I love it! very homey!

I like it - it's a pleasing balance of texture, balance and color in my opinion.

I like it too. Nothing is wrong with it.

I really like it as well. What I like most is that it is clearly a place for treasured items and photos of loved ones. I think the mirrors are quite unusual so I'm glad to see you kept them. About all I *might* consider changing is different frames for your photos. Everything else has that slightly worn, vintage feel to it and I bet if you combed some thrift stores you could find three frames as interesting as the rest of the pieces up there.

Oh yeah, that looks really good. Two thumbs up!

I wasn't involved in your mantel thread, so don't know all that went down :) I really love what you have though! The placement of the mirrors doesn't sit quite right, imo, though, so I was playing a bit. This is just about the same, just has more movement, I think. Not so lined along the top, like a rectangle.

Just some thoughts and my $.02 ! Gorgeous room :)

Trying the frames :)

Very nice, squirrel.

I would remove the left round mirror altogether.

Round-framed things tend not to flow if there are more than one of them. (Now THAT's a terrible sentence!) To me, two round-framed things always look like eyes.

I like what you've done but my sense of center balance is thrown off a bit by the photos.

I would move the large one over closer to the mirror an inch or two. Then I'd place the medium sized frame closer to the other mirror and situate the smaller frame slightly overlapping that one. You might even raise the height of the medium sized frame by sitting it on a couple of books.

This should leave you a small open space that is directly centered over the beautiful FP screen.

These are great suggestions. I'll try Mona's first, and then Squirrel's. (Impressive that you can do that, Squirrel.) I can't say I'm crazy about the frames, but I really, really like that "movement."

Thanks so much!

Susan

lol, I thought they looked like eyes, too, that's why I played with the circles :) I get a radial balance from the circles and frames. And somewhat from the circles with the one on the fp screen.

I'll have to try removing one (thought she wanted both) and try Monablair's arrangement, too (which I can't follow w/o some coffee :))

Yep, eyes. Sorry, even if you liked them before, probably you're not going to be able to look at them anymore without thinking "eyes". :)

I do want to use both mirrors. They've been in my family longer than I can remember. Bungalow House, I know what you mean, but I'm not getting sucked in this time. When I posted pictures of an arrangement of cast iron kitchenware in my dining area, several people said it looked like a face. Suddenly I couldn't look at it without feel like I was being stared down. But I'm resisting your power of suggestion on the mirrors, and (so far, at least) they still look like mirrors.

If one of them winks at me, however, I'll have to admit defeat.

{{!gwi}}

This is what I envisioned.

Oh good, I was still trying to figure it out :) I like the pics that way, but still see that strong 'triangle.'

(Last pic has a rock or shell overlapping the 'vase' and something offset behind the pics for a little dark value (this has some muted green in it.)

Feels nice with a single mirror :)

I like the way that mirror tucks into the clock ... something else to play with :)

I understand the desire to display both mirrors, but nothing says you have to use them together. Have you thought about placing one in a powder room or a hallway where it could be seen up close?

Using just one on the mantle would give you more options to arrange things.

It's truly charming, one or two mirrors, with a little movement mixed in. I just love it :)

Ok, one more suggestion...very minor, but how about take the mirrors off the wall and prop them in the empty spaces almost directly below them. The candles can come in to the left a bit, and then center the whole thing as a unit. I don't think you necessarily need the height of the mirrors hanging, and they might look nice mixed in the the square/rectangle lines of the photos.

Were you even looking for suggestions?? :)

BH, I'm always looking for suggestions! :-)

I hope this isn't heresy. To me, it's the three photos that throw everything off - in each of the shown arrangements.

I'm a little torn on using two rounds, although staggered at different heights offset by the taller candles seems to mitigate that somewhat. I'd keep the clock in the middle and find something with bulk - a piece of crockery or a preserving jar or pottery piece to companion with the metal can. To my eye, you don't need much else.

I think I'm looking for something bright too - like branches with orange or red berries (bittersweet or pyracantha or...) rather than the grass plumes.

I'll have to try those other suggestions! :) I did try a dried arrangement with some color and red but all the attention went there to the left. Maybe I'll see if I can get it more subtle with just some berries.

I tried something with color on the mantle, and removed it immediately because when the fireplace screen is lit, it's soooo colorful. (I took this before Christmas.)

Beautiful, beautiful! I've never seen one of those lit.

I guess it's safer to keep the sides tucked into the box -- is that a working fp? I see a cord ...

{{!gwi}}

The cord is for the light behind the screen. It's very much a working fireplace, but I hardly ever light it these days. If I do, the screen will have to be moved. It can't handle the heat.

alisande, your screen is absolutely gorgeous! With such a focal point, you really shouldn't even worry about the mantle. Maybe add a little greenery, like a trailing ivy in a rectangular planter?, and work in your remaining accessories, like your mirrors and photgraphy. I don't see how you can go wrong. It's all beautiful - I love the rustic look.

Everyone's photoshopping is nice, but I like the original set up. I agree about the middle picture in the OP's photo. It needs to be changed out. But the look is very cool.

Red

I like squirrel's latest version. Whatever you decide, keep the mirrors. I think you need a little sparkle and glitter there and they clearly have great sentimental value as well.