Discovering Hidden Gems: New Favorite Local Shops, Defining an Entry Space & Cool Coastal Fall Decor

In this post, discovering new-to-me local shops, tips for planning for an entry accent wall, and ways to decorate with coastal fall decor.

Where has the summer gone?

If you’re wondering where the month of July went, you’re not alone! Although we technically still have two more months of summer, August traditionally marks the beginning of the end of the season. Students head back to school, Halloween decorations show up in stores, and the NFL preseason starts. (Go Niners!) We will be spending the first part of fall in San Diego, which means summer will continue a bit longer for us than it would in the Bay Area. However, that won’t stop me from doing a little fall decorating in our beach place!

But first, I’m sharing some of the new-to-me shops near our newly-adopted hometown. I love to scope out new home decor stores wherever I am, and then later figure out where the other “important” places are, like the grocery store. Priorities! Anyway, here are a few of my new favorite shops.

White Barn Home

This adorable shop is located in a cute historical building in downtown Lafayette. The fact that the building is so old and somewhat wonky just adds to the rustic ambiance. It was established a couple of years ago by a mother and daughter who took over the space from another home decor shop. If you love clean white farmhouse charm, you’ll love White Barn Home. This will be a great spot to pick up a few hostess gifts or some new table linens. Looking forward to future visits!

Wish

This little gem of a shop is tucked underneath a major freeway interchange of all places! The Boulevard Circle area in Walnut Creek is an eclectic collection of antique shops, industrial businesses, artists’ collectives and the best deli in the area, Morucci’s. In addition to being a home decor and gift shop, Wish hosts monthly Maker’s Markets, classes and pop-up vendors. This is a great place to shop if you are looking for a gift for a baby/bridal shower or a friend’s birthday.

Orchard Nursery

Ok so this shop isn’t really new to me but it’s such a great place I wanted to share. Locals know that Orchard Nursery in Lafayette is THE place to go for all things plant-related. They have a large indoor Atrium full of beautiful and unusual plants, plus a huge 5 acre outdoor plant area as well. Shelly the turtle is always a favorite among kids (and some of us adults too.) During the holidays, the Atrium is transformed into a holiday winter wonderland with dozens of Christmas trees decorated by theme. I look forward to it every year.

The nursery also has an adorable gift shop in an adobe-style house on the property called The Lazy K. It’s a great spot to find unique gifts for friends, kids, or even yourself!

Entry Accent Wall: Choosing a Style

Our small Bay Area home doesn’t have an actual foyer like our last house did, so we designated a nearby wall as the “entry” with a console table, lamp, mirror and a few decorative items – the basic “ingredients” for a typical entryway. The wall is the same color (BM White Dove) as all of the other walls in our home, so I’m planning to add some kind of wall treatment to define the space. It would be nice to have it finished before we head south so it’s ready for the holidays when we return.

I played around with a few options and came up with some renderings of possible designs. I’ve found that it’s really helpful to put together an idea board when visualizing a space. I want the look to be something darker to contrast with all of the light walls in our main living area and to draw attention to the space.

Option 1: Wood Wall Cladding

While I love the look of wood wall cladding because I’m drawn to more modern design, I don’t think it will work for this project because it looks to be difficult to install, is more expensive, and frankly, I think it will overwhelm the console table. When I added the wainscoting at the bottom in the second rendering, it looked a little better, but I felt like the modern feel of the cladding clashed with the traditional look of the wainscoting.

Option 2: Wallpaper

For the second rendering I tried another textured look, this time with a faux grasscloth peel-and-stick wallpaper. I like the look of grasscloth and the darker color complements the kitchen cabinets in the next room. However, the console table seemed to blend in with the wall in the first picture so I added the wainscoting again for contrast. This look seems more cohesive to me and the style of the wallpaper goes better with the casual feel of the table.

I decided to give option 2 a try and ordered a couple rolls of the paper. The description on the website says it has a bit of shimmer and slight texture so I think that will be a nice touch. It’s gotten good reviews, so we shall see. As for the wainscoting, I’m thinking of doing a simple chair rail or trim and leaving the bottom of the wall white. We gave away all of our larger power tools when we moved so I’ll need to keep it simple! Once the the plan is finalized I’ll share the details of what we did and how it came together. Stay tuned!

If you’re considering using wallpaper to spruce up your entry, here are a few tips:

• Pattern and Color Balance:
  • If your wallpaper has a busy pattern, balance it with simpler, solid-colored decor. If it’s a subtle pattern, you can be more adventurous with your furnishings and accessories.
• Lighting:
  • Good lighting can enhance the look of your accent wall. Consider adding sconces or a statement light fixture to highlight the wallpaper.
• Decorative Elements:
  • Use the accent wall to frame key decorative elements like a stylish mirror, a piece of art, or family photos.
• Cohesion:
  • Ensure the wallpaper ties in with the overall theme and style of your home for a cohesive look.
• Maintenance:
  • Choose a durable wallpaper that can withstand the traffic and potential scuffs common in entryways.

Coastal Fall Style

I recently made a reconnaissance trip to a local Pottery Barn store to see what was new for fall because I’m not afraid to take on the tough assignments. I’m back to report that they are just starting to ramp up for the season. The standout item was the selection of faux grass stems in muted fall colors. There were only a few pumpkins and Halloween decorations so far, but I’m sure more are coming to a store near you soon, and in fact most are already available online.

For a coastal fall look, I like the look above of the chunky wooden beads (similar at West Elm) in a woven tray, along with the feathery faux grass stems. The candle shown above also has the textured look of a seashell. Below are more examples of types of “dried” faux grasses that would look great as the centerpiece on a table, or displayed in an oversize vase on a coffee table without the mess of the real thing.

Online, there are lots of great ideas for adding a little bit of coastal style in your fall decor. The beautiful table centerpiece below features a rustic dough bowl filled with neutral pumpkins, white starfish and shells, plus faux greenery in coastal shades of blue and green. So pretty.

As the days get shorter candles provide some coziness to a room. The Woodbine Taper Centerpiece, below, has a coastal feel with the addition of pale cream and green pumpkins and garland. Another option is to use hurricane candle holders filled with natural elements like sand, small shells, etc.

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More ideas for a coastal fall look

Thanks for stopping by today! What are your thoughts on decorating a small entry? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

If you missed my last post about pearls you can find it here. Have a great week!