Monday, May 19, 2014

Accessorizing a Cottage Fireplace Mantel

Hello everybody!!!!!
Bear with me, I'm in a good mood.
Nothing hurts today!!!!!
Boy, getting old is a bitch.....

anyway.....
on to my blog post.....
We left off my last post with Miriam and Ross's footstools settling in to their new home.
Since the room is nearing completion.....
I knew that if I left the accessorizing to my dear niece Miriam, 
there would be a lotta krap  items spread around that I wouldn't like.
To avoid this situation, I went to Micheal's and found some things, as well as rummaged through my stuff and chose a few items that I felt I could part with.....
as long as the two youngsters appreciated them and never lost them or gave them away or stored them in the basement or attic.......
I gave them a water color that I had used over my fireplace in my cape cottage.
Remember this picture from my cottage?????
I just wrote about this a little while ago.
Ross and Miriam refuse to let me hang plates on the wall.......
so I am still trying to find things for their walls that we all will like.
Anyway,,,,
Below is their living room with the water color in its new residence.
So, let's see.....
Ov Vey!!!!!
Everything on the mantel is from me!!!!!

I had given them the candlestick alabaster lamps, but they didn't have any light bulbs....or lampshades.....
I'm one of those dorks who likes a symmetrically arranged mantel.
I know it's chic to have it asymmetrical,
 but that's not how I roll.
I wasn't thrilled with the fake fern on the mantel.
Miriam liked it.
WHOSE HOUSE IS THIS ANYWAY?????
So it was moved to a table, and I gave them my collection of Bristol glass blue vases.
Still no light bulbs.....
Miriam and Ross must have been very busy....
There is an electrical outlet in the center of the mantle for when folks used to keep a clock on the shelf.
 when you need to know the time.....everyone in this house looks at their iPhone......
I plugged the lamps in there, it was very convenient, but we needed to leave the painting leaning against the wall to hide the plugs.
The mantel still looked too bare to me.....
what good are vases without sumptin inum?????
6 months later, they still hadn't gotten any light bulbs, so I swung by Lowe's and picked up the appropriate size and wattage, as well as the pair of lampshades.
Lowe's rocks!!!!!
I was in and out in 10 minutes!!!!!
This was after I had spent an inordinate amount of time at Micheal's.
We were getting ready for Miriam's baby shower.
We wanted the house to look beeootiful.

When I shop for accessories, I choose a lot of stuff to try out, and return what I don't use.
Tons of silk flowers.....
Tons of baskets.....
Tons of miscellaneous stuff!!!!!
So I gathered arm loads of white flowers, as realistic as I could find.
I chose all different sizes, as that makes for a better bouquet.
Then I hauled it over to the youngster's abode and cut them down to fit into the vases.
I think the lampshades make a tremendous difference too, to adding shape and texture to the grouping.
Here's one of my fabulous side by sides for comparison!!!!!
The room looks all glowey when the lamps are turned on.
I am a lover of lamp light as opposed to over head recessed lights. 
It's just so inviting and comfy.
I have lights in most of my ceilings, but seldom use them except in my kitchen, although I even have a lamp in that room as well which I keep on in the winter nights,...
I realize that I'm not posting as often as I used to.....
but bear with me.....
I am crazily submerged in designing fabric.
It may not amount to anything, but I am having a really good time.
I've also been gardening, as that is what I have to do in the spring.....
but that isn't as much fun.
Actually, that isn't any fun.....

No!!!!
wait a second!!!!!
before I go.....
I want to do a side by side of the way the room looked when I started and the way it is now!!!!!
OK, now I'm done.....

On that note,
Latah, Gatah
Photobucket

13 comments:

Pondside said...

Oh, to have had an aunt like you!

Nutbird said...

I have a question. Visiting house on Martha's Vineyard and other places, I often see paintings or prints on the wall that mimic the view out the windows. Is this the appropriate use of artwork? If I have a house in Vail, should I only use mountain scenes or animals or Edward Curtis prints? Are seascapes and lighthouses out of place in the mountains? Thank you. Ann

Stacey said...

It's so pretty! I love the blue in the vases you put up there and the little lamps are perfect too. I'm a symmetry loving girl too so I understand your thinking. It just feels better when things are symmetrical.

fixitfaerie said...

I love what you did with the mantel. It is gorgeous. WOW! The before picture is, I'm not sure how to word this nicely, so I won't. Good luck with your fabric venture.

Unknown said...

Beautiful job Betsy, their room is all grown up now. I love shaded candlestick lamps and have them everywhere in my home. In fact I keep them all lit 24-7 cause I'm old and lazy now.

Dolores said...

What a huge difference your decorating has made, Betsy.Now the living room looks so calm and cheerful- and soothing.
What a happy room to come home to..

Anonymous said...

Wow! Much better.
Krista

Di said...

I really like the floral blue vases and the candlestick lamps are the perfect accent, especially lit. Good luck with the fabric design!

Debi Jaynes said...

Looks great! Like you, my gardening is taking lots of time and I feel as though I neglect the house. Then I look at this and will have trouble deciding which to do--yard or indoors!! Your style feels just like home to me--still love love love the beadboard in the bedroom that we installed-- Thanks to you!

cheapdiva said...

I'm with you . . . can't stand overhead lights BUT love lamps!!! This room has come together beautifully - of course!!

Mary said...

Come on down to VA, and bring plates to hang on my walls anytime. Your taste is fabulous, wonderful, cool, and just the best. I LOVE what you did with their mantle, more than perfect!

Mary
from Virginia

Mary said...

oops, mantel

Classof65 said...

Do you remember Betsy McCall?

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