Summer Mantel

I wanted to do something a little different

this year for the summer mantel.

 Instead of the usual "cottage garden chic",

I thought I would go the beach!

 I dug out some shells and this cool picture that

belonged to my dad.

This was my inspiration, blue and white, the ocean...

 Filled a glass vase with shells gathered when we lived

near the ocean in Washington,

 Stacked some sand dollars in a bell jar.

 Moved some shutters in front of the fireplace opening.

I even changed out the wing chairs for the navy striped ones.

Bring on the Summer!

Decorating is in the Details: A New Summer Mantle

By the time the 4th of July was over, I was growing tired of my red, white and blue mantle decor,

and longing for something simpler and softer.

So I packed up Lady Liberty and Uncle Sam for another year and started looking around the house for inspiration. I wanted soft, neutral, beachy...something cooler for these hot August days.

I started with some shells the kids had gathered from the beaches of Washington when we lived there. That was a good start. What else did I have that fit my criteria?

How about some white squash from the garden?

A white pitcher... white birdhouses...

and other odds and ends.

Plus a new summer banner.

Put it all together and it is just what I was looking for!