Interior and landscape designer Lori Shaw offers tips for festive autumn décor.
By Cathy Martin
Friends Lori Shaw and Jenn Dolan got the idea for Picture Perfect Porches after Dolan saw an article about a pumpkin-decorating business in Texas. When she decided to launch a similar business in Charlotte, Dolan reached out to Shaw, a fellow middle-school mom, to join her as a business partner.
“With my background in interior design, and Jennifer’s in real estate and event planning, we jumped right in,” says Shaw. The partners began drawing up a business plan and reaching out to wholesale pumpkin producers in fall 2024. They officially launched their business in August, creating festive porchscapes with pumpkins, gourds, hay bales and mums sourced from regional growers. Deliveries started in late September and will continue through Oct. 15.
Packages available range from $375 to $1,200 and include delivery and setup. For an extra fee, pumpkins will be removed at the end of the season and returned to local farms for use as compost or animal feed.
Below, Shaw shares a few tips for creating a festive, cozy feel inside and out this season.
Make it warm and cozy. Out with lightweight and light-colored throws, and in with heavier blankets and pillows; think cable knits, plaids and velvets.
Light it up. Longer days are behind us, which is a great excuse to set out all the candles! I love implementing a variety of sizes of flameless, battery-operated pillar candles on timers.
Bring the outside in. Natural elements add warmth to any space; that’s true regardless of the season. Fall is a perfect time to incorporate items like tall branches in a vase, wood bowls and vessels on coffee tables and bookshelves, small evergreen potted plants, or wood-slice chargers on your dining table.
Keep it casual. If spring is a time for new growth, fall is a time to slow down and rest. A more casual look feels right — picture fallen leaves, worn boots and chunky sweaters. Now apply this same mindset to your décor. It’s more antique copper pot than fine china, more greenery in a rustic jar than flowers in a vase.
Don’t overthink it. When selecting your fall color palette, just picture beloved seasonal items and activities — dark reds (apple-picking), yellows and browns (falling leaves) and deep oranges and forest greens (pumpkins and gourds, of course!). SP
Photographs by Olivia Soto
