Summer Mantel

Better late than never, right?  I finally updated our mantel for summer.

You may recognized the coffee sack chair.  I didn’t sell at the Vintage Bazaar so I decided to keep it for now.  Everyone in this house will tell you how much I LOVE my coffee in the morning.

Last time you saw the mantel it looked like this for spring:

I had used dollar store frames and vintage art and loved the look of art above the mantel.  I’m happy to report the command strips were a cinch and didn’t damage our plaster at all. Phew!

Here’s how it is looking now:

I shopped my house for the whole mantel.  I’m a firm believer in using what you have an recycling objects from the past.

I found the antique books on the side of the road up in Andover after visiting my best friend from middle school.  I love them so much!

I got the sailboat from HomeGoods a few years back. You may remember seeing it in our first home:

The chippy door behind was found at Todd Farm along with the marmalade jar.  I just couldn’t part with either of these pieces.

The hydrangeas are from our yard.  I am so happy I have so many of these because I have vases filled in every room!

The mantel is a true reflection of my style – coastal, relaxed but with a few English antiques thrown in 😉

I will let you in on a little secret, well maybe it isn’t a secret but more a desire.  I love the deep, dark woodwork on our fireplace and the white walls but I really don’t LOVE the brick (despite washing it lightly click here to see the video).  One day I’d love a gas fireplace and I loved the one I saw at the HGTV Dream Home click here.  I’d love to put one of those in and then maybe do something different on the brick and where the tile is.  Maybe honed granite?  I’m not sure. What do you guys think?  Any suggestions on what to put over the brick?

I’m also planning on using some Efex like I used on the this desk click here on my mantel – swags and drops.  At some point there were medallions on here but you can’t see the mark in the photos because I edit them out.  I’d love to restore this mantel to its former glory.

Still in the thinking stages but I know it could make my heart sing even louder if I changed up the style and had a warm fire to sit by in the winter.

As it is summer we don’t have to worry about the gas fire just yet.  What do you think of my summer mantel?

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