Fall Mantel Decorating Inspiration
Well, it’s been a long time comin’, but we’re FINALLY done with our Fall-themed fireplace!
And, boy, did we have fun with this one!
Up on top, we used a 16×20 print of a church that Kevin recently snapped, framed in a great, old, $7.00 flea market frame.
We also made a “Gather” sign from letters we’ve collected here and there.
Here’s how…
(If you’d prefer to watch it on YouTube, click HERE!)
Finishing touches include:
- a bag of raffia
- four, flea market-found candleholders & books (dark wood candleholders= $5/each, light wood candleholders= $9/each, books= $2/each)
- two votive candles
and a little bit o’ rope from the home improvement store
The candles are just for looks, not for lighting, ’cause they don’t play well with raffia and rope!
The recessed light above the fireplace does a nice job of adding ambience at night though…
Down below, in the firebox, we used a small bail of hay from Hobby Lobby ($4.50), a big ol’ pot of mums from Home Depot ($9.27), a little pot o’ ornamental kale/cabbage ($? Hmmm…I can’t remember, but it seems like it was only a few bucks, and the pot was something I already owned.)
Other items include:
- A red-n-white striped piece of ribbon I got from a friend
- two small, real, pumpkins ($2.50/each at Home Depot)
- one teeny-tiny, white, faux pumpkin (I got it last year at Michaels)
- one small, grapevine pumpkin (also from last year, and also from Michaels)
- one large, white, faux pumpkin ($8 at Michaels- ’cause they’re 60% off right now!)
…and a rope-handled, wooden bucket I found at a flea market (the same day I found the candleholders in the photos above) for $14.
Our goal was to create something a little bit farmhouse…a little bit rustic.
Something festive, and fun, and something that would fill us up with the warm fuzzies every time we saw it!
Not only does the word “Gather” conjure up memories of spending time with the people we love most, but the letters themselves bring us back to the day we actually collected them.
The “G”, the “A”, the “T”, and the “E” came from a shop called Paris Market, located in Savannah, Georgia.
We had our dog, Max, with us the day we were there, and it was like 100 degrees outside. Obviously, we couldn’t leave him in the car while we went in and looked for letters, so I jumped out at the corner of Broughton and Whitaker- and Kevin & Max proceeded to repeatedly circle around the block while I ran inside and scoured the store as fast as I could.
Welllll, turns out Paris Market was having some sort of big event that day, so the place was totally packed.
Everyone had a “Hello. My name is” name tag stuck to themselves, and there was lots of sipping and munching on fabulous looking food & drinks going on as folks strolled leisurely around the store.
I felt incredibly underdressed (as usual), and I remember really wishing I had washed my hair that morning. (Or at least the morning before that one.)
To make matters even more challenging, the store looked a lot different than it did the last time we visited.
Before, all the letters and numbers were on display right at the bottom of the stairs. Like this…
This time, however, all the displays were different, and there was TONS of new merchandise everywhere.
(It was veeeery hard for me not to stop and look at it all!)
Anywho, I ran/walked up and down the stairs two times, before I thought to ask a sales person where the letters had been moved to.
Unfortunately, she didn’t know- but after a bit more rootin’ around, I managed to find the “G”, the “A”, the “T”, and the “E” hidden in various places throughout the store.
Sure, I bumped into folks at almost every turn.
Sure, my brain was filled with images of a stressed-out Kevin, and an on-edge Max, circling the traffic-filled block, over and over again.
But I got the letters I went in for, and my anxiety immediately subsided once I jumped back into our little car and was greeted with a friendly, ”Did you get some good ones?“.
I smiled and told him I thought I got the best one.
As for the photo of the church, well, that’s another one of those memories I’ll cherish forever.
It’s a small, Carpenter Gothic style church, located here in Alabama- about 2 hours from our house.
(St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church- Prairieville, Alabama)
It was built in 1853.
I found it online, while searching for “beautiful, old churches in Alabama”.
We knew we wanted to use a photograph of a church on the mantel, but when we saw the gorgeous rustic red color of this one, we knew it was the perfect one to include in our Fall display.
Kev and I arrived at the church around 5:00pm one afternoon last week. And as you can see from the photos above, the sun was just beginning to set, so the building was covered in shadows.
We sort of figured they would go away within an hour or so, so we just walked around and talked until the time (and lighting) was right.
I’ll never forget that day we jumped in the car and drove off into the unknown (a.k.a west Alabama) to visit a pretty little church, all dressed in red.
And there ya have it!
The melodramatic (ahem) meaningful story behind our Fall-themed fireplace!
PS-
If by chance you’d like to print a copy of Kevin’s church photo, “Gathering Place”- feel free to head on over to this link.
You’ll find a high-res copy of it waiting for you there!
And for a look back at our Summer mantel, click HERE, and our Spring mantel- click HERE.
I’m linkin’ this one up to Beth’s Halloween Mantel Linky Party. If you haven’t seen all the amazing Fall-themed mantels she’s featured over there yet- you MUST click on the button below!
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Leave a Reply
106 Responses to Fall Mantel Decorating Inspiration
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Deb says:
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Allison says:
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Maya says:
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Rachel @ *FrenchFarmhouse425* says:Oct 21, 2010 at 11:50 pm
~*Love your mantle and LOVE that Church!!~*~* Hugs,Rachel
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Bernadette says:
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Nita@ModVintageLife says:
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Fairfield House says:
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auntie bliss says:
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Dondra says:Oct 22, 2010 at 6:30 am
So glad to see your fall mantle! I’ve always loved that church! It is on the way to my sweet husband’s hometown (Livingston) where I attended college (UWA) and met my love. It has been one of my favorite pieces of scenery for years. By the way, there is an AWESOME covered bridge on campus if you ever happen to be there. It makes for a fantastic photo op. Once you spend time in West Alabama you just can’t get it outta your blood….kind of like TLC!!!!!
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Charity says:
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katie says:Oct 22, 2010 at 7:02 am
Love your mantel, especially the flea market candle holders! Happy Fall Ya’ll
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Creative Ambitions says:
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angela walker says:
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Joanne says:
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Michelle says:Oct 22, 2010 at 7:28 am
The mantel looks great! I love the letters and the picture of the little church is so perfect! (there is always more meaning behind something when there is a story attached to it!
Great memories! ) -
Jen says:Oct 22, 2010 at 7:32 am
Beautiful mantel. Thanks for sharing the photo. What a treat! Very kind of you
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Katherine @ Grass Stains says:
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Ginger says:
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Luciane At HomeBunch.com says:
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Tammy says:Oct 22, 2010 at 8:15 am
Layla & Kevin…The mantel is so pretty…love those great big wooden candlesticks and all the letters! I collect letters too..love that red “A”…and Kevin’s pic of the red church is amazing! I tried to download it but your link is on overload! LOL! I’ll try again later and hopefully will be able to get it! Thanks so much for sharing it!
Hope you both have a great weekend! Max is so cute!!
Tammy -
Erin says:
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Layla & Kevin says:
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Marty@A Stroll thru Life says:
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Eileen says:Oct 22, 2010 at 2:28 pm
Beautiful! It’s simple and cozy
Love the photo too. That’s one talented hubby you’ve got there!
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Dawn (Bee and Rose) says:
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Tracey says:
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Ashley says:Oct 22, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Layla, I love the letters you used to spell “Gather”! I especially love the red A with holes in it. How cool. Now I’m not sure how often you travel the country looking for great stores, like the Paris Market, but how can I find great stores like that in my town?!
We live in Denver… and I’d love to figure out how you discover such great stores. Thanks! Love your mantel. -
Debbie says:
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all that jazz vintage says:
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Missy says:Oct 23, 2010 at 9:24 am
Oh Layla, you always make me smile, from your sweet southern style to your unwashed hair…I just love ya! Your mantle is so sweet and I LOVE the letters, but love the story behind them even more.
Kevin is one talented little cookie isn’t he?! Mr rocker, photographer handy man! Hey, I have an idea for you and your candles. I did this post a long time ago, but it’s how to make your own flameless candles (for cheap of course). They won’t burn your rafia and they look just like the real deal!
Have a great day my friend
Missy -
carols says:
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Rene'@bargainhoot says:
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Missy says:Oct 23, 2010 at 9:48 am
Umm yeah, I’m smart, I forgot to put the link for the idea! YIKES…I must be getting old! lol Here ya go!
http://mycottagecharm.blogspot.com/2010/03/non-flammable-candles-and-how-to-make.htmlHUGS
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Rae says:
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Layla & Kevin says:Oct 23, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Hey Rae!
Try cropping from the bottom, instead of the top. We printed ours as a 16×20, and since the photo is based on sizes- 4×6, 8×12, 16×24, we had to crop off some of the bottom for ours too.
Hope that helps, and thanks for the comment! Layla
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Julia @ Hooked on Houses says:Oct 23, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Like another reader said, I thought the church was a painting at first. Wow! What a beautiful photograph. And how fun that you’re inviting people to download their own copy of it.
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Flower Patch Farmgirl says:
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Lemonade Makin' Mama says:Oct 23, 2010 at 2:10 pm
It’s awesome, wonderful, lovely and well worth the wait for inspiration in all it’s glory!
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michaela says:
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Viola says:Oct 23, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Layla I love everything you do! I have a question, my fireplace is brick and I can’t bring myself to paint over it. How can I decorate my mantle (that is dark) without making it look so drab???
~Viola
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Tatiana says:
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Shannon says:Oct 23, 2010 at 11:40 pm
Once again I am blown away by how you take things that are so ordinary (i.e., candles, raffia, Goodwill finds) and turn them into extraordinary…Thank you so, so much for the inspiration and also the photo…There’s a small white church I pass on my way home from work each day and I am always tempted to pull over and snap a photo but I kept tellling myself it was a silly idea….Thanks to you and your sweet Kevin I will definitely be doing just that!
Shannon
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Polly says:
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lindy says:
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Kristin S says:
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erin says:Oct 24, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Ok you already know this knowing me, but I am in love with that red church- it is spectular. it has a red barn look to it
episcopal churches are so beautiful. the inside of each episcopal church is meant to look like noah’s ark turned upside down-usually the ceiling is curved, painted white, with large dark wooden beams. It is such a cool feature common to all of the episcopal churches I have been in. The mantel is lovely, the red letter is my favorite. amazing frame too! love you! miss you! e -
Michiganhome says:
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Lisa says:Oct 25, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Many thanks to you for sharing the photo – it’s gorgeous! Your mantel is lovely
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Michelle@Make 5 dinners in 1 hour says:Oct 28, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Love it! I am going to be on the hunt for letters. Those will be good to have on had for all seasons! Love the straw too. I would have never thought of that! Great job.
My reclaimed wood and starfish flag is still on my mantel. It is a Layla inspired piece!
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Stephanie says:
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trish says:Oct 30, 2010 at 8:03 am
Good Morning Layla.
Your mantel is just gorgeous. I love how warm it feels. )
And I absolutely LOVE the photograph of the church.
I scrolled down to find if it was something you would like to sell, and can you imagine the leap in my heart to see that you so sweetly shared it with us for free. Gosh, what a wonderful way to start the day!! I downloaded the image and will decide what size to have it printed. When I do, I will post and point directly to you!!! )
Thank you so much for your generousity. )
Have a lovely weekend.
Sincerely – Trish -
Desiree says:
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kimberly says:
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Karen says:
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Southern Fried Gal says:
Layla,
Your mantel is fabulous and I LOVE the “Gather” tutorial!! Gotta love fall!