Fall Farmhouse Mantel
It’s that time of year – pumpkins and gourds and all things Fall. I am a traditionalist. My home is filled with warm colors and textures of the season. I have created a Fall Farmhouse Mantel that is simple and rustic.
When I begin decorating for a Season – be it Fall or Summer or Winter – I always start on our Dining Room’s fireplace mantel. It’s my beginning point and what will carry the theme forth throughout the rest of our home. Sometimes I have a plan and sometimes I just grab stuff and start placing it here and there until I am happy with the result. I had a “sorta” plan this year. I knew if I implemented it correctly as I had envisioned it in my mind – the rest would fall into place. I will share with you how I created this Rustic Fall Farmhouse Mantel.
I am taking part in a very fun 5-day Fall Blogging Event. We are kicking off the Fall season with some amazing projects and homes. Each day will be a different theme, so please make sure you check back here each day. I will be adding links to all of the participating blogs at the end of this post. I am taking part in Day 1: Mantels. Let’s get started….
When I was a little girl growing up on our farm – Fall signaled the end of the year’s Harvest and a chance for us to take a collective breath from all of the hard work. It was also when the family took a yearly trek to the NC Mountains. While there – we went to Apple Orchards and Pumpkin Patches and brought home a trunk full of Fall goodies.
My love of Fall and decorating in general derived from my beautiful and talented mother. She rivals Martha Stewart on any given day. Still today, she creates beautiful seasonal tablescapes, centerpieces and wreaths. It is our shared love of Fall that especially binds us this time of year.
A year or so ago on one of our junking forays I found a beautiful frame crafted from reclaimed wood. It reminded me of the wood from our family’s old tobacco barns. It was just a plain ole’ frame and I had no earthly idea what I would do with it.
(I mean, do we ever know what we will do with most of the stuff we buy when picking?) 🙂
I pulled it out a few weeks ago and with a little wrestling and sweating – added chicken wire to the back. I had envisioned this beautiful, old wood frame with a chicken-wire backing and a rustic Fall Wreath hanging in the middle.
I used the same oval grapevine wreath I had used for my DIY Summer Wreath because it was the perfect size. An assortment of fall floral pics created a quick and easy wreath. I used the same technique that I used for this Easy Fall Wreath.
I simply leaned it against the back of the fireplace wall. Once that was in place, the rest came together easily…
Vintage books with faded covers, heirloom pumpkins and dried bittersweet that draped gently down the front of our chunky rustic mantel.
Chunky wood candlesticks with large pillars pulled in all of the earthy colors from the mantel – oranges, creams and soft greens.
I randomly tucked in a few dried sunflower heads, a few more gourds and stood back. The “more is more” in me wanted to add, well – more. So, I added even more pumpkins and stood back once again, instantly recognizing that it was too much.
That is how I decorate. I will add a few things then step back and look. Sometimes I might even snap a quick picture because the camera doesn’t lie. (My hips are testimony to that. LOL)
I have always said that decorating is like the little black dress. Add accessories until you think you have enough then remove the last accessory you added.
I do have a project planned for a “Thankful” Banner I will be making and adding soon, but I wanted the wreath to take center stage and the pumpkins and books to play supporting roles. I will carry this same rustic farmhouse theme into the rest of the room and onto my tablescape. You can see a little peak of my table’s centerpiece above.
Traditional colors and decor may not be the “in” thing in this day and age but I just can’t help it. When September rolls around and the air turns crisp and a few brave leaves begin dancing through the air to begin their age-old assent down to the ground, my soul yearns for orange pumpkins and golden gourds and a traditional fall palette.
You can call me old fashioned. That’s okay. I consider it a compliment. 🙂 xxoo, barb
Mantels on Monday
Postcards From the Ridge / The Chelsea Project / The Everyday Home / Shabbyfufu /
Atta Girl Says / Stone Gable
Tablescapes on Tuesday
Vin’yet Etc. / What Meegan Makes / Home is Where the Boat is / Making it in the Mountains
Wreaths on Wednesday
Worthing Court / Dukes and Duchesses / Cupcakes and Crinolines / My Creative Days /
Virginia Sweet Pea
Printables on Thursday
Inspiration for Moms / Hunt and Host / Domestically Speaking / On Sutton Place / I Should Be Mopping The Floor
Porches on Friday
Petticoat Junktion / Housepitality Designs / Hymns and Verses / Cottage at the Crossroads /2 Bees in a Pod
Your rustic mantel is like a breath of fresh air. Love the vintage flair. And I especially love the wreath layered on the framed chicken wire. Great job, as always! Wishing you a blessed and happy Fall. Susie from The Chelsea Project
View CommentThanks my sweet friend, That took some doing to get it tight and en extra pair of hands. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. ON my way to see your beautiful mantel. xxoo
View CommentThat rustic touch is just right….happy fall Barb! xo
View CommentThanks Janet – I try so hard to go another direction but always come back to this style. I yam what I yam. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xxoo
View Commentlove the mantel and all your decor it is beautiful Thank you and God bless Have a blessed and safe Labor Day
View CommentThanks Norma – I know the weather is still warm for many but I had to bring out the Fall. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by. xxoo
View CommentIt is beautiful! I love everything! The chicken wire frame is a great backdrop for your wreath….and your wreath is so perfect. I learn so much from you. Thank you for sharing all your ideas and photos!
View CommentOhhhh I am so glad you are able to learn from what I do. That is my greatest hope. The wreath is so easy its not even funny – buy floral picks and stick them in. LOL Thanks so much for stopping by.
View CommentJust found your blog thru Stonegable! I’m from the mountains of NC! ( where the apples & pumpkins come from!) My home too is traditional and painted with warm colors, and I love them! I believe there are a lot of us out there! Refreshing to find a blog that is not all gray & white! Lol I have a ton of fall decorations in the traditional colors & have to restrain myself somewhat! I love the oranges, reds, & rust colors. Look forward to following ur blog!
View CommentHi Cindy and fellow Tarheeler. 🙂 So glad you found me. Yep, we love our NC Mountains and hope maybe to one day buy a weekend place. (I can never move with my babies here) But we do love our visits there. I can’t help but have color in my home. I love the white and gray homes and I have tried that, but color always sneaks back in. 😀 Hope you are having a nice Labor Day. Thanks so much for stopping by here at The Everyday Home. ~Barb
View CommentI was hoping that you would have one of your beautifully created wreaths on your mantel….and love how you framed it along with other Fall pretties…like a wonderful shadow box of Fall…Beautiful mantel as always!
View CommentThanks Shirley – believe it or not I didn’t really care that much for this one and if I had the time I was going to totally change it out, but it grew on me. (plus I needed to move on – you know how that is.) Thank you so much for stopping by and I can’t wait to see your porch. It will be spectacular as always.
View CommentI love the vibe of your farmhouse mantel. It’s so nice that you and your mom can bond over decorating and that she inspires you like that. The wreath looks perfect on your reclaimed wood frame. Love the old books too. So glad you joined the tour!
View CommentMe and Mama have had some fun times. She says we enable each other, lol. (Unfortunately I also have her “hoarding” system. LOL) Can’t wait to head over to see your mantel, too.
View CommentSuch a pretty mantel, Barb! I love that wood frame and the story behind it! It’s the perfect backdrop for the fall wreath!
View CommentThanks Doreen – I can’t believe it took me so long to finally use it. LOL It was waiting for the perfect time I guess. Can’t wait to see your porch! Thanks for stopping by. xxoo
View CommentYour mantel is beautiful, Barb (as always!). I love the colors, so rich and warm and everything that fall is in my mind. Have a wonderful autumn, friend!
View CommentThanks Mary Beth – I just can’t help using these traditional colors. You’re right – it is exactly what fall is in my mind, too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and I can’t wait to visit you this week, too. xxoo
View CommentLove the rustic farmhouse look – gorgeous wreath & love the heirloom pumpkins!
View CommentThanks Maryann! I’m so happy to be decorating for Fall. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. xxoo
View CommentI love the wonderful combination botanicals and textures in your wreath over your mantel. Your addition of the chicken wire to the frame makes a perfect backdrop and I can see it used to frame all kinds of goodies! I’m a ‘more is more’ kinda girl too, so I applaud your restraint. 🙂
View CommentLOL, yea we “more is more” gals have a hard time knowing when to stop don’t we? 🙂 I do amaze myself sometimes though and know when to say when. Thanks for stopping by to visit me today. Barb
View CommentLove your beautiful traditional mantel, Barb! I love the warm colors of fall, too.
View CommentThanks Jane. I am all about the fall colors. 😀 Thanks for stopping by. xxoo
View CommentYour mantel is so stunning! I am always completely blown away by the stunning wreaths you make, they are always so beautiful and look like they belong in a store front window, what a talent!
View CommentOhhhh thanks Laurie, that is so sweet. It’s so incredibly easy to make its funny. Floral picks, baby! 😀 Thanks so much for stopping by today! xxoo
View CommentYour mantel is gorgeous! I love the rustic look with the beautiful fall colors!
View CommentThanks Randi – I went a bit more “fancy” last year but wanted something more rustic and farmhouse-y this year. Thanks for stopping by. ~Barb
View CommentYour mantel is beautiful, Barb! I oohed and ahhed over every detail as I read a scrolled through your pictures. I also prefer to decorate with the traditional colors of autumn. The wreath you made combined with the chicken wire frame, pumpkins, and candles makes for a perfect fall mantel display.
View CommentThanks, my friend. I just can’t help it. When I start decorating for Fall I am just pulled to the oranges and golds and greens. Thanks for stopping by to see me. xxoo
View CommentHi, I am a first time visitor from Stone Gable. I absolutely loved your fall mantel. You apparently have quite a talent for making wreaths too.I am looking forward to the rest of your fall decorations this week. So happy to find you!
View CommentHi Jennifer – glad you made it over here from my dear friend, Stonegable. I love making wreaths, and if you knew how easy this one was you would snicker. 😀 I hope you stop by more often for a visit here at The Everyday Home. Have a great week! ~Barb
View CommentIt’s all so pretty, Barb! I especially love the wreath. Stunning! Now let’s actually get it feeling like fall.
View CommentYea I know right? It was hot as blazes today. Ugh
View CommentI love the old frame and I am like you…just grab stuff that strikes you and it will always eventually find a home! So beautiful, as always!
View CommentThe problem is that I grab way too much stuff and still don’t have a clue what I will do with it all. 😀
View CommentYou have outdone yourself my friend! Your fall mantel is absolutely amazing and I love every single thing about it!
View CommentThanks LB2, its growing on me. I really didn’t like it at all at first. I still may make some tweaks. haha xxoo
View CommentYour fall mantel is perfection! It is gorgeous! I love all the colors and that wreath is amazing!
View CommentThanks Lindsay that is so sweet to say. I do love me some wreaths I can’t help it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by to visit me today. ~Barb
View CommentThank you for being a traditionalist. I love the true Fall colors that nature gives us. I just can’t handle a turquoise pumpkin! Your Fall blog is a breath of fresh air. Thanks for not bashing mums and pumpkins like other bloggers have done. I’ll take orange, golden yellow, greens and browns any day over some strange non-traditional color combination.
View CommentHi Janet – you will never hear me bash those. As a matter of fact in the next few weeks it will become an explosion of mums and pumpkins and corn stalks and Fall colors. 🙂 (well, if we don’t get blown away by Irma that is.) 🙁 I love the all white and grays but its not for me. I would never bash anyone for what they choose. Everyone should feel free to decorate their own homes like they want right? 🙂 Have a blessed day and thank you for stopping by for a visit with me. ~Barb
View CommentBarb, your Fall mantel is so lovely! I, too, love the traditional fall colors which the good Lord has given us to enjoy! You have done a lovely job of your wreath and the wooden frame with the chicken wire back just adds that special touch!
You always do such a nice job of decorating and you have been given wonderful gifts!
Blessings! Always enjoy your posts!
View CommentOhhhh you’re so sweet and your words mean a lot to me. You’re so right they are the colors the good Lord gave to use and I love using them. Thank you so much for stopping by today to visit me. xxoo
View CommentYour mantel is the epitome of fall itself! Your rustic frame and the wreath is magnificent! LOVE this mantel!
View CommentAwwww thanks my friend. I sure did enjoy taking part in “Mantel Monday” with you. 🙂 xxoo
View CommentHi Barb! I was so happy when I opened your blog post today! Everything about your mantel says, Fall! I love the colors, style and the rustic touches. I know your family and friends will feel welcomed for your Fall celebrations.
View CommentThanks for inspiring me today, my friend.
You’re so sweet my dear friend. You know I can’t help but using traditional Fall colors. Try as I might, I keep coming back to them year after year. 🙂 Hope you’re having a good week. xxoo
View CommentThose lamps are to die for…so pretty! And I love all of the textures and layers you’ve create here…so beautiful!
View CommentBarb, I love your traditional (real) fall colors, the barnwood frame w/ chicken wire, the books, the wreath… I guess I love it all.
View CommentIt’s absolutely perfect! LOVE the pretty Fall colours and those gorgeous lamps!!!
View CommentBarb, your mantel is so pretty! I think you created a perfectly rustic, traditional mantel! I love the addition of the bittersweet and the way it drapes down across the front. Thanks for linking up with our Merry Monday party this week.
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