Christmas Mantle

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Had a slight change of plans for my family room mantle this year. Usually it's decked out with greens but when I pulled out my oversized Pottery Barn ornaments I decided to do a more serene display.

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Antique pickling jars were perfect to hold cut branches. I slipped oasis foam in the bottom, inserted the branches and covered with faux snow. The mirror is from a local antique store. I didn't buy it the first time I saw it and went back for it a month later. So glad it was still there! Someday I may paint it. Maybe.
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And I've gotten started on my presents. Crate & Barrel had beautiful, heavy duty wrapping paper in modern metallic prints. Love, love the one with branches and wish I bought more of it.

I feel kind of late with my holiday decor. As I write this my tree isn't even up. And it seems I've missed participating in all the holiday blog parties. Maybe there's hope for me next year.
How about you…how's your decorating going? Please tell me I'm not the only one…

55 Responses to “Christmas Mantle”

  1. Carol@SofasandSage

    Please don’t paint that beautiful mirror! It’s so stunning against the white, and warm and lovely. I’m done, but what a project it felt like this year — so unlike me for it to be an effort. Your mantle and packages are out of a magazine.

  2. Tammy Hensley

    You are not the only one! Illness and work has sidetracked me completely so I’m hoping the tree goes up this weekend!

  3. Alice

    What a lovely mantle! I really love the contrast between the dark mirror and the white fireplace. I think you should leave it brown.
    After being sick, and several community projects taking all my time I have not done much in the way of decorating. I hope to get there this weekend. We’ll see how that goes.

  4. Curious Details

    Heather I love this!
    So soft and pretty. I’m a big fan of the snow.
    Merry Christmas and thank you for all
    the beautiful inspiration.

  5. Dawn-Hydrangea Home

    Love your Christmas mantle and the mirror is gorgeous! I am behind this year as well. Just finished my tree last night. And lots of shopping to finish! But it all gets done in the end – and if it doesn’t – it wasn’t that important!

  6. Debbie

    I agree your mirror is gorgeous this way. And I love the serene mantel. We live in the mountains and have a wood stove…no mantel…but I dream of one just like yours! hahaha…and those blog parties….those people really have a staff hidden in their pantry to do all the tree setting up, etc. Don’t you worry one bit about missing anything!
    Big smile.
    blessings,
    Debbie

  7. connie@connie-k.com

    Not alone…I just put up my tree and haven’t wrapped one thing yet…
    Love the mantel and mirror..My dress form, I finished with your directions is all dressed for the holidays and waiting in the entry to greet Santa when he stops by!

  8. Dede Warren

    What you have done Heather looks stunning. The beautiful white display along with the greenery you showed last week, I’m sure make your home happy and bright!
    Happily I finished my Christmas prep early this year, with my decorating, shopping, etc finished by Thanksgiving! That’s rare, but I have to say I’ve enjoyed the holidays more because of it.
    Have a Merry Christmas Heather!

  9. cindy

    Your mantel is gorgeous, everything you do is so artistic and creative. I love that mirror, just the way it is.
    Hugs, Cindy

  10. Morning T

    Heather your mantel is absolutely gorgeous and I too love your mirror just as is. Merry Christmas to you and thank you for sharing your vision and talents with us throughout the year. Your blog is one of my favorites!
    Hugs~
    T

  11. paige

    i was hoping you’d post some images from your holiday home soon!!
    everything is so lovely.
    i like the mirror as is….not that you asked 🙂
    gorgeous packages too my friend
    merry christmas
    xo

  12. annar

    We just put our tree up this weekend and I haven’t even started baking. The mantle is only half done and the front door needs a wreath. But we are all together and usually everything works out.

  13. Adrienne

    You mantle is lovely…personally I would never paint the mirror, the contrast between the dark wood and the light wall is just too nice.

  14. Jacque Asselin Ferreira

    I love the simplicity of the branches in the jar, very peaceful and beautiful. I decided to have no expectations of my decorating this year,so the little things I have done I have enjoyed more then ever… some years it is just right to do less. Have a Beautiful Season~ Jacque

  15. Laurie

    The mantle is beautiful! Don’t feel bad, my tree isn’t up yet either and we are surrounded by Christmas tree farms!!!

  16. Heather Bullard

    WOW! You gals are awesome!
    Thanks so much for making me feel like I’m not a complete failure with my decorating this year. Better late than never I suppose. And I appreciate your feedback on my mirror…Natural it is and no painting for now!
    Here’s to taking things slowly and doing what you can for your holiday decorating without any pressure!
    Cheers to you all!
    Heather

  17. J Sorensen

    Your mantel is stunning!! Don’t feel bad about your late decorating plans, I just have a small white tree up with a few ornaments, but hey we still have time 🙂 Anyway love your mantel and the wrapping paper from Crate and Barrel. Thanks for sharing,
    Jeanette

  18. Karen B

    I’m in agreement with the natural mirror. It and your mantle are beautiful! Life is crazy these days isn’t it? My decorating is almost finished. Although I tend to keep tweaking it throughout the month. Gifts are not all purchased and only one is wrapped. I’m enjoying the parties with friends and traditions with the family, so that’s the main thing! Merry Christmas, Heather.

  19. Kim

    Yes, don’t feel bad I just got my tree up and no decorations as of yet! Everything looks beautiful, love the mirror.~Cheers Kim

  20. Jamie

    Absolutely stunning!!! However, I would not expect anything less:) I love the mirror.

  21. Michelle

    Day #3 of a blizzard where I live on a farm in rural Michigan. I still don’t have my tree and my shopping isn’t finished…you’re not alone out there!

  22. teresa

    I’m about in the same place…just put up a little white Tree yesterday. =} we are going to our Daughters for Christmas, so I keep telling myself it’s okay…but it does seem weird not to have the house deck out for Christmas….next year I hope to be better
    Your decorations are divine….as always =)
    Happy day

  23. Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality

    Heather, it’s all so pretty, as always! I think many of us felt the need to do less this year, myself included. I left 1/2 my bins in the attic & it felt better than ever.
    Your mantel is just awesome, perfect for the Season. Merry Christmas!

  24. lorraine lewis

    So very beautiful.
    I love the idea of the branches in the pickling jars- I do this at home but the faux snow is the magic touch- thank you for the beauty that you share!

  25. Nancy W

    please DO NOT EVER paint the mirror. it is quite lovely as is. enjoy your blog and your many talents.

  26. Dore

    Perfect Peacefully soulful Joyeux Noel over here, your style leaves us in Awwwww!
    Cheers
    xx
    Joyeux Noel
    ~Dore~

  27. Tracie~My Petite Maison

    So very pretty, Heather!
    I can’t get enough of the canning jars myself. They look pretty w/everything. I really love the soft colors you used here, very inspiring. Just starting w/the decorations here at the maison.
    Joyeux Noël ~ Merry Christmas,
    ~Tracie

  28. Clare

    Nope, I’m exactly the same. Finally just put up my tree on the weekend, but haven’t put out any other decorations at all yet. Plus I’ve decided my tree is ugly now and wished I had time/money for a newbie haha! Oh well, as you say there’s always next year….
    ~ Clare x

  29. Modern Crush

    Just beautiful Heather! I JUST got my tree this last weekend, and still have a large pile of decorations waiting to be put up. Yes, there is always next year!!

  30. Kate

    We have not started AT ALL, and we won’t until Sunday when Dad gets here. And I’m totally okay with that. 🙂 It’ll all be down before the new year too. Less than two weeks with a tree… It somehow saves my sanity. 🙂

  31. Chrissy

    I can honestly say…that is the prettiest mantel I have ever seen!!! Just stunning! All the best,Chrissy

  32. Paige Thomas King

    i’ve finally got a few things done–it helps that i mentioned in my newspaper article (sunday) that my staircase would be done and featured on my blog–otherwise i’d be sitting here telling you nothing is done! i have to be held accountable these days or nothing gets done!
    your mantle is lovely–very inspiring. just told hubby that i may not do the usual greenery garlands with gilt leaves and feathers this year. feeling like too much.
    thanks for sharing.

  33. Judy

    I’ve been reading about a lot of bloggers being laid up sick this year and not getting their decorating done. You are SO not alone. Love that mantel.
    Judy

  34. kath

    The tree is up (after it falling over once and breaking 12 vintage ornaments)but no wreath on the door yet, house just getting started….First year back in retail. Forgot how that takes over, but love it. No you are not alone.

  35. Susan Hemann

    Beautiful mantle! That mirror is stunning. I would leave it as it is. I am so far behind this year. I haven’t even started decorating! This is a first for me as I’m usually done by now. Love the wrapping paper.

  36. Susan

    Heather, it is just beautiful! i love everything you did. you are so talented! i’m still working on a few touches here. never too late to decorate! have a wonderful day! Susan

  37. Mitzi Curi

    Your mantle is just lovely! I think many of us are in the same boat when it comes to Christmas decorating. By the time I finish decorating the five antique mall booth spaces I have, I don’t have much energy left to decorate my home. The tree I finally set up over last weekend will probably stay up until February…..

  38. Lori

    Heather,
    Your mantle is magnificent! It makes me want to go home and redo mine. I’m so happy to hear that I’m not the only one falling behind with the decorations. I hope to have everything done by the time my family rings the doorbell at 2:00PM on Christmas Day! Merry Christmas to all!!!

  39. Hollie eastman

    I’m running late this year too…my sister and i have decided it’s just kind of a laid back, slower pre-Christmas.I have way fewer decorations up, but I am kind of liking the simplicity…next year though…!!
    Hollie

  40. Kimberly

    H~ Just decorated today and I am missing the tree too! I think we are going to our property this weekend and we will see if there is a tree we can cut down. 🙂 Blessings to you my friend! Kimberly

  41. Nita@ModVintageLife

    Your mantel looks beautiful and I love the mirror. How great that it was still there. I’m behind too. My tree is up but the rest of the rooms need to be cleaned and fluffed. I’m working on it.

  42. Diane

    Wow what a great statement of the feeling we are doing less maybe because so so many can’t do anything at all.
    I have also just put up lights and my wonderful flea market antique shop finds and keep addin(where did I get so much)but no tree. It is still outside and we have decided to cut the branches and use for roping over the windows, mantle doorways for that wonderful pine smell.
    I am feeling I guess so thankful for what I have that what I have put out is enough. And it feels right.

  43. Jef

    The mirror is so beautiful with the old patina on the wood and all the gorgeous carving…it would be a shame to paint it. Plus it’s a great contrast with all the other white on the mantel and in the room.

  44. angela

    this is the most beautiful mantel display I have ever layed eyes on! Wow! I am bookmarking this one so I can recreate a version in our new historic home next year! Wow!
    I love the mirror as is…..(don’t paint it!) From one painter to another!
    I love the patina and its a perfect blend of colors on the mantel, if it were white it would be too “overexposed”
    love it!

  45. Miss Mustard Seed

    I’m a little late to the party, but I love this mantle. It’s so simple, yet elegant in it’s style. Just lovely and great inspiration!

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