Have you had nice days the past few? We have had gloriously beautiful days this week! That’s another part of Fall that I love… when the air cools off enough to be clean and clear. I think the sky is bluer this time of year than any other.
Another aspect of Fall that I love is the decor- it was such fun putting together this year’s fall mantel!
Last year, I used lots of color in the mantelscape; This year I focused on texture. I also used some vintage items and heirlooms. Some items are not vintage, but I had almost everything on hand already!
Let’s construct the mantel, shall we?
Anchoring the arrangement is this architectural print. I got it, oh… maybe two years ago, on clearance at Homegoods. It never seemed quite right to me, because it used to look like this:
It’s not that I didn’t like the pickled finish, but with my wall color, it just didn’t ‘pop’!
So, I got out my trusty brush and paints and dry brushed a combo of black, burnt sienna and gold metallic. Now the frame has some depth, and is a perfect complement to the bronze and iron items on the mantel. It’s a small tweak with big impact. I do love the sienna architectural print!
Then, I began to layer items; a shelf under the print for height, a clock on a stand, a tray, some dried flowers, candlesticks and pumpkins. The cloth is an embroidered tablecloth that belonged to my mother and her mother before her. The candlesticks were also my mother’s, and they already had that beautiful hammered finish. Since I wanted to use pillar candles, rather than tapers, I popped into WalMart and bought candle plates, spray painted them with a hammered finish paint, and voila…
Three ears of corn wrapped and tied with twine is a simple way to add color and texture to any fall decor. And the ‘pumpkin’ here? A spool of paper twist ribbon, unspooled, tied through the center with twine and fanned out! A skinny pine cone is plopped on top to serve as the stem! How easy is that?
Incorporated into the design are my twine pears, of course!
And there you are… A few tweaks and some vintage items produce a welcoming mantel with lots of texture.
Like my mantel? Pin it! Thanks!!
To pin, just click on the red ‘Pin-It’ button that pops up on the image…
This post is part of the Festival of Fall series!
I am honored to participate with the other blogs in this fall tour… and am totally thrilled to be co-hosting as well!
I would love for you to visit each of the other blogs who are participating with me in the Festival of Fall, hosted by Barb Garrett of The Everyday Home blog and yours truly!
Each day is a different theme, and I am sure you will love seeing all the great projects presented each day – so please come back and see what’s new!
Monday, Sept 22 – Fall Crafts
Tuesday, Sept 23 – Fall Recipes
Wednesday, Sept 24 – Fall DIY
Thurs, Sept 25 – Fall Decor
Friday, Sept 26 – Home Tour
See you tomorrow!
Linking to
Your fall mantel is so pretty. I’m all about vintage and knew I would like what I saw before I even scrolled through your pretty pictures. The tour this week has been so much fun and I love all of the inspiration that I’ve received.
Thank you so much, ‘sweet’ Paula! 😉 So happy to be on this tour with you! And we appreciate your support for Share it Sunday- you have truly helped it grow!
sondra, your mantel is perfect to usher in the fall season. I love your choice of items and how you layered everything in. perfect.
Sondra thank you so much for hosting this incredible tour. I simply am in love with that twist ribbon pumpkin. I’m heading to the store tomorrow to look for some! Jeanette
It was fun, wasn’t it? And that paper twist pumpkin was totally accidental! I had found the ring of it when I went though my mom’s craft items, and when I was doing the mantel, it just kind of fell into a pumpkin shape and I had one of those ‘AHA’ moments! 😉
Sondra Lyn,
Your fall mantel is just perfect. I could feel so at home there. I love how you changed up the frame…it sure pops now! Love touring with you, friend!! ~Christy
Sondra Lyn your mantle is absolutely beautiful!And your room looks so warm and inviting!
Sondra, your mantel is perfectly Fall! It looks beautiful, and I’m crazy over the pears – you’re so clever! I just loved being on this tour with you!
I love all your autumn decor, I really like the color of the walls, do you remember where you bought the paint, or who makes it (valspar or sherwin-williams) and the name of the color, so many questions I know and sorry. Thanks in advance for the paint info!!!
Hi Karalee, Thanks so much for asking! The paint color is Palm Springs Tan by Glidden.
LOVE your mantel Sondra… so pretty! So happy to be on tour with you… PINNED!