Monday, September 13, 2010

Fall Mantle



After I did my fireplace face lift this summer, I was VERY a little nervous about how Fall colors would look with all the white. It looked great for the Summer, but all my fall nesting mess is orange! I wanted to do something different than I had ever done before.
Summer:


I knew two things going in that I wanted to do for the fall. 1.) Find two matching vases, for a symmetrical look 2.) Layer artwork in front of the mirror. (More tips at the end)



Well, first of all I have to show you that I did indeed find two matching vases, and at the Goodwill, no less. I mean how often do you find a pair of anything, other than shoes at GW? I thought they were a bargain at ten dollars a piece, they are 18" tall, but I couldn't believe my luck finding a pair! All they needed was a little spray paint, which is of course the prerequisite for all my accessories. Can you be spray painted if need be? If the answer is yes. Sold.





Before:
You've seen it time and time again, primed, then spray painted in gloss white. For an easy and natural arrangement, I used real branches and a spray of silk maple leaves. I think the branches make the leaves seem more real.
After:


One other thing that I did, that you might be able to do too, see the two tall candle holders? I have had those for years and I decided to accent them with some sisal roping, to give them some texture and visual weight. I like the idea of using glass, so I just used the rope in the middle section, leaving the top and bottom exposed. Wouldn't that look cool with metal candle holders too?This is the big rope, not twine and it's the kind that looks a little darker than the regular sisal rope.I just put a little dab on one end starting at the top and wrapped the rope around, I didn't glue again until I got to the end, so in case I changed my mind the glue would pop off the glass pretty easy. In theory of course.




I also made a pennant garland, it's just so fun and festive, I made it following Jen's great tutorial.
The burlap repeating the texture and color of the sisal rope.


For the Artwork, I used pictures that I took at Barnyard Days last year. I printed them out here at home and framed them. The smaller piece is a great tree print I found at the Michael's.


So here are my tips for decorating mantles:

Use something old, something new, and something blue inexpensive.

Use something natural.

Use something unexpected.

Repeat color, shapes and materials.


Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope I have inspired you to change your mantle for fall!

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98 comments:

  1. Wow, I like how white can be transformed to fall.

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  2. Oooooh that looks wonderful ! I think I'm going to attempt one of those banners too !

    thanks for sharing,
    gena
    www.thehouseonlavenderhill.blogspot.com

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  3. Gorgeous! It looks so great! Love the summer one also.

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  4. That turned out great! I love the rustic feel AND I love that the branches reflect in the mirror. So pretty!

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  5. This looks great! I love your "new" mantel. I have to start thinking how to get mine ready for fall too.

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  6. Your mantle looks amazing! I love everything you used to decorate it! Especially those matching vases! :0)

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  7. Gorgeous Michelle. I just made a banner garland however its just hanging there with no text yet (printing issues)lol I love the way you used the twigs and the leaves really a fantastic job. Im still loving the facelift. Thanks for sharing

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  8. It looks great. I think the rope wrapping was a great touch! I love it with the glass. Very nice!

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  9. Gorgeous and stunning, love it all! AND HOW you actually framed some fall pics. That banner is fab. Hugs, Jen

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  10. This is beautiful. I am hosting a 50 dollar CSN Giveaway on my blog. I would love for you to stop by. Thanks Anu!

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  11. beautiful.. i love it!! One of favorite fall decorations!!

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  12. Ohhh I am sooo excited for fall and your mantel is perfect! I really love everything about it : ) Happy holiday Monday. Stacey

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  13. It looks wonderful, Michelle! I love the height the branches and leaves bring to the mantel. I may have to copy that since I always feel like more height is needed on mine. The colors worked out really well!

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  14. So beautiful! I love it! I recently changed up my mantel for Fall as well and we did some similar things (I think yours is better though)! http://thatmommyblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/its-mantelicious-baby.html

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  15. Love your mantel. Your decorations look fabulous. Using the rope on the candlesticks is a fabulous idea also. Everything is so pretty. Hugs, Marty

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  16. Cuteness! I love the leaves idea and the pictures, I LOVE IT ALL! Great job!

    Jennie @ Cinnaberry Suite

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  17. I love everything about it! Branches, vases, pictures, banner, sisal rope, everything!!!

    :)

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  18. It looks fantastic!!!

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  19. The mantel looks fantastic all dressed for Fall. Love the tall vases you spray painted and the photos you added.

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  20. Hi Michelle! OH, your mantle is so pretty! You've done so well!! Love that round mirror!! Your vases look wonderful all white! You've done such a great job!!
    Thanks for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  21. Stunning! Wonderful job! -Your newest follower

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  22. Marvelous job! The transformation on the vases is stunning even if it is white spray paint. I do this a lot and I'm not sure I would have given those vases a second glance in the store. That's the fun of reading about what others create and how they see things differently. Great job.

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  23. Oh yes, this worked very well. I think I might even like it better than the summer look and I usually am all about the white rather than the orange/brown of fall.

    I was sitting here laughing at how all of the "blue and white love" bloggers must be twitching at the fact you painted the vases! Tell me again what exactly I'm supposed to spray things with. This painting everything is new to me.

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  24. Sue, I thought that same thing about the blue and white, but it just didn't work for me! Check this post out for spray paint tips:
    http://sweetsomethingdesign.blogspot.com/2010/05/spray-painting-again.html

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  25. Hey, checking your post from Lauren's Pure Style Home. Love the mantle. Great ideas and fall-ish feel!

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  26. I am impressed by what you did with your mantel! And those vases from GW! Wow, you are very creative and your home is lovely! Happy Fall! My favorite time of year!

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  27. Absolutely stunning. This is exactly my style! I love the white, clean look. It looks so "fall-ish" without looking country-ish. You have a great eye!

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  28. Wow~ Once again your mantle is drool worthy! I love how you used the white for fall. You totally made it work. Visiting from TDC's linky :)

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  29. Love how it came out, I really need to get mine finished up!

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  30. OMGosh, girl...this looks amazing. I am making one of those banners !! I don't have a crafty bone in my body but I really WANT one of these...I'm giving it a try. Thanks for the inspiration..:))

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  31. Oh my goodness! You simply out-do yourself with pretty-making! I have one mantel (in my husband's man-cave room). It has photos of his ancestral Polish relatives. But maybe I can sneak in a few of these!
    Brenda

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  32. Beautiful! I love the texutres that you used and those pictures you took are great for the space. I wish I had a mantle, I have a big ole hole above the fireplace for my tv.

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  33. Love your fireplace. My fireplace in the living room is in need of a makeover - so I popped over to your tutorial. What a great job you did. I love how you layered your fall decor and the branches add so much. I am new to blogging and just became a follower. Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog.

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  34. So pretty, this is really inspirational for Fall! Love it all. All your elements together is just so much fun.

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  35. What a wonderful fall mantle. Gives me great inspiration! Thanks.

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  36. I really love this. I mean, REALLY love it. I will most likely copy it :) Glad I found your blog!

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  37. This is fabulous, crisp and clean and I love it all, the black mirror and banner are real eyecatchers!

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  38. Very lovely! I think its a great contrast between the white and all the traditional fall colors. I also love the banner...very cute!

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  39. Looks great! And yes, very rare to find 2 of a kind at Goodwill! Great find.

    livvyloowho.blogspot.com

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  40. I think it looks great! I wish I had a mantle to decorate :)

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  41. What a gorgeous mantle! You have definitely inspired me. :)

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  42. I love the whole thing! reusing things, sisal rope - banners and the white just is the perfect backdrop. Wonderful!

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  43. I love it! And the candles in the fireplace look stunning!

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  44. Looks Great! i'm gonna try the trees I've been looking for something similar

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  45. WOW - it really looks gorgeous. I especially love the fall artwork leaning.

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  46. Wow this might be one of the prettiest fall mantles I've seen around! It is gorgeous! I love the banner and the framed pictures. Just perfect!

    I linked up to your post from my blog: http://10junem.blogspot.com/2010/09/featured-projects-fall-decor.html.

    Thanks for sharing!!

    xo- Michelle [great name by the way!! :)]

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  47. This was my first visit to your site. I absolutely love how practical, easy and yet elegant your mantle looks. GW has such great finds!!!!! I will be back for sure and share this site with others!!!!!!

    Irene

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  48. Finally, something with a more updated twist. So many of these fall makeovers were starting to look alike. Fall doesn't need to be circa 2000. I just did a post on how my stuff and pictures from last year are leaving me uninspired. I love your white vases against that mirror. Your look has drama and is current. Love it.
    Pam

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  49. Dang it! That is a pretty mantle. Love the burlap pendent.

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  50. My heart skipped a beat!! I love this.

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  51. This is just gorgeous! Love your tips.

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  52. just found your blog. and that mantle had me hooked. i am a follower now! thanks for the inspiration!

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  53. So so cute! I love this look! Totally wishing I had a mantle to decorate right now!

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  54. Wow, this is stunning. Very tastefully done.

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  55. I love it. Makes me want to get my fall stuff out.

    Paige

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  56. Did you print the pumpkin or stencil it on your banner? Do you have a source for it? Thanks. Your house is great!

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  57. Actually, Anon, it is an iron on transfer, the image is from an Etsy Shop: Olive Rue. As of yesterday, the shop was in vacation mode, but reopening soon.
    Michelle

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  58. Michelle, thank you so much for responding so quickly to my question about the pumpkin image. I appreciate it; I will continue to check for OliveRue's return. Can't wait to see more inspiration from you! Thanks, Martha

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  59. your mantel just took my breath away! wow! I have a hard time thinking about decorating for seasons and holidays when right now I'm just in a remodel and fix it up mode. I need to slow down and do some frilly seasonal stuff. Thanks for the reminder!

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  60. Loving the blog and inspirational ideas thanks fro over the water xx

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  61. I loooove your mantle! Looks great! The bunting is my favorite...

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  62. Absolutely gorgeous! Beautiful! Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

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  63. OMG! This looks amazing! I absolutely, positively LOVE it!!!

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  64. Beautiful!! You outdid yourself in creativity, it really looks awesome!

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  65. Seriously gorgeous! LOVE love love the colors with the white, so my style. Thanks for sharing!!

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  66. that looks absolutely fantastic. i can't believe the befores of those vases, and i love that you wrapped the pair you already had. such great thinking!

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  67. just stunning! I love it! I'm including you in a feature on fall tomorrow on crazydomestic.com! feel free to grab our "I was featured" button!

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  68. Just absolutely gorgeous! Love all of your ideas and tips...many homes will benefit from your talent!
    smiles~

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  69. I just came across your blog and love it. :) While reading through your posts, I saw that you went to Barnyard Days in Neosho last year! We live close to Neosho, in Webb City. Small world. :)

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  70. This is gorgeous. I love your creativity. You're inspiring. Keep it up!

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  71. Love this mantel! Hope you don't mind, but I've included your mantel in a roundup of my 12 favorite fall mantels. http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-decorate-a-fall-mantel-12-beautiful-autumn-mantels.html Thanks for the inspiration!

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  72. That's just great, love it, love it ... best of all the artwork ... have to steal your idea!!!!!

    thanks

    greetings from Germany

    Gina

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  73. Hi,

    I used your gorgeous mantel as my inspiration for a pinterest project. Thanks for sharing it here!

    Abby @ acheerfulheart

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  74. Hi, I was wondering about the mirrors inside of your firebox. I have looked all over your blog for more information about them but could not find any. Could you tell me about them and the candles too? Thank you.

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  75. We have a non-working fireplace, so I used mirror tiles to line the inside of the firebox. They are the kind that are found with "candle plates" at craft stores and are 4" square. They have little sponge feet and I just used hot glue to glue them on. The candles are inexpensive ones from Wal-mart the flavor is pumpkin spice.

    Hope this helps!

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  76. Beautiful execution of fall splendor! I am wondering how you created the pumpkin "stamp" on either side of your fall lettering on the burlap? It looks shaded and I can't imagine you used a stencil for that but perhaps you did! Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you!

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  77. Hi, I used a iron on transfer method using a pumpkin image ie. print image on transfer paper, cut out, iron on. I believe that the Etsy seller that I got the image from is no longer selling, but maybe you could search for other 'pumpkin' images on Etsy, or find free ones at Graphics Fairy or the like. Hope that helps.

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  78. i would love to do this too. very very pretty.

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  79. Beautiful Display!!! Love love love!!! I also have a dominant white interior theme and I LOVE to decorate with fall because the orange and black works so well with the white. Your mantle design is great. Have posted several of your ideas on my fb page-I really like your crisp style. Good job! Mary/The White Barn in Oklahoma! ;)

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  80. I love how the colors and the artwork in your home gives you a fall type feel.

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  81. Can you tell me where you found those neat little olive branch wreaths under your curtain rods?

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    1. Yes, I bought them at Hobby Lobby years ago around this time of year in the garden section. I think they are suppose to be like angel/bird (?) wings hanging down...my husband drilled new holes near the top of each side so I could hang them in the opposite direction. I sprayed them black and I think they look like a laurel wreaths! :)

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  82. Can you please tell me where you bought your mirror? This mantle is perfect!!!! Thanks!!

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  83. THANKS so much for letting me know, I am going to drive there ASAP :)

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  84. This website has very good content. Thank you for the great article I did enjoyed reading it, I will be sure to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back from again

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  85. Hi Michelle, I love the pennant garland and font that you used but couldn't find the tutorial on the blog that you linked it to. Can you please give me some tips and pointers on how you did it? Your fall mantle is beautiful. Thank you!

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Thank You for taking the time to comment! Because of the insane amount of spam comments, I had to stop anonymous comments-sorry for the inconvenience.
Michelle