A Farm-Cottage Fall

dining room with ladder as lighting fixture

Written by Autumn Krause

Photography by Dustin Peck

Styling by Jessica Sigmon

Vintage pieces get a farm-cottage twist in the North Carolina home of this DIYer.

fall front steps with pumpkins — Jessica was immediately drawn to the porch and steps of the ranch style home. “When I first saw it, I fell in love with the front porch. I did know it would need some revamping, but I saw so much potential for days spent outside in rocking chairs and decorating the steps,” she says. Here, pumpkins and flowers usher guests up the steps and to the door, where Jessica’s pooch Alice awaits.

Her name is Jessica Sigmon, but this Pinterest-obsessed DIYer is mostly known by her blog name, Itty Bitty Farmhouse, the natural culmination of a lifelong affair with all things vintage and romantic, as her farm-cottage in the fall is evidence. “Sundays as a child were spent at flea markets with my parents,” Jessica says. “And I spent hours styling my Barbie Dream Home.” From that illustrious start, she’s grown into a full-fledged designer who not only styles homes but also inspires others to transform their own spaces through DIY—with a cottage farmhouse spin.

When Jessica saw the dining room for the first time, it had tan walls and a Mid Century Modern light fixture. It simply wouldn’t do, so she painted the walls, made a chandelier out of an old painter’s ladder and distressed a farm table. She also placed mismatched dining chairs around the table.

entryway with fall wreath and pumpkin — When guests enter her house, Jessica wants them to feel as if they are stepping into a cozy place that’s like a second home. “Warm and inviting are my keywords for this space,” she says.

“Farmhouse style has always been a love of mine. It reminds me of my family’s homestead and brings me back to those memories,” she says. “I always combine the farmhouse style with a cottage aesthetic. I love my vintage décor more than any others because of the memories, but I always like to bring in a big floral for a pop of color.”

textured living room fall decor — A huge project in the living room was the rock wall surrounding the fireplace. When Jessica and her fiancé moved into the home, the wall was such an unsightly color that she would never share it in photos. She says, “I took the leap and painted it white, and what a difference it made to this space.” Then she stumbled on this green-tone antique sign and knew it would work perfectly over the fireplace for fall.

For the past four years, Jessica has lived in a home in Conover, North Carolina, with her fiancé and dogs, and has been filling it with her signature farmhouse-cottage look. As autumn approaches, she emphasizes the cozy factor already part of the farm-cottage décor genre and turns her home into a beautiful fall escape.

Cozy Quarters at the Fall Farm-Cottage

The first time Jessica saw the ranch home she’d purchase, she fell in love with the porch and knew it’d be a wonderful place to decorate. While she’s since done several DIY renovations, such as adding shiplap and wallpaper, its bones have been beautifully suited for her designs and are particularly gracious in the fall.

dining room with mustard accents and vintage ladder — Jessica’s hutch is filled with a mix of Rae Dunn dishes, vintage pieces and ironstone. “Since this hutch is tall, I always think of what I can do in a landscape view,” she says. “I try to bring in some of the same elements that I have on my dining room table to keep the flow.”

kitchen with rust colored accents — Open shelving made from 2 x 10 pine boards and Ikea brackets, along with the shiplap, are kitchen DIYs that refreshed the space. To festoon the kitchen for fall, Jessica styled it with pumpkins sitting in bowls and placed on the shelves. “I used wood pieces and fall florals in jugs and canisters. Then I added pops of warm colors with vintage tins, amber bottles and dish towels,” she says.

Autumn is Jessica’s favorite time of year, and she looks forward to adding harvest elements to her décor. “Although the other seasons are great, I love making cozy spaces in the home with chunky textures during fall,” she says. “I use pumpkins in a variety of colors along with fall florals. There’s nothing like waking up and walking through your home and being greeted by beautiful fall details everywhere you look.”

Favored by Fall

Jessica begins decorating her farm-cottage for fall in September. “This is when the pumpkins start coming in,” she says. “I would say it takes me all fall only because I’m always refreshing my spaces with new florals or vintage pieces.”

The first initial phase of getting Jessica’s home outfitted with fall décor takes about a week. “I use some of the same items each year, but I do like to change the color scheme and add in new vintage pieces,” she says.

farm-cottage bedroom vintage vignettes — The guest bedroom has Jessica’s signature DIY shiplap and unique wall décor. “I framed wallpaper and hung vintage wallpaper brushes in the frame,” Jessica says. “I love collecting vintage wallpaper brushes, and I thought that using some leftover wallpaper from the primary bedroom would be a great background for them.”

farm-cottage laundry room with fall pumpkins

farm-cottage bathroom fall pumpkins — The guest bathroom received a fall makeover. Jessica wanted the décor to be stylish yet functional for the space and not get in the way of anyone using it. “Dried flowers and pumpkins placed in key spots was the ticket,” she says.

farm-cottage entryway — DIY projects abound in the laundry room, where Jessica created faux-brick paneling by whitewashing it and added beadboard and a Shaker peg rack to hang items. The peg rack is a wonderful styling opportunity. She enjoys hanging baskets full of dried flowers on it for a delightful visual.

This year, Jessica has turned to a visceral childhood memory for her color scheme, opting for an earthy palette with an emphasis on mustard and rust. “It’s because as a child, I remember going up to the mountains,” Jessica says. “Those were always my favorite colors to see as we ascended.” Books, amber bottles and gold tapers emotionally cue the crisp vibes of sweater weather alongside the tonal color scheme.

fall porch with sunflowers and throw pillow

For Jessica, fall is a time to be inspired by cherished memories and to create new ones with friends and family (and, of course, her dogs). “It’s such a great time of year,” she says, “and I love capturing it and making my home cozy and warm for all who enter.”

Feeling the fall farm-cottage vibes? Read Neutral Fall Decor for Your Farmhouse and Rustic Fall Decor For Farmhouse Style for more fall decor ideas! Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to get your daily dose of farmhouse inspiration!