The 12 Days of Merry: Christopher Radko Ornaments Boutique opens Wednesday, November 21, at 11AM ET.

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Photo credits: bugaboo, mini, mr & me, Under the Table and Dreaming, and  Happy Mundane

I’d never dream of advising you to forgo the season’s requisite candy corns and pumpkin micro-brews, but I, for one, plan to add a few new recipes and unexpected decor upgrades to my fall favorites list this year.

Rather than embark on an overambitious carving endeavor (last year, I tried to carve an octopus swallowing a tall ship), I’m opting to put my fashion knowledge into play and accessorize this, well, red-headed cousin of squash, with some of the season’s “it” trends.

Decoupage
Big in decorative home accents, this technique is the art of applying paper cutouts and then coating with several layers of finish. Use tissue paper, newspaper, magazine cutouts, and liberal amounts of Modge Podge to create your own en vogue pumpkin, as seen in Country Living.

Studding
This hot trend isn’t just for shoes and handbags. Paint your pumpkin a solid white or black base then embellish it with silver thumb tacks to give it some of that “grit and glamour” look.

Colorblocking
How seriously rad do these colorblocked neon, grey, and white pumpkins look? I’ve never wanted to accessorize a fruit with a pair of heels… until now (and yes, pumpkin is a fruit!).

First decoupage pumpkin didn’t turn out well? Before you do anything hasty, remember there are lots of super-tasty recipes for both the seeds and the pumpkin itself. Obvious go-to’s would be pumpkin pie and baked seeds for snacking, but these pumpkin dumpling and pumpkin seed smoothie recipes are healthy and unexpected takes that I can’t wait to try out.

By Grace Romanowsky, Staff Writer

Do you have a unique way to decorate fall’s favorite fruit? Share it in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

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Two things we love: bright, bold flowers and exquisite, museum-quality art. So we were more than thrilled to sit down with artist David Leaser whose innovative techniques produce museum archive quality pieces and bring a whole new (wildly detailed) life to flowers.

Rue La La: In our Rue Style Report: Brights For The Home Boutique, we’re featuring your limited-edition dramatic botanicals. What’s the background for these pieces?
David: I had just finished work on the book, “Tropical Gardens of Hawaii,” and was visiting the Huntington Library and museum in California. They were exhibiting a collection of artwork from Frederic Church, one of my favorite painters from the 19th century. Many of the works featured his trip to the Amazon and Andes in Ecuador. When I left the exhibit, I started thinking, “Maybe I should go to South America and retrace Frederic Church’s footsteps.”

Rue La La: And did you actually go?
David: I hopped on a plane and went to Ecuador. When I was deep in the Amazon, I started taking primitive photos of the small flowers on the floor of the rainforest. I was struck by these little ecosystems. When I came back to Los Angeles, I tried to recreate this “bees-eye” view. After a lot of trial and error, I was able to perfect my craft to create highly detailed images.

Rue La La: What type of room do you envision these botanical pieces in?
David: Botanicals have universal appeal for men and women – they are timeless and bring joy. Margaret Russell, editor for Architectural Digest, frequently talks about the importance of flowers in interior design. The Nightflowers Collection brings flowers into the home or office even on the cloudiest cold days. I think you would want to hang this artwork in a prominent place where visitors can enjoy the beauty of nature and see the incredible detail in these flowers. (That said, my wife hung “Serenity” in our little girl’s room.)

Rue La La: How do you get your pieces so incredibly detailed?
David: I use a number of cutting-edge technologies. I wanted to create images that show you nature like you’ve never seen it before, so I spent nearly a year researching technology to be able to create this level of detail. I had to create my own process using a variety of technologies, including imaging equipment used by NASA on Mars.

Rue La La: What do your processes actually entail?
David: I start by selecting the flower for the image. I sometimes look through hundreds of flowers to find the one that will make the shot. I audition them, staring closely to see which one has the most personality. Then, I need to work quickly because some flowers are so perishable, they will wither within an hour.

I spend weeks going through every pixel in the shot, making sure the sharpness, color, and contrast are how I envision them. I use a digital paintbrush to work on the images, but I like to keep the flaws in the flowers. Although these are Hollywood close-ups, everyone has his or her flaws. I think when you see the edges of the image, “Nightstar,” you understand what I mean. The image is very symmetrical, but look closely and you can see the personality in the flower.

The finished images are then gicléed onto archival canvas that has been gessoed to make it smooth and lustrous. Then they are sprayed with UV protector. The images are extremely sharp, and my process is being called dettagli (Italian for “detail”).

Rue La La: Your work is museum archive quality (and we can tell!) – can you explain to Members what that means?
David: We start with the highest-quality archival canvas and apply a coat of gesso to make the surface smooth and luminous. Archival inks are then gicléed onto the canvas and coated with a UV coating to protect against light damage. The canvas is hand-stretched and sent to artisans who create custom frames for each piece using sustainable woods. We frame all our artwork with museum-style floating frames. The framing does not require glass, so you can see the artwork up close and personal without any barriers or glare.

Rue La La: Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?
David: I live in Southern California, so we can grow an incredible variety of plants. I regularly visit the Los Angeles Flower Mart and local orchid shows, and I buy plants sight unseen in mail-order catalogs for our greenhouse and backyard. We also have good friends at Cal-Orchid Nursery who allow me to photograph their rare, exotic collection. They have an amazing greenhouse – I could spend all day there. Actually, my wife and I have spent all day there! Botanical gardens are also a great inspiration to me.

Rue La La: What is your absolute favorite piece of art in your own home?
David: Of course, it changes, but I am always drawn to a piece with complexity – art with a story to tell. “Flaming Parrot” has a sad/happy story to tell. It is a stunning yellow and red parrot tulip that was in a vase in our home, fully in the prime of its bloom.

Rue La La: What’s the story behind this piece?
David: I took the red parrot tulip to my studio, but within less than an hour, it has started to decline. The petals began to wilt and brown on the edges. I had to work quickly. I finished the shoot and went to lunch. I was planning to re-shoot the flower again, but when I returned to the studio, the moment was lost: the petals had fallen from the flower. When you look at “Flaming Parrot,” you see a beautiful tulip, but look more closely and you will see tiny signs that show how fleeting life is. I think that makes the piece especially interesting.

Rue La La: We look at art as investment pieces – when you’re shopping for yourself, are there elements that you always look for?
David: I go by my first impression: Does it excite me? Does it change or challenge my perceptions? Then I ask myself: “Will I enjoy seeing this every day or will I get tired of it?” I look for pieces that tell a story. I personally only collect artwork that’s part of a limited edition – it’s the best way to ensure appreciation. That is why the artwork in the Nightflowers Collection is strictly limited and includes a certificate of authenticity and serial number plate.

Rue La La: How has this changed how you look at nature?
David: Since I began this collection, I look at flowers in a different way. I now appreciate small, seemingly insignificant flowers because of the complexity they reveal up close. When you see one of the Nightflowers pieces on your wall, you will look at nature differently, I promise you.

Our Rue Style Report: Brights For The Home Boutique is now open.

Tuxedo tones. Piano keys. Zebra stripes. The crisp combination graces every surface imaginable – and we can’t get enough of it. Especially in the home, black and white décor is irrefutably modern. Here, our Creative Director, Amy Van Aarle, tells us just what it is that makes the striking style so chic.

Rue La La: What do you love so much about the classic combo?
Amy: Black and white is the perfect balance of sophistication and simplicity. It’s elemental, a true yin and yang that equals something which always feels fresh and current and luxurious.

Rue La La: When decorating in black and white, do you gravitate towards patterns or solids?
Amy: I definitely like to mix both patterns and solids. For example, in my living room I have black furniture, a white couch, and patterned black and white pillows. I love that it feels right all year round. When it comes to patterns though, I definitely subscribe to the notion that a little dab will do you well.

Rue La La: What type of pattern do you find most striking?
Amy: I’m usually drawn to patterns that feel a little organic or crafted, but a classic black and white stripe is something I simply cannot resist. Any time I see something in black and white stripes it’s like a homing device – I zoom right in and ooh and ahhh over it.

Rue La La: What’s a great complement to a mostly black and white room?
Amy: Kids, dogs, a beautiful view, and a wonderful dinner party. Truly! A room that’s lived in and loved and enjoyed can’t help but be a welcoming and adored place. And black and white will instantly make everyone in it feel and look a little more stylish.

Rue La La: Talk to us about texture – does black and white make you think sleek or richly textured?
Amy: The beauty of black and white is that both approaches to texture work equally well depending on your style. I tend to like rooms that feel more cozy and lived in, so organic textures combined with black and white is right up my alley.

Rue La La: How would you make a mostly black and white room seem bright and cheerful?
Amy: A touch of color and beautiful lighting! For example, in my black and white living room, the walls are painted a warm golden yellow. It gives the room a glow and a backdrop so that the black and white really pop. Warm colors (even just a deep warm grey) or rich warm metallic accents can prevent a black and white room from feeling too sterile.

Rue La La: Alright, time to dish. Tell us your picks from the Boutique.
Amy: Here are my top four:

1. Art Fosters “Eastern Indigo I”
When it comes to choosing art, I believe that the only important thing is that you love it. This print definitely speaks to me – and I have just the spot for this.

2. Howard Elliott Scalloped Mirror
I love mirrors that add a little drama, and they are great for opening up small spaces. The black border on this one has wonderful graphic impact.

3. Nova Lighting “Ripples” Table Lamps
Maybe it’s the Yankee in me, but I’m a sucker for symmetry. A pair of lamps on a long console table is classic and luxurious. And I will take a few lit table lamps in a room over one glaring overhead light any day. Good lighting definitely makes or breaks a room, and is much more flattering to everyone in it!

4. Espalma “Stitches” Towel Set
So, even though I just bought a bunch of towels from our recent Barbara Barry Boutique, I might not be able to resist these lovelies. I just can’t say no to stripes!

Our Rue Style Report: Black & White Boutique opens Tuesday, February 22 at 11AM ET.