The Lettered Cottage

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Fall Mantel Decorating Inspiration

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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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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Deb

    Your mantel displays are the best Layla…love the touches of red!

    PS I just painted my bathroom in your fav…sea salt…and I love it! Thanks for all your inspiration! Deb

  4. Maya

    Wow!
    I could sit in front of your mantel and just fill my eyes with beauty!
    Love the photograph and the story behind it! And it was worth the 2-hour drive!
    Best,
    Maya

  5. Kristin @ Betty Crocker Wannabe

    I’ve been waiting for this post. I just posted about my fall mantle today and I was thinking how I wished I had seen your first for some inspiration!! LOL I’m always in awe of your work Layla. You have some mad skills girl!!!

  7. Bernadette

    Layla, your stuff just gets better and better! WOW! Thank you SO much for all that you do – your blog is a gem. And what a fantastic photo – Kevin is incredibly talented. Thank you for sharing that as well – what a treat!

  9. Rachel Beal

    What a GREAT looking mantel. That church photo is beautiful, thanks for sharing! Happy fall!

  11. Fairfield House

    Love Kevin’s photograph of that amazing old church. I’ve never seen a red church before. The firebox reminds me of my decorated hearth. Beautifully done.

    Your Friend,
    Deborah

  12. Sherie

    I am obsessed with Paris Market! I live in the Savannah area and every time I go in there I have the hardest time leaving! They have such creative displays. Thanks for sharing your mantle and the gorgeous red church picture.
    – Sherie

  14. kelly

    It IS playfully rustic and does give me the warm fuzzies! Thank you for sharing your creativity. The comment about the candles “not playing nicely with the rope and raffia” made me laugh out loud! And that church is soooo beautiful in its humble simplicity. What a perfect photograph for the season. There is a small yellow church like that not far from here….hmmm…might have to take some photos this weekend (since I can’t seem to talk my husband into going to Stone Mtn.) There is also a little white church for sale a few miles away…I keep telling folks they need to buy it, move it, and use it for a wedding chapel to rent out. Perhaps you two should look into that for your next fixer-upper project!

  17. Angela

    You must have read my mind! As soon as I saw that photo Kevin took, I was immediately gonna post asking you to make it available! Low and behold…you already did! Another reason why you guys ROCK! Love that photo, your mantle and your website!

  18. Kelly

    Love, love, love!!! Thank you for the beautiful ideas and photo! You guys are awesome!!!!

  20. auntie bliss

    I’m just alllll smitten over how you googled pretty churches in Alabama and the two of you drove 2 hours to take a picture, blow it up and do the mantle!!!!! That’s so sweet …so sweet.
    And that letter “A” is so amazing!

  21. Jacquelyn

    What a beautiful mantel! Thank you so much for the download! I first opened this and thought I have to go to Alabama and find this church so I can get my own photograph ( a little difficult since I live in Canada!)

  23. Sarah

    Oh Layla, my heart beats for you! Thank you so much for including a file of the beautiful church! I’m from Alabama but currently live in Iowa because my husband is in the military, so having this photo to hang in my home will help me feel a little closer to home.

  26. Dondra

    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!!!!! 😀

  27. Charity

    Thank you so much for sharing that beautiful photo! (BTW, I live in Savannah and I love hearing your stories about our city!)

  30. angela walker

    I love the fall mantel Layla! I downloaded Kevin’s picture… : ) It is just awesome. I love how the red really “pops”! You guys are great and I always look forward to your posts!
    Have a great weekend!
    Health and happiness,
    Angela

  31. Joanne

    Love the Mantle! Your stories behind your finds is what makes it so authentic and fun.
    I thought the church was a painting at first, what a generous gift you are offering with the download.
    Thank you both!

    Jo

  32. Michelle

    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! )

  35. Katherine @ Grass Stains

    I squealed when I saw the church picture, because I pulled over and took a picture of the EXACT SAME CHURCH in March! I was going to Demopolis for a funeral and drove past this little church on the way there from Birmingham. I pulled over and got a shot because it just captured my heart immediately. I love that you went and found it, too!

  36. Jane in St. Louis

    I really love this look. I have some of the elements to make our Fall mantle (spraypainted some ceramic quail chocolately brown). Just wish our cat would leave plants, raffia or hay bales alone. It’s not pretty when Henry gets a hankering for some roughage.

  38. Ginger

    Layla I LOVE it. I tried to download the print, but the site said it had exceeded its daily download limit…Yikes, looks like everyone else beat me to that gorgeous photo. I’m just dippin my photography toe in the water and one of my favorite things to take pix of are gorgeous old structures, churches, barns and old brick buildings. So much character and SOOOO gorgeous. Thanks for the inspiration!

  39. Luciane At HomeBunch.com

    Layla,

    I am in love with he church and your house! Wow… fantastic pictures!

    Please, visit my new blog. I am new to this “world” and I would love to hear your opinion about my blog.

    Thank you!

    Luciane at HomeBunch.com

  40. Tammy

    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 🙂

  42. April in CT

    When I first saw the picture of the Church I thought it was a painting, then realized it was a picture and all I could think was “I have to somehow get a copy of this, it’s gorgeous!!.”, then was amazed you’d made it available to DL!! I’m also getting the message saying it has exceeded its daily DL limit, but I’ll keep trying because I adore that photo.

    I’ve been looking for old letters for various projects and have yet to come across any! You have me wishing I still lived in GA so I could take a trip to Savannah and explore that store. I love the mantel, bit puffy heart love.

    • Layla & Kevin

      Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and for the heads up on the download issue. We didn’t realize that we had a daily limit. YIKES! We should have it fixed by tomorrow, so please feel free to check back then. Thanks guys!!

      Kevin

  43. Sharyl@The little brown house

    I love it! And you are such a sweetheart to share a photo of that church! I will love you forever for that girl!
    I love the rustic feel of the mantel, the rope, and how you filled the firebox – I especially love the letters – um.. cause it is the lettered cottage right?

  46. Pattie @ Olla-Podrida

    Your mantle is gorgeous! I LOVE the idea of turning a treasured picture into a poster, framing it and hanging it over the mantle (or anywhere for that matter). Now why didn’t I think of that? But oh the problem in trying to decide which picture from the thousands I’ve taken!

  47. Karen

    Layla,

    What a fun and beautiful mantle for fall. I believe your seasonal mantle dressings are one of my favorite things on your blog. Amazing photo.
    Karen

  48. Marty@A Stroll thru Life

    Love your mantel, and the church is just fabulous. Your picture in front of it is wonderful too. What a great church. It looks wonderful above the fireplace. Love that wooden bucket with the rope handle too. Beautiful display. Hugs, Marty

  50. Eileen

    Beautiful! It’s simple and cozy 🙂

    Love the photo too. That’s one talented hubby you’ve got there!