Project Design: Fall Mantels
I am so happy to be teaming up with Mary Ann, Cindy and a few friends to talk fall mantels. I need all the help I can get because when you have a TV above the mantel you are pretty limited in what you can do. I’m trying a few things and looking to some friends for a little help in this design dilemma. After all, the fireplace is one of the first things your eye goes to when you walk into a room. It’s generally one of the largest things in the room and it commands attention.
A painted stone fireplace with a simple mantel also painted white made it easy to make small changes
One of my favorite fireplaces was one from our former home in New Canaan. It was a massive stone fireplace that was an eyesore – until we painted it white. We added a simple mantel and hung this mirror from Serena & Lily. It was easy to make little tweaks to the mantel from season to season.
Since we painted the stone in our last home white, I get a lot of questions about why we haven’t painted this stone white? The short answer… it’s original to the house built in 1922. Our New Canaan house was built in 1900, the fireplace was added much later (I’m guessing at some point a stone mason lived in the house and thought it was a good idea...it was not, but we made the best of it by painting it white). In our current home, the fireplace seems to “fit” the room/house. Former owners added a mantel that I don’t love, a bit too traditional, but painting it black helped. To make it more modern, we used Stikwood to cover the wall above the mantel. We had some material left from doing the office and we love how it makes it a bit more contemporary. Stikwood is Peel & Stik planking. It is made from reclaimed and sustainable woods. The founders, Laura and Jerry McCall believe that design can be both beautiful and resourceful. It transformed the attic space in our last home, so it was the first thing we thought of for this house. We wanted to make changes, but nothing drastic. Stikwood is easy to use and makes a huge impact in any room. Here’s what we are working with . . . full room view to show how difficult it is to arrange this room (mainly because of tv viewing).
A fall mantel using natural materials from Terrain 
As I mentioned, adding anything to a mantel with a large TV…even if it is a Samsung Frame TV is tricky. You can’t prop art or photos like you would if it were real art or a mirror. It just wouldn’t look right. We wouldn’t really be watching TV with a small piece of art blocking the screen, right?
For a little fall color and for the purpose of this post…I Went to Terrain, one of my favorite stores. I found few things that do not obstruct the TV and still add a bit of fall color. Make sure to check out these bloggers to get way more inspiration than what I’m sharing today! And check back on Friday because I was so inspired by my visit to Terrain that I’m sharing all the photos just before their Autumn Bounty Festival on Saturday, October 5th from 11A – 5P.
What I found at Terrain
Your post is so timely because at the moment I’m remodeling a home with an ugly stone fireplace. Your painted white stone is actually my inspiration for the fireplace in this home, which is nearly identical to yours. I’m using your photo in an attempt to convince the husband to paint, the wife is already onboard. The fireplace also has a TV above it which we must keep:( so again, your comments about how to handle this dilemma are also helpful. Happy Fall!
Love the white painted fireplace!! Also adore those dried pieces from Terrain. I wish there was a store close to me, I always love their stuff.
Annie, you couldn’t make your mantel more beautiful! Love the dried plants in those pretty vases. Some mini white pumpkins would be cute too. Looooove seeing this view of your home and how the rooms connect. As always, you make everything lovely!
What a great update using the stikwood on the upper half! I’m sure it completely changed the look. Your Fall mantel looks lovely, Annie, fun touring with you today!
Annie I love your fireplace don’t paint it! I loved your old fireplace because you did paint it but you are right this one deserves to be left alone. You have done such a great job adding just enough to a fireplace with a TV. You are such a master at less is more. You constantly inspire me.
You’re too kind Cindy…less is not always best, but trying to work with what we have! xx
THAT IS A TV?
I am SO OUT OF THE LOOP!!!!!!!!!
LOOKS GREAT TO ME!
Time to LIGHT that FIRE!!
XX
Thanks Elizabeth!I agree that fire needs to be lit!