Haute Hearth

With red and gold leaves blanketing the landscape and sweatshirts beckoning as temperatures turn crisp, nothing says autumn has arrived more than enjoying an evening in front of the fireplace. Outdoor hearths are more popular than ever these days, as they extend the calendar just a bit for living alfresco.

Scott Hepper, master floral designer for Carriage House Florals at Diane Breckenridge Interiors, gives his take on dressing your outdoor fireplace with fall finesse. “Autumn in St. Louis is the perfect time to extend your living to the great outdoors,” he says. “I love to incorporate the natural beauty and abundance of fall into my outdoor designs. A fireplace is a wonderful place to showcase the rich floral hues and organic textures of this glorious time of year.”

For this particular hearth, Scott chose seasonal items ideal for the fall centerpiece, which reflect “harvest” and gathering. “I used red, yellow and green apples, large artichokes, berries, Bittersweet vine, grapes, cherry brandy roses from Amsterdam, succulents as ‘filler’ and some other local Missouri berries and natural grasses,” he adds. Of course, style options abound when choosing décor to accent your fireplace. Transitional and contemporary designs can also be as dramatic or as understated as you would like, reflecting your home and lifestyle.

RESOURCES:
Autumn décor and floral design: Scott Hepper, master designer, Carriage House Florals at Diane Breckenridge Interiors, 501 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 314-727-2323, www.breckenridgeinteriors.com, www.scotthepper.com