DWELL

Majestic Mantels

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CLEAN AND CALM Dani Petta and Kim Schaaf, co-owners and principal designers at Linen & Clove, styled this year-round mantel to reflect serenity and style. “In January, I always think about simplifying — you get all of the clutter and gifts out. So, this [mantelscape is] very clean,” explains Petta. These sconces are hardwired, but Schaaf says there are many sconce options available now with rechargeable bulbs and even remotes, eliminating the need for hardwiring. There’s no need to buy all new pieces to deck out your mantel, says Petta. “Anybody could do a [similar look] with items you have in your home,” she says. Or, shop secondhand to find hidden gems that you can weave into your look.

CLEAN AND CALM

Dani Petta and Kim Schaaf, co-owners and principal designers at Linen & Clove, styled this year-round mantel to reflect serenity and style. “In January, I always think about simplifying — you get all of the clutter and gifts out. So, this [mantelscape is] very clean,” explains Petta.
  1. These sconces are hardwired, but Schaaf says there are many sconce options available now with rechargeable bulbs and even remotes, eliminating the need for hardwiring.
  2. There’s no need to buy all new pieces to deck out your mantel, says Petta. “Anybody could do a [similar look] with items you have in your home,” she says.
Or, shop secondhand to find hidden gems that you can weave into your look.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS Shown above, Petta and Schaaf used nature as their inspiration for this holiday-themed mantel. “Natural, cozy and [using] warm colors was our inspiration. [We wanted to] bring in nature in its simplicity and show how beautiful it can be,” explains Schaaf. Petta and Schaaf employed a three-piece art arrangement above the mantel. The duo explain that art or a mirror hanging above a mantel should either be the full width of the mantel, or, the width of the firebox. Hang either one four to six inches above the mantel. This mantel has four garlands on it and additional floral picks (extra foliage) to amp up the volume and bring in visual interest. “The secret to making it look fuller is layering,” says Schaaf.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Shown above, Petta and Schaaf used nature as their inspiration for this holiday-themed mantel. “Natural, cozy and [using] warm colors was our inspiration. [We wanted to] bring in nature in its simplicity and show how beautiful it can be,” explains Schaaf.
  1. Petta and Schaaf employed a three-piece art arrangement above the mantel. The duo explain that art or a mirror hanging above a mantel should either be the full width of the mantel, or, the width of the firebox. Hang either one four to six inches above the mantel.
  2. This mantel has four garlands on it and additional floral picks (extra foliage) to amp up the volume and bring in visual interest. “The secret to making it look fuller is layering,” says Schaaf.
MORE MANTEL STYLING TIPS THINK NATURAL Petta and Schaaf’s store reflects their love of clean palettes and natural tones and textures. But their Verona shop isn’t this way just for aesthetic reasons — weaving in natural tones and textures in your décor and mantel is soothing for the body and mind, too. “If we bring nature and biophilia in our homes, there’s a marked improvement in our health — our blood pressure and heart rate decreases when we’re surrounded by nature,” says Petta. That’s why both mantelscapes they styled use natural textures (wood, knits), greenery or florals, and soothing colors.

MORE MANTEL STYLING TIPS

  1. THINK NATURAL
Petta and Schaaf’s store reflects their love of clean palettes and natural tones and textures. But their Verona shop isn’t this way just for aesthetic reasons — weaving in natural tones and textures in your décor and mantel is soothing for the body and mind, too. “If we bring nature and biophilia in our homes, there’s a marked improvement in our health — our blood pressure and heart rate decreases when we’re surrounded by nature,” says Petta. That’s why both mantelscapes they styled use natural textures (wood, knits), greenery or florals, and soothing colors.
WORK IN ODD NUMBERS Odd numbers are more eye-pleasing, says Schaaf. But it doesn’t have to be, say, three of the same thing — “it can be different objects clustered together in a set of three,” she explains.
  1. WORK IN ODD NUMBERS
Odd numbers are more eye-pleasing, says Schaaf. But it doesn’t have to be, say, three of the same thing — “it can be different objects clustered together in a set of three,” she explains.
NOTE THE SCALE OF ITEMS Petta and Schaaf say often, home- owners use décor pieces that are too small on or in front of the mantel, which ends up making it feel clut- tered. Look for vases, greenery and other decorative items that have height to them — especially for in front of the mantel. “If you have a hearth, a third to a half of that is good for an object’s height [in front of the fireplace],” says Petta. On the mantel, an object’s height will be dependent on how large your art or mirror is hanging above the mantel — but you can get away with larger than you think!
  1. NOTE THE SCALE OF ITEMS
Petta and Schaaf say often, home- owners use décor pieces that are too small on or in front of the mantel, which ends up making it feel clut- tered. Look for vases, greenery and other decorative items that have height to them — especially for in front of the mantel. “If you have a hearth, a third to a half of that is good for an object’s height [in front of the fireplace],” says Petta. On the mantel, an object’s height will be dependent on how large your art or mirror is hanging above the mantel — but you can get away with larger than you think!

CLEAN AND CALM

Dani Petta and Kim Schaaf, co-owners and principal designers at Linen & Clove, styled this year-round mantel to reflect serenity and style. “In January, I always think about simplifying — you get all of the clutter and gifts out. So, this [mantelscape is] very clean,” explains Petta.
  1. These sconces are hardwired, but Schaaf says there are many sconce options available now with rechargeable bulbs and even remotes, eliminating the need for hardwiring.
  2. There’s no need to buy all new pieces to deck out your mantel, says Petta. “Anybody could do a [similar look] with items you have in your home,” she says.
Or, shop secondhand to find hidden gems that you can weave into your look.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Shown above, Petta and Schaaf used nature as their inspiration for this holiday-themed mantel. “Natural, cozy and [using] warm colors was our inspiration. [We wanted to] bring in nature in its simplicity and show how beautiful it can be,” explains Schaaf.
  1. Petta and Schaaf employed a three-piece art arrangement above the mantel. The duo explain that art or a mirror hanging above a mantel should either be the full width of the mantel, or, the width of the firebox. Hang either one four to six inches above the mantel.
  2. This mantel has four garlands on it and additional floral picks (extra foliage) to amp up the volume and bring in visual interest. “The secret to making it look fuller is layering,” says Schaaf.

MORE MANTEL STYLING TIPS

  1. THINK NATURAL
Petta and Schaaf’s store reflects their love of clean palettes and natural tones and textures. But their Verona shop isn’t this way just for aesthetic reasons — weaving in natural tones and textures in your décor and mantel is soothing for the body and mind, too. “If we bring nature and biophilia in our homes, there’s a marked improvement in our health — our blood pressure and heart rate decreases when we’re surrounded by nature,” says Petta. That’s why both mantelscapes they styled use natural textures (wood, knits), greenery or florals, and soothing colors.
  1. WORK IN ODD NUMBERS
Odd numbers are more eye-pleasing, says Schaaf. But it doesn’t have to be, say, three of the same thing — “it can be different objects clustered together in a set of three,” she explains.
  1. NOTE THE SCALE OF ITEMS
Petta and Schaaf say often, home- owners use décor pieces that are too small on or in front of the mantel, which ends up making it feel clut- tered. Look for vases, greenery and other decorative items that have height to them — especially for in front of the mantel. “If you have a hearth, a third to a half of that is good for an object’s height [in front of the fireplace],” says Petta. On the mantel, an object’s height will be dependent on how large your art or mirror is hanging above the mantel — but you can get away with larger than you think!

By Shayna Mace | Photography by Shanna Wolf | Styling by Dani Petta & Kim Schaaf

Expert tips for styling your mantel during the holidays — and beyond.

Shayna Mace
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