Fall Mantels: 3 Looks We Love

A captivating fall mantel at Nell Hill's.
A captivating fall mantel at Nell Hill’s.

As a chill enters the air, the days grow a bit shorter and the fall colors begin to appear everywhere you turn, it’s time to layer up your fireplace mantel with a drop-dead gorgeous fall display. In preparation for our big Fall Open House September 9 & 10, our visual design team has been hard at work, creating show stoppers on the mantels in every room at Nell Hill’s. Here are three of our favorite looks to inspire you as you decorate your home for fall. (You will see much, much more at our Open House. I hope you will join us!)

 

Autumn Woodlands

Tall finials add drama to this display.
Tall finials add drama to this display.

Boughs of evergreen and pine cones aren’t just for winter displays. We often use them as a base for fall mantel treatments because the rich green, warm brown and complex textures provide a lovely contrast to boughs of autumn leaves, berries and gourds. This yummy mantel is lush with fall beauty. We spiced up the pine garland with a variety of fall picks: sprays of white berries, fall leaves and magnolia stems. The drama is boosted by our big statements on either side of the mantel: A stunning floral in a tall pot on the left and statuesque finials on the right. Our finials got some added height, with the help of paper-covered book stacks.

 

Fall Glow

A phalanx of candles give warmth to this fall mantel at Nell Hill's.
A phalanx of candles give warmth to this fall mantel at Nell Hill’s.

Evergreen garland is the base of this mantel treatment, too. We wove in a second garland of fall leaves, lightly tucking in the strand so it looks as if the leaves floated there on a gust of wind. Then, we threaded in a few picks featuring fall nuts. Love the added texture!

When you use battery operated candles, like we did here, you have all the beauty and none of the risk of candles.
When you use battery operated candles, you have all the beauty and none of the risk of candles.

With the base in place, we added our focal point: a phalanx of foux bois candlesticks. We picked two tall, three medium and two short candlesticks in the same style, zig-zagging them down the mantel, for an interesting finished effect. The candles are battery operated, so you can let them “burn” with no worries of dripping wax or fire.

 

Deer Heart

A pair of deer peek out from the foliage in the fall mantel at Nell Hill's.
A pair of deer peek out from the foliage in this fall mantel at Nell Hill’s.

My favorite people in life are those with whom I can laugh. So it’s no surprise that I love a bit of humor in my interior designs as well. This playful fall mantel treatment is a little tongue-in-cheek. We started by hanging over the mantel a wonderful piece of art depicting a fall forest. This time of year, a deer’s life can hang in the balance, so we added a replica old-fashioned scale. (We used this charming accent in lots of our displays – it’s not only striking, it’s a very versatile decorating tool.)

These playful vases have openings for you to insert "antlers" of any sort. We used twigs.
These playful vases have openings for you to insert “antlers” of any sort. We used twigs.

On each scale? Deer, trying hard to blend in with the background, with their twiggy antlers, hidden to hunters. These vases have been huge sellers at Nell Hill’s and we’re constantly re-ordering because they give you a chance to add a bit of fun to your décor. Fill the deer’s antler holes with sticks, flowers, fall grasses – whatever you can dream up.

Add interesting layers to your fall foliage, like birch logs and handfuls of milo.
Add interesting layers to your fall foliage.

The greenery on this lovely mantel is the main show. We started with a few birch branches, cut short, to add a new texture and element of surprise. Next came our evergreen and fall garlands. We finished with shocks of fall milo.

Whether you want to dress your mantel to the max or just add a tiny touch or two of fall, at our Fall Open House on September 9 & 10, we will have the inspiration and tools you’ll need to bring your vision to life. Hope to see you there!

Next Week … We head to my lake cottage to dress up the door for fall, and give you some ideas for creating a warm welcome on your door.

MaryCarol