A designers’ objective is always to embrace each season as it comes and bare branches perfectly embrace the fall and winter seasons. (Photo courtesy of Cheryll Gillespie)

In a designer’s world this is a week in limbo… all of our Halloween décor has already been brilliantly laid out for display, ready to haunt and delight on the scariest night of the year. And until the night of goblins and ghosts is past, we can’t start to decorate for winter, let alone Christmas which is still a few snow falls away.

This is a tough week on a girl with a decorating addiction, but as always I found the perfect ‘at home ‘project….and better yet, it’s almost free!

Flip through any high end magazines and look for the designer’s use of branches - yes, regular, old fashion, straight from a tree branches. You’ll find vases filled with curly willows set on the dining room table; fabulous floor vases and baskets filled with tall birch tree branches filling in an empty corner; and you’ll see painted pear tree branches casually laid across a bureau or table top.

I was walking the dogs yesterday when I stumbled upon - literally almost tripped over - a fallen pine branch that looked like a snake the way it curled at the bottom and reached for the sky. I could tell its gnarly bark and moss laden branches would look stunning in our cabin on top of the dining table set amongst a grouping of cast iron candle sticks. You would have giggled if you saw me dragging this six foot branch and two dogs home - another fine designer moment.

In Beijing, at a famous spa, I took note of the simple esthetics that a single branch leaning against a wall in each treatment room provided the space. We can all employ the same decorating idea in our own bathrooms. You just never know when and where you are going to find great decorating ideas; always keep your eyes tuned in.

Here at home in my modern abode, I have filled tall glass floor vases with polished stones and several five foot birch tree branches. I personally love birch trees this time of year (it must be the black and white thing).

A designers’ objective is always to embrace each season as it comes and bare branches perfectly embrace the fall and winter seasons and bring that all important organic element into our rooms - bring the out doors in, blurring the division of the two spaces.

So now you have a weekend project: A perfect excuse to don a warm sweater and your hiking boots and head to the great outdoors…or you can pay a visit to your local garden center and purchase a bundle of twigs.