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Neutral Fall Mantel

Fall vibes are sneaking their way into the cabin this week. Here's my neutral Fall mantel!

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I'm happy to be part of the Celebrate Fall Home Tour, hosted by Sand Dollar Lane! If you're visiting from My Family Thyme for the first time, welcome! Feel free to comment and introduce yourself!

This mantel is one of the best DIY projects we have done in the house. It's pretty special to us because of its history with the house. It's from a local factory built in 1917 and it once floated away into the woods in a flood and we almost lost it. If you'd like to read the whole story of the mantel, you can find it here.

Usually, I love color.

Remember this Spring was all about yellow and green?

Last Fall was purple and orange.

Winter was pink.

I don't know what came over me this week, but I decided to do a neutral fireplace mantel!

And I didn't spend a penny on it.

Let me show you how I did it!

I set an antique mule collar I have had for years on the mantel as the center. It seemed like it wasn't quite enough on its own, so I added a thrifted empty antique oval frame with round glass. I like how the two shapes work together.

Then I pulled out some antique crocks of various earthy colors.

I dried the pokeweed from last year's vintage glass and brass Fall porch table so I added them to this crock.



 My tip: look around your yard and on roadsides now for any plant or weed that will dry well for Fall and Winter decor. It's free! Even if you're not sure how something will dry, give it a try. If it doesn't look cute after it dries, you can always just throw it away.

I added some pheasant feathers I bought last year and never used to this antique crock.

My tip: If the feathers or florals are too short for the vessel you're using, ball up paper or paper towels and fill the bottom of the vessel to build height and then add the filler

And then I remembered a brass colored metal leaf tray that I thrifted a few years ago. 



To balance that leaf on the other side of the mantel, I added a few brass candlesticks.


And my cute little brass quail family that finds its way into my Fall decor every year.

I sprinkled some faux little white pumpkins around.

I bought these last year, after Fall. I decided to buy them after throwing all of the real little pumpkins I bought for decor to the chickens. 

The set of them cost the same as real pumpkins and this year all I had to do was pull them out of storage. I love them!



Down on the hearth I used an antique copper double broiler with this cute blanket scarf  I wore all last Fall and Winter.


And a few more little white pumpkins.

As a side note this fire grate isn't super cute, but it is super useful and its one of my favorite purchases ever. It makes the logs for your fire stand up vertically and creates a warm and beautiful fire in the fireplace.

Now back to the pretty stuff...

This basket of tree bark was already on the heart from last year. I love the texture the bark brings in. As I was bringing in firewood last year, the bark fell off some logs. So then I kept an eye out for those logs and saved the bark from each one to put in the basket. By the end of last Winter I had filled the basket.


On the other side of the hearth is where I keep my antique brass fire extinguisher that a friend gave me years ago.

I added one more antique crock there with some dried florals I picked up from Hobby Lobby on sale a few years ago.

And that is my neutral Fall mantel! 



Although, I guess technically after I added in that blanket scarf there is some color. 

But plaid is basically a neutral, right?

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out this Fall's mantel, now continue this Fall blog hop over at What Meegan Makes!



And take a look at these Fall decor ideas on the rest of the tour!


Sand Dollar Lane // My Wee Abode // Hearth and Vine // Noting Grace

My Family Thyme // The Roots of Home // What Meegan Makes

Zucchini Sisters // Postcards from the Ridge // 2 Bees in a Pod // Thistle Key Lane

Harbour Breeze Home // Songbird // Sweet Pea



14 comments

Marianne said...

Wow that mantel is a conversation piece! I love its rustic style. And you decorated it so lovely for fall. Wonderful decor!

Teddee Grace said...

I love this. The big boiler reminds me of one in which my mother and aunt used to render lard at the home of their two bachelor uncles who had a huge wood burning stove, much larger than the one we had and on which I grew up learning to cook.

Paula@SweetPea said...

My vintage loving heart is 100% in love with your fall mantel! Everything looks spectacular!

Thistle Key Lane said...

This is the best looking fireplace mantel and surround I've seen in a while. Your vintage items are so pretty and I love the mix of metals with the crocks. So unique and pretty. I want to go antiquing and hunt for crockery now.

Jen @ Noting Grace said...

Dara - I am loving all the textures and colors. Those little brass quails are just the cutest! And all the copper and crockery combined are fall perfection!

Eileen Curinga said...

Dara, I love all your natural and neutral touches to your mantel. I think the blanket scarf is just the right amount of color. And who doesn't love clothing that doubles as décor!?

Angie at Postcards from the Ridge said...

Dara, your rustic neutral fall mantel is so warm and cozy! I love the vintage copper pieces and the little quails. And I love the feathers and other natural items. That beam is gorgeous! So glad you didn't lose it!

Patti Estep @ Hearth and Vine said...

Dara, you fall mantel is all warm and cozy. The fireplace is simply gorgeous. I can see you getting some great fires going while sipping your favorite drinks very soon.

Julie @ My Wee Abode said...

Such a rustic and neutral mantel, Dara... love all the vintage items, and such a lovely curated collection. Love those brass quails!

ritajoy said...

I absolutely love your neutral Fall decor- and your creativity in using things you already have. It looks great!

Http://whatmeeganmakes.com said...

What a beautiful and unique Fall mantel. All of the vintages pieces are my love language. From the feathers to the tiny white pumpkins to the copper pieces. This is stunning.

Rebecca @ Zucchini Sisters said...

Dara, your mantel looks amazing! I love all of your vintage finds and natural elements. The brass quails are the cutest! The cozy plaid scarf was the perfect pop of color to compliment your neutral vignette. Very well done! It was fun to join you on the home tour. Pinned!

2 Bees in a Pod said...

Dara - your cabin is amazing. The mantel is a definite conversation piece -love the history of it. Your neutral and vintage fall decor is a beautiful compliment to the mantel!

Lynne said...

Dara, your log home looks so cozy and welcoming! Your decor tips are so helpful and your mantle is beautifully styled with your neutral and vintage finds. So wonderful to hop with you!

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