So last week I mentioned the other projects I decided I needed to do in the midst of holiday preparations. You know, all the things you’ve been putting off or didn’t even notice before they suddenly seem urgent. One of them was repainting my former kitchen cupboard door turned shutter above my fireplace.
You might remember that I had originally painted it blue because I didn’t have any primer. We were having company over that night and that was all I had on hand that would stick to the cabinet like primer. As luck would have it, I ran out of time to paint the third shutter a top coat of white like the others so it had to stay blue. Whatever.
So, while the middle shutter was a lovely shade of blue, after a few weeks of living with its blueness it just wasn’t working for me. I did like the idea of the third shutter being a color instead of white though. So, I got out my new favorite green paint mixed with some brown toner and voila, I now have an aged green shutter.
Still haven’t painted my swine walls (OINK!) and I am still considering fabric to possibly slipcover my chairs and ottomans, but I am much happier overall now just having my green shutter. It doesn’t take much to make me happy. Decorating is definitely a slow process of pulling together what I have around my house. Picking out everything from scratch before I even began would be easier, but I enjoy the challenge of making things work as I go.
So, there you have it, the mantel and its touch of Christmas. To keep it inexpensive and simple, I used mostly things I already had…my HomeGoods lanterns, old garland, my Pier One apples from fall, and clear glass candlesticks to hold up my blue glass ornaments. And I finished it off with a natural twig wreath to balance out the pretty and round out the rectangular shapes. That wreath will work all winter.
Some of you asked about the stockings when I showed them last week. They are Pottery Barn but I added some of my grandma’s doilies to the girls’ stockings to pretty them up and make them unique. Easy peasy. No sewing either, just tucked them around the cuff.
Hi, I'm Melissa. This is where I share inspiration for creating a simple, authentic and beautiful home.
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{ 60 comments… read them below or add one }
Your mantle looks so nice and fresh. Wish I was that far along in the process…maybe today is the day.
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…lovely…perfectly lovely…just exactly what Christmas should be….
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After seeing your door above your mantle, I’m thinking about trying my old door above ours. I blogged about my old door last week. I think it might be worth seeing how it looks. Thanks for inspiring me!!!!
Kim´s last blog ..Advent Calendars
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Beautiful!!
I had a feeling those stockings were pottery barn! darn!
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So pretty! Love how your mantle pulls together all the rest of the colors in your room.
Stacy @ Red Door Home´s last blog ..My Home for the Holidays – Part II
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It’s BEAUTIFUL Melissa! I SO wish I had a mantle to decorate!
~TidyMom
TidyMom´s last blog ..Dollar Store {Holiday} Decorating!
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sigh, its all so pretty I just adore the colors in your room, I wanna redo my house as soon as both girls are in school, I just love your style so peaceful…
Lisa Marie´s last blog ..NaUghTy oR NiCe
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Your home is lovely, like something out of a magazine!
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Your mantel is beautiful! I love the white stockings.
Courtney´s last blog ..it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
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It all looks so lovely and as if it belongs! Looking forward to seeing what you pull together this season!
Jen
Jennifer´s last blog ..{It’s Coming Together}
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What a gorgeous mantel!!! Happy week!
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* G’ mornin’! Your choice of colors n’ textures here is just wunnnaful!!! It’s SOOOO CHARMING & the look is so beautifully fresh!!! So glad you shared this with us!!!
A+ my friend!!!
Linda in AZ *
bellesmom1234@comcast.net
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I really love the color scheme. Nice! And I love the simple wreath hanging above the mantel. Very sophisticated.
LesleySW´s last blog ..Sunday roundup: An MCM stool, mantels & more
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Beautiful! I love me some symmetry on a mantel. Great colors, too.
Katie´s last blog ..Thankful
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Oh Melissa, it is just gorgeous…you are so talented!!!
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Oh, it’s just so pretty and fresh looking! I love it!
suzanne
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Great color combination (one of my favorites): Mediterranean blue & apple green, balanced by clean white. And you make it affordable by using what you already have. It looks lovely!
Michelle, Home Staging Pro´s last blog ..Arcadia Home Staging – Confucius says “One Must Have A Good Tool In Order To Do A Good Job”
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Very pretty and I love those natural elements. And the stockings! Your color palette is perfect.
Flower Patch Farmgirl´s last blog ..Best $15 I’ve Ever Spent
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So so pretty and calming. Love the wreath and the stockings. i just put a little personal touch on mine too. Really makes a difference. Just gorgeous….
Nancy´s last blog ..
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This is so pretty. It’s a refreshing change from the over doneness of some of the decorations out there.
Puna´s last blog ..December 4, Oh Christmas Tree
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Your mantle looks great! Love those stockings, and your little embellishments. And I don’t think the “swine colored walls” look bad at all! In that picture, it looks like a nice light brown, with just a hint of pink.
Merry Christmas! Beth.
beth´s last blog ..Feeling festive
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I think your mantel turned out lovely. I am in love with those green apples….so fresh looking!
Tammy ´s last blog ..The decorating continues….
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Your mantel just proves simplicity = gorgeous! Looks like a front cover page for a magazine. Thanks for sharing.
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What a light and pretty mantel! I’m working on mine today.
Julia @ Hooked on Houses´s last blog ..Jason Lee’s Cottage in “Alvin and the Chipmunks”
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Love your mantel! the combination of colours works really well – great idea the “green’ shutter!!!
Gena´s last blog ..Don’t you just love hearts?!
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That’s beautiful, Melissa! I really love it.
Living With Lindsay´s last blog ..How To Create A Wired Bow
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So pretty Melissa, I love it! Thanks for sharing x
Liz@VioletPosy´s last blog ..Christmas Shopping at Bicester Village – {Sponsored Post}
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Simply beautiful!
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This is so pretty! I love the colors and the wreath!
Stephaine @ Geezees´s last blog ..looking for balance, found some … and Cindy Lou Who?
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Beautiful! Simple and gorgeous–an unbeatable combination.
Richella´s last blog ..More Christmas bang for your buck
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I really like the shutter idea on mantel- I’m thinking about coping that idea for my mantel- thanks for all the idea- it’s always fun here.
Happy Day
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You are amazing as always….. I love the cabinet doors turned shutters…I also love the simplicity of your mantle… So pretty!
Loulou´s last blog ..how I’m spending my afternoon- edited
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It’s so pretty! I love the green and white with the addition of the aqua ornaments.
Holly´s last blog ..Thrifty Gifty #9—Freezer Paper Stenciling
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Melissa, it all looks gorgeous! I love the simpleness and the addition of the shutter and my fave part, the blue balls on top of the candlesticks. Just that pop of color is perfect! Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality´s last blog ..Lime and Red in the Kitchen
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I LOVE those stockings! I really like to change somethings from year to year, but I think the stockings should be the same…I love that at my parent’s house I have had the same stocking all my life!
I have been on the hunt for good white ones that would fit in with whatever color-scheme I am feeling…and the addition of doilies – how perfect! Thanks!
caitlin´s last blog ..Color Me Techy
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Absolutely beautiful! When I grow up, I want to be just like you. Thank you for providing a window into your holiday world.
Gorgeous!
Shannon
Shannon at Old World Charm´s last blog ..English Country House Images + Meet Barbour
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I love that it looks like a natural extension of the rest of your decor, soothing and quietly beautiful. Enjoy!
Janell
Janell Beals´s last blog ..Weekend Festivities & What Happens When I Try To Get A Photo Of Myself
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Coolest wreath ever! I love the stripe of green down the middle
31everything´s last blog ..Thanks ORK!
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Just beautiful !!!! Clarice
clarice´s last blog ..Christmas Entry
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And it is gorgeous!!
Pat@Back Porch Musings´s last blog ..~Christmas at Kringles~
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I love the doilies-it really makes them look special. And your mantel looks very pretty too!
Gina´s last blog ..Letting Go of Perfect-Having an easy Christmas
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It looks just perfect! I love the blue shutter, adds so much character.
Melissa´s last blog ..check out these beauties…
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I love the mix of the green apples and blue ornaments! So fresh and pretty!!
Blessings,
Stacey
Stacey @ The Blessed Nest´s last blog ..O Christmas Tree
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This is so pretty. I love the winter white stockings. Makes me want to redo mine. Maybe next year. We have added family members over the years so now I could justify new stockings that coordinate better. I also like the simplicity of your mantel. So often more is more when it comes to the holidays but here you hit it just right. Yay you.
pam rosenberg´s last blog ..Lindsey Phillips Ballet Flats – A Great Gift For the Women On Your List
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Your mantel looks great, love the green! I have the same stockings, love this idea, I have been wanting to “girly” them up and your idea has me wheels turning!
Best wishes,
Tammy
tammy @ tinselshop´s last blog ..VINTAGE CHRISTMAS MONDAY – My Grandma’s Tree
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Looks great. I LOVE the white stockings!
Jocelyn Stott´s last blog ..Tea Cart Candy Bar
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Oh Melissa!
I thought I was going to PASS OUT when I saw your lovely…oh so Coastal Living mantel!
I thought it had to be one of your beautiful magazine shots!
Will you come to BAINBRIDGE and decorate my house?
I am sad I no longer have a mantel in our new home!
Such a focal point in the room!
The PB stockings…MAKE IT! Scrumptious!
What a lucky family you have!
Just divine!
XXOOXX
Teresa´s last blog ..It’s Time…To Decorate!
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It’s so pretty and I LOVE the wreath – it’s seasonal, but neutral at the same time. As you say, you can leave it up all winter. I feel quite inspired now – I saw some similar wreaths here in Oxford, in the Covered Market, the other day…
In my innocence, I bought a wreath for my front door the other day and when I went to hang it I discovered that it wasn’t a door wreath, but a centrepiece wreath! So I got a new one for my door today and it looks great – maybe I’ll post a photo on Passementerie in the morning.
Passementerie´s last blog ..New beginnings (soon)
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Love that green! By the way, I took your idea about using Epsom salt as snow for my table I decorated for our Women’s Christmas party, and it turned out beautifully! I will definitely do a post about it…when I get a camera battery! : P
Heathahlee´s last blog ..A Battery! A Battery! My Blog Post for a Battery!
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That’s just lovely. So peaceful and understated. I’m still stepping over boxes trying to unpack all my decorations.
Carolyn´s last blog ..Sundays in My City
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It looks lovely, Melissa
So glad you’re “home” for the holidays this year! It’s nice to own.
Myrnie´s last blog ..Bending The Rules
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Beautiful! I love the green on the shutter and the colors used in the mantle decor. The stockings are wonderful ~
Pat´s last blog ..~ Third Graders Sing for The Troops! ~
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gorgeous!…I don’t have a mantel, so I posted about my Christmas $60 Target bookcase!
Aaron´s last blog ..Putting It All Together
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It’s lovely, Melissa. I love that color you finally landed on for your shutter. And I’m like you: working things in as I go. This wall knockout in our living room has the whole house upside down as I borrow from each room to try to make this one right. It isn’t there yet…but we’re getting closer!
emily´s last blog ..tomorrow
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Love it! I love the idea of dressing up the pottery barn stockings with Grandma’s doilies. Mixing the new with the old….perfect!
desiree@lookiloos´s last blog ..A Christmas Wreath with Mad Men Style
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Melissa..
I’m liking those (oink) walls!
~warm smile, wink~
The mantle swag, the wreath (!!), the stockings — truly, your ingenuity and creatitivy make a beautiful home…. and inspire us all!
*Thank you!*
Grateful for you,
Ann
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience´s last blog ..Filling the Sky of Twitter with God-Praise?
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My question is this: Where do you purchase a stocking hanger like the one you have?
I love your blog, by the way.
~a
annie´s last blog ..
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That looks fantastic! So fresh. Well done!!!
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beautiful.
our house is missing the festiveness this year. i have just been too darn busy. maybe i can get a few things out today? we’ll see.
love the green shutter.
meg duerksen´s last blog ..funny
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Love the pieces of wood you added behind everything!
gina´s last blog ..cute "ice cream" ornament
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