Traditional Fall Mantel with Vintage Charm
September brings fall with its cooler temperatures, crystal clear skies, and beautiful colors. When I decorate for fall, I start with my mantel. This year, I created a Traditional Fall Mantel with Vintage Charm.
Fall Ideas Tour
I’m thrilled to share my mantel as part of a Fall Ideas Tour. Be sure to check out the other mantels shared today, you’ll find links at the end of this post, and come back Tuesday for Fall Tablescapes, Wednesday for Fall DIY, Thursday for Fall Recipes, and Friday for Fall Porches. I’m really looking forward to the ideas that will be shared this week.
Traditional Fall Mantel with Vintage Charm
I like to decorate for fall with traditional fall colors. This year, I focused on gold, orange and brown.
Over our mantel hangs an antique mirror from the Shenandoah Valley. I added some seasonal interest to the mirror with a DIY wheat wreath. Golden wheat wall decor from the 1970’s, passed along to me by my aunt, flanks the mirror. I know she’s going to be happy to see that I’m enjoying her old decor. My mom gave me the vintage box in front of the fireplace and I filled it with dried gourds. The copper pot holds a fall mum.
Preserved leaves brushed with gold are scattered along the mantel along with acorns and Sweet Gum balls. The acorns are faux, but I’ve picked up quite a few along with Sweet Gum balls on recent walks with my dog.
A group of brass candle holders with burnt orange candles are on each end of the mantel. I never lost my love of brass, even when it was out of fashion. One set of these candle holders was a wedding gift and the others I purchased at Kirklands when I first started teaching in 1991.
To the left of the fireplace is an antique music stand that I inherited from my great-great aunt. The morning light looks so pretty shining through the vintage brown glass bottles displayed there.
Our living room is in the front of our house and is where our dog spends the majority of his day. You can’t see him here, but he’s stretched out in front of the chest that’s shown to the right of the picture. Be sure to come back later this week to see more of this room’s mostly vintage fall decor.
I love fall decor and am so glad that I’ll be able to enjoy this room’s decor for a few months.
Get Inspired for Fall
Now it’s time to get some fall inspiration from my blogging friends! We are sharing ideas all week, so be sure to come back each day to visit the participating bloggers.
Fall Ideas Tour
Monday – Fall Mantel Decor Ideas
Tuesday – Fall Tablescape Ideas
Wednesday – Fall DIY Projects
Thursday – Fall Recipes
Friday – Fall Porch Decor Ideas
How pretty! I love the beautiful simplicity of your mantel this year! To me, it makes it all the more special anytime you’re able to use treasured pieces from your family.
Thank you so much, Suzy! I love using my family treasures and it makes my decor feel especially homey to do so.
How pretty. I am so tired of all the gray in decor. This speaks to my preference!
Paula – we adore your vintage fall mantel. The gold painted leaves are a perfectl touch paired with the vintage brass. Your family pieces are beautiful heirlooms in the making!
Love the natural elements … my yard is full of those sweet gum pods and I love to bring them inside and use them in my decor!
Oh, it’s so pretty Paula. I love the way you mixed in the old with the new. I feel like anytime you can add a piece of sentiment in your decor it’s just a little more special.
This looks so pretty!
Your mantel is so pretty and classic. I adore all of your vintage items. It’s so nice to have a personal connection to items and think of the person who gave them to you every time you see them. Thanks so much for joing the tour again this year!
Love the vintage charm in your mantel! I think brass always looks good in fall.
Paula, your mantel is so lovely. I adore anything traditional! And I collect brass candlestick holders, too…even when brass wasn’t “cool”! 😉 Love how you’ve used yours here…makes me want to pull mine out.
I’m loving all the vintage touches on you mantel. I’m a big fan of brass, too, and I love how well the gold and brass tones pair with your blue curtains. Such a pretty space.
Loving gold this fall too, those wheat pieces are to die for!!!! lovely Paula!
Oh my goodness you know I adore your vintage charm and I LOVE the fact that you have all the best stories and connections with those treasured pieces! This gorgeous room makes me want to touch everything, is that weird? haha maybe, but it’s all so beautiful – can ya blame me?! xo
Lovely, I love the pops of color; I am a color fiend and tan, gray, and off white are seldom in my color pallette. I have always loved brass and copper, no matter the vogue! Drybrushing the leaves with gold is a great, thrifty thing to do! I have a friend who walks her tiny dog through oak trees and has to take her to the vet several times for blockages because she has eaten acorns–so be beware!
So simple and elegant Paula! Love it! xoxo
Your mantel looks so beautiful, Paula. It is absolute autumn perfection.
The mantel looks so lovely. The details you thought of are perfect.
Paula, Your mantel won my heart for one of my features this evening at Share Your Style! Please stop by tonight to read what I had to say about it.
Beautiful fall mantel ready for cozy fires.
I just love your fall mantel. The leaves are so beautiful, I have not seen anything like that before. The wheat each side of the mirror adds so much charm. It is perfect in that less is more for balance.
Kathleen
Blogger’s Pit Stop
So so pretty! Thanks for sharing with us at the Hello Fall party; Pinned.
Pretty!! I love the preserved leaves. How did you preserve them?