Could you post another photo showing more of the room, especially more of that wall?

This is the only photo I have uploaded that shows more of this wall.

Here's my house album to give you a feel of the house. The living room wallpaper has got to go but for now, it's still here. Our upstairs is getting our attention now. :(

Here is a link that might be useful: House photos

Get rid of the fake plants, then haunt thrift stores, etc. for metal (I'd do pewter but bronze/brass (non-shiny) would work, too) and glass pieces that call to you.

What happened to the lamps? Those are way cute/pretty.

I'd do just a couple of pieces - maybe two clusters of three rather than your chorus line.

Golddust, I love the sign. Does it have any special significance because of the name or the fact that it is about violins? If so, that could be the springboard for the other decorations on the mantel. Perhaps an old violin and bow, a brass or red box with some rolled sheet music put in it, and a green plant of some kind for some softness. A couple of larger candlesticks with red candles in them would be a nice touch on one end.

First, tho, is there any chance you could build a new cap for the mantel? I would like to see something much more substantial, the face of which would be as tall as the number of bricks that flare out at the top - about three rows worth, plus the existing mantel. I would stain it dark to match your woodwork.

The things you have there now are cute, but all too small and spread out. You could group the two larger birds together, add a couple of birdhouses in another spot, add a glass garden cloche that displays a bird's nest with some faux eggs in it.

I like the sign, but it doesn't seem to go with the rest of the room. It also is emphasizing the limited space between the mantel and ceiling. I would also do what Pbrisjar suggested about two groupings on either side of the mantel. The furniture has a craftsman feel to it. Is this an era you would like to embrace? If so you could add some pottery or copper trays. If you move the sign you will need something in the center - a painting or mirror.

There is not a lot of space between the mantle and the sign. How about keeping things simple and just putting a rectangular red wood box in the center of the mantle with some sort of vine in it that trails down?

My two cents. I really like the birds (wood?) and would like to see them grouped together. I think (as someone else might have already mentioned) that it is the chorus line up that sets you down the wrong path.

I like the suggestion that if the sign has significance for you it could be a jumping off point.

Think mini groupings instead of one big mantle line up. A group of three things to one side, two or four to the other, that sort of thing.

Good luck! And post pictures as you play with it. I remember spending an entire day working on a single small tablescape, posting pictures constantly, and having people help me tremendously!

Goldust the sign would look great in my house. I will pay the postage. (lol)

I'm loving all your ideas. Keep them coming! Eventually we could add a cap to the fireplace mantle (we have to finish our upstairs bathroom and library first).

LOL! My chorus. Yes, it *is*. I hate the fake plants too and I just took them off.

Copper trays and pottery. I'll go digging.

Les, the sign used to travel back and forth between my BIL and us. Every time he needed money, he'd let us have the sign until he paid us back. Last time (many years ago) he decided he just wanted us to keep it. Well, there are two signs. One is in our bedroom and it's really nice too.

The fireplace had a mirror when we moved here but we took it down. It's upstairs in a large closet now. Maybe that was a mistake. LOL! Maybe I should drop the sign down closer to the fireplace? Our ceilings are high, I think 11' but the fireplace is huge. So is the sign.

Making the sign a theme for the fireplace? Interesting idea. As far as moving the sign, the problem is there are no other walls big enough and my DH loves it. Maybe when the wallpaper is gone, it may fit better.

If I did a box in the center, it would have to be a pretty big box or it will disappear, don't you think? (Think 8' wide. That is what the mantle measures.)

I just left my post to fix my mantle and now my entire living room is destroyed. My mantle looks no better yet but the fake plants are gone. LOL! I'm moving around stuff.

Oh I REALLY like the idea of an old violin! That would look great.

Some leather bound books would look nice too.

tina

I am no further along on my mantle. The chorus is gone and the hand me down plants are gone. What if I just lowered the sign to just a few inches above the mantle and used it alone as a mantle piece?

Yes, I am frustrated. LOL! It's an 8' nightmare. Everything I put up there is either too small or too tall or too yuck.

Golddust - my first impression was - oh that mantle is SO SKINNY! The mantle itself needs to be about twice as thick as it is right now. It looks like you have big old window trim and gorgeous big mop boards and then the itty bitty mantle is trying really really hard to hold down the top of the fireplace but it just can't compete.

Make the mantle big and chunky and then the proportions of the slender sign on top won't be so overwhelming. What you could do is take a 5" or 6" tall piece of cardboard and cut it the same side-to-side width of the mantle, or a bit wider, and color it dark brown and tape it to the current mantle to cover it up. Stand back and take a look and I bet you'll be pleased!