A Simple Fade To Fall Mantel
With accompanying mediocre photographs.
Because it was this… or go who-knows-how -long until I touched base with you all again!
My fireplace is decidedly difficult to photograph do to the door on one side and the hallway on the other.
It’s not ideal.
But I deal.
And today I figured, you know what?
My house is not perfect. I am not perfect.
I’ve always, always said I am just a regular girl, sharing my ideas and projects.
Who knows, maybe there are other imperfect people out there that might not mind seeing my everyday-real-life-imperfect-fireplace?
Hey, maybe I can even boost your ego in the process? hehehe
It’s really hard for me to let go of the glorious summer weather we get here on the coast in Oregon and I’m trying to ease into the new season here at the hollow. My mantel is my first victim. I started by filling my silver urns (garage sale score!) with some of last summers dried Hydrangeas. I added a big reclaimed wood piece I snagged at a barn sale, a few pieces of my milk glass, more Hydrangeas and some thrifted silver.
I used my newest creation, the “hello Autumn” live-edge wood sign just for fun. I took it down to the booth afterwards, because I’ve got something else in mind for our house.
My big-eared bunny on the crate watches over the hearth.
If you like this simple, lighter look, I feel like it would be fairly simple to re-create the feel. And with affordable items at that!
We all have different seasons in our lives, varied priorities and desires. Right now, this is enough. I like it very much. The wood is warm and worn, I grew the flowers, it’s calm and just right.
My hope in being open and sharing my less than impressive but good-enough mantel, is that you too might feel less “perfect pressure”.
I kind of feel like we are bombarded by images of spaces that are let’s face it… all too often unattainable.
So let’s take the perfectionism out our home decorating, do what we can, with what we have, in the time we have… and feel GOOD ABOUT IT! That is my positive message for today.
And I feel better that I erased my first three drafts. And trust me, you do too! Because this girl didn’t start out on such a positive note due to “life”, a broken down vehicle, a tooth that is killing me, and a dentist who is on vacation until next week. On top of it all, I’m having a fabulously depressive episode I am fighting tooth and nail.
Hey! Maybe that is why my tooth is hurting???
{{{hugs}}} and thanks for stopping in!! xo ~Shannon
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PS: I’ll be fine. Promise! But I feel like after I shared my past struggles, it’s only fair to be honest.
PPS: Clearly, I’m utterly transparent and could never play poker.
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More Ideas & Inspiration
Style Showcase 50 | What’s Your Decorating Style + MORE!
Living & Dining Room Fall Refresh And Our New Chandelier
Simple Fall Decor Ideas
Flirting With Fall – how to get in an Autumn mood
Fall Mantel Decorating (and free gardening services)
Fall And Thanksgiving Printables, Diy Crafts + Decorating Ideas
Fall Front Porch and Fabulous Urn Planter
My Fall Fireplace Mantle {thrifty, junky and free}
It is gorgeous – and I love the live edge sign, but I totally get what your saying about the standard we hold ourselves to. Such a danger in that…
Oh I know. It’s a fine line between striving to get/be better and never being good enough.
I’m trying to find that happy medium!
Life is too short!
OH your mantel IS perfect! I love it. The sign is great too! (and the bunny) I have a hard to photograph with less than perfect photos project on the blog today! It’s in a room that doesn’t get much light but what can ya do? So I snapped and posted anyway! 🙂
Hope you have a blessed weekend friend!!
xo
Nancy
I love your mantel. Wonderful muted colors, and you are right, enough perfection already!! My home certainly isn’t, and that’s fine with me!! You did a great job!
Yep! I’m busy now fluffing and using all my favorite things to create a FEEL I love… if it looks good when I’m done, bonus 😉 hahaha
Hi Shannon,
I think your mantel is so lovely and simply chic!! Love the constast of the milk glass, the wood, and the silver! And those hydrangeas are dreamy! Thanks for sharing!
xo
Becky
Thank you! That is pretty much how I felt about it and it is staying put 🙂
Shannon,
You have to see my fireplace and mantel. Yours is beautiful, symmetrical and not a wonky weird funky grey-blue tile. You will feel like the rockstar mantel lady if I show you mine. LOL. I love your decor. It’s very pretty.
Love,
Olivia
Reinvented Collection
Hi Olivia ~ Have you ever poked around my blog and seen our fireplace “before” pictures. You will die. LOL!!
I can sympathize with you. We hardly get something fixed and something else breaks and the children want us to move to the city from the beautiful home and farm we have worked on for 60 years. To top that off my husband was working with an aluminum pipe wrench and cheater bar and it broke and hit him across the head and I had to cancel everything and rush him to the the doctors office. To top that off the electrical wire to the well broke and we had no water. With a good plumber, our son and nephew we had water in just a couple hours. Like is not perfect and depression is a terrible problem to fight.
God’s blessings to you.
Oh Carol… you poor dear!! Sometimes it sure feels like it’s “always something” – blessings to YOU! and you hubby, hope he is doing okay now!
Sounds like you need a ((Hug)) ?
Well I just got back from the dentist so things are looking up!! Thank you!!
I love your mantel Shannon! The sign is killer.
Thanks sweet Deb!! xoxo
Simple though you are calling it, I think it’s simply fabulous! Love it, Shannon!
I emailed you cutie 😉