Mantels are the perfect place to showcase artwork, mirrors, and accessories. The display on mine is always changing, because there are just so many variations that can work.
One of the quickest ways to establish a mantel as a focal point is to anchor it with a large mirror or single piece of art. Then you can add in accessories, symmetrically for a more traditional look and asymmetrically and layered for a less formal and often more modern look.
Smaller art can work well in a gallery style or neat line. A bold wallpaper can replace artwork and mirrors, and live branches will bring height and organic softness. Mantels are also a perfect spot for small collections and seasonal decorations, from stockings to pumpkins to foliage.
1. Jason's Charm & Potential
2. Regas NY via Decor8
3. Domino via Little Green Notebook
4. Sweet William via Decor8
5. Ron Marvin via Decorpad
6. Domino via Little Green Notebook
7. Via Little Lovables
8. Elle Decor
9. Via Home for the Better
10. Saidos da Concha
(Images: as linked above)
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I swear you people at AT are psychic! Im literally about to head to Leyland to buy black/charcoal paint to paint my mantle wall for a new look
Hey designgratislondon, I'm also on my way (in two weeks) to buy black paint to change my mantel wall. If the accent wall doesn't work out then the magic of paint will solve it.
Yeah I figured the same, also its not the entire room, if I hate it, I will just have to repaint (and prime, ick lol).
Good luck with the projects and send us pics when you are done! http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/submissions
Jason has an adorable pooch.
Looking at these photos, it seems the main requirement is having an attentive mantel to begin with. My brick fireplace is more like image 9, but not painted. Alas, that is the most boring image.
I just painted my mantel wall Plumage by Martha Stewart, and I LOVE it. I did her Whetstone Gray on the adjacent walls. Now the trick is finding something to hang over the mantel.
chickychicky any way to see a pic of your mantel- if you have a blog or flickr etc?
i would LOVE teal/blue walls but we don't get enough light in our living room, we plan on putting in skylights but until then we have to stick with light paint, and we don't have a good wall for an accent wall but our mantel wall could work.
My mantle is a black-brown" Lack shelf over a gas fireplace framed in 2-inch slate tiles.
I have a large mainly pale colors landscape painting by a Michigan artist I used to know. It's about a foot narrower than the mantle on each end. Propped against the corner is a much smaller original watercolor of a forest in winter in similar colors.
At the left end is a hand carved dragon sitting on a small inlaid wood chess board, a chartreuse orchid in a moss green pot, and a sparkly ball ornament. on the right corner, by the propped up watercolor is a grouping of three different "finials" (for lack of better description) in dark brown wood tones.
I really like it this way and rarely change it except for Christmas.
@erinpearce - I just uploaded a kind of crappy picture from my phone onto my rarely-used flickr account. The light casts a bit yellow, but you can still get a decent idea of what it looks like. I'm really happy with the Plumage color and I definitely recommend!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7415764@N07/7454593716/in/photostream
I did just move so that's why there's nothing on the walls : )
This mantel is gorgeous! Can you tell me where I could purchase the greenery in the vase?