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Revamp Interior Design I am a big fan of color on mantels that will tie the room together as well as trinkets that tell a story about the home owners. Be it candles, vases, abstract 'sculpture' pieces etc. Pick items that your family enjoys, and that are small enough not to obstruct the view of the t.v. Since it is a mantel, people will often initiate conversation about pieces on display, it is always nice when there is more of a story behind a piece. Try shopping in home goods stores and see what catches your eye, be on the look out for pieces that represent your family's taste and interests.

Bradley Bayou Books! Are a great way to add some color and visual aesthetic to any space. Try stacking a pyramid of books horizontally in your built-ins. The use of candles, vases, etc. are a great way to add color and texture but again, make them unique to your style!

ASVInteriors If you like minimalism - if you put books in your cabinet, have the spines facing inward so you get the white pages facing out (I know it is a bit contrived) but it adds visual texture and blends into your look).

Why not add spot lights in your cabinets and place ONE white porcelain simple object on each shelf (spheres or white ceramic boxes) so that the light refracts off them. Your topiaries would then pop out as the only colour in that area.

One idea I have seen is to take your photos and hang them on a wall as a gallery. If you hang them close together they can make quite an impact instead of being a spreadeagled combination.

carolins I'd say your decorations on top of the mantle should be asymmetrical. A couple of nice candle holders in different heights, mercury glass perhaps or more modern on the other side of the tv would look nice. And call me crazy, but what do you think of discs of wood on the shallow shelves on the side of the fireplace. Stacked (and probably glued to a piece of board to fit the space) as if it was firewood.

I've added a photo that sort of shows what I mean:

millerhouse19 That's a really interesting idea, carolins. those shelves are so shallow I didn't what to put on them.

I forgot to add that the shelves in the built-ins have dimmers.

Thank you everyone!

carolins You're welcome :-)

carolins Crate and Barrel have decorative circlet stand sculptures. They would look far more contemporary and minimalist than your topiary.
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/sculpture/circlet-stands/f37429
or candleholders like these:


And johathan adler has some great sculptures that will be nice on the mantle or in the built-ins.
http://www.jonathanadler.com/decorative-objects/

decoenthusiaste Keep in mind for shelves/builb-ins: 1/3 books, 1/3 open space, 1/3 decor items & pictures.