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Style a Faux Fireplace with Vintage Decor

ByJennifer
49 Comments
I’ve dreamed of having a fireplace with a mantel from the moment we went house shopping.  When we bought this house (sans fireplace)I hoped that my next house would have one.  Well, we are still on our “starter” house and I was still mantel dreaming.  I knew even a fake one wasn’t currently in the budget. However, a few weeks ago, I was headed to the store and lo and behold, one of my neighbors had put this one out to the curb for the trash. They were even kind enough to tape the screws to it. Thank you thoughtful  neighbors. I finally got my faux fireplace mantel !  I decided to style the inside of the faux fireplace with a vintage vignette that included vintage frames, vintage suitcases and other pieces of fun decor. A styled faux fireplace adds so much character to a home!
Style a Faux Fireplace with Vintage Decor by stacking three vintage suitcases inside, accented with framed bird art and a glass cloche holding a potted fern displayed beside and on top of the arrangement.

Stacking Vintage Suitcases

I stacked the vintage suitcases on one side, and added some stacked frames on the other. I love decorating with these vintage suitcases, you can see how I styled them here in my living room.

Style a Faux Fireplace with Vintage Decor by stacking old suitcases below, adding framed artwork, a potted plant, and a glass dome, then topping it with candles, jars, a wicker wreath, and an elegant gold-framed mirror.
The vintage gold frames are just a collection of them I have amassed over the years. I loved being able to put them in one place.
Style a faux fireplace with vintage decor: stacked vintage suitcases topped with a potted plant under a glass dome, placed beside several framed pictures leaning against a white wall.

Adding Greenery in Styling

As a final bit of inspiration, I placed a cloche with a fern on it in a vintage dish on top of the suitcases. I love the bit of living nature it brings inside.
Style a Faux Fireplace with Vintage Decor by stacking three vintage suitcases inside, accented with framed bird art and a glass cloche holding a potted fern displayed beside and on top of the arrangement.
The faux fireplace itself was It was a golden oak color and made of press-board, but a coat or two of paint, some sand paper and a fake backer, and it was ready to go. It’s not perfect, but it fits perfectly there.

Styling The Top Of The Mantel

Style a faux fireplace with vintage decor: a mantel decorated with white pillar candles, wooden candle holders, a stack of books, and a large bundle of twigs.
 Styling the top of the faux mantel was very important. I wanted to add  a natural feel. I added a large nest with clustered battery- operated candles.
Style a Faux Fireplace with Vintage Decor: Arrange candles, a lamp, and twigs on the mantel. Place vintage suitcases, framed artwork, and a plant under a glass dome inside the hearth for a charming touch.
It really adds a cozy and natural touch. Paired with the fancy mirror it makes the room.
I was so excited when we finally got it put together in my living room, I was bursting I was so thrilled, and it was so much fun to style with vintage decor and items. I am looking forward to decorating it this holiday season, and when the kids saw it, they were so excited that we had a real place to hang the stockings this year. Best. Roadside.Find. Ever. Yes Virgina, there is a Santa Claus…. and he likes to leave stuff in the trash.
And it’s awesome.
Jen

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49 Comments

  1. Hi Jennifer, how cool is that! She’s beautiful, and even better that she was free! Our old rental had no fireplace, so my husband made a mantle for me, when we moved we sold it, people at our yard sale were scrambling to buy it! That was 9 years ago. I still want to paint ours white, I just feel it sets off our pretties better that way. Your vignette is so lovely, the suitcases are perfect!

  8. So charming Jen and I love the way you have accessorized it! I’m sure you will love decorating it for Christmas and your kiddos will love adding their stockings!!

  9. jen, that is awesome. i love it. you are amazing with your decorating too. the suitcases in it looks great. never would have thought of that.

  10. Aren’t roadside finds the best?? Lol! I have my fair share of them, and I always feel quite proud to give a rescued piece new life!

    It looks fabulous, the way you styled it looks great!

    Mary

  11. that’s kind of my ultimate dream find!! is that sad? whatever- i want a mantle for our bedroom, and the $175 for the cheapest one i’ve found is NOT cutting it. i find all kinds of great things on the side of the road, so maybe i just need to be patient! yours is lovely- congrats! : )

  13. Jen –
    You made this look beautiful! Great vision on a pressed board piece that looks fabulous. You are going to have so much fun decorating for Christmas. Do you think you will be able to just decorate it once? On another note, congrats on being selected for “Banners We Love” in Artful Blogging.
    Connie LOU

  17. Very classic and looks great! Love the suitcases inside…I remember wanting one for my tiny home and found an old one at a second hand vintage type shop. I loved it!! My son has it now in his Boston apartment. Got the silver butter dish and you were so sweet to send the pretty tea towel!! xxoo thanks!

  18. I LOVE this mantle and how it has streaks of blue! That is so cozy and pretty looking! A couple of months ago, my hubby and two of his friends built one to cover my SUPER ugly fireplace in our rental! The best part is, I can take it with me!! {and you can reposition it anywhere!!} Have fun decorating for the season 🙂 This is our first time hanging stockings on a real mantle too!!!

  30. You lucky girl! A diamond in the rough, and a free find! Your paint and creative styling worked magic…it looks fabulous. I am now inspired and am off to purchase some paint to turn my sideboard into something breathtaking!

  31. Jennifer, that mantle and your decor is so charming and pretty! How awesome is it to get something that someone discarded, and then turn it into something gorgeous? Lucky girl. 🙂

  35. Yay! I know what it is like to live in a house without a mantle (or fireplace). I love the way you painted it, so soft and pretty, the vignette you created around it is sweet! It doesn’t get any cheaper than FREE!
    :)Heidi

  36. I love your fireplace and how you decorated it. It was so nice to meet you. Your booth was fantastic and your mirror was one of the best finds of the day!

    Glad I could hug you in person,

    Cyber hug,
    elizabeth 🙂

  37. lol! You sound like me when I moved into this old farmhouse and saw the fireplace in the living room. It was love at first sight! Then, when I came across a frantel at a flea market this summer, it found a home in our kitchen! I’m loving every season I can decorate them both, Jen! They truly add alot of ambiance to a room. ♥ Have fun with yours this year! Great find!!

    xoxo laurie

  38. Great makeover, and happy to hear that you are so thrilled with your new curbside find. We have the gas fireplace, for 13 years now, but it is off center and we are just this week starting to add the mantel. I hope we can get it done for Christmas.

  39. Oh my goodness I am seriously jealous. I’ve been trying to convince my hubby that we don’t need a fireplace to have a mantel. I’m hoping that he comes to his senses soon enough. I’ll have to show him this and maybe he’ll understand. Now you have a place for your stockings!

    Bekah
    If Work Permits

  42. Whether you are building a new home, re-modeling a single room, or just thinking of changing colors and accessories in your home, hiring a professional interior designer will go a long way. You want some one with knowledge, style, who is in tune with today’s up coming trends. Someone you can trust, who is in sync with your ideas and can help you realize your dream. And saves you money, time, and many mistakes you might make during this process.

  43. Yes, yes it is awesome! What a stellar find. And it found the perfect home too. It looks wonderful, and I just bet you ARE so excited to get to decorate it this holiday season. How fantastic that you found each other :)))

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  45. Jennifer,
    It looks great and you’ve shown how creative you can be with a “faux” fireplace. Back in the 80’s my mom had an electric fireplace she would decorate for Christmas. I think the “fire” was just a light bulb behind faux logs but she decorated it with greenery, stockings and Santas and we all enjoyed it. Years later she passed it on to my sister who used it out in her 3-season porch. Once again it was really cute in that setting too. Thanks for all the great inspiration and Merry Christmas.

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