Simple Sophisticated Mantel
November 30, 2010
Hello friends, I’m so excited! Today we kick off the Holiday Home link parties, and this Tuesday is all about mantels! My amazingly talented friend Layla is hosting a holiday party ~ she’ll be posting at noon (with a crazy beautiful DIY project), be sure to link up!
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This year, after transforming our living room into the space I’ve envisioned, adding wainscoting, and brightening the space, inspired by gray blues, white, and gold, I’ve decorated our mantel oh so simply, keeping it elegant, but with the most inexpensive decor.
I believe that it doesn’t take a lot of money or effort to create a beautiful mantel. Just greenery, some old standbys, plus a favorite color of the moment, and you can create for yourself a gorgeous holiday focal point. My mantel is a mix of something old, something new, simple ornaments, and a hint of blue.
The Casbah mirror is a floor sample from Lamps Plus, previously bronze, but I spray painted it a glam gloss white and turned it on its side ~ I mentioned the makeover in this living room post. For the ‘something old’ I have my standby ornament wreath I’ve had for over five years. I used it last year in my silver and gold sideboard display, but this year it holds the prominent place on the mantel mirror. Ornament wreaths never fail ~ I think they are a new classic!
The ‘something new’ pieces are the Pottery Barn quilted lined velvet stockings, which I contemplated making, but with various discounts turned out to be worth the expense for the quality. I love them! I had them personalized with my three kids’ names but *sneaky CG* I blurred their names so (tee hee hee) the mystery of their identity continues . . . :-)
The gorgeous blue bottle comes from a Russell & MacKenna giveaway that I won from my friend Sarah’s blog a few months back. Isn’t it stunning? Time and again I return to my love of colorful blown glass!
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I’m also big believer in fresh greenery for scent and organic appeal, so I spend a few dollars every season on cedar and fir. I need that smell! Often, I clip greens from my own backyard, how cheap is that? But I always add a little of the faux here and there to give the fresh greenery a boost. You can see some faux glittery swags on the very ends, slipped in for sparkle and flair.
On the right side of our mantel is a my old apothecary jar ~ always a faithful servant ~ this vessel never fails to deliver the perfect display time and again.
I used in the same way in last year’s pink and gold mantel. This year I’m sticking with a medley of metallics, gold, silver, pewter and bronze, and also a favorite shade of blue.
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The bowl I found on super clearance at Pier One a year ago for about $10 dollars. I love its speckled leopard like pattern. Every once in awhile, I find something cheap and chic that speaks to me ~ that bowl is part of my ‘cheap and chic’ collection!
In my book, piling different colored ornaments in glass vessels is the best and most inexpensive way to add sparkle to your home during Christmastime. The triple bead garland cost me $4 bucks at Tar-jay, love! It’s swaged and attached to the cedar with floral wire.
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Do you spy a new mirrored gold leaf cocktail table?
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I saw this end table on One Kings Lane a month ago and had to have it! Are you signed up to receive emails from them? Designer goods at clearance prices, what’s not to love?
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Mixed metallics and shades of blue speak to me this year.
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What inspires you this season? Won’t you join in the festivities?
Link up your mantel to Layla’s party later today! If you follow me on Twitter, I’ll let you know when the party is live!
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Tags: holiday mantel
Well, there goes another keyboard…probably burned it up this morning with all my drool. Way to go… ;)
Hi Sayonada! I’m a trickster! I drive a big fat nail into the wall stud directly on top of the mirror, hang my wreath, then cover up the nail with a big bow!
Kate
GORGEOUS! I love the blues against the white. Merry Christmas! La
Love your mantel this year…but then I loved last year’s as well. The blues are just very calming this year. Not sure what I’m going to do for decorating this year…after my BIG purge the past three weeks…just need a few days off ;) Hop on over and check out my huge rubber stamp sale…all the profits are going to one of my favorite charities. Thanks, Roberta
love! this is perfection at its finest!! if you will, please let me know your wall color paint–its divine.
found the color in the “ask kate” section! thanks :)
Hi Kate-
I love your tweak on tradition – so modern and fresh. I bet your little ones are already eyeing those stockings.
My best- Diane
I’m so glad you participated in the mantle party. I love the simplicity and beauty of your choices. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
Here’s my link to the party.
http://enjoyalllifehastooffer.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-merry-mantle.html
Beautiful!!!! I think it looks so modern but yet so traditional! I love the blues with the mixes of metals!!! Fantastic!
This is stunning! Love it~
Simply stunning! I was going for something so similar, sadly mine doesn’t come close to that! I don’t have a wreath or anything above my mantel yet and my mantels are so big (especially one of them – it’s huge!) It sounds like a good thing, but it makes it tough for me to figure out what to do with it.
Wow this is breathtaking. :) So wintery and crisp and elegant and fabulous. :)
This is picture perfect,I love the beaded garland. The blue and white is so peaceful looking, Great job,Kathysue
Wow! Your mantel and decorations look fantastic. You obviously have a natural ability to decorate. It’s because of people like you that I too can decorate! Thanks for sharing! :)
That’s exactly what I need! Pine garland! Thanks for helping me find the missing piece! :)
So gorgeous Kate! I wonder if you could give me a tip for decorating the mantle with a HUGE flatscreen hanging above it. Its about a foot and a half above our mantle. Grr…hubbies idea! I do love the “home theater experience” though. Oh and that gold leaf table is ADORABLE!!!
Um, gorgeous! I love the blue and gold combo. Great use of those beads too.. Love it!
Gorgeous, glamorous and fabulously festive! Santa is gonna love it! ;}
m ^..^
One word-STUNNING!!! What a beautiful color palette-so elegant and sophisticated indeed.
You’ve really done it this time! Where did you find that darling wreath or did you make it? I am drooling over the entire look! I’m inspired once again.
Beautiful Kate!! You never disappoint!
You always amaze me! This is stunning! Love the colors!
That mirror…
wow…
It’s amazing. Love i love love it!
I wrote about my desire for a mantel yesterday. Not sure if I have the right idea.
http://www.ouruglyhome.com/2010/11/i-dream-of-mantel.html
your mantel looks great. wish i can do something like that. i have given the mantel to the hubby. he has his tv up there… i wish i can somehow change his mind…
I just saw your blog on Nesting Place! Your wreath is yummy! I may just make one myself. I’m using the same metallic colors this year. The mix of blue is beautiful, crisp, gorgeous!
Gorgeous decor, thank you so much for your inspiration filled blog!
Beautiful. I can see already that you’re going to be listed for my favorite Christmas post just like you were for Halloween!! You’ve inspired me with the beaded garland which I haven’t used in a while!
Looks beautiful! I’ve created a post about it on our site: http://www.lampsplus.com/Info-Center/b/blog/archive/2010/12/03/censational-girl-decorates-for-the-holidays.aspx
Thanks!
Oh my goodness, a quintessential example of how simplicity can be so elegant. Wonderfully executed!
Very elegant and serene. Nicely done, Kate!
i love this mantel! it belongs in a magazine!
So pretty and fresh. Nice job! I like how you accessorized the pretty little side table, too!
Gorgeous! Those lovely shades speak to me. And all that white makes me happy.
Beautiful! I love the blue. I’m with the other ladies in asking, do you have any suggestions for a tv hanging above your mantel? Due to our inconvenient floorplan it’s really the only place we can put ours.
OOOh!… I’d have to choose only one? I love the beige “naughty cat” but would love to display the “be nice or leave” prominently the next time my in-laws visit -The tree of life would look soooo good on my sofa…..Dee
This is the most glamorous mantel I’ve seen. So beautiful! Elegant and simple.
AMAZING! Seriously dazzling.
You demonstrate how some simple stand-bys (metallic ornaments, wreath, mirror and glass) can reach a Whole Nother Level when you find just the RIGHT piece. You sure did that with that stunner on the left. Drooling. Envy. Yes, that is a keeper. Then, to have the absolute talent to have found the right color in that leopard-y blue bowl.
Wow.
Your design is simple and refreshing. Brings in the season and reflects your talent, resourcefulness and taste. You carry that further with that little gold table. Wow, level two. You don’t play Copy Cat here. The table has its own colors and motif — yet the modern clean lines and metallic coolness enhance the mantel.
I’m ready for my cup of cocoa now…
i love the mirror over your mantel! where did you find that? i’ve never seen anything like it.
[...] If you’d like to see more pics of the mantel up close, take a peek right here. [...]
[...] a peek at these three pictures of my holiday mantel taken in the same place on a cloudy day at 3 p.m. in my living room. The first is shot with a [...]
Where did you get your stockings??