Mixing Up The Mantel
Having a fireplace in the kitchen is definitely something that we think is charming (it’s the heart of the home, and even though it’s not functional, just tucking a basket of Clara’s toys or books in there and having a spot to display stuff above the mantel is our idea of a good time). Well, maybe I should say it’s my idea of a good time, since I’m pretty sure John could commit to whatever we have up there at any given time for the next ten years. I, on the other hand, like to turn surfaces like the mantel into a rotating display or sorts. Not every day or even every few weeks, but it’s safe to say that around once a month I get a wild hair and decide to switch some things out. And our mantel has undergone quite the transformation since we moved in. Here are just a few “takes” on it, over the last fifteen months here:
About a week after we moved in (in mid December of 2010) we wanted to cozy up the room full of brick and paneling, so I slapped some holiday stuff up there and called it a day:
A while later (after priming and painting the brick and the mantel), I kept it simple with two fauxpiaries (faux topiaries) from Crate & Barrel and a round hanging mirror along with a mirror in the firebox, and a tray full of candles. This definitely wasn’t Clara friendly, I was just having mommy fun when she went off to bed:
After priming and painting the paneled walls (which look extra green here since we didn’t have good kitchen lighting installed yet), I added some Halloween stuff, complete with some homemade bleeding candles:
Then it was decorated for our second Christmas here, with a mirror that later moved into the living room, some stockings, a basket full of presents, and a few feather trees (eeks, the colors are all sorts of terrible in this pic, again since we didn’t have our new kitchen lighting installed yet):
Well, now it looks like this (don’t mind that one remaining broken light that we’ve been meaning to replace for months now):
Oh yes, and we still haven’t trimmed out the area where the cork meets the tile surround yet (but you know we’ll share pics when we do)!
Here’s a little side action:
You might notice one of my favorite birthday presents ever, this little painting of Burger from my insanely thoughtful friend Lesli (who is one of the most talented painters I know). Yup, I cried when I opened it. It just captures him perfectly (she used this picture to base it on). I love that it’s small and chunky (the canvas is extra thick and just 9 inches wide/tall). And for everyone sweetly wondering how he’s doing since this incident, he’s back to his usual happy self, thank goodness. We are so grateful.
Of course these blooms won’t stay up there nearly as long as my beloved Burger portrait probably will (darn you tulips, why must you die?) but for now I’m loving them in this bright green vase. It was one of those free vases that came with a birthday bouquet that a friend sent me last year (it was sitting in my little decorating cabinet waiting to get some action).
Oh and I got those tulips last Wednesday since we were hosting some Easter guests and I wanted to brighten up the house. They’re still looking happy thanks to reclipping their stems and refreshing the water every few days (and dropping an old penny in the water to help keep them from getting too floppy).Yay tulips! But I think I might only get one more week out of them. Sniffle. But I guess that opens me up to a whole new mantel makeover. Haha. And so it continues…
Do you have a mantel or another surface (the top of a console, dresser, your coffee table or dining table?) that you tweak every once in a while? Can you believe we lived with that dark paneling and weird lighting that made everything look neon as long as we did? I can’t either.
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I had my husband build me a faux fireplace just so that I could dress it up for the seasons. Its become my favorite part of our house and I have been re-dressing it every month so far. I love what you’ve done with yours!
Aw, that’s so sweet of your hubby!
xo,
s
I love your mantle…I hate my whole fireplace! It sits in a corner and stares down anything else in the room. My hubby took down the over scale ornate mantle and built a simple one. It helped a bit. The tile around the fp is beige, beige, beige. The room color was beige, but now it is a nice cool gray. Now, the beige fp tile stands out. The whole thing fights with the tv wall. I keep threatening to paint the tile…no here is listening!
Ooh that sounds like something I’d do! I hear there are paints now for painting tile as long as it’s not wet tile (like tub tile) so it could work!
xo,
s
Looks amazing! You guys (and your kitchen) inspire me to keep with my ideas. I usually chicken out on my designs because I can’t install/ execute them immediately; now I think, John and Sherry would keep at it. It is bonkers to think your kitchen started as it did.
On another note, does your friend do commissioned paintings? I checked her website and can’t sort it out?
Nevermind. I figured it out. Thanks though.
So glad!
xo,
s
I love love loveeee the pic of burger! i wonder if she will commision one for me! .. of my dogs.. not burger.. lol
x
She does do commisioned pet portraits. We’re actually thinking of trying to wrangle a giveaway with her!
xo,
s
It’s crazy how such little changes today have made such big differences. White toilet – HUGE improvement! Adding better lighting and more natural light (not exactly a little change I suppose, but something people may not think of) sure has brightened up your kitchen. I don’t know what I was looking at, but I really hadn’t noticed it as much in the pictures until this post.
Off topic question. Do you remember what color the exterior trim/porch surround was on your old house? We just bought a house with similar colors (red brick, gray roof), but the white trim is REALLY stark so I’m looking for a color to tone it down. Thanks!
I think it was called Lyndhurst Tan by Valspar? Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Well, I just love this. Now I’m inspired to find some things around my house & change mine up! Thanks! I feel like my eye for creativity needs some exercise, but I guess if it pleases me, it should be fine. The good thing about decorating is you can change it if it doesn’t strike your eye right! :)
Exactly! Only takes a few minutes to do, and if you hate it you can go back to the other way you had it!
xo,
s
Looks really pretty, and I LOOOOVE that painting of Burger! such a lovely, thoughtful gift from your friend.
*Now I am gonna show my daughter, so she can paint me a portrait of my sweet pooch Buffy!*
I am so happy that Burger is OK after that awful scare! I’m telling ya, children and our beloved pets can really keep us parents on our toes! (and yep, I love my little pooch just like my child) as I am sure you love your Burger ((:
Love you and your family!
Aw thanks Gina! You’re so sweet.
xo,
s
I adore your picture of Burger…I cant wait to save some $$$ and commission an etsy seller for our Border Collie, Max.
We must know: How is $herdog pronounced? Does it rhyme with ‘her’ or ‘hair’??
Haha- it rhymes with Bear-hog or Hair-frog.
xo,
s
Completely unrelated, but I just saw this and thought you guys would LOVE it:
http://www.amazon.com/Alphabeasties-And-Other-Amazing-Types/dp/1934706787
You won’t believe it but we actually have the flash cards from the Alphabeasties series. We love them!!
xo,
s
I wish we had a mantle… it’s definitely on our wish list for when we look for a house! Decorating for Christmas is one of my favorite things to do :)
Not sure if it would work with tulips too, but if you pluck out the pollen-y stem in the middle of the blossom, it helps them stay alive longer.
Never heard that for tulips! Intriguing. Anyone done it with success?
xo,
s
I love it. I wish I had a fireplace in the kitchen, let alone a fireplace, at all. Our house is an old 50s ranch that it’s teeny tiny. It only had a gas stove which the previous owners ripped out…thank goodness. But during the holidays it would be fun to have a fireplace.
Question: Where did you get your feathered trees?
One was from a local gift shop called Buford Rd Pharmacy, and the others were from Target.
xo,
s
I loove that vase. Anybody know where I can find one like it? (Preferably without having to order a bouquet, lol)
Haha, maybe try Marshall’s or TJ Maxx or HomeGoods?
xo,
s
Loving that print on the side of the fireplace! I love the yellow and green colors in your kitchen. I just HAD to find a copy for myself… here’s the link in case anyone else likes it. http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Provence-Posters_i4912058_.htm
Thanks for sharing the link Cher!
xo,
s
Have you ever considered turning your sewing efforts toward pillow covers? I have a collection of good quality (PBarn) pillow inserts in various sizes that I move around the house and sew different covers for as the mood strikes, or when I find small amounts of great fabric on sale. Extra bonus: the covers are much easier to store when not in use than a filled pillow (I keep them folded in a drawer). Just a thought!
Love that idea! I definitely need to learn how to sew a pillow cover!
xo,
s
Still can’t get over what a difference paint can make. Where do you find is the best place to get a healthy, reasonably priced bouquet? As always, looking good!
We like to spread the love around. The farmer’s market is great! We have found cheap things at the grocery store too! And local flower shops are great too! Oh and the backyard – those bouquets are free! Haha.
xo,
s
I love how you switch up your mantel…and I used to do that with mine. But now, in my new house, I’m at a loss! The stone surround blends into the wall color. The mantel itself is only about 6 inches deep…how do you put anyting up there!?!?! It looks totally boring, blah, and uninspiring. Can you help!?!?!
Our mantel is only about 6″ deep, so you can do it! I would just try leaning small frames, topiaries, boxes, vases, small potted plants, and anything else that can sit on that ledge!
xo,
s
I totally thought that picture of Burger was a real photo from a distance. My version of re-arranging is putting the kids’ latest school artwork up on the fridge. I love it.
Aw, that’s sweet!
xo,
s
I do! I have a whole “mantel chronicles” section on my blog. I switch the stuff on the mantel out monthly and have been doing so since Christmas. April’s mantel will be up tomorrow (April 11)!
http://barefeetinhighheels.blogspot.com/search/label/mantel
So much fun!
xo,
s
It is fun to mix up mantle decor for the holidays! I absolutely love your holiday stuff – especially that little rocking horse and your basket of gifts in the fireplace area!
After two years of renting a place with useless mantle space because the TV hung right above the fireplace, we were excited to have one we can play with in our new home. We’re blessed with very tall walls at our loft style condo, so my fiance just finished a five foot tall painting that we’ll hang above the mantle: http://www.lydiasnextstep.com/2012/03/prove-it-part-3.html
Wow- that’s amazing!
xo,
s
Do you have wall room for a pocket door in the bathroom?
We’ve thought about switching the way the door swings, but if we switched it to swing out into the bedroom it would block half of the sink nook, which looks so nice with the chandelier reflecting in the mirror centered over the sink – so leaving that area open without any door-infringing is best for reasons of function and form.
Sadly we don’t since the plumbing for the shower is in the wall the door would have to slide into.
xo,
s
That’s so funny, I just tweaked my mantel today with a spring theme before reading this. :-)
I Love all the changing looks. That is exactly how i roll…my husband is always confused coming home to changed around things! It just makes things feel fresh and lovely!!
Cheers
~ Jillian
http://www.hersplitends.com
‘nother Tulip tip from Holland, the land of Tulips: put only a little bit of water in the vase, don’t fill it up. They’ll stay longer as long as you keep an eye on the water level everyday as they will drink it all. Enjoy!
Love that tip!
xo
s
Oh, wow, I did this on Saturday. It takes some doing to style a mantle, I think. I ended up putting a large arts and crafts mirror from a stand that needs repaired horizontally and adding 13 vintage planters in descending color order from deep green to light blue. I think it’s my favorite mantle. I love to change it regularly but am always stumped. Thank you for the constant inspiration!
Tricia
Sounds so pretty!
xo,
s
Love the switch up! You guys have a great mantle in the kitchen – such a cozy little area. Glad Burger is ok – we have a mini weinie dog and he has seizures like that all the time – about twice a month (that I know about). The vets have told us it’s common for this type and size of dog, but it’s scary!
I have a chalkboard in my kitchen that I made that I switch up all the time. I do displays for birthdays, holidays, seasons, favorite scriptures/sayings, etc. It is fun to switch it up all the time – it’s in the dead center of the kitchen so it’s a focal point for sure. You can see it in this post about the 5th or 6th photo from the bottom(decorated for my son’s first birthday last fall):
http://life-embellishments.blogspot.com/2011/11/birthday-party-wrap-up.html
So charming! I love it!
xo,
s
I really love the updates to the new mantle… especially the green vase, so bright and cheerful.
Are the squash (?) and pumpkin real in the Halloween mantle? If not, do you have any recommendations to places that sell real-looking fake fruits and veggies? The ones I see at craft stores always look so fake..
Those are fakers from Michael’s! I just look for the ones that have less color (like the cream colored ones) since sometimes the ones that are bright orange or green look a bit less real.
xo,
s
I love the portrait of Burger! She is so talented! The colors are simply perfect for your kitchen.
Totally random, but I love tulips. They are my absolute favorite flower. I carried all white tulips when I got married, despite the florist saying, they’d never hold up in a bouquet. They totally did and looked awesome!
Love that!
xo,
s
Happy to hear Burger is doing okay!
Thanks Lisa!
xo,
s
You’re mantel is always so pretty! Totally jealous you have a mantel to switch out. It’s so sad when Christmas rolls around and we get to hang stockings from the stairs with care instead of the mantel. Can’t wait to see what you do with it next!
Oh Sherry, I am the same when it comes to tweaking and rearranging! It’s constant and therefore, nothing is ever “done!” We don’t have a fireplace, but I put in wall shelves over our TV and I plan to use them kinda the same way as a mantel. They are here: http://www.maggieroseonline.com/2012/03/06/shelving-is-up/
So pretty!!!!
xo
s
Where did you get the second round mirror? I love love love it!
That was from Joss and Main a while back (it now hangs in the living room).
xo,
s
WOW!!!
Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! To Sherry and John and Burger baby and all the lovely comments. My head is spinning…and not because at 1am I JUST finished painting my dining room! You have such wonderful followers and so many visited me!!! The painting looks amazing on your mantle..The room is gorgeous I adore .the colors!!!
and YES!! I 100% would love to do a giveaway! Lets definitely talk more on that…and soon!
Wahoo! Thanks so much Lesli! So glad you’re in! And congrats on the freshly painted dining room!
xo,
s
Love it! And Sherry you totally missed an opportunity for one of your punny titles – Going Mantel?!
xx
Aw mannn. Slipped right though my fingers.
xo,
s
I love the picture your friend painted of Burger. Look at those eyelashes! Also, (and you’ve most likely told us in previous posts) I was wondering why the fireplace is non-functioning. Hope it’s something that can be corrected one day. Also, I love your new blue bathroom light :)
Oh yes, it’s just sealed up for now, but we plan to double side it and make it a gas or elecric fireplace that we can enjoy from the kitchen and the living room someday!
xo,
s
Something totally unrelated but your website and kitchen redo got a brief shoutout here: http://www.cultivate.com/articles/tips-know-opening-kitchen-floorplan?page=4
No way! Thanks for the tip!
xo,
s
LOVE the portrait of Burger! I may have missed it in the comments but can you tell me what size it is. Really want to do one of our dog. Thanks.
It’s 9 x 9″!
xo,
s
YAY for mantle pics! I stink at mantles. Mine’s just sitting there all empty and sad. The more mantle pics you post the better.
I def change up my fireplace mantel…I recently added a bunch of pictures of our friends and family plus I put up free seasonal subway art…I love free/cheap art!!!
P.S. – I love that painting of burger!!!
I might have already said this, but if you cut a 1/4″ vertical slit on the stem near the base of the petals, your tulips will stay straight and last longer. :)
Oh yes, I love that tip!
xo,
s
I have seen that white shadow box by your fireplace in other pictures and have wanted more information on it. I love the colors and the little items in there. I was reading the previous comments about it, is it just a picture of a shadow box in a frame?
Thank you for sharing all that you do.
It was a print we got from allposters.com! It looks like a shadow box but it’s just a flat piece of paper we framed for that shadow-box-ish look!
xo,
s
If you can remember to change it each morning and evening this method works well for keeping cut flowers looking fresh. Dump out the old water and then drop as many ice cubes as you can fit into the vase, then fill with cold water (preferably refrigerated water). If you do this when you wake up and before you go to bed your flowers will stay nice until the petals dry up. A florist told me cold is what keeps them nicest, longest (hence the cooler they keep them in at the shop!)
So smart!
xo,
s
hey sherry – see link for cute idea …clara books in fireplace, and burger sitting in front….
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/jasons-charm-potential-small-cool-contest-169134
Hahaha- so cute!
xo,
s
We used Lesli to paint pics of our sons two dogs for Christmas and were also thrilled with the results….she really has a gift for capturing the personality of the dog! Burger looks great…love that little guy! Hope he is feeling better
I LOVE that painting of Burger — I will have to start dropping hints to my husband so I can get one of our 2 dogs for my birthday!!
Why do you and other bloggers insist on pointing out the littlest things that no one notices? I would have never noticed that your light was broken had you not pointed it out. Everyone is human. You aren’t perfect, why do you apologize for little things like that that show you are living life? Please stop. I hate reading blogs that are like “don’t mind my one hair sticking up”, “don’t mind my untied shoe”, “don’t mind this”, “don’t mind that”.
We answer a ton of comment questions (sometimes over a hundred) so it’s just easier to say “don’t mind the broken light, we’ll get to it someday” instead of getting a bunch of questions like “what is that metal thing sticking down into the picture? Is that a light in the kitchen that you never got around to fixing?” You’d be amazing what some people notice and ask about, even if it’s nothing you’d pick up on. Hope that makes sense! I also just think everyone has a different style of blogging – and ours is pretty much stream of consciousness. We’ve always kept it real and over-shared and will probably point that stuff out until the end of time. So sorry we can’t conform to every how-you-should-blog suggestion we get, if we did we just wouldn’t have anything to write!
xo,
s