1 - Denton House Design Studio

Celebrate
the Season
Autumn delivers
Utah’s showiest
and, for many, most
anticipated season
of them all. Matt
Dickamore serves
up decorating and
entertaining ideas
that celebrate the
season in style.
BY B R A D M E E
PHOTOS BY A DA M F I N K L E
F
all is in the air, the mountainsides are cloaked in
ruby and gold, and our desire for
coziness and comfort is at an alltime high. Why let the autumn’s
splendor pass you by? This year,
take Matt Dickamore’s lead and
savor the season in style. At a client’s Deer Valley mountain house,
Dickamore sets the stage indoors
and out, offering decorating and
entertaining ideas guaranteed to
help you celebrate fall’s fanfare in
your own neck of the woods.
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U TA H S T Y L E A N D D E S I G N . C O M
Dress Your Door
“The common wreath is a cop-out,”
says Dickamore. Instead, he creates
a frame of birch branches bound
at the corners with wire and burlap
strips and festoons the DIY wreath
with a mix of live and dried leaves,
wheat, moss, flowers and berries.
“Many of these things most people
have in their backyards,” he says.
Harness the Harvest
“Think beyond dried florals when decorating for fall,” says Dickamore. On a large
entry console, the designer props a large,
vintage picture frame and strategically
fronts it with woven baskets, fresh mums,
cascading foliage, gourds and pillar candles
staged on multi-level wooden stands. “The
mix of textures, colors and levels encourages the eye to move through the display,”
he says. A wall mirror doubles the visual
impact of the arrangement.
Put On Some Weight
Swap out summer’s eyelet cottons
and light linens for heavier, textured
textiles. Wool cushions, needlepoint
pillows and chenille throws in rich
harvest tones instantly warm the
home’s library and create a refuge of
comfort. “Even replacing plain white
lamp shades with others that are
woven, cream or colored makes a big
difference,” says Dickamore.
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U TA H S T Y L E A N D D E S I G N . C O M
Do Up Your Deck
A few simple additions can transform an outdoor sitting area
from so-so to special and inviting. On a deck overlooking the
Jordanelle, Dickamore sets the stage for an afternoon respite
of hot cider with clusters of lanterns, cushy throw pillows, luxe
lap blankets and a relaxed centerpiece of sunflowers. “It’s
all about casual and comfortable,” he says. TIP: Surround
candles with cranberries, cinnamon sticks or branched berries
to give lanterns a festive touch.
fall 2 0 1 2
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Take It Outside
Fashion plenty of cozy spots, indoors and out. Dickamore
transitions a patio from summer to fall by pulling seating
around the outdoor fireplace and decorating the area with
pillows, blankets and clusters of pumpkins and candlelit
lanterns. Placed on a tray, s’mores fixings staged with twig
skewers look as good as they taste. TIP: “Grouping elements
like lanterns makes a stronger impact,” Dickamore says.
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U TA H S T Y L E A N D D E S I G N . C O M
1
2
Down
to
the
Details
Special touches that are warm and welcoming—just like the season that inspires them.
Matt Dickamore, creative director for
Denton House Design Studio (above),
harvests the comfort and coziness of the
season with easy-to-execute details.
1 Make Over the Mantel
A hearty swag of fall foliage drapes a
fireplace mantel while pumpkins and
flickering candles adorn the hearth.
2 Top it Off
Crown a cup of cider with a lattice cookie
to create the look of a personalized pie.
3 TAKE NOTE
Even small things like a homemade guestroom notepad can help celebrate the
season’s arrival.
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4 Make it Personal
A place card instantly makes a place
setting special. Cloth napkins and napkin
rings dress up outdoor tabletops.
5 Stage Some S’mores
Create a tray of s’mores fixing’s to make
fireside get-togethers festive and fun.
6 Pull from Nature
Foraged leaves and pinecones mix with
vintage photos to charm a glass-topped
table’s seasonal display. USD
Photographed at Casa Nova luxury vacation
rental home, Deer Valley, skicasanova.com
fall 2 0 1 2
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