When it comes to fall decorating, I have a predictable annual ritual.  I clip colorful stems of viburnum leaves from the backyard, pull out the amber glass collection from storage, and pose mini pumpkins all around the house.  As a result, the mantel tends to reflect my fall favorites. 

That was the mantel yesterday morning when I photographed it.  Then I had two cups of coffee.  And as I sat there in the cozy space, amped up on caffeine, I got a hankering to mix it up again.   

As I’ve mentioned, I am fixated on marbled paper this year, so I decided after lunch to  take down the mirror and replace it with some framed golden marbled papers I ordered earlier this year. (Those are IKEA Ribba frames if you’re curious.)

Aaaaaand here’s the afternoon version of the mantel. 

Here are the seasonal changes: I temporarily swapped my living room rug for the Surya rug that used to sit in the kid’s playroom and was hiding in a closet.  I brought down the slipcovered settee from our master bedroom for a few months to create a cozy seating area around the fireplace.  And I added a deep orange throw blanket and some embroidered DL Rhein pillows, both purchased from Joss & Main as autumn accents.

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Well hello, and happy happy fall y’all.  Let’s kick of the mantel par-tay hosted by Layla with a few changes in the living room.  You’ll see the addition of a floor to ceiling oak tree branch, a new burnt orange throw, and a few decorative new accents too. 

Call me trendy, but yes there are owls on my mantel this season. 

Double trendy points for the golden hue.  I spotted that cool moss covered nine foot tall branch at a local shop specializing in second hand midcentury decor – it was covered with woodland ornaments and I just loved the shape of it.  I asked the owner if he’d give or sell it to me and he said he’d let me have it for free as long as I agreed to buy something in the shop.  Deal!  I choose the 1970’s golden owls ($20 for the pair) – a fun seasonal score. 

The tall amber bottle I found at another local second hand shop, and the lantern is from World Market.  On the other side of the mantel are some birch inspired vessels, found at a local shop here in my town. 

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