THIS YEAR'S MANTLE

Well this year's theme in the living room is EXOTIC PEACOCK....so of course the fireplace mantle must be included.  I wanted something a little over the top this year...something eclectic, bright and just out of the box (literally)

Here is my Peacock Themed Mantle for Christmas 2011

This year's mantle is dressed a little differently that last years.

Big swag w/ colorful balls, some jewels and also 2 mini trees on the bottom adorned with baubles.

Closeup of all the pretty vintage goodies from my box and a special peacock ball in the center.

Glass bowl of vintage glass ornaments

Right side mantle drape

Turquoise Ball Jar & McDonald jar filled with snow and trees and Christmas (left)

Left side mantle drape

Reading chair area next to fireplace (former home of the yearly tree)

This year's Peacock tree and inspiration for the mantle decor

Southern Hospitality

THRIFTY THURSDAY....MANTLE MAKEOVER......AGAIN!

Here was the beginning of the initial transformation of my Craigslist Oak fireplace.  I decided I wanted it to be more of a focal point since it's the first thing you see when you walk in the house.  I used Valspar black paint Nero.

This was the stripped down look, I had to sand before painting.

This was the end result for beginning of summertime.  We have an island theme in our living room and I dont plan of changing that but I wanted a lighter summer feel.  

Sooooooooooooooooooo.....everything came down and I started playing around.

The center artwork came down and I took 2 frames from the nursery to bring the colors of the shells on the walls.   

I also distressed the fireplace a bit too...it was very nice and black but I wanted a more worn, aged look.

I added some more seaside accessories.  Like the big shell ball from our beach bathroom downstairs.   We always collect seashells so we are never in need.  

I have this lovely HAMILTON typeset drawer that I havent yet listed in my L7D Etsy shop.  So I borrowed it and using it for Etsy photos too (im a multi-tasker) lol

I filled those awesome little compartments with some cool shaped and colorful shells. 

I hope I can part with this thing...Im really loving it on my wall there and can use it year round for holiday displays...Uh oh I might be in trouble!

Here is what Im working with at this point...I like it but I know myself and will switch it up a bit by next week probably sooner. 

Here is a look of the total left side area of the living room.  Dont mind Sesame Street on the TV...just one of things you will see daily in my house.  We love Elmo...luckily there isnt any blocks or cheerios on the floor.

So dont be afraid to use unusual things in your displays and play around and have fun with it.....often like me if you like too!

-MJ

I decided to do a breakdown of the items and there origins.

Fireplace - Craigslist

Island tree art frames -    The Great Indoors (now closed)

Glass apothecary jars -  Home Goods

Shells - collected from various beach trips

Shell Ball - Home Goods

Candlestick - Vintage pottery piece from flea market

Cream Chair - Craigslist

Vintage birdcage - Craigslist

Elephant tables - Craigslist

Ivory/wood tray - Home Goods

Ostrich balls - handmade

Bamboo sticks - Home Goods

Typeset drawer - estate sale

Cream frames - found broken & repurposed w/ burlap

Black throw - actually one of my scarves :)

Olive rainboots - Spring

MANTLE MADNESS..

Let's start this one off with saying that the word can be spelled Mantle or Mantel.  It normally just comes out mantle when I type so thats how you will see it most. lol

Okay, so after Christmas the mantle must be cleared and then redesigned....except this year Im having a really hard time.   Last year I didnt have a huge TV on top of it.  

Even taking pictures of it is difficult because of that big black box.  Ive tried hiding it with decorative plant & stand and that didnt work so I just decorate around it!

EDDIE ROSS.......HOLIDAY INSPIRATION

Okay so Ive taken down the mantle to start over again, and saw this video on Wendy of http://relativelyunique.blogspot.com/ blog and thought I would share it as well.

Eddie Ross is not only stylish and so freakin adorable.  But he has genius ideas for everyones taste.   Even his budget conscious ideas look upscale.  If you havent seen his Holiday videos for Kmart and Sears then here is my gift to you!



Also if you have never been to his site then click on over http://www.eddieross.com/ and check out his work.


Happy Holidays!!!

NOTHING LIKE A CLEAN SLATE.....MANTEL RE-DO

Well I haven't been thrilled with the way the mantel came out and have been tweaking it every minute since I did it.   So that basically tells me that it's not working and I need to start over.

Here is the bare mantel...except for the flat screen play "Handy Manny" (my daughter works with my decorating disability. lol

Here is everything that was on the mantel (top and bottom) on the dining room table.

Here are the faux presents that were under the tree next to the mantel

Stay tuned tonight.....I should be done by then!

HOLIDAY DECOR...THE REAL TREE

So for 6 years now my husband has been taunting me about my "Macy's trees".   His version of a Christmas is to pull everything out of boxes and throw it on the tree!   I know this because I let him and the kids decorate the tree one year....yes ONE YEAR!   It was killing me not to rip everything off, but I promised not to touch it.

So since the kids and the husband are getting the artificial tree downstairs......that leaves me with the fabulous 9ft Douglas Fir that hubby picked up last night.   I wished for a slim tall tree to fit in the corner by the fireplace...kinda like an Italian Cypress tree.   Well I think its obvious that I didnt go with my husband nor did he hear me voice my wishes for the tree this year.

This is the monster he walked in with at 9p.m.

This is the beast it became after we cut the netting off, still enormous.

I cant see my santas of anything on that wall and its imposing on the fireplace too. OMG

Out came the clippers and I started at the bottom....leaving room for my decorative present boxes (ha this year I get to do whatever I want up here)

As you can see not much of a difference...but I did get some great clippings for the mantel and the kitchen hutch. lol

Ive gotten alot of inspiration from Ballard Designs

 This year Im going to try a more muted color scheme. This is my inspiration tree from Ballard Designs. White, Cream, Silver, Gold and natural textures like birds, pine cones, rice and nuts are my ingredients for the living room holiday design.

Lights are on...type to spruce them both up.

Here it starts off with lights and a special tree skirt.

This is my Nonna (grandmother) Anna's bedspread...its light and beautiful and I love having it under my tree.

It has beautiful detail work and in the center the phrase " Amor Mio"...I love it.

HOLIDAY DECOR......LIVING ROOM

This year is the 1st year in the new house with a fireplace...Ive been waiting 11 months to decorate this thing.  And then.......decorators block!   I wanted something different than what Ive done before but didn't want to go out and spend more money (I have 5 children to buy Christmas presents for in this house....lol)

I also wanted to edit my holiday decor (or at least challenge myself to try).  I love the style of Lynda from Focal Point....http://nyclq-focalpoint.blogspot.com (she was a merchandiser as well and I love her use of objects to tell a story in a room) I also have a soft spot for her because she's a Jersey Girl who relocated to South Florida (cant blame her for that decision).

I do still have small children in the house so I still want it to be whimsical and magical for them as well.  So here is what I came up with for the living room.  Keep in mind this is just our sitting room, our family room/Dallas Cowboys cave is downstairs with a playroom area.  So I kept this a little more grown up and a lighter more natural palette than I usually do.

Leopard sofa w/ muslin pillows and I switched out my spindle lamps for these more elaborate ones.  My book page wreath and the rest was exsisting.

I use my Macy's dining room chairs as side chairs, again another wreath. I also switched out the brown curtains to muslin tab-tops.

The archway from LR to DR hold our 7 stockings with 1 extra for my daughters best friend Nikki.  Do you think we have room for any more children??? (just kidding)

Lamp I pulled from garage storage, my heavy metal cross and a glass bowl or ornaments.

Other sidetable...box was gift from husband while he was in Iraq (how sweet) and I cut fresh greens from front yard bush and ta-da a cute simple vignette.

My old standby leather ottoman with a burlap throw.  On top as always my black toile tray with some books and very old bible and rosary (let's remember what the holiday is all about).

Closer look....small metal cross, decanter w/ oatmeal, brass candlesticks (they remind me of Ebinezer Scrooge)

This was how the mantle was coming together...was trying to use this great crystal lit garland my friend gave me...the white wiring was giving me such stress.

Dollar store gold star, along with trio of glass votive holders and some textural decorative balls

This is the left side, same star but I filled a vase with white rice (snow) and walnuts mixed with chestnuts (needs a refill...i was snacking)

J is for Joseph....

Love this artwork...got it off season at BBB for 75% off. Cha-ching!

Companion piece

Also companion piece...I love it.

This is the intended spot for the tree.  Do you see that magazine page taped on the wall. (thats my inspiration tree from Ballard Designs) I want a tall somewhat thin tree this year.

My ceramic santas from around the world..they each have country and year on them.

Another 5 Santas

And ladies/gents  this is why you should go with your partner for the family tree. This is a Douglas Fir that is 8-9ft the tag says...it reaches the ceiling of my LR (ahhhhhhh) 

Out came the clippers, it was literally covering half the fireplace. lol

But hey waste not want not or however that saying goes....I used those little branches to beef up my mantel area.  Dont you love my use of a gold charger to camoflauge the 36" flat screen. lol

As of right now 2 a.m this is what the mantel looks like (cant say that will be the case by tomorrow or Christmas morning for that matter).

Now decorating this mammoth of a Christmas tree is my next project.  God I love my husband...(if you could only hear the sarcasm...lol)

Well its time for bed....goodnight to all!