Special message to my regular readers: Yesterday ABP received a record number of hits thanks to Sherry. She’s so popular. It’s funny that we are friends because I’m not really the popular type…I tend to stick my foot in my mouth too often…and I make weird jokes…and I was homeschooled. I guess I was popular at home. But everyone was popular there (except my mother – who dished out the homework & discipline so it made her totally uncool) so that doesn’t really count. All that to say – if you tried to check in yesterday and got a strange message, I am so sorry. And I missed you. Apparently the influx of people ‘throttled’ my site. I was throttled. Yes, that is the technical term. But if you are reading this now, all is well and I’m glad you (and I) are back. Yes, that’s right…I got booted too. from my own blog 🙂
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
I wanted to share our fall mantle. Here she blows:
I love looking back to see how our den fireplace has evolved with each portion of the year. As you can see, each one really reflects the mood of that particular season. You can click on each photo to see the oldie post that explains each one. (or you can check out our den in a post from long LONG ago here.)
But back to our current arrangement on our mantle.
It started with clearing out the old summer inspired stuff…everything except the mirror. Then I added a pair of candle hurricanes that I picked up for uber-cheap at Goodwill. I added a footed hurricane on the left side and threw in some neutral filler. To balance that out, I needed to add something glass on the other side too. So I grabbed one of my Hobby Lobby cloches and then looked for my seasonal elements. Since the left side had two items already that were high, I went with the squatty white pumpkin to create flow (from long long ago). The stack of neutral books visually balanced out the other side and created another grouping of three. Then I chose textured white apples and pears as well as a little traditional clock to finish things off.
My cheap little craftiness for this would definitely have to be the mini acorn filler I used to boost up the candle. I love using free stuff as vase filler. Like the time I used rice for a base for candles or split peas for a Christmas table.
And speaking of filler…isn’t that natural stuff great? I think I got it a long time ago at Walmart. I love the texture it adds. Especially in comparison to that glossy white pumpkin.
And is just me or is it incredibly difficult to find small neutral colored books? I scout out Goodwill for them…usually only pickin the ones with interesting titles…because let’s just be honest…there is no way that I have time to read a book. Even skinny ones. Unless they have one word per page…with an illustration…like COW. Those are my current hardbacks 🙂
And just to see how it looks in the dim light – here it is with only the candles lit. Isn’t it totally warm and inviting? Perfect for the fall season.
That isn’t the only area that got a little update in the den for fall. I also dressed up this storage chest with a grouping of votives and my other cloche…this time holding another woven candle. Which is pretty smart if you ask me because I can just imagine lighting these candles and walking away only to see this apple go up in flames. But with the glass hood, it is totally protected. For more height to the apple, I just slipped a candle holder under it and wahla – more substance. Beside the votive village is one of my favorite fall items – the woven pumpkin. It was only $6 last year at Target! whoopwhoop! (that’s my excited sound just in case you didn’t know).
Now let’s talk about this little golden gathering for a second. Do you see those patterned cups? They were actually drinking glasses that called Goodwill home not too long ago. They were there for months. Literally months. And everytime I walked past them I wanted them. They don’t show it alot in the photos but they are totally sparkly with the best flecks of gold making them look like someone painted on the design and then added golden fairy dust. Unbelievably pretty. And only 77 cents each. Well, a month ago I decided it was time to call them mine. Now I can’t believe I would ever leave them on the shelf. They are one of the single most inspiration things I have bought there. And perfect as votive holders.
Oh and do you see the other Goodwill votives? The flower ones? Do you remember them? I know flowers aren’t typically used in fall decor but this time the white color is neutral enough for the browns to take centerstage. The other two hail from an after-christmas shopping excursion at Target (the short one) and Pottery Barn outlet (it’s actually West Elm and was only $2).
The matching Target votive was placed on the other side table in the den. It’s perfect with the pumpkins and the small frame because it allows the table to look like it has substantial decor without taking up the whole table. Gotta leave room for a coaster and a glass of sweet tea, right?
The last but certainly not least decorated area in the den is the coffee table. I like centerpieces on this table that are contained. It makes it look less cluttered…which already happens in this room so I try my best to reign it in. This time I used an old carrying wooden crate thingie (what the heck do you call that thing?) to corral some books, a pitcher, a candle holder and some other decorative items.
I guess I could even use the pitcher to plop (heehee) some flowers into if I wanted. But they would have to work with the rest of the color scheme…because I believe that is what ties this arrangement together.
Speaking of color…I switched out the pillows in the den too. And I went back to the old throws. You may recall that I tried to use those pillow covers in the basement bedroom. They just didn’t work for that space. But I think they totally work in here. again – whoopwhoop.
In addition to my red stripey pillows, I added a furry brown throw on one of the far leather chairs. I looove it. It’s soo soft and warm. Like a bunny. Except without all the hopping and pellet pooping. My mother gave it to me. Actually it was a gift for Will. But I confiscated it for the greater good. He doesn’t know a good decor item when he sees one. yet.
So that is my fall den ya’ll. I thought I would share that before we went hardcore into our Halloween post. Afterall, technically autumn starts before Halloween, right? Which leads me to my next question….do you decorate for Halloween then fall? Or fall then Halloween then fall again? Or perhaps you just skip fall and go straight and only to the spookfest? Or vice versa? It’s a complicated issue…it’s like that chicken and egg thing.
First, I can’t believe you ever were the unpopular type. Seriously?! Are you sure you weren’t describing me as a kid?
I am decorating for fall…with a little Halloween thrown in. Frankly, between work and blogging and life, I can’t find time for doing a lot of Halloween stuff. Maybe next year.
Hi Katie-
I love seeing the evolution of your mantles – super update for this fall!
Also – have been meaning to leave a comment for ages complimenting you on your new blog design. Just lovely!
Being in the land down under it’s spring here and Hallowean isnt really that big so its pots of flowers and bright cushions in our house. We moved a few months ago and your post made me miss my mantle, since we have a slow combustion stove now. I’m trying to figure out how to make that look like spring has arrived.
Good thoughts for many more ‘throttlings’ to come, because now all these new folks have been introduced to you and your awesomeness they’ll become regulars for sure.
Your mantle looks wonderful! I tried decorating for fall yesterday, but I don’t love what I have, I guess I need to go shopping! I’m skipping Halloween, I’m just happy I’m getting fall out!
i’m one of those sent over by sherry 🙂 i was so thrilled to find the bower blog!! love it and spent a good portion of my day yesterday looking through your posts. you are so whitty, and caught myself laughing out loud at some points! i feel like i hardly ever do that.. now i have a new site to visit daily after younghouselove! xoxo
Yeah- there’s no way you were unpopular- I don’t buy that for a minute! I love your blog and all your jokes- it’s totally you. Your mantel looks great. I skip over Halloween, and I just do fall with a little turkey thrown in later for Thanksgiving.
I have a hurricane vase filled with acorns too! My kids (2 & 5) love scouting out the perfect ones (wearing ‘hats’) to add every day. We don’t decorate for Halloween very much. My kids are still little and fall into the ‘scares easily’ category so we decorate for fall with the occasional jar of candy corn thrown in. Honestly, my favorite Halloween decoration right now is displaying photos of the kids from past Halloweens. It makes me very sentimental to see them dressed up in outgrown costumes. It shows how much they have grown and changed while paying tribute to the season 🙂
I love every bit of it!! I have never really decorated for Fall or Halloween, even though it’s our favorite time of year. This year I have done a little Fall decoration first and I might do a couple things for Halloween. We are always out on Halloween with our son so we don’t give candy out here….we go to my MIL’s house to give candy out. Wow ok, sorry rambled off there a bit. LOL either way, love your den!
I don’t care for Halloween so I don’t decorate for that. I do however decorate for fall with pumpkins and such…I have a great pumpkin garland that is natural looking and I can use it every year. I just arrange it on my mantle and add a pumpkin votive and I’m done. I leave the other things I have on my mantle and don’t want it to be cluttered up, so a few fall things is all it needs. Thanks for sharing your ideas…your den is very inviting and cozy looking!
Hi Katie,
Love the blog! You really make me laugh.
One thing that is confusing me though – ABP. Is the blog still called All Bower Power or is it just Bower Power?
And also, I’d love to see a few more recipes! I know you didn’t ask for feedback, but, well, I thought I’d throw that in anyway.
Love the fall decorating.
Thanks so much xx
I found you guys from a link on YHL earlier this year and I’ve been hooked ever since!!! I check Bower Power every time I open Google Reader!! So, you’re quite popular with me missy! 🙂
I totally tried to comment yesterday and got the boot. You’re just so popular!
I love your fall mantle, Katie! Also, I totally skip decorating for Halloween for some reason. Maybe because my parents only ever did a small smattering of Halloween decorating? I think we carved a pumpkin last year and that was it, does that make me lame?
I decorate for fall and Halloween at the same time and then when Halloween is over I take away the black cat/ghost stuff and leave it just fall until the weekend after Thanksgiving. I’ve added more Halloween stuff this year as my girls are 4 & 8 and they love the semi spooky, but kid friendly stuff I put out.
Oh and Katie, I didn’t know you had to take a wall out between the two rooms until I clicked on the mantle pick with the two tall candelsticks on it. I have a question: How did you fill in the carpeted area between the two rooms? Or did you have to get all new carpet? Thanks! Stephanie
I really like this post. I love shopping at thrift stores but when I see things I like I never know what to do with them. You’re encouraging me to change out my decor with fun items, so thanks.
I commented earlier but I see it’s not there.
The Cliff notes version: I don’t like Halloween (it’s annoying to me LOL) so I just decorate for fall with lots of candles and a fall garland on my mantle. Since I leave the all usual things on my mantle the garland is all it needs.
I’m a new follower – but lovin your blog. Feeling so inspired now…if only I had more TIME. How do you do it, supermama? I have a 8 month old little boy and can barely find time to put food on the table.
I’m doing a little of both. Halloween is more outside and fall is inside. Here are a few of my recent Halloween and fall projects:
I, too used nuts as filler for candles:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/15/were-nutty-for-fall/
Halloween wreath Tutorial:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/let-the-halloween-festivities-begin/
Fall pillow covers:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/05/pillow-talk/
Natural (and FREE!) art sculpture:
http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/you-me-art/
Yep, we’ve been busy! I love your mantle(s). I wish we had one to decorate!
Thanks for the inspiration, as always!
The mantle is cute…great job! I have to say (from experience) that you and Sherry both will soon be faced with the reality of decorating with a toddler around. read: undecorating. Nothing glass or ceramic below the 5ft mark and completely bare coffee tables and side tables. Unless you’re some sort of Duggaresque mom who can discipline the personality out of a mime you will be driving yourself crazy trying to have things decorated. 🙂 I’m looking forward to the solutions you and she come up with when your munchkins reach that point.
LOVE IT!! 🙂 I get so much inspiration from you…keep up the good work! 🙂
Hey Katie,
You were homeschooled????? That’s awesome. I was not homeschooled as a kid, but we are homeschooling our kids now (well, we are homeschooling our almost 6-year-old who would normally be in kindergarten, and we plan to homeschool our almost 3 year old as soon as he is ready).
What are your thoughts on that for your own kids? Do you plan to do the same with yours? We are LOVING every minute of it because it’s more time with our sweet kiddos during such critical years in their development. We also want to give our children more time to develop in morals and character before we send them out into the world.
I am dying of curiosity to know if you have thoughts of homeschooling your own~ do tell, please?!
:)Amy
Wow, what a great problem to have, so many readers! Glad it is fixed though!
Beautiful mantle!
The mantle looks beautiful! I don’t believe one minute you wasn’t popular. I think if you weren’t homeschooled you would TOTALLY be popular.
I’m totally inspired to go to Goodwill now. I need more fall decor!
Katie,
I’ve been a long-time lurker who has watched your home evolve, and really appreciate the product/application tips that you share with do-it-yourselfers out there.
Something has been bugging me about your mantlescape, and I finally realized what it is, so I thought I’d ask. The round mirror on your mantle doesn’t reflect anything, so unless the mirror space is filled with something vertical that has texture ( i.e. your star, round woven tray, etc.) the area above your mantle seems to look washed out. Do you have the wall space to hang something textural on the opposite side? Just wondering.
Keep doing what you do. Love reading about your exploits!
Denise
I also found your blog through YHL, but I got hooked and stop by every day now 🙂
Where did you get those textured white apples & pears (that you have on your mantle)?? They’re adorable!
Hi Denise,
I like your idea…I just don’t know how I could actually do it. The mirror leans – so it reallly reflects the ceiling – and if I hung it on the wall instead of leaning it, the opposite space is the huge opening into the living room…hmm. Although it only reflects the white ceiling I wonder if the white helps allieviate some of the cluttered look.
xo – kb
Hi Kristen,
I got the textured fruit at a place called Old Time Pottery. Apparently they are chain but our local store closed 🙁 I think you can google for the nearest location!
xo – kb
Felicita,
Allow me to remind you of my childhood weirdness for a moment. Please click here for a scary flashback.
xo – kb
Hi Amy,
Yup sure was. Not homeschooled all the way through. Actually I attend every different type of school out there…public, private, home, video, nonparental tutors, homeschool groups. As for our own kids, yes…it definitely is an option. We wouldn’t probably homeschool all the way through…but we definitely would like to provide the very best education possible (including math, science, the arts, sports AND character building) while not sacrificing our family dynamic. I feel like looking back, my mother forced me and my sister to be homeschooled (she didn’t have to coerce my brothers) and it was literally the best thing she ever did for our family…short of birthing us 🙂
xo – kb
Eeek Valerie! It’s not Halloween yet – there is no need to get scary up in here! 🙂
Seriously though, who really needs a personality?
just kidding….I am looking forward to those solutions too!
xo – kb
Hi Angela,
You see that is just it…I don’t feed them 🙂 I guess that I find the time because I do it all in one fell swoop. I decide to stay up really late one night and tear the entire living room and den apart and then WAHLA, it’s done. And then I get behind on bloggin’ so I guess that is the sacrifice I make.
Keep at it girl…I’m sure you are a supermama in your own right!
xo – kb
Well, Stephanie, that is the bane of my downstairs…that little spot. We actually cut a patch for it temporarily but sometimes I can feel the staples. It’ll definitely be in the plans to replace the crummy carpet in both the den and living room this coming year. What with Will going to be walking, we will need to make sure our patch job doesn’t slice open his tottling feet!
xo – kb
I still call it ABP and Bower Power Hayley…only because if I called it BP then it sounds like a gas company (although that would fit).
xo – kb
i love your fall mantle and can’t wait to see what you come up with for halloween, and even better, christmas!
i unfortunately have no seasonal decor. we live in a small one-bedroom apartment with absolutely no room to store things that are only used occasionally. we even have under-the-bed boxes under our couch!
Your displays look gorgeous! So creative and fresh – you have inspired me to try and create some decor elements in my own space. Thank you for that 🙂
I don’t really do anything for Halloween, and my fall stuff lasts until Thanksgiving. Thanks for the idea to use acorns as a vase filler — we only have 80 gazillion in our yard right now!
Valerie, your comment made me LAUGH OUT LOUD so hard that I couldn’t even just type LOL. “discipline the personality out of a mime” Oh gosh, I am still laughing at the thought!
Katie, you crack me up. I love the books and the fur blanket. Any idea where she got it?
As for your decorating question, I have always tried to avoid my fall decor until it’s time to make my house into a haunted mansion. Because after all, who has time to put up decorations for 3 weeks, take them down and then put them back up? (Actually, it’s mostly because I am too lazy…) Suffice it to say, my halloween decorations haven’t even made it out of the attic yet.
I plan to make all that change this weekend, though!
Leah Marie,
I betcha she got the blanket at TJMaxx. 98% of the things she buys are from there. She’s a total Maxxinista 🙂
xo – kb
Hello Katie, i love the colors that you used in your house, it looks super cozy.
I’d like to know how is your laundry room and if you have a home office or where do you use to blog?
Thank you!
Ooo I love it, so pretty! Since we’re on a budget (duh!) I combine our Halloween and Fall decorating, meaning I use browns and oranges and pumpkins and say it’s multi-purpose : )
Plus all oy mf decorative sutff pretty much came from my MIL’s garage sale sooo…yeah.
Looks great- love a seasonal mantle!
I just started ours…
http://styleandcentsability.wordpress.com/2010/10/01/quick-project-picking-fall-decor-ii/
Great decor! I too like simple pumpkins/gourds. Fall decorating for me! Halloween is to short to decorate for. I like to decorate and leave it up for awhile. (Plus I have 2 active boys, and I don’t have time to decorate short-term.) I have found some great ceramic pumpkins & gourds at a local Goodwill and snatched them up. Halloween decor, to me, can be very cheap looking.
Sorry for being a throttler! I’ll admit I found you through YHL, but I love your blog just as much. Your humor is spot on and there’s just enough variation between you and Sherry to keep my interest.
Thanks for keeping me entertained!!
Oh and as for the decorating…I decorated for an Oktoberfest party and still haven’t taken the decorations down! Maybe this is enough inspiration to get that done now.
Katie, I think that the fact that it reflects the white ceiling definitely helps to keep if from looking too cluttered. I do see Denise’s point when the mantlescapes aren’t as full as this one is, though. Maybe you could layer something smaller and textural in front of it every once and a while? A smaller version of the star, some manzanita branches (or branches from your yard) or dried grass could look nice and might be partially reflected in the mirror. I LOVE the look of your fall mantle though! And I think it is also entirely possible that it reflects differently in person than it does in a photo, (I know I try not to catch myself in mirrors when taking pictures, so maybe).
PS- I want a huge round mirror for MY mantle now. Want to come to FL and go shopping with me? 😉
Sarah – I couldn’t agree with you more…it is very difficult to find Halloween items that don’t look cheapo.
xo – kb
Hi Teresa,
Our laundry room is still a work in progress…hopefully soon we will be doing some work in there. As for our home office…right now Jeremy uses the basement living space for his work space. And I blog from the couch 🙂
xo – kb
Love your decorations! I think I have those same hurricanes you have the candles in… question though, where did you find your acorns? I’ve been looking around for some similar to pottery barn’s without paying the PB price but they’ve all been fake sparkly looking and I want more realistic ones… Please share!
I’m a newby here from YHL – love your blog!
I love it! Thanks for giving me the kick in the pants I needed to finish “fall-ing” up my house!
Carolyn
I found your blog through YHL earlier this year, and I’m glad you’re getting more traffic, but I just have to say that I almost had a nervous breakdown when I got an error message from your page. That is not normal behavior… I blame your humor and awesomeness 🙂
I love the new fall decor, very simple but very welcoming. I was showing my husband and he laughed and said “like that would last around here” And boy is he right. We have 4 boys, 2@7, 1@4, and 1@2.. And well boys will be boys, so I steer clear of extra decor, light colored pillows, and white curtains did not last to long. I Decorate my home as Welcoming Kid Friendly. (No coffe table: black eyes, chipped teeth. Minimal photos low: broken glass, ruined pics. And Leather : Wipeable) I have very well behaved boys, but kids carry in dirt. My question to you is, Have you thought about candles, glass, and such when your little man starts walking, and the light colored couches etc? One child you might be able to to deal, but as cute as your angel is, i dont see you stopping there :).. Just a thought I had! Be Blessed!
Hi Jen,
Welcome! Any friend of Sherry is a friend of mine 🙂
Actually I found the acorns in our driveaway. The neighbors tree poops em all over so all I do is pick up the ones that are still intact (most of em get crushed as we pull out!). I have seen on sites like saveoncrafts.com where they sell natural elements like these for cheap 🙂
xo – kb
Hi Bree Love,
Whoa…boy overload! You are a brave girl! And I have thought about it a little. We are probably going to switch out the glass top coffee table for an ottoman (DIYed of course) because we definitely think a bonk in the head is easier to kiss away than a bloody cut hand. And we definitely will do something about our low shelving in the kitchen that has dishes on it. But other than that, I think everything will stay pretty much the same. Most of our breakables are up high and although all of our friends called us crazy at first, we literally do not care what happens to the white couch. We have spilled everything from ketchup to blood to koolaid on that thing and it all bleaches out in the wash 🙂 God bless a slipcovered couch!
As for the dirt, well, I am currently training Will on how to vacuum…he should be good to go on that chore by 9 months 🙂
xo – kb
Nice! I will have to look for some. Did you wash yours or spray them with anything? Thanks for the tip!
Nope I sure didn’t. Although a trick I learned from visiting other countries is this…pop your item you think might be crawlin with microcritters into a plastic ziplock and then throw it into the freezer for a week…it helps kill anything big enough to bother ya 🙂
xo – kb
Hi Katie!
I have been following your blog for a couple of months now, but only as a lurker :). I read this post last night right before falling asleep and then I had a dream that we met and were friends! Sorta weird. Love what you do around your house. I am a Southern transplant to DC, so I love all your references to Southern things (buggies! sweet tea!). But anyway, since you inadvertently invaded my dreams last night I thought it was time for me to stop lurking! Great work on your blog 🙂
Emily
I love the mantel-the colors you used are very serene and soothing-the votives, and tablescapes all blend in so well together-it’s very beautiful!
Oh, for the love of Pete, talk about a “DUH” moment on my part! I know you knocked out the wall, yet I asked that question anyway. Hello!?! McFly!?!?! I gave my good mind to my stepkids. I get your point, I totally do.
Found a table like yours on Craigslist, might have to imitate your treatment! Rock on, Katie Bower!!!!
I made my way here from YHL. Just wanted to drop a quick note to say that your fireplace mantels are so inspiring and your photographs just stunning. I look forward to following your blog.
I collected a bunch of acorns outside to use as free vase filler awhile back. I went to change the display out and discovered maggots at the bottom of the vase. I would be very weary about using real acorns as filler – I swapped the reals ones out for some fake ones I found at Pottery Barn. Too gross.
Katie, I would just like you to know that I copy/pasted these pictures of your den into my Home Inspiration folder on my pooter. Seriously. You have a gift for arranging nick-nacks (patty wack, give a dog a bone! couldn’t resist, sorry.) & I’m really inspired!! Also, your Goodwill shopping posts are my FAVORITES!!!! & have turned me into an eagle-eye whenever I get a chance to stop by.
xo
Lol your funny 🙂
Im working on that reality show “Bree and Roy + a million boys” or “Out numbered” Hehe 😉
Enjoy that dirt he drags in while you can, I promise you will miss it when you have nothing to clean up.
Blessings!
ps
Cant wait to see that DIY Ottoman 😀
Yo Katie! I really love your blog. Been a reader for a long time now. As a mainly commercial interior designer, accessories – well, they’re really not my bag… & I know from your photos that you’ve got a pretty big house (compared to my own little old bungalow) so I’ve been wondering… your accessories featured in this and MANY other posts are always so fabulous – but for those of us who have far less space (less furniture, smaller furniture, must-maximize-every-square-inch-of-storage-kinda-houses) what do you recommend? I wish I could “miniaturize” all these ideas and use them myself!
Yo Sweet T,
Hmmm…space saving accessories…well, I would start with only buying neutral goes-with-everything items. Perhaps like looking for a wooden tray at your local cheapo store and painting it white (vs having a red one, a white one and a blue one) this way, it doesn’t matter what season, you can work it into your home decor. Also, you have the distinct priviledge of having only items out that you absolutely love…so make sure you only bring home items that you absolutely love. And sometimes for me, it’s not really about the decor…it’s about the decorating. I love to switch things up. Having a drawer full of chotchkies allows me to switch things without it taking up a ton of room. Any other suggestions out there for Sweet T?
Hope this helps,
xo – kb
I’ve always stayed away from fall decorating in the past, as it’s usually all reds and oranges and other “Warm” colors that I’m not a fan of. But how happy was I to see your gorgeous room, done mostly in whites and browns!! I have GOT to get a few of those white ceramic fruits!!! Actually, I loved EVERYTHING!!
I am new here and I will spend several days (maybe months) reading back on your wonderful blog. Maybe this is an inside joke but its not “wahla” its actually voila. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/voila
I know Juliana 🙂 I sometimes like to phonetically spell words… it’s a weird way of spelling but mostly it’s for emphasis. Now you are on the inside of that joke…
xo – kb
Wow!!! Love the great photots and the table displays are gorgeous! You are really talented. I enjoy your writing style but have to admit, I always check in to see your creative design ideas 🙂 I will keep checking back – can’t wait to see what you do with the new house! Thanks again for sharing your adventure! Blessings ~~~