Happy Monday to all! I hope my friends in the U.S. enjoyed a great Thanksgiving weekend.
As for us? We did nothing this weekend. Nothing at all…and it was perfect. We tiptoed around on bare feet while dragging blankies from one room to the next, finding a little bit of heaven in wearing pj’s all day long…
I did get a chance to put together a couple of Christmas vignettes around the house while the kiddies watched some old movies with hubby. I will share some of those soon, but for now, I wanted to show you our Christmas mantel.
I have been playing around with it, trying to get it just right and experimenting with different colour schemes. Because I knew I wanted an all white mantel, I decided to keep the book page background from my fall mantel, otherwise the white items against a plain white background would just get washed out…
Most of the items on my mantel were purchased at our local thrift store and the most expensive item is the large mirror, which cost $6.99. Everything else is either from the dollar store or items I already owned (remember my Union Jack Chair? It’s holding some giant white pompoms…that sneaked into the picture….oops)
I love the significance of the doves, as to me they bring a sense of calmness and peace. I also think of love and hope….
When working with tone on tone, it’s important to add varying heights and textures allowing your eye to scan the entire surface…
This is what the mantel looks like at night when its all lit up…
Prior to adding the lights, I played around with bright colours as I do like the strong contrast between the white and the bright bulbs. The kiddies always complain that our Christmas tree is ‘boring’ as we have only solid white lights and not the blinking colourful lights, so this is their favourite…
The old books on the left were there from the fall mantel and because I was just ‘playing’, I forgot to take them off. But after looking at them, I think the contrast between the old almost dirty pages and the clean white items is interesting….
Red and white is a more traditional colour and I think it looks just as pretty….
The pretty glittery foliage was purchase at the DS…
Notice that I often group items in varying sizes and uneven numbers. This creates a visual triangle that is attractive and balanced to the eye…
I’m not convinced I’m done yet, as I am always taking away or adding items to it. I also want to experiment with some greenery. I think boxwood would look beautiful.
If and when I change it, I will make sure to show you some pictures. For now, this is what it looks like. Do you have a preference?
I debated whether or not I would share my Christmas mantel this early in the season, but I decided that perhaps this will inspire you to get yours done if you have not done so yet. I know that when I visit many of your beautiful blogs I am often inspired to create in my own home…
As usual, I close this post by thanking you for taking the time to stop by and I wish you a beautiful week!
much love,
Lucy
I will be inspired at these parties; thank you for hosting
http://todayscreativeblog.net/
Oh this is so serene and pretty. I have to confess to a very discontented heart with my holiday decorating this year. I need to work on it. My tastes seem to change to different extremes. So now I see this and I think…ooooohh…I love the all white with pops of color. Sigh. Everything you do is just beautiful.
love them all! I think my fave is the first scenario – with the pale blues. then my second choice would be the red version. And even though there is not a pic, I imagine the red looks fab w/the union jack chair. And my third choice would be your kids fave (sorry kids) but you can’t really go wrong with any of them! Thanks for the inspiration. My mantle is not done yet but will be done this week – and I’ll post some pics too 🙂 Gorgeous job!
I’m partial to the red and white… but honestly? They are all just lovely options. Love, love, love the white! Gorgeous!
Seriously…stop it! I just stopped over from Home Stories A to Z and happened on your second link! Obviously I love your style. Your mantel is beautiful! I joined as a follower. Carrie
You just have such a talent for putting together these lovely vignettes Lucy. I think I like the first one with the whites and the pale blue best — however, would be thrilled if any of them ever made it onto my mantel! Looking forward to your updated shots too.
Certainly you’ve taken a lot of time and thought process to work it out and experiment – that is respectable! I like the mantle just the way it is right now, with the light blue balls. There is something very calming about it and pleasing to the eye – like you just want to stay on it and absorb the scene. The brights and reds are contrasty and doesn’t invite the gaze to stay and linger for awhile. Just my opinion.
love whites – love this! Esther from fleurcottage
I love the white and blue. As a Texas gal who rarely sees snow, this actually LOOKS like glistening snow. I must find some little ceramic doves like yours!! I suppose any color will do when I have my spray paint handy 🙂 My second favorite is the white and red. Reminds me of “White Christmas.” Lovely and elegant…Christmas dreams!
It’s all looks so good, Lucy. I really love the book page backdrop. I think the version with the pale blue ornaments is my favorite.
I prefer the one your kids did – with the pink and blue balls. I think its fun and still quite elegant.
The red and white is my favorite ! You have a beautiful blog 🙂
What a lovely mantel! I LOVE all the colour options, and am most drawn to your red mantel! Just gorgeous!
Jo-Anna
Love your decor! All the color combos, I would be switching them out every day! So glad u had a relaxing weekend! Your newest fan!
I love the red and white mantel. The deep red colours that you have chosen bring a rich feel to the display. I am always amazed how so much of your items are from dollar stores! You are ingenious how you pull them altogether to create a wonderful world to step into.Thank you so much for sharing your ideas
Your mantel looks beautiful. I love the white. Just found your blog thru Roben Marie who featured your book page ornament on her blog. I see you are a fellow Canadian and in Ontario as well (I am in Milton)
So beautiful and inspiring! Love the red and white best I think. 🙂 Very different from my woodland mantel I just posted today. After seeing yours, I think I’m going to pull out my milk glass collection and do another vignette somewhere else. Thanks for the inspiration.
Pj day? I love those! I can’t say that I have a favorite because I LOVE them all! And the pom poms look wonderful on the chair. I can’t believe you decorated that mantle for so cheap, it looks like a million bucks. You have a talent that is for sure, an eye for design! If it is any consolation, my daughter says we have a boring tree too.
All the white with the splashes of colour are simply stunning – I like the red the best!
Beautiful, I always choose alternative colors for Christmas too!
AH I Love this mantel! Gorgeous!! Love all the whites.
That is lovely. I love all the white mixed with the pops of color. Great job!
Beautiful~ love white mantels and your pops of color are gorgeous! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!
This is stunning, I love the white and how you play with pops of color.
your posts are like pics out of magazines. wonderful
blessings
barbara jean
These mantel displays are gorgeous! I’m lucky to have 2 fireplace mantels in my home. They are so fun to decorate for the holidays. 🙂
houses for sale
This is one of the prettiest mantels by far = love all of the different colour options!
Never underestimate the power of all white! And the pop of color stands out so much more! Love! Visiting via beth’s party!
This is just beautiful! I love all of the white with the pops of color in the different ornaments! Gorgeous!
I just wanted to let you know i love your Christmas mantel that i have added your tutorial to my blog
http://ourlittlenestonthelake.blogspot.com/
happy holidays
I do have a featured blog button if you would like to add to your site.
thank you
Loving your mantel I miss not having one its to hot in North Queensland for fires places, I shall have to move south & build my next house with a mantel so I can create a christmas scene :))
Gorgeous! So glad I found you! Happy new follower 🙂 My