Mantel Idea Gone Bad

Back in September, I blogged about finding this treasure (LINK). It's an antique mantel that my friend, Jennifer, talked me into buying. Once I got it home, I fell in love with it (I should always trust Jennifer when antiquing).
It's teal and has a lot of good detail to it:
It took me a long time to finally get it hung in our living room........
And, now I've needed something to hang in the middle of it.

I need your help.

I came up with the idea to hang twine across it and hang photos on the twine using tiny clothespins.

I did this..... and I am NOT loving it.
I think the photos are too small (the mantel is in a corner and you can't see it up close), and it's just too 'flat'. It sort of reminds me of birthday party decorations instead of something meant to decorate a house.

So...... this is where you come in. I need your ideas!!!!!!!! What can I hang in the middle of this mantel? Please comment with your suggestions! If I choose your idea, you get total bragging rights! Go, team, go!

Comments

SarahMerritt said…
ok here is my idea... a wreath like this http://www.etsy.com/listing/61859378/fabric-leaves-wreath-vintage-holiday?ref=sr_gallery_16&ga_search_query=+branch+wreath&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade and you could maybe even (if you still have some of the fabric) make a bow or have the leafs made out of the fabric.... and then maybe clip your pictures to the wreath?
April 20, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Nathan said…
How about a fire?
April 20, 2011 at 11:17 PM
Jenny said…
make a doggy door and put the mantel around the doggy door? Even better, make a secret little room and a secret little door that is disguised as an antique fire place with your antique mantel.
April 22, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Sarah said…
I love the mantel frame... very nice! I agree that it's maybe a little flat and needs something on the bottom, to close it off maybe? Like a wall shelf? You do have your other mantel off to the side so maybe it too much shelf? If you want to stick to pictures of the kiddo's in the middle, maybe hanging some shadow boxes w/ trinkets from each of them? Rough idea!
April 23, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Tabitha said…
maybe either some framed pics inside it, or get some of those wall quote things-like from uppercase living and have that mantel be what frames it out? or the wall sticks don't even have to be words...they have tons of cool designs now. they have some really cute wildflower ones in kind of autumn colors (that I have!)...you could put those and hang the mantel upside down so its almost like a "planter" for the flowers? Not sure how that would actually look but its kinda cute in my head!
April 25, 2011 at 10:36 AM
Nathan said…
Another idea: I could kill a deer and we could mount it's head there, kinda like your paper mache' rhino on the other side of the room, but manlier.
April 25, 2011 at 11:33 AM
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