Normally, we would place our love list On the Pedestal, but today we are placing everything on the mantel! With our focus this January on taking care of the things we love, from our minds and bodies to our homes, we were drawn to what is often the epicenter of our living spaces--mantels. Dressed up in ornate millwork and stone carving, or stripped down to a raw railroad tie, these mantels have us catching fire.
CDB Interiors Lifestyle Blog
On the Mantel
4 Ways to Style the Perfect Fireplace Mantel
Architectural Digest is a great resource for inspiration. This video gives a quick detailed demonstration of how to style a mantel. You learn about depth, symmetry, collections of objects, color coordinating, form & motion, and the mix of old & new items together.
These gorgeous mantels are from House Beautiful, another inspiration resource go to that we love. The images from their site or magazine, demonstrate that you don't even need to style these lovely pieces, the work speaks for itself.
For a more rustic vibe, we love the stripped down look of the railroad ties. Hayneedle is a fabulous vendor for these unique looking pieces. Much like their stone cousins, these railroad ties have depth and life in the organic nature of their material. Each of them tells their own story, something we love our spaces to do.
Light or dark? Both look fabulous! There isn't a wrong choice in the aesthetics of the mantels, just your choice. We love the dark charcoal with an antique mirror just as much as we love the ornate white with natural greenery. And when it comes to styling your mantel, go with the flow. If your space is simple, clean, and uncluttered, your mantle might be stately enough that it doesn't need a lot of layering. Especially if you use a well-stained railroad tie or one of the perfectly cut limestone mantels, you don't have to dress it up to make it stylish. On the other hand, if you have a more artistic vibe, your mantel should reflect that! Layer a mirror with some small art and finish it off with live greenery or vintage blown glass jars. The mantel is the heart of the room and should draw us in to gather around and enjoy our space.