Mantel Magic

A fireplace can be the perfect place to style seasonal displays, as the handsome hearth in the Rafuses’ family room proves. Follow Christina’s lead for adding autumn allure.

1.

Create visual flow. Draw the eye up with a texturerich wreath embellished with bittersweet, and echo it with a similarly filled basket on the hearth below.

2.

Designate a main attraction. Honor a family heirloom by centering it on the mantel, like Christina did with her antique clock.

3.

Find balance. Create sweet symmetry around your centerpiece with Colonial-style redware plates and tin candleholders on either side.

4.

Add a touch of whimsy. Showcase a fall fellow, such as Christina’s scarecrow doll, in a child’s chair on the hearth for a lighthearted note at ground level.