fireplace Home & Decor home projects mantel my home new house

My Fireplace Progress: Mantel & Sitting Area


eames house bird+bronze owl+cow skull head+horns+decor+mantel

My first thought for decor above the fireplace/mantel was a large starburst mirror. I wanted something with a vintage feel and a bit different from the norm and finally found the overlapping circles mirror and thought it would be perfect. But when I returned home and held it up, I realized a mirror would be far too high for anyone to see a reflection in and scrapped the idea altogether. I also realized that the circles mirror was a perfect addition to our master bedroom and bought another one to complete the look.

Now, back to the fireplace. I recently found a photo of antlers mounted on the wall with a sort of flower or leaf or bunch of berries draped over it and kind of fell in love. See below:

flowers over antlers inspiration

Now, I’m not really a horns, dead animal mounting kind of girl, er, woman, so I surprised myself when I called my mom -immediately remembering a pair of horns my stepdad, Barry once had hanging on the wall in their house. I guess all morals go out the door when design/decor come into play? But when I asked my mom about them {knowing that they weren’t mounted on their wall now} she told me that he recently sold them at a garage sale …but that there was a cow skull head hanging in the garage. I told her I’d be right over.

fireplace decor ideas+mantel+cow skull horns

Until now, when I thought of cow skull heads and horns Southwestern Decor would come to mind. But for some reason, hanging a cow skull head completely out of context now became quite hilarious to me and as soon as I hung it on the wall I laughed out loud {as I did with my golden tree stumps and my totally gay needlepoint}. And then I knew it had to stay. Thanks Barry!

So I’ve decorated around it for now …and I like it, for now. But it’s still missing something and I’m not quite sure what yet. What I know is missing is a sitting area. I’d actually like a low-to-the-ground, possibly round or kidney shaped table with floor cushions on a soft and cozy rug to lounge on and play board games or cards on with friends. I’m kind of hoping to find a unique vintage table but so far here are a few designs that I’m leaning towards . . . I like glass because you don’t have to worry about drink rings but I like wood because it would be sturdy enough to lean on and/or use to assist in standing from such a low position.


noguchi cofee table
Noguchi Table @ Herman Miller $1,349.00 …a wee bit out of the price range

Platner Coffee table Knoll
Platner Coffee Table @ Knoll $1,268.00 …also out of the price range

cb2 marble round coffee table like Rubik
CB2 Smart Round Marble Coffee Table $299 {a direct-yet-affordable
rip off of the Rubik Round Coffee Table $800}

West Elm round wood coffee table
West Elm Dot Coffee Table $399

fireplace sitting area+cow skull+eames house bird

So this is how it looks now …just waiting for the perfect table, pillows & rug to cross my path so I can complete it. I’m just hoping it will all fall into place before Winter …but with this late Summer heat I don’t think there will be a problem at all.

Wooden ball frames from Aaron Brothers, wooden sex sculpture {hilarious} a wedding gift from Danny, Eames House Bird from HiveModern, Copper Owl, Vase {gift from friend Jamie}


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Maegan Tintari

LA native & lifestyle creator Maegan Tintari shares personal style, outfit inspiration, home decor, beauty, DIY projects, and everyday aesthetic living here—at loveMaegan.com—an editorial-style space filled with visual inspiration and creative ideas since 2007.

For deeper personal essays on reinvention, starting over, creativity, and rebuilding life from the inside out, you can also find her writing on Substack and everywhere else as @loveMaegan

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