Green and pink hydrangea fall mantel

September 24, 2013

Early fall hydrangeas

Well, it’s here and I’m happy. I absolutely, positively LOVE this time of year. Just…I can’t even. It’s awesome. :)

I was traveling last weekend so was kind of rushing to get this mantel up, but then I got sidetracked by a little DIY project…again. This happens a lot. :) Last year when I installed the planks above the fireplace I never painted them. They were primed so they looked fine so I left them. But they’ve started looking dingy lately so it was time to get that done:

You can see the difference in the color there – two coats later I was done.

Next up – figure out what to do for this year’s fall mantel! I wanted it to be two things – simpler than usual and I wanted to use more natural materials. (Read: I didn’t want to have to pull out the fall bins.) I’m trying to use more natural, textural items to decorate for this year. Partly because I want to stop storing so much decor year to year and also because it’s a just a challenge. And it’s fun for me because it shows how you can use things that you may already have.

One thing I have this year is my pee gee hydrangea tree – two of them to be exact. The blooms were BIG and plentiful this year, much bigger than last year. And this time of year they are a gorgeous pink/green color. I just totally adore them!:

Pee gee hydrangea tree

I’ve made it clear over the years that I love hydrangeas and it is a thrill that I finally have some beautiful blooms to use. :)

So I went through the house, finding some shiny, some natural, some items with texture, and I used a LOT of hydrangeas:

Fall mantel 

  Hydrangea fall mantel 

I didn’t buy anything new for the decorating, but I did recently pick up that little brown votive holder at Target a couple weeks ago. I just loved it’s deep chocolate color – I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve had those (faux) artichokes for years and I thought they pulled in the color of the hydrangeas beautifully.

The candlesticks I use a lot on the mantel in the fall (I used them last year too) just because I love the copper color. (They are spray painted from Goodwill.) And I was inspired by Heather’s mantel and pulled in the Manzanita branch for some texture.

I used the smaller blooms from my limelight bush and the larger ones from the pee gee trees:

Fall mantel with hydrangeas

I wanted to pull in some blue from the rug and other accessories but didn’t really have much to work with (and I didn’t love it with the hydrangea colors) – so I just went with the browns, greens and a touch of the pinky color.

You may remember this area used to be a corner fireplace (with an inset mantel). I cannot tell you how happy I am to have a wall above it now!:

How to decorate a mantel

I’m actually playing with another change in my head but it will be awhile before it happens (if it does). I’ll need all that time to plan it out anyway. ;)

I really adore this cozy spot in our family room now:

Natural fall mantel in family room

And just so you know, cause I get asked this every time I share this space, the chair is turned away from the fireplace because it faces into the room and the TV. :)

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Comments

  1. seriously this is so stinkin' good! I loooove that mirror, and the warm colors. it's unbelievable what you used to have to work with here, right?

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  2. What a beautiful mirror! Your mantel looks beautiful. Thanks for hosting such a fun fall party!

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  3. Thank you for the link-up, Sarah. I love how your mantel turned out. I always think I'm going to go simple and then I never do...lol

    BTW...the links are stretched outside the viewing area so some of them are cut off. Not sure what's happening? Thought you'd like to know. :)

    Happy Fall!

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  4. Your mantel looks especially pretty this year, I love it! Thanks for hosting the links.

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  5. Love your mantel! The Pee Gee Hydrangea tree is lovely and the blooms are a perfect Fall touch! What a great natural mantel! I really love using what you have! Thanks for hosting a fun link party!

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  6. Thanks so much for hosting - and I love how simple and pretty your mantel is - and I love that mirror! Have a great day!

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  7. I LOVE your mantel! It's just perfect! Thanks for hosting!

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  8. Sarah, your mantel is beautiful, I love the mirror! I also wanted a sunburst mirror on my mantel and I'm very happy at how that diy turned out. Thanks for hosting!

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  9. Love your natural Fall mantel, Sarah! Your hydrangeas are beautiful as is your mirror ... love how it all pops against your newly painted planks! Thanks for hosting ... Happy Fall!

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  10. Hey, Sarah, I just love your mantel, how simple and pretty it is with those soft colors. You've done such a great job with that corner, looks like a magazine shot. I can't wait to grow some hydrangeas at my house too. I clipped a few at my mom's the other day, but her's are mostly brown. I had a Limelight at my old house and miss it!

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  11. Thanks for hosting the link party, Sarah! I love the pretty simplicity of your mantel. The little wooden bowl is a darling natural touch. Happy Fall!

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  12. Oh, gorgeous, Sarah! I adore that backdrop so much! You managed to bring sunshine into fall... so pretty!

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  13. Hi Sarah! I love your mantel display and how you allowed the natural beauty of the hydrangeas to shine. Thanks for hosting this party. I cannot wait to see all the different ways people have decorated their mantels!

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  14. So pretty, Sarah! Love the flowers and that wood bowl!!! Thanks for the par-tay!!!

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  15. It's so so pretty! I love hydrangeas and still eyeing our fireplace wall to see if I should plank it as well. Thanks for the party, hot mama.

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  16. I love the simple beauty of your mantel. Gorgeous! Have a wonderful Fall! Thanks for hosting this fun party.
    Blessings,
    Nici

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  17. Your mantel is simply perfection!!!! And my neighbor has that same hydrangea bush and I'm so tempted to sneak out under the cover of dark and snip off a few of those big beautiful blooms!!! Would that be so terrible? ;)

    Linda

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  18. I really needed this today, my mantle has been screaming "decorate me" for two weeks.

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  19. It's so pretty Sarah! Okay, so I'm reading along and I see that you were, "inspired by Heather's mantel" and seriously didn't even think about that it was ME! lol So flattered, thank you! I ADORE your mirror and am so jealous of your gorgeous hydrangeas! Thank you, as always, for co-hosting this amazing seasonal party year after year! Always so much inspiration. Appreciate you!

    Heather (and Vanessa)

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  20. Love natural and LOVE the mirror. We all want to know --where did you get it and is still available???

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    1. Hello and thank you! I got that from HomeGoods last year, you can see more here: http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/2013/02/brighten-and-lighten-family-room.html

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  21. This looks so pretty! I love the hydrangeas. I think I'm going to be raiding my mother in law's plant this weekend.

    Thanks for hosting! This is one of my very favorite linkups. I've already got distracted by so much pretty.

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  22. Thanks for hosting! : ) So many beautiful mantels to look at, and I am loving your planked wall : )

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  23. My faves are hydrangeas too - love the big mirror focal point!
    Kelly

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  24. Jealous of your hydrangeas! They are just so so gorgeous! I totally hear you on the not wanting to store so much seasonal decor - I've been reducing year after year and it feels so good!

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  25. I love the simplicity of your mantel and the bright green hydrangeas! I used green in my mantel and I'm thinking it's the HOT color this fall. :) I also ADORE your mirror above the mantel ... so pretty.

    Thanks for hosting a great link up!

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  26. Happy Fall, Sarah! Thanks so much for hosting It's Fall Ya'll. Your mantel is gorgeous!

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  27. Where is the mirror from?

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  28. The before picture of the plank wall above the fireplace looks different than the after. The planks, ceiling and crown molding all look different.

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    Replies
    1. Susan, not sure what looks different? They're all the same, other than the paint. :)

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  29. Your mantel looks fresh, clean, and beautiful. I am having so much fun checking out the other fall links. I linked up my Creepy Crawly Piano today. Thanks for the party. Jen-COM

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  30. Your mantel is perfect! I love all of the natural elements.

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  31. So jealous of your hydrangeas! I love this time of year too- we need some cooler temps still! You put together a gorgeous mantel Sarah.

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  32. Oh how I would love to grow hydrangeas here, but it's too hot. Yours are beautiful though! Your mantel is perfection! I'm also totally in love with that rug. :) Thanks so much for the fun party!

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  33. I love your mantel with the gorgeous mirror as the focal point! I'm determined to plant a hydrangea bush - those lush full blooms are so beautiful! Thanks for hosting such a fun party!

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  34. The hydrangeas are beautiful! It's clean and calm and kind of makes me want to clean my house :)

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  35. Pretty mantel Sarah! I like the boards. Thank you for hosting! Happy Fall!
    Sherry

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  36. Your mantle looks wonderful. Clean and elegant. Hmmm...I linked up and I have a little red "x" above my link. I have a pimple. Can you believe this? I **knew** I'd do something wrong. Oh well, there always have to be one person with a giant pimple. Today it is me.

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  37. Your mantle looks beautiful, I need to plant some pee gees. love them. Thanks for hosting Sarah.

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  38. Thank you for hosting this! Your hydrangeas inspired me. I have the same bush and need to bring these into my dining room. I also love your mirror.

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  39. Gorgeous. And, I am coveting that mirror too!!! Trying to find one similar for my daughter's bathroom.

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  40. Wow, stunning! Thanks for hosting...can't wait to peek around :) Laurel@chippingwithcharm

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  41. What a gorgeous mantle you created! Thank you for hosting.

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  42. Thanks for the fun party!! I can't wait to go through and pin these mantels!!

    xoxox

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  43. hydrangeas are my favorite flower. I love the color scheme of your mantle. so glad I found this link up!

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  44. I always look forward to joining your mantel parties. They are always so fun and festive! Your hydrangeas and mantel look so pretty. One day, if the deer stop eating mine, I'd love to decorate with some Hydras. For now. I'll just enjoy yours!! Happy Fall :)

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  45. love all your natural elements, the Hydrangeas are gorgeous!! thanks so much for hosting a great party!

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  46. That is "Naturally" beautiful. Way to be resourceful, and back to nature. Thanks for being part of the Fall Linky Party.

    Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com

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  47. Natural, simple, elegant & beautiful!

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  48. Your mantel looks great ---- I love the gold mirror and mercury glass vase!! Such a fun link-up.... I'm glad I heard about it today after sharing a little fall home tour on my blog! And now I'm thinking I need to add some fresh fall flowers! :)

    http://www.the-good-life-blog.com/2013/09/fall-home-tour-2013.html

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  49. THe mantel looks great! Love those hydrangeas also:-)

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  50. I don't have a mantel, so I hope it is ok to link up my buffet, which I kind of use as one:-)

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  51. Sarah, your mantel looks great! I love hydrangeas, too! Thanks so much for hosting. Happy Fall!

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  52. Beautiful Sarah! I love the little artichokes with the hydrangeas! So pretty! Thanks so much for hosting such a fun party! Can't wait to browse the links! Hope you have a great week!

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  53. I love the mantel, and I also love how you changed up the corner fireplace. It really did make a difference. Hydrangeas are my favorite, you can't go wrong with those. Blessings, Debbie

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  54. I love the mirror, it's a great compliment to the natural elements of the hydrangeas. Your corner fireplace was how I found this blog several years ago. I still am dealing with my corner fireplace. Made even worse by one wall being slanted into the cathedral ceiling. Someday I have to figure out what to do with it. I liked the moldings you had put above the old fireplace. Maybe I should go ahead and try that on mine.

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  55. Your mantel turned out lovely with the natural elements! The hydrangeas are so fall-ish and go perfectly with the other accents you've chosen. So glad I'm not the only one who dreads hauling out those bins of fall décor!

    DD

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  56. Nothin' quite like blogland to make you feel like a slacker. I'm so not ready for fall decorating yet. I'm still trying to get used to the idea that summer is over. I do have some pee gee hydrangeas around the house, though, so I suppose I'm sorta in the spirit. And I've started burning candles at night again. Great, I just entered into fall with that statement. Yours looks great. If we EVER get this God forsaken kitchen remodel finished, I might be around to link up a Christmas mantel. :)

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  57. TONS of great inspiration! Thank you for hosting!

    ~Liz

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  58. Love your mantel, Sarah -- understated and perfect for the change in season! Thanks for hosting -- can't wait to dig through all this great inspiration!
    xo Heidi

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  59. Love this! And love your mirror! Great inspiration :)

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  60. Lucky you to have an hydrangea bush to use for your decor....your mantel is lovely! Thank you for hosting!
    JP

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  61. Thank you so much for hosting! What wonderful Fall mantels to look at! Love your mantel!

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  62. Very lovely! Isn't there always a project before a project? Hope you get to enjoy your warm little fall corner :-)

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  63. Somehow I missed the mantle going from a corner to a flat one... great job! Love your mantle, as always! Thanks for hosting the party... my first time participating in a couple years :) Happy Fall!

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  64. one of the best Home improvement site

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  65. Your mantel looks gorgeous. I love how you bring the nature to decorate it. Stunning ! Love the mirror ! thanks for hosting this great party !
    best,
    Marlin

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  66. I just love the plank wall! So pretty! And that mirror is to die for!!! LOVE! I like the natural look too. I don't feel like pulling out my fall bins either. haha

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  67. Your fall mantel looks beautiful! I love a cozy corner with a chair and a fireplace - it looks so warm and inviting! I don't care if the faces the TV - I would love to sit in it and read a book! Perfect activity for a chilly fall day. XO

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  68. The mantel with those colors are just too.............wonderful. I am going to copy it totally and completely and exactly. OK????

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