I know…not quite the imaginary cover you were expecting. I just couldn’t resist tweaking one of my photos into this Elle Decor business reply card.
(Photo- Martha B.)
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My Imaginary Magazine Covers- British Vogue, The World Of Interiors, This Old House, Marie Claire Maison, Saveur, LensWork, Organic Gardening, Frankie, House Beautiful, Anthropologie
Decorating@Nibs- 16 Fireplace Mantels
I hope you enjoyed this first segment of Decorating@Nibs showing one fireplace mantel made over sixteen different ways. It was fun coming up with all these displays. Remember you aren’t limited to what I’ve done here. Pick out a few ideas and combine them to create your own design. Click images to enlarge.
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Posted in Christmas, Decorating@Nibs, Decorating@Nibs- Series Of Fireplace Mantels, Displays, Holidays, Interiors
What a stroke of luck! Just when I thought I was done with the series on fireplace mantels I got a call from the homeowners letting me back into their place for a few weeks. So…I put the ideas for place settings on hold and picked up where I left off in early June.
Fireplace Mantel #16- Toile de Jouy
One of my favorite fabrics is traditional Toile de Jouy. This is the type of print that can do it all- from walls to bed to furniture. For this display I even made a Toile mantel skirt highlighted by black ribbon.
1. Classic Toile de Jouy fabric from Joann’s
2. Eighteenth century print in the original frame
3. Glass urns filled to the brim with hydrangea
4. Staffordshire ceramic spaniels c. 1880-90 (these are my grandmother’s)
5. Book
6. This is the very same chair that appeared in my first mantel idea…only now it’s hidden beneath a Toile slipcover.
The hatbox is antique whereas the hat is a reproduction.
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Posted in Decorating@Nibs, Decorating@Nibs- Series Of Fireplace Mantels, Displays, Interiors
What a stroke of luck! Just when I thought I was done with the series on fireplace mantels I got a call from the homeowners letting me back into their place for a few weeks. So…I put the ideas for place settings on hold and picked up where I left off in early June.
Fireplace Mantel #15- A Hippie Vibe
While shopping at Joann’s I came across their pre-cut fabric samples used for quilting. Before I knew it, I had collected a dozen or more floral prints with the idea of decorating the wall with them.
1. Most fabrics from Joann’s. Others are from my stash.
2. Antique framed needlework
3. Basket
4. Vase with baby’s breath
5. Butterfly is from my own collection.
6. Assorted bottles…(large one is from Anthropologie & the other two are from my dad)
7. Feathers were found on my parents’ old farm in upstate New York
8. House plants
9. I got this old wooden trunk at an Antiques store that’s now closed. The cost? $10.
10. Paperback books, yellow mug (ebay) and bird’s cage (local consignment shop)
11. & 12. Vintage record albums and c. 1969 guitar
The rag rug came from Ikea.
A peek at next week’s mantel!
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Posted in Decorating@Nibs, Decorating@Nibs- Series Of Fireplace Mantels, Displays, Interiors
What a stroke of luck! Just when I thought I was done with the series on fireplace mantels I got a call from the homeowners letting me back into their place for a few weeks. So…I put the ideas for place settings on hold and picked up where I left off in early June.
Fireplace Mantel #14- Retro Christmas
The basis for this mantle design started when I saw these glass globes at West Elm. I couldn’t help but envision them as small dioramas showing winter scenes. I bought two…
…and filled them with sugar snow, HO scaled model pine trees, deer & figures. After that the rest of the display fell into place.
1. Fabric wallcovering (similar at Joann’s)
2. Vintage set of deer antlers is affixed to a wooden plaque.
3. Collection of Christmas cards c. 1930-1940
4. Old glass ornaments are from my husband’s family.
5. I bought this lone antler from a shop in New York state.
6. Container Store solid blue wrapping paper & red ribbon
7&8. Glass globes available at West Elm. Figures are from here and here.
9. West Elm also had a bunch of these garlands for sale. They look a lot like a paper chain but they’re actually made of wood shavings. Unfortunately, they’re sold out online. Check individual stores to see if they have any left.
The stool is from Ikea.
A peek at next week’s mantel!
(Styling & Photos- Martha B.)
Related Nibs posts-
What a stroke of luck! Just when I thought I was done with the series on fireplace mantels I got a call from the homeowners letting me back into their place for a few weeks. So…I put the ideas for place settings on hold and picked up where I left off in early June.
Fireplace Mantel #13- Less Is More
Over the summer the walls got a fresh coat of white paint which was perfect for a very clean, minimalistic display on the mantel.
1. The photograph is a beautiful traditional C-print that I bought from Christina Dixcy whose work I love. A grouping of her pictures (four or more) would look great here, too. I used a simple frameless clip frame available at Blick.
2. Vintage McCoy vase c. 1920-1930
3. Driftwood
4. Seed pods
5. The painted chair was rescued from a dumpster.
A peek at next week’s mantel!
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Lil’Pix #22: White Bedroom
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Posted in Decorating@Nibs, Decorating@Nibs- Series Of Fireplace Mantels, Displays, Interiors
Last week I got word that the homeowners wanted back into their place and I’d have to remove my stuff from the room I was using to photograph this mantel series. I was disappointed since I had planned to do six more. Oh well…it was fun while it lasted.
Fireplace Mantel #12- Christmas In The Pine Tree State
I pared down to just a few objects for this Christmas display but made sure they were all interesting and/or had plenty of texture. By the way, if you’re wondering what the pine tree state is…it’s Maine. :)
1. Fabric wallcovering has the look of burlap
2. Large pine cone wreath
3. Vintage tourist plate from Maine
4. & 5. Brass holders with candles resembling tree branches
6. Plaid fabric sample hung by curtain rings (this idea came from a short article on wool textiles in World of Interiors Magazine)
7. Antique woven chair
8. I bought the Christmas pine tree on sale at Crate & Barrel. The ornaments I made from old photographs, scanned onto cardstock and then glued to stained embroidery hoops.
A peek at a new series- place settings!
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
Related Nibs post-
I thought it would be a fun challenge to do a collection of posts on decorating. Not whole room renovations mind you, but rather smaller, more manageable projects. First up will be a bunch of ideas for decorating fireplace mantels. So…check back as I’ll be posting a new mantel arrangement each week. I hope these will provide lots of inspiration.
Fireplace Mantel Idea #11- Inside/Outside
I loved the idea of using this colorful floral fabric as a whimsical backdrop for some garden related items.
1. Fabric from Calico Corners
2. Old watering cans (similar at Terrain)
3. Rabbit photograph by Walter Schels from his book ‘Animal Portraits‘
4. Vintage picnic basket
5. Garden bench
A peek at next week’s mantel!
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
Related Nibs post-
I thought it would be a fun challenge to do a collection of posts on decorating. Not whole room renovations mind you, but rather smaller, more manageable projects. First up will be a bunch of ideas for decorating fireplace mantels. So…check back as I’ll be posting a new mantel arrangement each week. I hope these will provide lots of inspiration.
Fireplace Mantel Idea #10- Christmas Portrait
Instead of the usual portrait over the mantel I decided to hang one below it. To balance the strong oil painting I needed an equally strong wall covering. This stylized leaf print in raspberry red and white is perfect. Now for the mantel shelf. I added a playful touch using a garden bust/planter to mimic the painted matron right down to her lace collar…although mine is just a paper doily.
As for Christmas decorating- I filled the bust’s head cavity with a profusion of pine greens, holly, ivy & grocery store carnations. Two glass ornaments are displayed on gold candle holders. I whipped up the simple garland using dot stickers and string.
1. Wall covering is fabric left over from our anniversary party. Available at Calico Corners.
2. Antique portrait (borrowed from Margot…her husband’s great-great grandmother!)
3. Similar garden lady planter
4. Anthropologie Christmas ornaments (box of 12, assorted colors)
5. Candle holders were wedding gifts
6. Vintage mirror
7. Note card with quote ‘dance, love, sing, live‘
8. You can find these stickers at most school supply stores.
A peek at next week’s mantel!
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Posted in Christmas, Decorating@Nibs, Decorating@Nibs- Series Of Fireplace Mantels, Displays, Interiors
I thought it would be a fun challenge to do a collection of posts on decorating. Not whole room renovations mind you, but rather smaller, more manageable projects. First up will be a bunch of ideas for decorating fireplace mantels. So…check back as I’ll be posting a new mantel arrangement each week. I hope these will provide lots of inspiration.
Fireplace Mantel Idea #9- Dedicated to Mom
A bit of ad hoc design- I took the top part of an antique dental cabinet, flipped it and placed it on the fireplace mantel. What would have been the mid section of the cabinet now provides a shelf for kitchen crockery.
1. Reprint of a 1970′s fabric is used on the walls & lamp shade cover
2. Dental cabinet c. 1900
3. White container is filled with old/ new wooden utensils
4. & 7. Rooster and mug- Anthropologie
5. Glass storage jars- Pier 1 Imports
6. Hanging plate- Conran Shop
8. Antique rug beater
9. & 10. Old chestnut wood table and chairs were bought years ago at a favorite store that has since closed. The owner told me ebay put him out of business.
11. Rustic white plates from Crate & Barrel with vintage glassware
12. Russel Wright sugar/creamer
Note- More to come…I’m planning another nine fireplace mantels including some for Christmas. Click image to enlarge.
(Styling & photos- Martha B.)
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Decorating@Nibs- Fireplace Mantels
