When Less is Not Enough ~ Fall Mantel 2012

Friday, September 28, 2012



 Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity.
- Plato 

Last Fall, I was all about keeping things simple...
uncluttered...
the less is more adage...

I think it was a stage of life I was in,
my daughter had moved off to college for her first year,
and I felt a little empty ...a little lost....
and so I decorated as such...

Does anyone else go through these stages and decorate accordingly?

{Below, my Fall Decorated Mantel 2011}



I enjoyed the simplicity of last year's mantel,
it served it's purpose...

But the "good rhythm," as Plato quoted,
just had to be jazzed up a notch this year. 

Yes, I'm fickle that way,
...guess I'm in another stage in my life! ha!




So, I brought out the arrangement below...
an oldieeeeeeeeeeeeee!

If recollection serves me right,
I think it came over on the Mayflower! ha!




Added an Autumn dried wreath, 
{another that's been around awhile}
over the mirror.

Also regrouped the candles, and added burlap ribbon for texture.



It's still not too busy,
just a little more interesting!






Many wonder why I go through the trouble to decorate with each passing season,
not you other bloggers of course, you know..., you get it...

For one I enjoy it,
but secondly,
it's makes my family feel special.

My daughter relayed to me just after she started school again this year,
that the one weekend she felt the most welcomed and glad to be home,
was last fall when she walked into the house
 decorated in warm, cozy colors and decorations of autumn,
and pumpkin spice scented candles were burning!

As a mom, that's all the incentive I need! :)




Welcome ...October  ~~  Enjoy Your Weekend! 

"There is no season when such pleasant and sunny spots may be lighted on,
 and produce so pleasant an effect on the feelings, as now in October." 

-  Nathaniel Hawthorne

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Linking Post To:

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage
Met Monday @ Between Naps On the Porch
Make it Pretty Monday @ The Dedicated House
Mop It Up Monday @ I should be mopping the Floor
Favorites On the First @ The Polohouse
Cowgirl Up Party @ Cedarhill Ranch
Gettin' Krafty With It @ Krafty Kat
Wow Us Wednesday @ Southern Savvy Style
Centerpiece Wednesday @ The Style Sisters
Share Your Creations @ Kristen's Creations
Open House Party @ No Minimalist Here
October'fest of Fun - Fall and Halloween Mantel Party @ Foxhollow Cottage


My Entry to Make It Pretty Monday's Link Party
and Open House Linky Party is sponsored by


25 comments:

  1. Rhonda, I had to smile at this post! My daughters said the EXACT same thing to me, when they left for college! They most look forward to coming home and the house is all decorated for fall and the pumpkin scent is in the air. Doesn't it make you feel good to know that you have created that atmosphere at home; and it is appreciated? Your mantel looks great!

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  2. Very pretty! I love the flowers that came over on the Mayflower! Perfect! You can never go wrong with burlap. Happy Fall :-)

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  3. So pretty! Your colors are gorgeous! Love the golden pumpkins! You have created wonderful memories for your daughter! Memories for a lifetime- so special!

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  4. You do such a wonderful job decorating for the seasons, too. Hope you are well.

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  5. Your entire fireplace area is beautiful and you decorated it so nicely. I like the uncluttered look with just the right amount of fall.------
    Shannon

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  6. Love your beautiful mantle, and love your daughter's sentiments! I think (hope) these kinds of traditions are the ones our children will remember and carry with them always.

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  7. Oh yes, I remember the empty nest feeling when my son went away to college! Love your mantel and the pumpkins.
    Happy Fall...........

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  8. The mantel looks very pretty.
    Pat

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  9. It's all so pretty! Very warm and inviting. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Boogieboard. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House which goes live at 8am CST on Monday. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  10. So pretty! I like to keep things simple, but definitely not sparse! I'm visiting from Boogieboard Cottage and am your newest follower :)
    Susan

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  11. Sometimes more is best! I won't be decorating at all this holiday season as I have to fit another couch, loveseat, twin beds, toddler bed, and queen-sized bed, toys, etc. in my already full house! This should be interesting. It will all be good though, just many adjustments to be made with Brianna's family moving in for a few months. No room for decorating. I'm afraid we're going to look like hoarders for awhile.

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  12. What a gorgeous mantel...I love how you personalized it....

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  13. Your mantel is absolutely stunning. Beautifully presented. TFS. Hugs, Gayle.

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  14. The added touches are wonderful, and as you say, you retained the simplicity of design. Seasonal touches to a home offer a refreshing change. Doesn't have to be drastic, just something simple here and there. I'm adding a few touches now that the weather is cool and crisp. It was a little difficult to get in the mood when we were still in the high 90s.
    Thanks for sharing your lovely fall mantel..........Sarah

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  15. GORGEOUS Rhonda!! Both the decorations and the mantle itself. Love all that molding! Your daughter is beautiful!

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  16. I love the brown candles! Very chic. :)

    ~Liz

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  17. What a beautiful mantel! Love the personalized
    touch of having your gorgeous daughter's
    photo there too.
    Lovely!

    Thanks so much for sharing it all with us
    at Favorites on the First!

    Thrilled that you linked up today.
    xox
    Alison

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  18. Lovely mantle Rhonda. Beautiful photo of your daughter too!

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  19. I just love love love your mantle... and the architecture in your home!!! Beautiful... and so is your daughter!

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  20. Love this look Rhonda, love the gold pumpkin, the dark candles and the picture of your daughter.

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  21. What joy to hear that from your daughter! You created such a inviting and beautiful Fall mantel, Rhonda! I love the gold pumpkins mixed in with the candles and the burlap nestled throughout. And, your "Mayflower" arrangement looks anything but old ... love it!

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  22. Thank you for sharing this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Hope to see your prettiness again on Monday. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  23. Your fall mantel is so beautiful! & yes, I get it (decorating for each season)! :) I wish my kids would say things like that to me (of course they're all right here & so used to all of my constant fluffing). Thanks for sharing at Gettin' Krafty!

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  24. I'm a "more" kinda person, so I prefer this year's!

    I host a weekly linky party - Seasonal Sundays - and would love to have you link next Sunday.

    - The Tablescaper

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  25. Glad to have found you via the Fall Mantel Party. Your last year Fall Mantel and your 2012 Fall Mantel are both lovely. I find my tastes have changed quite a bit over the years. I will always love vintage items and antiques and find that they blend in perfectly with just about any style. I have become your newest follower and look forward to reading your future posts.

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