Katie's Tips:
-For a modern fall display, use non traditional pumpkins, flowers, fruits, nuts etc.
-Add height using a cake stand or similar object (raid your kitchen). This works for arrangements on the mantel or in the foyer. For centerpieces, keep everything low.<
-Use a mix of shapes and sizes. If everything is too much the same, it will just look a big pile.
-Push the outer edges of the color palette so you show variety in every arrangement.
-Use pumpkins as well as gourds. You can usually find both at a pumpkin patch. All of Sunset's pumpkins are from Farmer John's in Half Moon Bay.
Reds and orange arrangement:
-Use red-orange pumpkins with glory lilies, pomegranates, red winter berries, and ¯ most surprisingly ¯ golden and cherry tomatoes.
Neutral arrangement:
The sculptural quality of white pumpkins really pops against wood paneling. White anemones and an assortment of seedpods, leaves, and acorns in a medley of browns complement them here. Try propping some pumpkins vertically for added height and texture.
Yellow and gold arrangement:
Use striped yellow pumpkins lend a lighthearted twist to the traditional fall palette. Combine them with yellow Iceland poppies, kumquats, and grapefruits in a sunlit space; leave citrus leaves and twisted pumpkin stems intact for a just-picked feel.
Mixed green arrangement:
Use miniature striped green-and-yellow pumpkins with a trio of copper vases along with a casual arrangement of red, orange, and yellow flowers. It's all about fall color ¯ without a maple leaf or corncob in sight.
Garden harvest arrangement:
A weathered wood farm table provides the perfect backdrop for this grouping. Some tips:
-Add height A terra-cotta bowl forms the base, elevating a mound of persimmons above the rest of the arrangement.
-Contrast shapes Persimmon leaves and branches jut out at various angles, breaking up the roundness of the fruit. Contrast color Creamy acorn squash provides the finishing touch.
For more information on decorating with pumpkins/no carve pumpkins, visit www.sunset.com.
About Katie Tamony:
She is VP and editor-in-chief of Sunset, the magazine of Western living. Based in Menlo Park, Calif. The magazine has a circulation of more than 1.2 million readers throughout the 13 Western states. Ms. Tamony joined the company in 1994 as a copy editor, and was named copy chief later that year. In 1995, she helped launch the custom publishing division as editor. Ms. Tamony was named editorial director in 1997 and was promoted to vice president and director of custom publishing in 2000. Prior to joining Sunset, Ms. Tamony was an associate editor and then managing editor with Northern California Home & Garden. A native of Sebastopol, Calif., Ms. Tamony earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California at Berkeley.
