Friday, March 19, 2010

Mantel Mania: Part Two





I've learned a few things this week:

1. There are about three photos of corner fireplaces on Google:




(Photo: Thrifty Decor Chick)





2. You don't have to have a real fireplace if you want to decorate a mantel...







and

3. Our readers rock, and their mantels do too!

Check out what Stephenie at Decorating Addict sent us:





Stephenie's email read:

"They are real tulips that I bought at Home Depot for $5.49. I separated them out into individual pots and my husband, Jason, put chalkboard paint on the tin pots so we could write "SPRING".

The picture above our mantel is one of my mother-in-law's paintings. She paints for fun, but doesn't think she's good enough to sell her work! We display it with pride.

The rest of the stuff I found at flea markets. The pitchers (I must confess, one was from Target for $20), and the other was $6, I think. I didn't spend more than $40 on the whole display."


It looks great Stephenie- Spring has definitely sprung on your mantel!

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Michele sent us this photo from the Lisa Russ Photography blog...



Talk about a well-dressed mantel! Wow! I love this look.

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Bonnie sent us this photo of her mantel...



Everything looks fantastic- including the stone and painted paneling. Hubba hubba!

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Stacey from My Messy Life sent us this email...

"I recently acquired a FREE fireplace mantel from Pottery Barn! I had been looking for one to put behind our dining room table as an architectural element for the past 2 months, but I hadn't been able to find one with either the right price tag, or the right look.

Then, about a month ago, I saw one in the display window at Pottery Barn. I inquired within about what would happen to it once the display switched over. I was told that an employee wanted it, and given the names of a few other places to look for one.

Three days ago our little fam went back to Pottery Barn and I noticed the display window had been changed over. On a whim, I asked about the mantel and, again, was told that one of the employees was going to keep it. Then a few minutes later the girl came back up to me and said she wasn't sure if the employee was going to take it after all. She asked if she could have my number so she could call me the next day with an answer.

The next day, an employee called to tell me it was mine! I still can't believe it, and the best part is- I didn't even need to paint it because the color worked perfectly with our decor! I guess it always pays to ask!"




(Stacey's free mantel)

I have two words for you Stacey- Lucky. Duck!



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Jessica from My Quarter Life Crisis sent us photos of her mantel before and after...





I love the props and the pup!

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And finally, Kelly from Spice It Up sent me this pretty picture of her mantel...



It's so fresh and crisp looking. Great job Kelly!

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I know I said I was going to post ideas for those who have niches above their fireplaces, but would you believe I was unable to find one photo of a beautifully decorated niche? If you have one, please email it to me and I'll post it!

In the meantime, here are some informative mantel decorating videos I found while searching for inspiration online...

In this first one, Julie Chen and Susanna Salk met up at Pottery Barn in New York to discuss mantel decorating. Click on the photo below to see the piece:



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In the next video, floral designer Nico De Swert uses Pottery Barn decor to create two different looks. Click HERE to watch the video.

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The next video features Tracy Porter's ecletic mantel decor...



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And, last but not least, this isn't really about decorating your mantel- but it does show a very pretty fireplace that I think you will love!



Thanks for joining me for "Mantel Mania"! I hope you're inspired to create a fresh and fabulous display on your mantel this weekend!



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44 comments:

Kristine at The Painted Hive said...

Oooh, love the first pic! And anything round above a mantel appeals to me. I'm about to decorate the mantel in my parent's new holiday house and can't wait to share the pics on my new blog!
Kristine
http://thepaintedhive.blogspot.com.

Woven and Spun said...

I'm liking those corner mantles!
And the mantle bed head - tucking that idea away!
And finally, Lisa Russ - your mantle is awesome in every way!
Thanks Layla for searching for and posting great ideas.

angela walker jewelry said...

Ok, I am going to try this again :)

All of them are gorgeous Layla! I especially like the black one Michelle sent : )
Have a great weekend!
Health and happiness,
Angela
http://angelawalkerjewelry.blogspot.com/

Hilary Ann said...

I am one of those with a niche . . . and I hate it! We don't have a tv in that room so my husband stuck our stereo up there on a stand w/ dvds underneath . . . great for storage, not on the eyes though. I've been wondering if it would look super tacky to put a canvas of some sort (either a painting or patterned fabric) to conceal the space behind but still allow the remote for the stereo to go through.
I'd love anyone's thoughts on this!

judi said...

Layla,
Thank you for this post! I love to decorate our mantle seasonally. I am not a minimalist although I do prefer an uncluttered look(if that makes sense?). Tracy Porter is a girl after my own heart as I decorate my mantle in a similar way. I love to vary heights, texture and use a color scheme. For spring I used spring green, nests, birds, cloches, and weathered wood. My mantle makes me smile and its so true...it is what catches your eye when you walk into a room.
~judi ;)
the1829farmhouse.blogspot.com

Lynn Kellan said...

I love Mantel Mania!! Learning a lot!!

Alyssa said...

SOOOO INSPIRING! A BIG THANK YOU!!!!
Alyssa;)

Amber said...

Thanks! I'm trying to decorate the top of my piano, so this is great for brainstorming!

Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife said...

I'm absolutely loving the mantel posts!

We are putting an offer on a house with six mantels...so I need all the inspiration I can find! = )

MrsKBJ said...

Thanks so much for including me! :0) I can't wait to play around with other ideas! I have learned some great tips! Thank you so much for your mantel week posts. All the mantels look so pretty!
Kelly

saraiwithani said...

Well, it looks like I'm on the right track to decorating my corner fireplace. I'll just need to tweak it a little more. Thanks for finding the corner fireplace pictures...you don't know how many times I've been ticked off at google for that very reason :)

Happy Spring!

Vintage Linen Treasures said...

GREAT post! I have a VERY boring mantel at the moment and don't know what to do with it. I'm sure I'll be referring back to this post a few times.
Patricia :o)

Heather Henderson said...

wow, this post was chock full of good stuff! I loved Tracy Porter's video - I want to find out more about her. And the mantel as headboard really appeals to me.

Shari said...

Very interesting and inspiring post. I once read that a mantel should be like an altar which contains elements of earth, water, fire and air. Plants or flowers, sea shells and candles work for three, but for air? a feather? or a carved bird decoy? My mantel contains a mantel clock my Mom gave me, a candle globe from my wedding with sand and shells and a wedding picture of my husband and me. I do like to change it up for holidays, but it is kind of small to do much with.

shannon i olson said...

gorgeous mantels, hmmm mine is now in need of an overhaul, I feel a trip to the second hand stores coming!! perhaps an old scrabble game...

Anita @ GoingALittleCoastal said...

I loved the Tracy Porter video. While the things she used might not have all been my taste her method was and ideas were spot on. She must be part Italian because her hands never stopped moving! Love it!
~anita

Cottage Dreamers said...

The fireplace in the last video was phenomenal! (As was the house!) This series you're doing has been great. I'm learning a lot about my own taste and am gaining ideas for a direction to go in my whole house, not just my mantel. For example, I'm learning that I prefer the look of things that have been gathered and arranged from around the house (or flea markets)over the look of all new, matching decorations. I also like the look of symmetry, like in the last video. I've been enjoying this so much, I can't wait to see more!
☺ Celeste

dewgiesgirl said...

I was sooooooo looking forward to the corner fireplace mantel ideas. It's very difficult to find remedies for this type of decorating dilemna. I'll have to email you my pictures from ours...maybe they might help someone else with their corner fireplace.

Aura said...

I think I'm one of the five people that has a corner fireplace! I just decorated mine for Spring, a couple weeks ago. And today it's snowing :)

Jessica @ My Quarter Life Crisis said...

thanks so much for including my mantel! everything you have posted here has been so gorgeous and inspiring.

Anonymous said...

Layla,

As always, you never disappoint. Thank you for this series. With four mantels in the house I am always looking for ideas!

Deborah

Sue Pinner said...

Hi Layla..only found your fabulous site this morning and adore it all about to move house and want n almst all white bead board look....saw the beadboard wallpaper and tracked it down in the UK
Rushed out to get a roll and have a play so you're mentioned on my blog with the product l taped a small sample to the wall for a photo
Thanks for sharing this product l would never have looked at it in the shop l'm sure
Thanks Suz x

Stacey @ The Blessed Nest said...

Love the inspiration! This is a great series, thanks for doing it! :)
Blessings,
Stacey

misty w. said...

Thanks Layla...consider me INSPIRED, thanks to YOU!
misty:)

kerrie elaine said...

Dear Layla,

There is something so special about you and your visions. It is obvious that when God designed you, he took extra time to give you creative essences so you could change the world forever...

What a god-sent inspiration you are.

Have a simply inspiring and beautiful weekend.

Love <3 Kerrie

lisaroy said...

Great ideas! I think I'll need to rethink my fireplace completely!

seanymph said...

Sigh, I wish I had a mantle again. I moved and now I have a corner gas fireplace right by a window. I have no idea what to do with it. I have to keep furniture about two ft. away from it cuz the heat will damage my things otherwise. While I love the way it warms up the whole house when its on.......its become my decorating nightmare. Its a big black thing in the room. So far the only thing I did was put a cast iron rose architectural piece that I had on my old fireplace......running up the pipe on the fireplace. Its rusty tho and I have to clean the piece up some cuz the rust is just too much. Sometimes fireplaces are not nice things. :( Any ideas?

Marjorie said...

Layla, I loved your series on mantles as I SO want to update ours, but we have a floor to ceiling stone fireplace with a rustic beam mantle. All the examples I see for this style are reminiscent of a lodge. What to do? Also we have a ceiling fan so any mirror ideas are kaput. (I tried that and had a great view of the fan despite all my efforts). Any ideas?

Gina M. said...

We moved into an apartment with a fireplace that has NO MANTEL. I wish it did. I have kept so many ideas in my mind for so long of what I might do when one day I had a mantel to decorate. Next place better have a mantel. We are in a short-term lease, thank goodness*! (*I say that for many reasons other than a lack of mantel).

Natalie@Endless Crafting said...

I loved this series...just purchased your e-book and love it. Thanks for all of your ideas! LOVE THEM!

Beth Covalt said...

THANK YOU for showing the corner fireplaces! We have one that has been a nightmare to attempt to decorate. It has an outlet and cable connection, which need to be hidden, in the back. So, I was happy to get some ideas of what to do.

Gina M. said...

@The Following Guide: Aren't cables and cords so frustrating? They are clutter that I have yet to figure out how to hide. There must be decor-oriented solutions out there for hiding cords, right? Hm...

Mandy from Burkett Blessings said...

I love all the mantel ideas you've shown. They are all gorgeous!! I have one that I am very proud of and I'd love for you to see it! If you get a chance, let me know what you think!

I made the floral arrangement that is in the center. It is centered between 2 cherub angels and two lamps. I have some iron scrollwork as the backdrop for all of that. I've draped the entire length of the mantel in greenery.

The focal point and my favorite part of the fireplace is the vinyl scripture that fits perfecty in the space between the fireplace and mantel. It is a constant reminder of God's blessings to me and my family and how I should always be grateful.

Here is a link to my blogpost that featured my fireplace and mantel.

http://burkettblessings.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-home.html

Thanks for letting me share!!
~mandy from burkett blessings

Bananas and Damask Interiors said...

Hi Layla,

I've so enjoyed your Mantel Mania pieces!! I believe I have "corner mantel number 4" for your list :-) It wouldn't be my first choice to deal with the corner setting when decorating, but it has pushed me to be more creative and try new looks! I wanted to pass along the link to my blog so you could check out my spring mantel. Thanks for the encouragement to try a new Spring look. I already feel refreshed just looking at it. Thanks,
Anna
http://bananasanddamaskinteriors.blogspot.com

Fenima said...

Layla, you are a genius in designing. You are such an inspiration, always love your posts. What ever happened to the "half note cottage." Any update?

vosgesparis said...

O wish I could sent you a picture of mine.. I am thinking for some time to make a mantel as decoration...

Heidi said...

Love it all! The combo of Spring and mantels is so inspiring to me right now. Today my parents (who are antique dealers in MD but are visiting my new home in TX) and I went to an adorable antique store called "Leftovers" in Brenham, TX. I found a few things for. . . guess what?. . . my mantle! Thank you bunches!

The Honeycomb Home said...

I really love the chair pictured in the first picture under Mantel Mania Part Two. Any idea where to get that? Thanks!

Anonymous said...

I've been waiting for a post on corner fireplaces. Unfortunately none are like mine. Am I the only one with a 90 degree mantle??

Picture

I do NOT know what to do with this thing. Any ideas? Please feel free to send them to me or leave them at my blog! :)

Anonymous said...

This is kind of random but Stephanie at Decorating Addict just made me realize that the word for each of the seasons has the same number of letters (if you use "autumn" instead of "fall"). Am I a late bloomer that I'm just figuring this out? The good news is she can use her chalkboard pails year-round!

Bohemian chic said...

Ever since I saw this post, It made me realize how sad my mantle was. So you inspired me to change it up. I used only what I could find in the house so my hubby would not have a fit. Take a peek and tell me what you think. I have a bit of mantle phobia. It is just so big and scary. Ok, off to nest.

Anonymous said...

Layla thank you for the feature on mantels. I have this extremely long 13 foot mantel that I struggle every time I change it out. In fact I just took the Christmas tree topiaries (or topiarys?-spell check wont' help out here!)
down because I just didn't know what to do with it.

bee blessed
mary

Katie said...

Living in a rental, I have a yucky paneled wall, brown mantle top and a brown fire place. To top it off, I have a child safety gate keeping tiny people out of it. Don't think things get more uninspiring than that. I haven't let that stop me though. I continue to try my darndest to make that mantle shine.

Anissa said...

I have a corner fireplace with one of those NASTY TV niche's that are never used since everyone has flat screen TV's now. I've lived with this cavernous hole above my fireplace for 3 years.
A week ago I said "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" and decided to close it off. I'm in the process of doing it now. Once I'm done would you want before and after pics for your readers that are looking for corner mantel help? I know I can't be the only one out there with this stupid niche hole... but finding any help online for deco ideas for these things is impossible. I know, I've tried... hence the "closing it up" solution.