Welcome to the Furniture Mall of Kansas Tips and Tricks.  I am Sarah Williams, visual storyteller, and today we're talking about fireplace mantels in the modern eclectic style.  For those of you who don't like to be too traditional or tied down to a certain look, we're going to mix it up for you. 

Build a Modern Eclectic Fireplace Mantel in Three Easy Steps:

1) We're going to take this focal piece and place it off-center.  I'm going to start on the left and build from there.  I've taken the lush greens we had in the first arrangement and added a couple pops of color.  The awesome protea (cut  flowers), with all of its great texture, next to the peony blossom makes for a nice look.  I did change the vase, just to mix it up and make it interesting.  What I like about keeping these two pieces together is it creates a focal point.  If I had moved this to another side, your eye wouldn't know where to go first, so we're going to make it really easy and calming by keeping the focal pieces together.   

2) Next, let's add some different candlesticks.  I love that the taper look is coming back.  It adds a simple, minimal to a mantel, and they don't have to match.  In fact, I like it better when they don't. It creates a more storied look. 

3) Then, we'll add one finishing piece.  We have this great white origami vase that I'll just plop some great little curly greens into, really nice organic touch. 

When you step back, it feels complete, even though we don't have everything centered and symmetrical. 

There, you have a couple of options for the modern eclectic.  Have with it, and let it be an expression of your creative spirit.  Thank you for watching Tips 'N' Tricks.  For more tips 'n' tricks, visit www.furnituremallofkansas.com