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Our House… Living Room Mantel… Before, Before and After!

March 4, 2012

I just realized this is the third time I’ve posted about “Our House” living room mantel. (And I’ve learned the correct way to spell it too! I always thought it was mantle…nope, it’s mantel.)

The first post was the Christmas mantel, the second was the Valentine’s mantel, and now this third post which is going to be a two-fold post about the mantel.

First, in my determination to ‘lighten up’ the living room, I decided to change the usual, non-holiday mantel display, with a lighter approach. So to start here’s what it recently used to look like:

This photo was taken just before my quest started to ‘lighten up’ the living room, (which I share both the window treatments before and after, and the tutorial on making them).  The two art glass pieces on each side of the mantel are very special to me. Both are gifts from two of my kids, so before I replaced them with something else I needed to secure a special place for them elsewhere. With that accomplished, here’s what my mantel looks like now:

All of the items on this new mantel display I gathered up from around the house, or shed.

It’s still basically the same ‘shape’ or outline of shapes on the mantel, but instead of the main color being black with accents of red and green, the main color is white with accents of blue and brown.  This looks beautiful with my new window treatment fabric:

These cute pair of bird obelisks I got last summer from HomeGoods for outside, but they are lightweight terra cotta and blew over outside several times, how they didn’t break is amazing, but they work really well up here, for their color, theme and size. I needed something tall and narrow because this mantel is really quite shallow.

And since we’re on the subject, here’s what this mantel looked like when we first moved in “Our House” :

Sorry for the poor quality, it’s the only picture I could find.  As you can see the mantel was a dark oak, super plain little shelf.

So I added some carved brackets I bought from VanDyke’s and attached them to the bottom of the shelf. They are actually gapped in the back from the stone a little, as there was no way I was going to try to scribe them into that myself. But you really don’t notice that gap. (Do you?)

I also purposely added some ‘texture’ to the existing oak shelf with some sheetrock mud before I painted it all. (It was just so smooth and perfect it looked manufactured after the first coat, and I was trying to accomplish a hand carved look, like the brackets are.)

I’m super happy with the new lighter, fresher mantel now.

And I’m looking forward to sharing the whole room with you, but the windows face South, so I have to get the lighting just right so you can see the window treatments…it’ll come, just watch for it.

As always, please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. The French Hen's Nest says

    December 13, 2012 at 11:28 am

    Great improvement on the mantle. The creme looks great against the beautiful stone. Your mantle decorations are simple and elegant.

    Linda @ The French Hen’s Nest

    Reply
  2. Athena at Minerva's Garden says

    June 19, 2012 at 4:45 pm

    What a pretty display–I really like the bird obelisks! Anything with birds I usually like.

    Reply
  3. Shannon Fox says

    March 16, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    It looks great! Love the ever-evolving style. So fun to change things up =) Lighting is hard to come by at my place too, waiting to get snaps of a new project. Maybe Summer? When the sun comes out… lol 😉 THANKS for sharing this.

    Reply
  4. Kim says

    March 12, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    I love it! I just added corbels to my fireplace to get the same look. It was so worth it! Glad I am not the only one who likes that big chunky mantle look.

    Reply
  5. northern cottage says

    March 12, 2012 at 4:13 pm

    ahhh classic – i have that EXACT same birdhouse – thinking of painting mine (either white or a fun color) when spray paint season opens here – go away snow!! xo

    Reply
  6. paige says

    March 12, 2012 at 1:38 pm

    i had one of those ponderosa-style mantels in our first house–wish i had thought to add the brackets/corbels.

    Reply
  7. Melody of ChattyChics.com says

    March 11, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Oh my goodness! It’s dreamy! I can’t believe what a difference you’ve made from the original! The cream is beautiful! Especially with the brackets underneath! Gorgeous! I’ll be featuring this my friend!

    Reply
  8. Honey says

    March 11, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    Thank you for sharing your beautiful mantel at Potpourri Friday! I always appreciate your participation!

    Reply
  9. Vanessa says

    March 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    That is just absolutely beautiful and your mirror is amazing! Thank you so much for sharing this with us at Inspiration Friday this week!
    Vanessa

    Reply
  10. Princess Kate says

    March 9, 2012 at 8:28 pm

    I think the white looks fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  11. decoratingchica says

    March 9, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    Looks great. My fireplace is dark as well, Getting ready to paint the brick. Good job.

    Reply
  12. laurie says

    March 8, 2012 at 9:55 pm

    Gorgeous! Love those corbels!!! 🙂

    xoxo laurie

    Reply
  13. Bonnie @ uncommon says

    March 8, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    Fantastic! love the corbels and the little birds! thanks for sharing with us! Bonnie 🙂

    Reply
  14. Pam @ diy Design Fanatic says

    March 8, 2012 at 4:41 pm

    Very pretty! Love the corbels!

    Reply
  15. Pamela says

    March 8, 2012 at 8:01 am

    It looks just lovely and I am still in awe over your gorgeous mirror! Thanx for coming to the party!

    Reply
  16. Ruth says

    March 8, 2012 at 7:30 am

    Your mantle is fabulous. I love the corbels, so gorgeous!!
    Ruth

    Reply
  17. Judy says

    March 7, 2012 at 6:41 pm

    Your mantle looks amazing. Gorgeous corbels. Thanks for sharing at DIYbyDesign.

    Reply
  18. Brittany says

    March 7, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    Your mantle looks lovely! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Sharon ت says

    March 7, 2012 at 4:05 pm

    You did a great job of lightening up the mantel. I love the birds, the use of natural elements, the crisp color scheme and the varying heights of the objects. And the before and after of your mantel shelf is impressive.
    Thanks for sharing your talent at Show & Tell.

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

    Reply
  20. Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Your fireplace is wonderful. I love that mirror, it is stunning. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

    Reply
  21. Mary Alice says

    March 7, 2012 at 8:00 am

    Your mantel looks wonderful. Fabulous mirror, and I love the birdcage tucked at the end.
    Mary Alice

    Reply
  22. victoriantailor says

    March 6, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    Yes,that mirror is fantastic, beautiful huge mantle!

    Reply
  23. Elizabeth@BlueClearSky says

    March 6, 2012 at 6:21 pm

    Your mantel is just lovely and that mirror is gorgeous! A great Spring look too.

    Reply
  24. Honey says

    March 6, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Gorgeous! What a terrific mirror and the white is so much better!

    Reply
  25. serendipityandspice says

    March 6, 2012 at 5:11 pm

    I adore the stone fireplace! My favorite piece is definitely the mirror. Thanks for linking up!

    Reply
  26. Kammy Wielenga says

    March 6, 2012 at 4:48 pm

    wow, way to work some magic!!!

    Reply
  27. Maury @ Life on Mars says

    March 6, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Love it! That fabric is the fabric I just used in my master bedroom. Did you get it from Ballard Designs? I got it at a local fabric store, but then saw it in the Ballard Designs catalog. Love the colors and texture of it.

    Reply
  28. thecapeonthecorner says

    March 5, 2012 at 11:49 am

    looks great-definitely lighter! i love those birds, perfect for spring!

    Reply
  29. Carlene@Organized Clutter says

    March 4, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    Great mirror! Nice display too!

    Reply
  30. Cloches & Lavender says

    March 4, 2012 at 8:58 am

    Love the mirror and the corbels.

    Reply

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