Low Key Valentine Mantel

I've changed my mantel more since I've been blogging than ever before.

I really wasn't one to switch it up for seasons and holidays but blogging has changed me.

I was enjoying the clock from our New Year's Eve mantel but suddenly this afternoon it was time for a change. 
 


 What's different you ask?
The Ethan Allan clock has been the mantel staple for the last few years. 
I love it. 
 It remains the starting point for every mantel. 
The old books with the spines turned to the back are a staple as well. 



In a bold move the clock is on a different side this time.
Wow!
"Don't go crazy!" 
Some white candlesticks provide balance to the asymmetrical scheme. 
I like things that are asymmetrical. 
Symmetry makes me a little nervous. 
It's not me.

The cranberry glass vase came from Bill's Granny Vi. 
 


It looked good with the propped tin heart. 



  The empty frame came back into service to add some "chippy" texture. 
This old frame has been chalk painted.
I revealed bits of the old mahogany finish with a damp rag. 
You read that correctly. 
No sand paper-water!
 


The first couple of attempts at a Valentine's Day mantel design were fails. 



I liked elements of each mantel but things weren't coming together.
I show these to convey that sometimes things don't go according to plan the first time.

Keep playing with your decor until you like it.

I've been so enamored with pink, I thought this mantel would be pink.
Cranberry red works this time. 
 


It says Happy Valentine's Day without fanfare, fuss or glitter.
I love that stuff but not this year.

 

 That is what has kept me busy this afternoon. 

What have you been up to?

Katie 

My Christmas Gift To Bill

We love our little garden room. 

Bill and I use almost all year long. 

It gets a bit nippy in the winter and hot in the summer.

He wanted a new heater.  

I wanted something that looked cute. 

 

He brought one home but returned it because it was orange faux oak. 

Ummm. 

I've spent the last three years painting over orange oak. 

It went back to Home Depot. 

Bill and I have a hard time buying presents for each other. 

I think we are picky people. 

I know we are picky people.

I decided to try to find him a cute heater for Christmas.

I found this one at Home Depot. 

It's not too big for the space and it adds some atmosphere.

Faux fireplaces have come along way since I was a kid. 

It's still a little cheesy but we love it. 

I had a super sweet lunch with Laura from Decor to Adore. 

  She made this darling Valentine's Day favor. 

She is so creative and it was fun getting to know her better!

If you have a Google account and would like to follow me, please follow with Google Friend Connect. 

I lost 8 followers today because they switched things up and removed followers that aren't using Google. 

A bit discouraging considering how long it took to build a following.

 You can also follow by email.

  
I hope you all are having a great week. 
Blessings,
Katie 

Making Lemonade/The Closet Makeover

 We had a bit of a crisis which forced us to completely clean out our closets.

We sorted through every piece of clothing we own. 

Anything that wasn't being worn was not going back into the space.

It seemed like a perfect time for a makeover.

The popcorn got scraped off of the ceiling.

We have one closet but our sides are separated by a big shelf that Bill made a few years ago.

 I thought about painting my side pink.

We share a long wall that is only open above the top shelf.  

Bill wouldn't be able to see much pink but any pink is too much.

  I've read that pink is hard to get right.

Barbie or bubble gum pink wouldn't have been an improvement.

 When thinking about how to deal with the back of the shelf, I thought about wallpaper.

We headed to Lowes for wallpaper and Home Depot for a chandelier.   

 
Fresh white paint touched up the edges of the shelves and covered the back of Bill's cabinet. 

I don't know if it will get wallpapered or not.

Off the shelf wallpaper covers the focal wall. 

I only kept what I think I'll actually wear but if something isn't getting worn, it is out of here. 
Bill called me a hoarder.
He was right but lightening the load feels amazing.

 

 Bill will hang the chandelier tomorrow and I'll have more photos for you. 

 Thank you for your prayers for us.

I'm trying to come up with a way to share what has been going on but I'm not sure it's a good idea to put it out on the blog. 

Our "bit of a crisis" was stressful but it has turned out to have some blessings as well. 

That's life, I think. 

Stop back by to see the chandelier. 

I'll also talk about some of the storage pieces. 

Katie

Linking with,

Amaze Me Monday 

Must Have Decorating Elements from HGTV's Hit Show

It's no secret that I'm wild about the T.V. show, Fixer Upper.
Do you love it as well?  
Joanna's style is Farmhouse with a touch of Industrial.
 I began adding in elements of Farmhouse Style into our decor about 4 years ago. 
 Here is my list of must have decorating essentials to get a Farmhouse look. 
Almost every one of these can be see in the majority of the episodes
These images are my way of incorporating classic motifs from the show into our rooms. 

  1.  Metal sconces on the wall.

  
I have a mix of vintage and new.

 

 2. Metal containers used as vases

My metal vase is the lining to an old ice cream freezer. 

 

3. Big clocks

 4. Greenery that looks freshly clipped from the yard.

5. Architectural salvage

Windows, doors or any other piece of salvage will do. 

6. Wooden Trays, Crates and Troughs

Read about the tray that I made from old bed slats-here.

7. Wooden cutting boards

Most of mine are vintage but I see these all the time at Tuesday Morning and Walmart.

8. Chalk boards

This one is a print from An Evening With Joanna Gaines.

9. Fabulous Fireplace Makeovers

 

  

 10. Letters

You may have already seen one of these lists floating around Pinterest.
If you haven't, I'm thrilled you found this one.
Some of those links seem a little sketchy, if you ask me.  
Elements of Farmhouse Style are available for purchase at many retailers.  
Happy hunting,

Katie