Autumn is a magical time, when the earth is fecund and fertile, brimming with deep, rich, beautiful colors. The burnished palette known as earth tones—golden, russet, forest green, mushroom yellow, cranberry, pumpkin—is irresistible this time of year. It beckons anyone wanting to refresh an interior space and create an enchantingly beautiful witchy lair.
At the same time, there is something pensive and wistful about the season. Eventually the leaves fall and scatter to the wind. The cold breath of winter begins to blow in. But before it does, there is magic in the air, with Mabon (autumnal equinox), Samhain, and of course, All Hallow’s Eve. Gustave Flaubert, author of Madame Bovary, said, “I love the autumn—that melancholy season that suits memories so well.”
Hold those memories close, perhaps with objects of beauty that spark yearning.
Roots + Flowers
The designers at Heart and Sola Creations, an LGBTQ+-owned company, craft elegant wood flowers—perfect for a wedding bouquet, boutonniere, or centerpiece, or to display around the home. They are made from the root of a plant called aeschynomene aspera—sola or shola, for short. Sola has a spongy texture, like cork, and the blooms are lightweight and customizable. heartandsola.com
Painted Porcelain
Laura Winter, founder of Laura Winter Art, is a self-taught Italian porcelain painter who is based in Germany. Her hand-painted cups (above) are exquisitely detailed renderings of botanicals, bats, cottages, and landscapes, some inspired by the Black Forest. Each is truly a work of art! instagram.com/laurawinterart
Wise Owl Bookends
Made of resin that is painted gold, this set of two round-headed Wise Owl bookends from Anthropologie will lend a certain je ne sais quoi to your office or home. They’re quirky and very appealing, and look especially good next to an arrangement of fresh or dried flowers. anthropologie.com
The Dark Side
There is almost too much to choose from at Darksome Craft Market, a consortium of brands, all handcrafted, that tap into a unique vein of quality art and craft. We love the work of Caitlin McCarthy, a graphite artist in Northern California, who channels her unique fascination with the Victorian and the occult into otherworldly drawings. darksomecraftmarket.com
Gothic Glass
Handmade in Italy by artist Claudia Surpi, the Goth stained-glass pieces from Cemetery Lane Design on Etsy feature skulls festooned with colorful leaves, pearlescent ghosts, spiked crowns, and a rich selection of pieces to hang around the home. instagram.com/cemeterylanedesign
To the Manor Born
If your dream is to live in a (possibly haunted) English country manor, the wall murals from Burke Decor can make you feel like your dream has come true. The Sylvania Wall Mural in Mint and Teal from the Mansfield Park Collection by Osborne and Little is a whimsical woodland scene, speckled with ferns, wild tulips, and toadstools, presented in three panels. The collection is named after Jane Austen’s delicious novel, Mansfield Park. burkedecor.com
The lampshades crafted by Deadly Darling Nightshades, a woman-owned collective, are hand-sewn in Los Angeles, and the care and attention to detail are obvious. The witchy Victorian styles—some made from upcycled vintage or retooled vintage—feature crystal beading, tassels, velvet trim, and mesh in divine colors, including lilac, blood red, pumpkin, black, and more. They are destined to shed a divine light on your lair! deadlydarlingnightshades.com
