Close to Home: Designer sample sale, fall garden events and more

If you're planning to redo a room or are hunting for furniture, here's an opportunity to show your photos, fabric samples and Pinterest boards to Gabberts pros at "Coffee With a Designer," from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturdays this fall. Coffee and treats will be served. The free event is at Gabberts in the Galleria, 69th St. and France Av. S., Edina, and at 3201 Country Dr., Little Canada. For more information, call 952-927-1500 or go to gabberts.com.

Did you drool over a piece of furniture or an accessory that you saw in an International Market Square showroom? You might be able to find it discounted 50 to 80 percent at the Minnesota chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Sample Sale, Oct. 1-3. Shoppers also can sign up for complimentary 30-minute ASID designer consultations during the sale. Bring floor plans, room dimensions and photos. Sale hours are noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 1, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 2 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 3, at IMS, 275 Market St., Mpls. For details, call 612-338-6250.

Bring the fall harvest into your home. Bachman's pumpkin design workshop demonstrates how to carve out a pumpkin or gourd to create a vessel for a seasonal floral arrangement, from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 15 or 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 17, Bachman's, 6010 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls. Cost is $50 and includes all materials. Register at bachmans.com or call 612-861-7600.

LYNN UNDERWOOD

Celebrate the season at Gertens Pumpkin Festival. This family-oriented event includes hayrides, a spooky maze, face-painting, petting zoo, scarecrow-making, pumpkin-painting and other games. Pumpkin Fest will be held Saturdays in October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Gertens, 5500 Blaine Av., Inver Grove Heights. Some activities have a small fee.

Learn how to create a "Modern Succulent Garden" using low-maintenance succulent plants at a Bachman's workshop, 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 6. The $50 fee includes all materials for your take-home creation. Register at bachmans.com or call 612-861-7600.

KIM PALMER

A Beautiful Mess: Two sisters share their ideas for homemade style, whether painting an outdoor rug, creating DIY house numbers or throwing a frittata party (abeautifulmess.com).

Cupcakes and Cashmere: Although it's known for its inventive fashion coverage, this blog's decor, entertaining and organization posts are also fresh and fun (cupcakesand cashmere.com).

Design Sponge: Brooklyn-based Grace Bonney has written for Domino and New York magazine, and covers decorating, design, DIY and entertaining with a discerning eye (designsponge.com).

Greige: Soak in the Los Angeles vibe of designer Christina Fluegge as she posts about her interiors and her international influences (greigedesignblog.com).

Manhattan Nest: DIY, thrifting and decorating are what you'll find here, plus some serious renovation tales in photos and candid prose (manhattan-nest.com).

JURA Koncius, Washington post