Finding my Autumn "Chi" {Fall Mantle}

Finally! A day where I can actually feel fall in the air!  I've been in search of my autumn "chi" since the blogosphere and magazines began exploding with fall decor, recipes, color schemes, etc, and I just couldn't get there.  Maybe crossing over into the second half of September, maybe the chill that blew in last night on a cold front, or maybe that delectable Skinny Cinnamon Dolce latte at Starbucks did it.  Whatever it was, I woke up feeling like beginning the zhushing for fall.  My autumn chi is emerging. :)

I decided to start with the mantle and here's what I came up with...

I've decided I can't quite get on board with the oranges and heavier colors for fall this year.  I'm staying more neutral to keep my spaces as bright as possible.

Nothing says "autumn" like sheafs of wheat, right?  These have been hiding out in stash of decorative items for a couple of years now.  They bring the urn from summer beachy to rustic fall perfectly.

I added texture to my grandmother's silver dish with pine cones and straw spheres.  The combination of tans and browns with the silver keeps it interesting.

This fabulous antique Swedish etching came from my friend Tricia's antique shop she closed this summer.  My little bird marries the umber tones in the art with the blue urn.

Super simple changes here!  I just turned my antique books around so the pages faced out (I love the marbled detailing on one of them!) and added a couple of metallic pumpkins as a nod to the season. {Tutorial  on them coming next week}.

And so one more look at my fall mantle... for now, that is! ;-)

Have you found your autumn chi yet??

Linking up in these wonderful places:

Tatertots and Jello Weekend Wrap Up

Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday

Fall Nesting Party at The Inspired Room

Fall Festival at Nest of Posies

Spring Mantle Makeover

I do love to decorate seasonally and in fact, I'm notorious for moving things around my home on a regular basis...redecorating on the cheap!  I've been tweaking this mantle for several weeks now and think I've finally hit on the look that will carry me through until it's time to redo for summer (or my daughter's graduation party!).

I decided to keep it really clean and simple with pops of blue and green.  The mirror was a Ballards Backroom score back in January.

This painting was done by my great-grandmother...I don't have alot of nautical-themed pieces, but this is one I love and decided to showcase.

Sweet little Willow House Firefly Lanterns and the nest and eggs is from Target (in their Smith and Hawkin section).

Too in love with my Cordova Sconces with the Terrace Accent Plates to change them.  And I'm sure you'll recognize the Santorini Urn!  I piled a variety of textured spheres and some faux artichokes into a silver dish for interest. 

Antique books (in Swedish) from Avolli, except for the Louisa May Alcott which was my grandmother's.  Little bird came from the fabulous Outrageous Interiors here in Marietta (great place for affordable accessories).  The stone pedestal is from Willow House, too.

It's the Coronado Stone Pedestal and it's grown on me!  I love that the glass cylinder gives you so much flexibility with fillers and the base adds substance and can be used separately.  Here I've filled it with my faithful split peas and a pillar candle. 

So here it is again-- super simple...and easy to dust.  It is pollen season here in Georgia, after all :)

Linking up today with Beth at The Stories of A to Z!

Happy Decorating!

Winter Mantle Tweaking...

Because sometimes I'm just not finished...  I was packing away the Christmas decorations from my dining room yesterday (YES, yesterday...it was the "final frontier") and I just couldn't bear to put away these little metallic deer.  Part of it was that I bought them shortly before Christmas as Casabella's here in Marietta (a very dangerous place!) and I just hadn't enjoyed them long enough.  But part of it was that I'm trying to bring more metallic surfaces into my family room to help brighten it up.  So, lo and behold, I popped them up onto my freshly done mantle and ... Voila!

I think they add the pefect touch, don't you?

Here they are in their respective groupings... right at home.  I'm looking forward to enjoying these little "dears" for a while longer.

Incidentally, if you're in the Atlanta area, be sure to visit Casabella'a for decor, gifts, and furnishings.  They are located at 4400 Roswell Road in Marietta, GA, 30062.  You're sure to find something!

Happy Decorating and Happy Friday!

Winter Mantle Makeover

I've mentioned here my desire to freshen up, lighten up my own decor this year and (lucky you) you get to ride along with me!  When I saw that Beth over at The Stories A to Z was hosting a Winter Mantle Linky Party, it was just the kick I needed to get started!

So here is what I ended up with and I love it!  I picked up the mirror last week at Ballard's Backroom here in Roswell (outlet for the incredible catalog).  It has a teeny scratch on the outer edge, but I've had my eye on this one for quite some time and last week was an additional 30% off wall art and mirrors.  'Nuff said.  The sconces are Willow House Cordova Sconces and to brighten them up, I added two of our Terrace Appetizer Plates behind the tapers. 

They make a great combo, don't you think?

This little vignette keeps sticking around because I love it so!  The antique books belonged to my grandmother (I actually read these when I used to visit her as a child!) and the shepherd and sheep are part of my (now retired) Southern Living at HOME nativity.  They're so sweet they stay out year round here.  Always a reminder of who my Shepherd is. :)

Spheres are perfect in any decor and here I grouped three of different sizes and textures.  The birch candle is another fave of mine during the winter months.  Bring nature inside!

The hurricane is my Willow House large Galveston Footed Hurricane.  I love that the iron echoes my sconces (and my firescreen), but the glass keeps it visually light.  I added more spheres here mixed in with a few pinecones and artichokes.  The silver spheres I picked up at Target the other day-- perfect for adding another reflective surface and once again mixing textures.

Another view of the variety.  Keep it interesting without being distracting!

I kept the color palette to a minimum: greens, browns, silver, and a touch of red.  I love this fresh new look!  Let me know what you think, and then head over to Beth's blog to see other inspirational mantles.

All the Willow House products I mentioned can be purchased directly online by clicking HERE.

Happy Decorating!
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