Fall Mantel 2012

Hey there! Are you decorating for fall yet? I’m happy to report that our Fall 2012 mantel is done.

Or maybe I should say it’s a work in progress, ’cause I’ll probably be adding (or removing) things over the next month. Oh well, for now it’s good.

Along with using garden flowers and produce to decorate our porch and dining table for the autumn, I also have been slowly working on our seasonal mantel change this week. I usually throw the things up I want to use and then take a few days to look at it, editing and adding what will give me whatever look I’m going for.

This year I was inspired by the fall Pottery Barn catalog which showed not only natural elements, but highlighted pewter-y and tarnished silver (along with mercury glass – I may add that in later…), wood, and white.

For wood, I pulled some old mahogany boards left over from our gazebo table out of the garage to lean against the antique window and a thrift store wooden bowl.

A pewter oval platter and a tarnished silver footed bowl bring in that element, and white candles, candle holders, newsprint and pumpkins provide the white.

I brought in the vintage book page banner at the last minute, actually – the window just seemed to need some lightening up since so many of the items are darker. It took about 8 minutes to make – I love decorations like that!

And so the banner wouldn’t look like I stuck it there at the last minute – ha! – I added the book-page-wrapped candle from last year’s Christmas mantel on the left.

From the garden I’m using the little green and white mini-pumpkins and immature white pumpkins I grew, plus some corn stalks and dried coral bells. Since they were tall, I thought this tall basket looked good with them – and the brown connects to the wood planks.

I added a few ceramic pumpkins from my decorating stash and I do have faux leaves, which is not my first choice, but guess what? We don’t have any leaves that are changing yet! Do you?

I think the mantel as a whole has a pretty earthy-atumnal vibe, though it’s definitely out of my normal comfort zone (which is shiny and lighter). I may add some of the purpley hydrangeas, though, as they turn a bit more burgundy to coordinate the mantel with the entry porch and table.

Or not.

This is linked to Centsational Girl’s Fall Mantel Party and the Flaunt Your Fall party.