September Mantle

I'm learning to work around what I first considered the black hole in our living room. The dark fireplace brick paired with the dark wood built-ins and trim in this room just felt so heavy after having white walls and trim in our last two houses. However, if I've learned anything from moving three times in four years it's that you can be unhappy with your space or you can make the most of it. There's usually something you can add, take away, or distract from in order to make your space feel more like you. 

If we owned our home I would have painted the brick and trim white immediately. It would've brightened up the whole space and made it feel more modern. My only other option was to work with what I had and let it influence the way we decorated a bit. One day it hit me that I might be able to remove the brass fireplace screen. It just screwed in to the sides and once it was off I was able to fill in the fireplace with wood. It doesn't work so it's just decorative. It suddenly changed the whole look of this space!

I wanted to keep bright colors on the mantle in order to lighten things up so I chose to put the largest mirror we had up there and added vases with a little color that went with the dark brown. The 'IN' is part of the old 'NICE' and adds some height to the composition. The brownie camera under the bell jar belonged to my grandparents and the Royal typewriter added color, interest, and something heavy enough to keep the mirror from accidentally slipping off the mantle! The print is from Ashley G., the shiny owl is from Hobby Lobby, the muted owl was thrifted and spray painted, and the garland was a project I made with the kids. 

Instead of using a lot of orange and red, which would warm this space up too much for my taste, I've gone with a white color scheme with some touches of yellow and blue. The decor will probably change a bit once we hit October. I've got some spooky garlands in the works and would love to have some bright yellow aspen leaves on branches incorporated somehow. 

Even though we have some restrictions because we rent I'm really thankful we have a mantle in this home. I love bringing in seasonal elements to remind us to enjoy the present moment and the time we have together in this new state. Now, if only we could get that fireplace fixed we'd be in ski lodge heaven!

What kind of restrictions do you have in your space? What are some ways you can add, take away, or distract from what you don't love? 

-Rachel

Comments

[Kristen]

I own my home but I'm thinking I might be trying to sell it and move in the next year. One minute I'm thinking of what I would like to do to the house and the next I'm thinking I can't do that if I wanna sell it. My house decorating is kinda in limbo now. I'm just trying to ignore it and focus on other things.

[Jenn]

I think you've done a beautiful job making your space yours... we rent a little cottage style house built in 1948 there were some feature from "upgrades" most likely done in the 70's that i was not too pleased with that i have been able "modernize" and make my own. Have you considered asking the landlord permission to paint? I have found they are usually open to it... although i understand as a renter you don't want to invest a lot of $$$ into a home you don't own...

[Mish]

I would love to have a mantle to decorate! I would just paint the brick white because I really like the contrast of the dark wood.

[K Vondra]

I just said holy shit out loud when I saw the first picture on this post. You did a fabulous job! Luckily the my 2 and a half year old parrot is taking a nap.

We have a beautiful working flagstone fireplace (our house was built in 1952) but no mantel. We instead have these two flagstone shelves that stick out, approximately 6" and are maybe 10" wide they are offset and about a third way up the fireplace. I have always been completely uninspired by them. I just put candles on there because when they are lit the stones look very pretty. The shells are just too small for too many things, and can't really hold anything too big or tall.

Also we have this fantastic built-in in our entry way that has a very odd planter in it. It's full of dirt, like 5 inches across and maybe 3 feet long. The entry doesn't get any sunlight except for maybe afternoon sun through the front door windows, so I've never been able to get anything to grow in there. The box has a nice patina now, and I just don't know what to do with it. I've asked my grandmother's and some of the older women neighbors (that have lived in their houses since they were built in the 50s) if they have ever seen something like this, or what the previous owners had in there any they don't know! My aunt is so bugged that I haven't really done anything with it that she randomly calls me just to know how the planter is. Bah!

I wish you could come style them for me!!

[Sandra Kohlmann]

I have just one restriction: my own lack of decorating skill. I would LOVE for you to decorate my house!

[Kate]

I LOVE it! I'm actually glad painting wasn't an option. I think the mantle has character. I'm dying over your mirror and would've never thought to put a typewriter up there, but it's perfect! Happy fall!

[Dee]

Hi Rachel, just like to say your home is exquisite - rented or otherwise! And I love the look of your fireplace but I just wanted to say I have seen somewhere, TV maybe?? a DIY fireplace update for renters using MDF and cut it out to fit over the dark bricks. You can paint it or cover it with fabric (if you're not using the fireplace for heating). If I can find a link on the internet I will forward it to you! Just a thought!
Dee

[Dee]

Hi again, I couldn't find the link I was after but this will help. See insturction #2.
http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/renovation/articles/a/-/6852490/renters-makeover/

also on this website (it's one of our "DIY" TV series here in Australia) is this fab idea you might like :

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/tv-and-video/video/watch/ae11e4b3-b91f-32c5-85cb-9b49541f6019/tv-cabinet-toy-kitchen/aulifestyle_better_homes_and_garden_deco_homemaking/

hope this helps!
Dee

[Amanda]

I love it! All of it! I love the very non-traditional fall color scheme. It works so well! And I'm very jealous you have a mantle to decorate. The weird thing is I used to have one in my childhood bedroom but was too young to appreciate the decorating possibilities. Maybe again one day...

[kristin]

Oh it's so fantastic - the perfect transitional color scheme. Love that you removed the brass grill - that did wonders for our fireplace too!

[Gina_AcuteDesigns]

I love the color scheme you used! It really brightens up the space. You have inspired me to change up my decor for fall =).

[Sara]

I am so inspired by this! How beautiful. It is great to see that a renter like myself can inject so much personality and creativity into a space. I was just lamenting at the darkness of our fireplace which is at the end of the living room. It's opposite the window so I'm wondering if a mirror might reflect some much needed light. I always think of seasonal vignettes but our fireplace works and is always a very dusty and dirty area so just wiping down the mantle is easier than cleaning over ornaments every other day.
I am loving this and am going to do something about my mantle! Like you said - whinge about it or do something about it. Have a great weekend.

[Dori]

I think it looks fabulously fall! Like you planned it all that way (meaning the wood and brick tones). You have worked wonders!

[shannon]

Beautiful and inspiring! Well done.
http://shannonhearts.blogspot.com/

[mandy ford]

This is so beautiful Rachel! The composition, colors and all of the fall touches. I love everything about it. :) And it makes me nostalgic for our first home...we had an almost identical fireplace wall. We never painted it in the 5 years we lived there...I was scared to paint over the trim and brick for fear that I would regret it, but I know it would have looked amazing.

[Theresa]

So true! I've been working with ugly brown carpets and cabinets in my apartment. I've just sort of lived with it until now. I've had to add some things and it's still a work in progress. Your place looks amazing by the way!

Theresa
http://bomamma.blogspot.com

[amy]

I've been a military wife for 18 years and have lived in more rentals than I care to count. "Making do" is what us military do. :) Your fireplace mantle is really, really lovely. I currently live in Germany --- and most of the homes features are (surprise) brown. SO, my love of white and my deorating skills are certainly challenged. :) Thanks for inspiration and ideas. Well done, you! :)

[Linn]

I think it's a lovely spot! I would love to cuddle up in one of those chairs with a good book. We rent our house too and have had too accept it pretty much the way it is, which I've started to feel is kind of cool and... rebellious :-) Most of our friends are putting a lot of time and money into renovating there homes, while we can have a lot of fun instead. That's just the way I see it.

[Don]

Dam Mantle at Marie-Antoinette in Berlin on 14 September 2012. Share memories of the concert with other fans.

[Brie]

I recently found this removable wallpaper on Modcloth and I've been considering using it to cover some of the ugly, dark woodwork in our rental

http://www.modcloth.com/shop/wall-decor/hyde-park-temporary-wallpaper

[Crystal]

I love your mantle! We just arrived in Okinawa Japan and moved into our 'concrete box'. It is interesting.... Not bad just a bit plain and hard to hang anything on the walls. Our household goods are not all here yet so we are living with goverment furniture. I have started accumulating a bunch of cute japanese stuff (bento boxes/craft books/cups/rice bowls) and have no where to really put them without our bookcases and hutch. I'll let ya know how it goes. Ha!

[Heather]

I wish I had a fireplace in my house! Just the look of yours alone is gorgeous, who cares if it works? ;)
xo Heather
http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/

[Atalie SImpson]

I seriously love this. It is a vintage twist on a very modern look. I am obsessed with the pine cone garland. and that you included a type writer with the owls and vase. So cute. Love it

[tonya]

This is beautiful. We moved in our new house in April and I'm still having trouble with living room decor. Maybe you should do a weekly post on helping people find solutions to their design problems. You are the queen of design.

[pinksuedeshoe]

Beautiful as always! The thing I dislike the most about my house is that in my combined living room, dining and kitchen I only have one wall. It has a doorway right in the middle, and one side of the door way is our entry, and the other has the only TV hookup (and I live with a husband, and the tv in the living room is a compromise I am happy to make to keep him around ;)But, everything else is archways or windows. You'd think that would be lovely, but it is really limiting in how I can arrange furniture. And sometimes I wish I could fill in the window to our patio (no light comes in and it looks onto a cement wall, so the blinds are always shut) and have some space to hang up photos or put some tall bookcases! I actually told hubby this morning that I wanted build some bookcases and add a fireplace to cover up the window. It went over well. HA!

[Mandi]

My rental also has a non-functioning fireplace in my bedroom. It's lovely and brick - the house was built in 1850! I've been passively contemplating what do with with the space until I realized I have a bookshelf that fits perfectly inside the fireplace - so lucky. :-) It's been in desperate need of a coat of paint, and I've been thinking about going light, but wasn't sure how it would look. I love the light colors you used, though! Decision made! :-)

[erin]

i LOVE what you did with this mantle! we have a non-functional fireplace in our rental house too, and so far it's very sad and empty. I need a mirror and some big letters STAT. you've totally inspired me :)

[Laura]

The first photo is beautiful! xo

[ruthie]

Another one knocked out of the park! So beautiful. The touches of blue with the white are perfect. I have many obstacles/challenges in this house, and sometimes I sit back and think, wtf do I do with this??? You would know, I'm sure!

[alicia]

My big decorating obstacles are the barn wood covered walls in my living room and the 6' wide floor to ceiling brick wall behind a black propane wood stove. I try to use Anthropologie as my main inspiration, but it's hard to get the light and airy look I'm craving.