Homefront: White and Natural Mantel

Are you getting tired of my mantel posts yet? Well, it's been so fun changing them up for all the recent holidays and season changing, so bare with me a little while longer! (ps. I DID clean my mirror, but I am not a streak free master.) If you DON'T have a mantle, you can do this on the middle strip of your kitchen table or coffee table, on top of a cabinet, a dresser, a shelf over a tv or desk....

I am a little tired of my usual aqua and sage green, so I decided to go back to a natural palate. These pretty much all consist of vintage items found through super sleuthing for amazing deals, so I can't complain. The adorable raccoon art I found today for a song, so it had to be featured.

Basically, I decorate, by using the larger pieces on the outsides, and angle them in. Usually, I would put a taller piece in the center, but our mantle is so narrow especially with the frame of the mirror that I only am able to use small accessories. And other times, I leave the middle totally bare and just have a little vignette on the sides.

all four A's, I painted them white, expcept for the largest, which a friend gave to me already painted.

I had all four A's up (one per family member), but removed the center two for less of a clutter look. When I go across the whole mantel, it may look overly crowded because of my smaller pieces, though I still use the remove one (or two) item rule. Just do what works and tweak when you feel the need to get nit picky, but don't stress over it! Who knows, this whole thing may look different tomorrow.

The mantle consists of a painted black finial (is an nasty brassy color underneath), raccoon print, letter A, adorable vintage wood bunny, vintage vase with fresh white roses, vintage mattress spring coil, white lantern, glass jar full of white candlesticks, vintage aladdin inspired brass mini vase, tattered vintage book from my childhood and another large white letter in front of a painted white mirror and white deer bust.

I'm loving the natural elements and wish I still had my fresh picked cotton stems to add as well. Anyone know where I can get some?

*****

And on another note. I decided to take the plunge and do a gallery wall over my couch. I laid out 3 different styles, I would love some input on which you think looks best.

1. aqua and white frames and white letters, the largest grouping

2. minus the aqua frames, medium sized grouping

3. minus the white and aqua frames, smallest grouping (though I think if I use this, I would lose the letters and put the oval frame in their place. (if you are interested on how the frame wall turned out, visit here.)

*Linked to The Nester's Mantle Linky Party,
Just a Girl's How Show and Share Day
at Kimba's of A Soft Place to Land's DIY Day 
Life as Lori's Get your Craft on Thursdays
The Shabby Cottage's Thursday Transformation
Women Who Do it All's Idea Sharin' Wednesday
Tales from Bloggeritaville's Thrifty Thursday
Between naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursdays
Jellybeans & Firefly's Show off your Stuff
Jessica's The Hills are Livin Favorite Things Friday
 It's not here at Life in the Pitt's Creative Therapy, but lots of good ones are.

Pops of Muted Color

pickles... how to make it here

I thought I would be in spring time color mode by now, but given we just had several inches of snow fall (in Texas) no less, I'm still not feelin' it.  Easter pastels, (I can't believe I'm saying this) let's wait a few more days.  But, pops of colors in muted, unforced tones are an excellent transition for me.

I love the above wreath, covered in wool felted balls. You can make your own from a kit, or purchase premade balls or learn how to do it from pickle's instructions (and while your at it, make that wonderful curtain as well!). The sewn mini colorful garland decorating the moose skull is also lovely.

johnny & stacie sfgirlbybay

The home of johnny and stacie, is a bit of perfection to me. It's open, not overly cluttered but a distinct sense of creativity and wonder resides here. Which is no wonder given that it is located in an artistic warehouse turned residential space. The backdrop of the neutral colors, beams and bones of the home and furniture allow for chamleon growth in both color and decor choices over the natural course of living in the space. We can create similar vibes with our homes if we so choose.

this pink dinosaur painting speaks to me.

Besides, how could a home with a swing in the living room not be wonderful?

Living in such a naturally colorful space would perhaps make one dress in similar muted colors, as though the fashion osmosis has seeped in to your mind by simply walking through the door.

curry necklace by urban legend

What a lovely necklace. The combination of it's elegant drape and muted colors work perfectly with the black and white printed blouse and lovely ruffle edged muted lime green shrug! And that's saying a lot from a fellow jewelry designer who primarily wears grey (and who also, loves Indian curry).

Treasured Vintage

I found a delightful blog the other day. I love how all her photos are {mostly} original, rustic, pretty and sweet. Full of vintage treasures, garlands, parties and her little shop of curiosities. Go give Saffron and Genevieve a visit!

rustic Christmas tree

paper flower at home in a rusty vase

vintage ladder masquerading as a bookshelf

vintage metal lockers

antique dolls

cow head and gazebo perfection

garden party with potted moss favors

vintage bottles

Thanks for stopping by! Here are two free downloads of scanned vintage ephemera put together from the lovely Cathe of Just Something I Made! (visit her blog for lots of inspiration & click on images for full view)