach would create a better feeling in the space. For the walls above the tile, I went with Benjamin Moore China White OC-141.

Again playing with peach tile, I leaned in a bit to the orange tones, and selected a teak table to place under the window. I also added a relaxed roman shade over the window blinds to soften the edges of the window. A lucky find, the seagrass basket was a clearance rack find, and it fits perfectly on the bottom shelf of the table.

Adding greenery brought in my accent color and helped to create a spa-like environment in our vintage bathroom.
This seagrass basket was a lucky find – it fits perfectly on the shelf.

Next, I added a few plants to the space. The live greenery adds a spa-like touch, and brings in green as an accent color. The last selection that I made for this design was the artwork. It’s the only artwork in our whole house that isn’t an original piece, but it brings together all of the colors in this bathroom perfectly.

Best Paint Colors for Bathrooms with Vintage Tile

The color palette for this bathroom is built around the original 1939 bathroom tile. For a similar color in wall paint, use Benjamin Moore Clementine Rose 1219. A complementary neutral trim color is Benjamin Moore China White OC-141. If you’re looking for an accent color that pairs well with the other two colors, try Benjamin Moore Paris Rain 1501.

Adding Modern Comfort to a Historic Bathroom

I hope this inspires you to rethink a total remodel. There are many ways to add modern comfort to a historic bathroom without gutting it. For us, the space functions well and the original tile and fixtures are in fantastic condition. (What you might not be able to tell is that the built-in cabinet is set deep into the wall, so we didn’t have a need to create additional bathroom storage.)

I know there’s a temptation from social media, TV, and Pinterest to “update” every space that isn’t decorated in a modern way. But the best way to truly honor a historic home is to allow it to be what it was built to be. Most historic homeowners will embrace the imperfections and charm of designs from by-gone eras.

The finished design. A 1930s vintage bathroom with modern comfort and classic accessories.

Shop This Look

If you see something you like in this design that you’d like to incorporate into your own space, you can find many of the items linked HERE for shopping.

Click to Shop

While You’re Here…

While you’re here, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to “look around” and read a few of our other articles. We’re currently in a series called Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal, which is all about falling in love with our own homes again as we meander through the autumn season together.

Let me know what you think of these bathroom colors in the comments below. Would you ever live with peach colored tile?

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Gathering Baskets & Dried Blooms: A Gentle Transition into Fall

Welcome back to the second installment of Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. This series is all about falling in love with our homes again. Each week you’ll find inspiration to embrace your space by layering beauty, warmth, and meaning into everyday life as we move slowly through fall.

Each Friday you’ll find a new article to explore seasonal touches, décor, traditions, heirlooms, and a peaceful atmosphere. You’re invited to enjoy ideas that feel timeless, not trendy.

Today’s installment is all about noticing the beauty that is still blooming and gathering it in simple, meaningful ways.

The Beauty in the Gathering

As we approach the end of summer, our daily rhythm begins to shift. Each day the sun rises just a few minutes later, which slows our mornings down as the world outside lingers in stillness a little longer. We are entering the season of gathering, and everything from football games to bonfires will soon bring us together for connection, warmth, and celebration.

The zinnia patch that I planted early in the spring is dwindling to just a bloom here and there, instead of the dozens that seemed to emerge overnight a few weeks ago. I begin to look around at my gardens through a new lens, as I survey what I can save to enjoy inside during the coming months.

The baskets that I used a few weeks ago to harvest tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons are now going to be used to gather the things of beauty in my garden. This beauty will feed our souls as we softly begin to shift towards an inward season – gathered in the kitchen as we cook together, sitting beside the fire reading, or watching our favorite team make a touchdown. We’ll also begin to look inward as well, as we do when the days get darker and the air a bit colder.

A Time to Tend and Tuck Away

At the transition from summer to fall there are opportunities to honor the plants that brought beauty and life into our summer spaces. The zinnias and cosmos that delighted the bees can now be gathered for seed saving and future seasons. Saving flower seeds from zinnias and cosmos is one of the most satisfying and sustainable garden rituals for late summer. If saving seeds isn’t something that fits into your schedule, take advantage of the last few blooms by tucking tiny bouquets into unexpected places like a powder room or a nightstand.

This year I will be drying blooms from allium, lavender, and limelight hydrangeas growing in my backyard gardens. The allium and hydrangeas will be placed into vases to dry. I will tie the lavender into little bundles to use in various ways over the next few months.

A few things that will come in handy if you want to try your hand at saving seeds:

My lavender harvest. This year we planted 20 lavender bushes in our perennial garden.
Selecting limelight hydrangea stems for drying.
Allium flowers are beginner-friendly dried blooms. These came from my perennial garden.

The Quiet Power of Baskets

If you’ve been following me on Instagram stories, you know that I sometimes joke about how Ken thinks that I have too many baskets. I love baskets for many reasons. They add texture to spaces in ways that other objects don’t. They’re both beautiful and utilitarian… we always need things to hold other things, so why not use a beautiful basket? Even better if it is time-worn and handmade. What a way to honor the original maker than to reuse what they spent their time and energy creating.

I use baskets in my home to hold books and blankets. I have a tray-shaped basket on my nightstand to hold items that I sometimes use while I’m relaxing in the evening, like a heating pad or a linen eye pillow for evening relaxation. And, of course, there’s always a harvest basket hanging beside the door out to my garden that I can take as I head to gather whatever each season has to offer in my backyard gardens.

Rather than grouping baskets in a way that feels cluttered, try hanging a group of 3 on an empty wall, or use a basket on a bookshelf to hold bookmarks and card games. One of my favorite ways to use baskets is underneath tables, like an entry table or nightstand, to fill the empty spaces with texture and purpose.

Historically baskets are a symbol of abundance, care, and hospitality. Remember Little Red Riding Hood, carrying a basket to her grandmother? Or the picnic basket at the heart of every good summer memory? Adding a basket to your space is a nod to the storied symbolism of baskets through time.

A basket under a nightstand serves to hold an extra blanket for guests, as well as to fill an empty void.
This basket holds some of my favorite Martha Stewart books.
A basket of books on an accent table offers those who rest in the chairs something alternative to look at instead of their phones.

Gentle Blooms in Quiet Corners

Once you have dried your cut flowers, or purchased them from your favorite retailer, there are a number of ways to use them throughout your décor. You’ll notice that the colors of your stems have likely dulled and become a bit more muted than they were in the peak of their season. This blends seamlessly into fall décor when we combine the dried stems with materials such as linen textiles, ceramic and clay vases, and woven baskets.

A vase of dried limelight hydrangeas on your mantel or a basket of dried lavender on your bathroom counter is a nod to the transition of seasons we are currently in. What a metaphor for life – these flowers have changed, softened, and yet remain beautiful in their new season.

Each week during the Falling for Home series I am featuring a paint color palette inspired by the topic we discussed. Gathering Baskets and Dried Blooms inspired me to create an earthy and botanical palette. Inspired by dried flowers and vintage baskets, this paint palette is perfect for early fall layering.

Living Beautifully Through the Shift

In life we will experience many periods of transition. We can look back and realize that change didn’t happen all at once; it was gradual and slow.  The change between seasons happens in a similar way. What an abrupt and unsettling disturbance it would be if we didn’t ease into fall. We certainly would be troubled if one week it was 90 degrees and daylight until 9 p.m. every day, and then it dropped to 50 degrees and dark by 6. As the temperatures gradually cool and daylight slowly decreases, allow yourself to gently transition into this new season as well. We don’t have to rush into the holiday season. What a relief it will be to let your home breathe and the beauty of autumn to slowly gather throughout your home. Just as we gently transition our home décor for fall, we can allow our routines and energy to shift with the season.

Shop Late Summer and Early Fall Favorites for Your Home

I’m often asked to share my favorite finds of the season. Here you’ll see items that I use in my own home, as well as others that I have carefully curated for you. To see more, either find my LTK shop HERE or click the image below,

Invitation to Return

Thank you for joining me with this week’s article from my series Falling for Home. Each Friday from August through September, we’ll meet here at BelleAntiquarian.com to reflect on a slow, intentional rhythm of seasonal living, rooted in tradition, home, and memory. Join me next week for The Velvet Season, a sensual post full of texture, depth, and richness.

Today I’ve shared what I gather during this time of year. What have you gathered this week to treasure – blooms, memories, or moments? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

This article is part of my Falling for Home series. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:


You can subscribe here to receive new articles, seasonal inspiration, and vintage-style favorites delivered right to your inbox.

Abby11 Comments

When Summer Lingers: Late Summer to Early Fall Home Decor Ideas

The First Golden August

It was August, and the kitchen was half-gutted… yet I loved it. We had only been in our 1939 Colonial Revival home for a few short months. Boxes of floor tile were stacked in corners, appliances were missing, and decisions layered like dust on every surface. But in the late afternoon, as the summer sun tilted toward evening, our old house glowed with promise.

I remember standing in the quiet, listening to the hum of the ceiling fan and the soft creak of the old wood floors, and thinking, “We’re really here.”

We didn’t yet know where things would go, which paint color would win, or how the new kitchen would come together. But the bones of the house were good, and the light was kind. In that golden August, it felt like the house was giving us space to figure it out, letting us breathe.

This year, I wanted to honor that in-between season, where summer lingers and fall waits just outside the door.

Falling for Home is a new weekly series dedicated to this gentle shift: a way to celebrate the spaces we live in and the beauty of making them feel like ours. Over the next few weeks, we’ll look at meaningful ways to transition your home from summer to fall. Today, we begin by sharing a conversation on how to style your home between seasons.

The Beauty of the In-Between

It feels like so much of the year is spent rushing from one holiday to the next. There aren’t many months on the calendar when we don’t feel the pressure to decorate the mantel for one occasion or another. In August and September, the days are still long, and we can still enjoy the evenings outside after dinner. In the South, it certainly won’t feel like fall until we’re well into October. But we’re also back into our normal fall routines of school and work.

There’s a temptation to rush into what we’re longing for. By August, we are tired of the sweltering heat and oppressive humidity. Simply put, we’re over it. We know crisp breezes and chilly evenings are coming soon, and in anticipation, we feel the pull to sprinkle the house with pumpkins and all things fall. And instead of allowing ourselves to look forward with quiet excitement, we try to force the season into already being here. I’m over summer, so I’m decorating for fall.

What if we waited, though? What if we gave ourselves permission to linger in the in-between? To pause before the rush of Hallo-Thanks-Mas? There’s value in this transitional space. A restful hush. A moment to recharge. We can give ourselves a period of intentional rest, one that renews our creativity for what lies ahead, if we find rest in the lull of August and September.

The last of the zinnias that I planted in early spring can still be found on my kitchen counters.

A Gentle Transition: Letting Your Home Breathe

In this time of transition from summer to fall, I am choosing to let my home breathe. I am still using my light gauze blanket that is a “barely there” covering during the warm evenings on the porch. The melamine dinnerware is still getting plenty of use as we take advantage of the sunlight to eat outside many evenings. Most days I am still filling vases with zinnias for the kitchen table. The windows are still open in the morning, and the cicadas hum well into the evening.

I’ve packed away all of our patriotic decorations that we had out from May through July. Instead of replacing it with other décor, I’m letting those spaces be empty for a bit. If I really need to swap it out with something, I’ll use something plain or neutral. It becomes a restful place for the eyes to land during a time of “in-between.”

In preparation for the next season, I browse the thrift and antique stores for items of amber glass, brown transferware, and pieces of copper or brass here and there. As slowly as the leaves turn in fall, I may sprinkle a special piece of collected décor into a bookshelf or the dining room sideboard. The rest are put away until it’s time for the next season. This feels different than pulling a big bin of fall décor up from the basement. I am not rushing. The warmth of summer is still welcome. And less feels like more during this time, because it’s intentional.

In late summer, I focus my thrift shopping on collecting items for the upcoming fall season. Warm copper, amber glass, earthy baskets, durable yellow-ware & oven-safe bowls are lovely to both decorate with & use in the home.

In My Home

On the fireplace mantel, I’ve taken down the cluster of American flags that filled the silver vessels and replaced them with pheasant feathers. Instead of the garish orange and black of Halloween, which will have its time, there’s a subtle nod to harvest ahead.

The kitchen counters have been covered in ripening tomatoes all summer. As the last of the tomatoes slowly comes off the vine, the counters are making room for an early butternut squash and a bowl full of apples. Fall, we see you, but you’re not here yet.

In the dining room, where we’ll gather so many times together as a family in the coming months, the sideboard is lightly styled with a simple linen runner and a stack of vintage books tied in velvet ribbon. Subtle clues that the seasons are on the cusp of changing.

Pheasant Feathers replace patriotic flags from summer decor.
A transitional fall vignette on the dining room buffet.
Late summer to early fall is an opportunity to let your spaces rest between seasons. If you mix in anything, neutrals are a great addition.

Invitation

As we walk through the doors of our favorite big-box stores, it’s easy to feel like we’re behind. It was just the 4th of July, yet Halloween décor is on clearance, and boxes of Christmas ornaments line the shelves. It’s okay to linger in summer for a while. It’s okay to stop the cycle of, “I’ll be happy when…” and “I can’t wait until…”

In this series, Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal, we’ll take a slow, intentional walk from summer to autumn, falling in love with our homes again through shared traditions, inspired recipes, and timeless, collected décor.

Perhaps fall hasn’t fully turned just yet… and maybe, that’s the very best part.

Colors for the Season

Each week during the Falling for Home series I am featuring a paint color palette inspired by the topic we discuss. When Summer Lingers inspired me to create a graceful palette thing bridges summer and early fall. The warm cream and the soft white are elevated with a green that nods to the fading garden.

Thank you for joining me with this week’s journal entry from my series, Falling for Home. Each Friday from August through September, we’ll meet here at BelleAntiquarian.com to reflect on a slow, intentional rhythm of seasonal living, rooted in tradition, home, and memory. Join me next week for Gathering Baskets & Dried Blooms, a post about saving and savoring the beauty around us at the end of summer.

For sources to items featured in this post and others inspired by the season, find them HERE in my LTK shop, or click the image below to shop.

Explore More from Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal

This article is part of my series called Falling for Home: A Weekly Autumn Journal. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:

You can subscribe here to receive new articles, seasonal inspiration, and vintage-style favorites delivered right to your inbox.

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How to Style Vintage Blue and White China for Summer Entertaining

A Season of Graceful Gatherings

As I stand at the kitchen sink washing dishes after dinner, I notice that the light is fading just a few minutes earlier each day. The hands of autumn are stretching to steal the daylight hours as we creep closer to the start of a new season. I look down at the dish in my hands, a blue willow dinner plate, and I’m reminded that while our time this summer is slipping away, some things remain ageless, like my favorite blue and white dishes… always in style, always familiar.

Today is the final installment of the Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays series. Over the past few weeks, we have touched on timeless summer traditions, seasonal recipes, and vintage-inspired living. I hope that I have inspired you to seek your roots and remember traditions. Although we live in a world moving at warp speed with innovations, we can enrich our lives in traditional ways to improve the quality of our daily living.

If you’ve found your way here via Pinterest, Google, or Instagram… welcome! I invite you to check out the other segments in this series, which can be found linked at the bottom of this article.

Why Blue and White Never Goes Out of Style

My soon-to-be-21-year-old daughter moved into a new apartment at school this fall, and I sent her off with a set of six blue willow dinner plates. Something that I love about Gen Z is their enthusiasm for thrifting and appreciation for vintage. Sam spent weeks browsing thrift and antique stores to furnish her home in her personal, unique style. She has the capability to go online and buy many of these things new, but she prefers to find pieces with a story, better quality materials, and (usually) a better price point. She took a set of blue willow dishes made by English Ironstone Transferware because of their weight and durability. We didn’t find anything modern that compared to the style and quality of these vintage plates.

If you’ve followed me on Instagram for a while, you’ve seen me use my Churchill Blue Willow plates time and time again. I have featured them at holidays like Christmas, Easter, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving. Today I want to show them to you in a different light, as they were meant to be: the quintessential everyday dinnerware. While I do love how beautiful my blue willow plates look in the china cabinet, they are everyday elegance that I encourage you to take out and use.

Summer Styling Tips with a Twist

If you love blue and white transferware, but you don’t know how to get started using it or how to integrate it into your everyday dinner service, I have several simple styling tips for you.

  • Any pattern of blue and white transferware pairs beautifully with natural textures like seagrass, rattan, and wicker. I like using my seagrass chargers and rattan napkin rings to help transform these dishes from feeling too precious to use, to becoming a part of your everyday elegance.
  • Something fun about blue and white transferware is that different patterns are often combined to create a full set. For example, Churchill Blue Willow and Myott Finlandia are two patterns that complement each other well. In addition, Staffordshire Liberty Blue and Meakin Blue Nordic make a nice combination. Pick up a plate here and there while you’re on your thrifting and antiquing adventures. It won’t be long before you have a complete set of blue and white dinnerware, and you’ll have a unique story for each piece.
  • Another way I like to incorporate pieces from my blue and white transferware collection is to use the larger serving bowls on my kitchen counter as fruit bowls. This way, they aren’t hidden away, and I get to enjoy them every day.

Invest Once, Use for a Lifetime

My first stop at any estate sale is the kitchen or dining room sideboard. I love to hunt for blue and white transferware to add to my collection, and maybe add a few to Sam’s collection too! Buying second hand is an approachable and affordable way to get started.

If I could go back and give myself some advice when I was just starting out, I would say to invest at the very beginning with dishes that are timeless and well made. Instead of following trends that try to convince you to switch patterns every few years, I want to encourage you to go with something everlasting.

Whether you’re collecting family pieces or starting your own legacy, here are a few timeless sets worth exploring:

From Summer to Fall: The Beauty of Longevity

Today I’ve shared with you how I incorporate my Blue Willow dishes into everyday casual dining for summer. As we begin to transition into fall, I’ll add touches of amber glass vases, dried florals, and maybe some velvet ribbon as a napkin ring.

Today concludes the Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays Series. I hope you’ll find your way back here next week as I start a new series called Falling for Home. In the meantime, remember that Summer is fleeting, but style like this… it lingers, season after season.

Explore More from Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays

This article is part of my Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays series, where I share timeless inspiration for warm-weather living. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:

– Timeless Red, White, and Blue Decor Ideas for the Porch
– Heirloom Tomato Dreams
– Classic Summer Whites: Timeless Linen Dresses and Southern Style Staples
– Refrigerator Pickles—A Southern Summer Staple
– Simple Garden Joys
– Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake Cake
– Creating a Cozy Summer Reading Spot
You can subscribe here to receive new articles, seasonal inspiration, and vintage-style favorites delivered right to your inbox.

I’m often asked for sources for my favorites blue and white items. I’ve rounded them up in one place in my LTK shop, which you can view and shop HERE or click the photo below.

Abby7 Comments
A woman, Abby, stands in front of her garden holding a large basket full of tomatoes. There is a brown dog by her side.

Simple Garden Joys: Everyday Moments from a Southern Summer Garden

The Heart of a Southern Garden

I have found that there are few things in life as empowering as gardening. The humbling act of placing a tiny seed into rich, dark soil, watering it, and waiting for the sun to penetrate the earth…only for a pair of green leaves to emerge a few days later is a series of small miracles. Knowing that I have the capability to do this, regardless of anything else happening in the world, is a grounding force.

As a child I watched my mother use a rototiller to turn the soil and create her own garden in our backyard. I was awe-struck at the zucchini, yellow squash, and corn she grew. She told me the names of the wildflowers she planted: Black-eyed Susans, Bachelor’s Buttons, and Zinnias. I witnessed that by simply placing seeds in dirt, my mother had the power to make things grow. What I didn’t know then is that gardening would grow to become an important part of my life.

This article is part of my Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays series, a weekly look at timeless summer traditions, seasonal recipes, and vintage-inspired living. This week we’re in the garden, talking about the simple joys that gardening will enrich your life with. Gardening, especially in a Southern backyard, offers more than food or flowers…it offers a sense of peace, purpose, and tradition.

If you’ve found your way here via Instagram, Pinterest, or Google, I hope you’ll take the time to check out the other articles in this series, which you will find linked at the end.

Morning Stillness & Rituals

In the South we are fortunate to have an incredibly long growing season. I begin my planting in February, and by the time July and August arrive, I find myself tending the garden in the early morning or late evening to avoid the sweltering heat. Not long after the sun rises, I make my way to my vegetable garden with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand, dragging the hose behind me with the other.

As I water the thirsty soil around my tomatoes and honeydew melon, there are no cellphone alerts or sounds from the morning news. It has become a time of stillness, peace, and meditation. I lose track of time as I breathe slower and think clearly. My early morning garden routine has become a quiet ritual, an antidote to a busy world and the heartbeat of my Southern summer days.

The thing is, gardening is something that anyone can do. With a little patience, you can create a garden to cultivate as an act of self-care. Whether you have a large backyard, a small deck at an apartment, or just a sunny window, I encourage you to plant a few seeds and become their caretaker.

The Joy of Tending

There is something sacred about working in the garden with your hands. In the rhythm of pulling weeds, tying up tomato vines with old twine, and gently snipping herbs for supper, I find a quiet joy that asks for nothing but presence. My garden is home to heirloom varieties passed down through generations. Cherokee Purple tomatoes, Rattlesnake pole beans, and Mammoth sunflowers stand taller than me by August. These plants, chosen with care, are more than produce; they’re a living thread between the past and present. Gardening reminds me that growth isn’t just about the harvest. It’s about showing up, getting your hands dirty, and tending to something with love.

Unexpected Visitors

As a result of tending a garden, I feel a gentle responsibility for the other visitors that come as a result of this habitat that I’ve created. Every year I breathe a sigh of relief when the pollinators arrive, because they are an integral part of gardening success. I look to see how many varieties of bees are moving from flower to flower. This year I have seen Common Eastern Bumble Bee, Western Honey Bee, and Blueberry Digger Bee.

The butterflies arrive a bit later in the season when the high temperatures settle in. The American Lady and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail flit by quickly as they search for nectar in nearby flowers.

In the evening, the song of the Cicadas starts soft and low, but by the time the sun sets, the Fall Southeastern Dusk-singing Cicadas are loudly calling in unison to each other. It is the song of a Southern summer night.

As I walk though the garden, past the cucumbers and beans, these creatures and I…the toads, bees, birds, and even the bats…we are all together, living on this marvelous earth, depending on one another for food, safety, and cooperation.

A butterfly taking off in flight above a pink zinnia flower.

Gathering the Harvest

There have been years when I have not harvested a single tomato. The squirrels got to them before they started to blush, or the soil I planted them in wasn’t healthy. This year I planted a new bed full of zinnia seeds, and the results were disappointing, to say the least.

In other years, like this year, I am begging neighbors to take grocery bags full of cucumbers so that they don’t go to waste. (We made pickles more times this year than I ever have before.)

Regardless of the Southern summer harvest, there is joy simply in the act of gardening homegrown vegetables. The process of caring for something other than yourself turns into just that, caring for yourself. Gardening is both self-less and soul-sustaining.

A woman, Abby, stands in front of her garden holding a large basket full of tomatoes. There is a brown dog by her side.

A Garden is Never Just a Garden

Gardening feels like it is a huge part of who I am. It is something that I think about even on the cold, dark days of winter. I have wondered, though, would I still have followed this path if I hadn’t witnessed my mother gardening? My Great Aunt Fern was a gardener into her 90s, so is this something in my DNA?

Maybe the idea of a Tomato Hornworm has you swearing that you will never plant a Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato within 500 miles of your house. Maybe you’re not “outdoorsy.” That’s okay, but I encourage you to figure out what you ARE interested in that brings you simple joy. And I’m willing to bet that it’s not glowing back at you from a screen.

Whether you’re planting tomatoes or simply sitting among the blooms, slowing down with nature invites you to notice life again.

Explore More from Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays

This article is part of my Old-Fashioned Summer Saturdays series, where I share timeless inspiration for warm-weather living. Be sure to check out these reader favorites:

– Timeless Red, White, and Blue Decor Ideas for the Porch
– Heirloom Tomato Dreams
– Classic Summer Whites: Timeless Linen Dresses and Southern Style Staples
– Refrigerator Pickles—A Southern Summer Staple
– Creating a Cozy Summer Reading Spot
– Old-Fashioned Strawberry Shortcake Cake
– Blue and White China for Summer Entertaining
You can subscribe here to receive new articles, seasonal inspiration, and vintage-style favorites delivered right to your inbox.

I often get asked to recommend things that I use while gardening. You can find the items I recommend in my LTK shop HERE, or you can click the image below to be taken directly there.

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