I started this blog on September 12, 2011 and have loved sharing decorating and gardening tips as well as travel adventures and a random recipe thrown in for good measure with all of you. Writing this blog has been an incredible adventure and I’ve really enjoyed connecting with all of you. To celebrate my 8 year blog-aversary, I thought it would be fun to look back and see just how much my decorating style has changed over the years. Let’s channel the Great Pumpkin to take us back in time to look back on all of my fall mantel decorating ideas … but only if you promise not to laugh!
2019 – This mantel is a lesson in less is definitely more. I really enjoyed making my huge hydrangea wreath and love the natural look it brings to my living room. You know I hate the big black dark hole of a fireplace so when it’s not in use, I love covering it up. Plants add color and texture and mimic the green in the wreath.
Get the affiliate capiz shell chandelier here.
2018 – I am a color lover but sometimes a gal likes to embrace her neutral side and I did just that with last year’s mantel. The old chalkboard I got for free at a garage sale is the only thing on my mantel and it leads to a pumpkin patch in everything from driftwood to tree bark to twigs and more. I used an old blue chest to elevate some pumpkins to really help disguise the fireplace hole.
2017 – This is the first year I had the huge chalkboard so I was super excited to have this beautiful chalk art featuring my dog Sushi! I loved it so much, I hated to erase it so before I did, I made sure to turn it into a free printable! Dried hydrangeas in a vintage milk crate sit on top of an old Whitman’s chocolate crate that mimics the color of the chalkboard frame.
See my 2017 Fall Home Tour here.
Get your free fall farmhouse chalk art printable here.
2016 – From my demijohn (old wine jugs) collection to an old green croquet box to a worn and crackled landscape painting right down to the little brass quail, I love that every single thing on this mantel is thrifted vintage finds. This is where the basket of dried hydrangeas started and you can see I really love that little hedgehog!
See my 2016 Fall Home Tour here.
Take my 2016 Fall Home VIDEO TOUR here.
2015 – Let’s look past the bad photography (and the fact that my blog had a different name as you can see from the watermark) to this chalkboard printable I tacked onto an old tabletop. An old window covers the ugly fireplace hole but I wish I would have ditched the burlap under the pumpkins. I think it’s missing a pop of color too.
Take my 2015 Fall Home Tour here.
2014 – I love the fabric-less chair as a “fireplace screen” and the simplicity of an old window as a backdrop to a heavily textured wreath. I wish I had added a bit more color to the mantel. I like the color that comes from the hydrangeas and vintage bottles.
Take my 2014 Fall Home Tour here.
2013 – This is where things start to get embarrassing ! Obviously I have a thing for old chalkboards and I do love the green schoolhouse board but those fake leaves probably need to go and not sure how I’m feeling about that branch!
Take my 2013 Fall Home Tour here.
2012 – Let’s not discuss the bad photography in tis mantel filled with real pears and jars filled with big brown branches. It’s not my finest work!
2011 – There are no words!
Do you have a favorite?
How has your style evolved over the years?
Share in the comments so we can all get a good chuckle!
This years is my favorite! I do like the U-pick sign on the chalkboard. That is very clever! We all evolve and that’s the beauty of it, to see how much we grow. At least you have changed it every year. I think that itself is great and very motivating! Keep up the great work. You are inspiring!
It’s fun to change things up every year and even more fun to look back at all my decorating choices!
You rock! Thanks for this post, I cannot believe how creative you are and inspirational as well! What a wonderful concept for this fall post…I’m still not ready to let go of summer, sigh I collected and put away all the summer decorations today. So, I needed this inspiration and thank you for so many wonderful ideas. A fav? Probably five of them at least!
Thanks so much and I hope you were inspired to create your own fall masterpiece!
I love everything you do, so inspiring!!
You’re too kind Deanna! Happy Fall!
I loved looking back, and yes things have changed but some of it wasn’t that bad. My house looked like i had just moved in, after i retired, i had so much stuff and seemed to work or watch grandkids or something all the time so never even noticed. I cleaned it out after i retired, I had a chance to really see what a mess i had created and started following bloggers to see all my mistakes. Your house was so pretty and i loved it, so thanks and happy 8 yr. Blog-aversary.
I am impressed! Maybe when I retire I’ll finally clean out all my stuff! Thanks for being part of these 8 years Marlene!
I had to laugh at 2011 – because if I go back to 2011 on my own blog I’d be laughing too!!!! Oh how times to change. And if you think your old photos are lacking in photography skill – take a trip back on MY blog! Sheesh – what was I thinking??!!
I think last years mantel of your was my fav!!
We all have our shameful blog moments!
What a crazy walk down memory lane! How can it be easier for years? That means I’ve been at this for seven! Yikes!!! My favorite is 2016 with all the shades of green vintage goodness!!! Here’s to many more Fall mantels!
7 years in blog years is 49 years … or does it just feel that way sometimes! 🙂