Transitional Mantel – Not Spring Yet!

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At this time of year some still have snow and ice, or if you are lucky enough like here in Tennessee, experiencing Spring type weather.  A little sun and 73 – I could get used to that.  Who has spring fever?

After all of your Christmas decorations are down, sometimes you feel a bit blah with how the room looks.  And most of the time you are ready to make at least a little change since you’ve probably had extra decor up since fall.I don’t decorate for Valentine’s Day anymore so I usually use this time to just pull things together I already have just waiting for spring and Easter.  Of course, Easter is earlier this year, so in about a month it will be time for a change.  That’s about right for me anyway.

Everything I placed on the mantel or hearth was already in my decorating closet (well, room, garage) – close to hoarder, yes.  One of the best buys on there is the star.  They are made by a local person and sold at shows for $40.  I got mine at a yard sale for $5.  I recognized it and knew I was getting a good deal.A problem I’ve always had with the fireplace mantel is the fireplace isn’t centered in the room, so the point of the ceiling is to one side.  For this I usually don’t do a symmetrical look but usually use a taller piece to one side to bring your eye all they way up.  This is a piece I picked up from a yard sale for $10.  It might even get painted one of these days. 

The fireplace itself isn’t usable at the moment so I don’t have to worry about anything catching fire.

I have tried to clean the black off the back wall, but to no avail so I cover it up with a couple mirrors.  Plus I like the way it will reflect light.

The galvanized bucket is holding a few birch logs and pine cones.

Here’s a hint if you don’t have enough to fill up a bucket – use some household items such as old coffee cans and even an old candle to fill up space.One of my favorite pieces is this carved dog.  I purchased it at the Country Sampler show in Nashville about 25 years ago.  The gentlemen carved these and painted them to match your dog.  I got this for my Dad’s Christmas present.  It looks so real.  I paid about $80 for it and a few years later saw them wholesale for $200.  Good deal there.To lighten it up a bit more, the faux fur is a piece from Ikea.

So if you have a mantel, buffet, or side table that needs a little updating, shop your home first before you go out and buy things.  Sometimes using pieces from another room gives a whole new look to it.

I really liked how this came out with a little glitz from the silver, rusted look of the basket and bucket, then a nod to the farm life with cotton.

Hope you learn to shop your home for any decorating space.  

I can’t wait for yard sale season to kick into full gear so I can collect more “treasures” as I tell my husband.

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