Monday, September 26, 2011

Decorating a Fall Mantel in the Living Room

When I made the change to white this summer
 in my Living Room color scheme,
for some reason
I thought it might be harder to come up with mantel decor.
But in reality it's been so much easier.



For the last six years I've purchased vintage items that
complimented a white palette, even though my Living Room
wasn't "there" yet.

I've had booth space at antique malls that were mostly white
and "all white" for years.
I guess it was just harder making that transition at home.
It was a big decision and job to accomplish that,
but I'm really loving the result.




And with the coming of Fall
I just wanted to keep it simple on the mantel
using orange and neutrals as accent colors.




So many of you have asked if we have plans on painting
the mantel and beams white.
I don't think so.
I really love the rustic contrast they give,
and since I still have a few pieces of dark furniture,
I think I'll keep them this way.






I've had these matching vintage photo frames for several years, they are of a man and wife on vacation snapping the customary "photo ops". Love their sepia tones and real vintage feel. The antique white floral bouquet iron doorstop is still here taking center stage.









Satin fabric pumpkins sit atop my white iron urns.






old book bundles tied with jute string





I wanted a little more contrast on the hearth,
so I'm using an old card table for a fireplace screen for now.
The colors compliment the season.



A new rusty birdcage...



and my, (er hubbs), old demijohns


with a recently painted pumpkin add the contrast I wanted.



We really love this room now;
it's so much more welcoming and inviting.



I'm linking with these parties this week.

The Lettered Cottage for Fall Mantels



















and Vintage Inspiration Friday



I'll be doing front porch and door decor
for VIF this week,
so if you have posts please come link up on Thursday afternoon!

I've been having a lot of fun decorating for Fall
and I have tons more stuff to share!

xoxo,
 

76 comments:

  1. Your mantle is beautiful! Love the fireplace screen. Also love the accent of the wood beams with all the white. Maybe I should just say I love the whole room!

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  2. So Very Pretty and So Very well put together....I love the Beams and High ceilings....Very much like a retreat or Bed and Breakfast...Let me know when you start taking Reservations... : ) I think I mentioned the same thing when you showed your Beautiful Dinning Table... : )

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  3. I love those pumpkins on the urns. And the colors with the white is fabulous!!

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  4. Oh Debra that room is just beautiful! I wouldn't paint the beams or mantle either, I love the contrast. I have one of those card tables too, I love that even the most simple thing like a card table became a work of art back in those days. Really beautiful. t.xoxooxoxo

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  5. Your mantel looks gorgeous!I just love the idea of wrapping the old books with twine. I have so many old books that I was going to throw away and now I know what to do with them! Thank you so much!

    Best wishes and hope you have a lovely week.
    Natasha.

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  6. Debra, I love this room and your mantel looks great. I wouldn't paint the mantel or beams either. I love the contrast with the white.

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  7. Debra,
    It is all just beautiful! I love the dream like quality the white has brought to your living room. It makes the seasons more magical. Really nice! Love the urns and pumpkins.
    Sherry

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  8. Your living room is absolutely gorgeous. My favorite thing may be the old table as a fireplace screen. It's beautiful!

    Michelle

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  9. Debra, everything looks absolutely gorgeous! I think those vintage photos were the perfect extra touch and you just know how to pull everything together perfectly. So beautiful!
    Vanessa

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  10. Please oh please come visit me and help me talk Bama Boy into painting our brick fireplace white. Sigh. I just love everything about yours Debra, including leaving the mantel dark. I agree it is such a lovely contrast. Your fall decor just looks fabulous and so serene. Beautiful job my friend!

    Heather

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  11. Debra,
    This is a wonderful post, believe me I studied every picture. I'm not great at creating vignettes. I love the card table, what an amazing find! And the little frames with his & her pics, lovely. And don't you dare ever paint those beams, any of them!!! Love, love your whole room.
    Lisa

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  12. It has all come together so nice, looks beautiful. Did you make the slip covers for the two chairs? I love them.

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  13. What a beautiful space! i love the rustic color of the timbers and mantle against the white and neutrals. Your fall decor touches are perfect in the room. Some of those pictures look like magazine covers!

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  14. What a beautiful room! I love your card table in front of the firebox.. great idea!

    Wanda

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  15. It looks beautiful Debra, I really like the mix of darks and white better than all white personally. Thanks for sharing! Hugs Marilou

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  16. HI there! This is my first visit to your blog (I cam over from MM) and I will be your newest follower! I LOOOOOVE this room and HOPE you do not paint the mantle or beams!!!!!!! They are gorgeous! I love your Fall mantle, all the elements are wonderful! Did you make the pumpkins? Love those demijohns too!!!!!!!!!! I wish I had some! XO, Pinky Hope you'll come by for a visit!

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  17. the room looks spectacular and the mantle is georgous. I am completely in love with your fireplace screen ~ lovely all!

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  18. Your mantel is awesome. But what really caught my eye was the chandelier in the mirror, that is fabulous. Love, it!

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  19. Your room looks so beautiful! I love the way you decorated the fireplace, and I would not change the beams, the wood adds so much warmth. Your fabric pumpkins looks so charming in the white urns.

    Rachel~

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  20. Hi Debra,
    The stacks of books look so great and the fabric pumpkin is perfect! Your new color scheme is a perfect stage for your fall decor!
    Mary

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  21. I am in love with your room! It has a wonderful balance of freshness and warmth. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  22. the card table is gorgeous! and makes a great screen. Love the colors with the white on the mantle

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  23. Debra I just LOVE your home! I love the contrast too with the wood and white. I love the mantle decor and the mirror is gorgeous.
    I love to come and sit a spell in your house my friend.
    hugs...

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  24. Dear Debra, your mantle decoration is the most beautiful,ever- and I also love the beams as are..and would not paint them..as a matter of fact, we also have natural beams in our home, to add contrast.'
    The pumpkins are so lovely, I love the long tendrils, you gave them-and resting on the white urns, they looks fantastic.
    Hugs and love, Dorthe

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  25. The beams are so effective reflected in the mirror. Quite a striking accent to your room.

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  26. I like the beams and mantle they way they are! I am in love with the room and esp love the card table you used in the fireplace!! It is fantastic, kind of like a huge tole tray in a way. Really lovely!!

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  27. Can this room GET any prettier!!!

    I just love all your sweet touches! I hope you will add your lovely metamorphosis to my Fall in Love linky party on Wednesday.

    Until then, stop by and see the under $20 makeover I gave an ugly brass light fixture.

    Happy Monday!

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  28. Debra, I'm loving all your neutral fall touches, especially the card table screen. Gorgeous!

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  29. Debra,
    I'm lovin' how your fall decor looks in your new room...now please don't paint those beams and mantel...they give the room just the right amount of POP!!! I have beams in my family room just like yours and love them.

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  30. Pretty living room! THe white is so bright and fresh. Great job on the mantle. I love the pumpkins!

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  31. Love the fireplace and all the rest of the room just like it is. The pumpkins and the birdcage is beautiful

    Hugs Bente

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  32. Absolutely beautiful!!!!! You living room is just gorgeous:)

    ps...i'm having a little give-away on my blog. Stop on by if you get a minute:)

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  33. Love it Debra! I wouldn't paint the beams or mantle either. I think it looks perfect that way!

    Love it all...the card table, the birdcage, the pumpkins & old books....f a b u l o u s!!!!

    xoxo,
    Shellagh

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  34. Debra,
    FANTASTIC room!
    I too love the contrast of the wood stained mantle!
    you are so talented,
    blessings,

    Karen

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  35. You always bring such beauty to the table. Your mantel is gorgeous...the firescreen beautiful...and the whole room fabulous. I love the beams.

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  36. Hi Debra! Oh my goodness how beautiful, lovely, homey and cozy is this room! Love all of your fall touches! The fabric pumpkins are darling! I wanted to stop by and wish you Happy Fall! And to say thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. We need to go junkin' sometime!
    Blessings!
    Ruthann
    Sugar Pie Farmhouse
    Branson, Missouri (just a hop, skip and a jump from you darlin'!)

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  37. Love your decorated mantle, and I agree with you about the mantle and beams leaving them like they are!
    Have a great week!
    XXX Ido

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  38. What a great idea to use the table as a firescreen. It looks great and creates a nice balance. Your entire vignette is awesome.

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  39. This is a really beautifual mantel. I love the table used as a screen and adore your fabric pumpkin. You achieved just the right balance of white vs. color. Thanks for sharing your lovely space with us Debra.

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  40. Looks so pretty Debra!
    Love the demi johns...passed on 3 of them at the shop today! Hoping they'll be there when I return!

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  41. Well those folks are right at home up there with that doorstop, punkins, and all the other vintage goodies. Pretty to the tenth power oh vintage great one.

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  42. Hi Debra, Everything looks beautiful! Love the new Fall decor and the rusty birdcage. I wouldn't touch those beams or mantle. I really like the contrast of the wood with the white.
    Hugs,
    Sherry

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  43. Debra
    Your home is just so beautiful and I love all the stylish details. White is a wonderful backdrop for everything to decorate with.

    Much love
    Kate
    xoxo

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  44. Hi Debra, your mantel is gorgeous! I love all your demijohn and the rusty birdcage.

    Thanks for all the inspiration.

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  45. I am In LOVE with your living room! It is truly beautiful with the perfect balance of lights and darks. The mantel and hearth are lovely...the satin pumpkins and the lamp, the birdcage, I love it all!!

    XO,
    Jane

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  46. Debra, everything is just lovely! I LOVE the card table as a fireplace screen...Genius!!! I love the mantle unpainted. It provides a really nice contrast to the white. Beautiful room! Blessings to you!

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  47. Debra,
    Your home looks so beautiful and I love the pretty fall colors against all your lovely whites.

    hugs
    Sissie

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  48. Debra, i love your mantle and I love the little bit of contrasts that the beams allow. This is really beautiful. The urns are a delight.
    As always a visit to your blog is pure inspiration, my friend!

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  49. I think your mantel is exceptionally beautiful! Love all the aged white of course. Don't you think it makes everything so elegant?

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  50. Just love this room! Would love to come sit and soak up the atmosphere....and absorb all the design details to bring home and copy!

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  51. Your mantel is beautiful! I love all the white & with keeping with the white, you managed to pull off a Fall look perfectly.

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  52. That room is amazing! Those beams! That chandelier! Just lovely.

    2027

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  53. Your home is stunning!! I just love how the bits of color just warms everything right up :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  54. Hi Debra,
    I love the cast iron door stop and earns. The vintage white is to die for. Our new home has very little white in it. I really wanted to repaint all of my trim white when we moved in. Decided to wait and do it gradually. Lived here two years and still haven't done it. Darn, should've gone for it in the beginning. I would leave the mantel and beams just like they are. I like the pop. Your room is very inviting and cozy!

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  55. Just had to come back and say, boy did I laugh at myself when I saw how I spelled urns. Sometimes the fingers do their own talking. lol! Well, while I'm here, love your birdcage also.

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  56. Oh my gosh, Debra....your living room is absolutely beautiful! It truly looks like something out of a magazine, girl! Wow! It's so warm and welcoming and light and airy! You did good. Verrry good! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  57. Such a gorgeous room,Debra! Love the contrast of the white and the dark woodwork. I would NEVER paint them at this point! The simplicity of everything is just so pretty. :-) Sue

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  58. The room looks spectacular! So well thought out and inviting, with a color palette that feels warm and fresh at the same time!
    :)Heidi

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  59. Debra, Love the Fall mantel. Your living room is just gorgeous!

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  60. Debra I just love your touches of fall and that old card table is beyond amazing!!

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  61. I just love your mantel...I relly like the pop of color the pumpkins added to those lovely urns. Just breath taking.
    Hugs,
    Ellen

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  62. Loving your fall decor Debra!! I decided I WAS going to get your blog up today so I just brought up the page and worked while it took a longgg time to load, but so worth it!! lol
    Those man and woman pictures are amazing as is your cardtable. I have one a lot like it that my mom bought for me in Pennsylvania one year. Love your chairs, pumpkins...everything!
    Happy fall!!!
    Blessings~

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  63. As much as I love white I wouldn't paint the mantel or beams either...they're such a nice contrast.

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  64. Hi Deb,

    What a magnifique living room you have. A most welcoming lounge I can imagine.

    Painting the beam? Naaahhh... that will kill the perfect ambiance. That's the charm.

    TY for sharing your home.

    Greetings from Stockholm,
    /chie

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  65. I love the mix of whites with rustic elements and a big of the Autumn orange. Your room is stunning and inviting, Debra:)!

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  66. Ha Ha...that would be "bit" not "big" Debra:)!

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  67. Debra you have created such a beautiful room and the mantle is not exception!

    Truly lovely!

    I have just linked up with Laura's party!
    xoxo
    Karena

    Art by Karena

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  68. Simple yet beautiful! and I love that card table!

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  69. Everything about this room is so beautiful--very warm, welcoming & cozy. I really like the contrast of the white and dark elements.
    :) CAS

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  70. Just a simple word... W*O*W!!!!
    Happy Fall,
    Monica.

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  71. Absolutely beautiful! I love the warmer colors with the white--the contrast is just perfect!

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