My Summer Mantelscape 2013

Summer’s here!  Well, ok. Not officially… but it sure feels like it! It’s a great time to stay inside the cool and work on my summer mantelscape.

 I love decorating with turquoise and orange, especially in the warm months! Those colors are actually opposites on the color wheel, which is one reason why they’re so pleasing to the eye. They are the dominant colors in this scene.

Starting with a clean slate, I hang a large piece in the center of the wall above the mantel. It’s actually an old oil painting that I started in high school art class and never finished! I found it a while back as I was going through some projects from HS and college. Even though it’s unfinished, I like it and the colors are perfect.

 I begin to layer. Layering is the key, really, just as it is in fashion. Most of us accessorize our outfits. We add a scarf or jewelry to complete a look. So it is with décor.

A large tin charger that’s quite rustic is placed to the left, again pulling out some great color. And I have a small canvas that I picked up at a discount store that will go on the right. Both of these things will actually lie right up against the middle painting.

Then I add an iron birdcage (wound with ivy and a candle inside – sitting atop my authentic art history textbook from college), an iron candlestick and a working miniature bicycle (from TJMaxx ).

To fill in the center, I stack 3 antique books of graduating size and add a plant in a copper pot (thrift store!) on top.

A few more items sprinkled in complete the look. One of my faves is the curvy chrysanthemum vase from Anthropology™ (a gift from my daughter)!

To help pull the eye down and into the room, I add a market basket with throw pillows in front of the fireplace screen!

And there you have it! A cool and colorful summer mantelscape!!

Have fun with your mantel! Send me a photo if you try something new…