DIY SPRING MANTEL

DIYSPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

Spring means a new vignette on the mantel. And  this spring I didn’t want to spend a lot of time or money styling my mantel. Don’t you love when you can create something that is new and fresh and use what you already have? It took a little thought and lots of arranging and editing and rearranging, but if finally came together. It has the farmhouse charm I love in the back of my house and I used many of my upcycled diy projects in the design!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

The styling on the mantel could easily be kept up all year with only a few things traded out from season to season. But, what fun would that be, right? For me, it’s changing things up that keeps my decor fresh and fun!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

I’m calling this my diy mantel for a very good reason! Many… no really, most of the elements on the mantel have been a project of mine. Let’s start with the most recent project… the clock!

It used to look like this…

WINTER MANTEL 2016-instagram-stonegableblog-2

I really love this clock but I think the wood frame was a little “heavy” for the mantel. My mantel is white and the paint on the walls is very neutral. The black shutters anchor all the white but the color of the clock frame called too much attention to itself.

This is how it looks now, DIY #1…

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

 

I used Amy Howard One Step (chalk) paint. And used a cracked patina. I am still going to add another layer of cracked patina so look for a diy that you will LOVE on Saturday! This painting technique is insanely easy to do and it looks like the real-old-paint deal! I’ll have a step-by-step tutorial on cracked patina. 

 

SPRING MANTEL-chippy-clock-2-stonegableblog.com-2

One more peek. Seriously, can you see how gorgeous this is? This is my new favorite painting technique. 

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

DIY # 2…Flanking the clock are vintage black chippy shutters. These shutters were very long and Bobby retrofitted them to fit the mantel. Here’s a post on HOW TO RESIZE AN OLD CHIPPY SHUTTER. Don’t pass up great looking shutters because they are too long!

The shutters were found at a local antique market. And they were in my car the moment I saw them!

DIY #3… I painted these lamps a couple of years ago. They went from green faux marble to antiqued white and black. New shades were added! They are just the right size for the mantel. And I love having a little light in that area of my family room. Our builder added a plug in the mantel so we could use lamps.

 

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

On the left side of the mantel I brought back a tiny black stool and perched a burlap covered book… DIY #4… and a pitcher of white tulips on it. The white tulips are a big nod to spring! 

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

 

To the left of the stool are two more burlap covered books. These books can still be read! To see how you can cover book with on-trend burlap click HERE. WARNING: This project is really addictive! You will want to cover all the books in you home.

Can you see our house mouse sleeping under the stool? We found him on a kitchen window sill of our very first home and he has gone with us from house to house to house!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

More books. On the right side of the mantel I added an architectural “egg” on a stack of burlap covered books.

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

And I took a chippy architectural piece that was once in an old house and made it into a bookend of sorts.

My garage is becoming a holding place for gorgeous architectural thingies! I can’t pass them up. I love to imagine where they were in and on their original home.

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

There is another piece just like it in my garage. I think they will work well somewhere in my house as matching bookends! Oh, sigh!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

Hey, I know this is overkill but just one more look…

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

When all those diy elements are put together they look like this…

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

I’m thinking about adding one more fun element to the mantel so be looking for a post with the addition!

I really love this chippy, diy mantel! It reflects the relaxed farmhouse charm of the back of our home!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

PIN IT AND SAVE THE INSPIRATION!

DIY SPRING MANTEL-A spring mantel styled with diy projects

 

 

 

 

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23 Comments

  1. Yes, the clock looks better all crackled and white. I really love that old corbel.

  2. Your home always looks beautiful! My personal preference was the before, just because I think the wood tone of the clock added some warmth. What matters is what you prefer though. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Always fun to read your blog.

    1. Joyce Gotsch says:

      I agree with you Tracey. I liked the clock as it’s original color. Not only did it add a little warmth but it really made the brick surrounding the fireplace really pop. We all have different tastes…Thank goodness! Wouldn’t things be boring otherwise? The important thing is that we all be bold in decorating our homes to our individual preference. Whatever Yvonne does always looks beautiful.

    2. Me too, Tracey. While I like Yvonne’s mantel, I loved the warmth of that lovely brown clock plus it seemed to have more character, somehow. I liked that it didn’t look too matchy.

  3. Your home always looks beautiful! My personal preference was the before, just because I think the wood tone of the clock added some warmth. What matters is what you prefer though. 🙂 Thank you for sharing! Always fun to read your blog. Thank you for sharing.

  4. Yvonne your mantle is lovely! You have a gift for styling!! xo

  5. Veronica Shultz says:

    Where do I find silk tulips that look real?

    1. Hi Veronica, The tulips are not silk. They are an almost “rubbery material. They feel like a real tulip. I found them at a local home decorating store. If you have a local home decor store that is local they usually carry very interesting and different things!

  6. Yvonne I love your mantal! I have a hard time with mine because I have a Tv over my mantal. I have to Kasparov it simple!

  7. Looks great. I love, love the corbel.

  8. Love your mantel, especially the architectural piece. Oh man, I passed up a piece because it was too bright white,I could have painted it to a lot softer and it would have work perfect.The price was a steal also. I was not even thinking that I could have painted it. The piece was a big clock., that makes me so sad. 🙁 Next time. ?
    Have a blessed day

  9. I think the clock looks much better painted. Good choice.

  10. I love the clock better this way too! The mantel looks so pretty. You are always so good at figuring out just how to stack everything so it comes together.

    Nancy

  11. Oh my, you never cease to amaze me! Your creativity never ends!! I look forward to your painting tutorial later this week. I was wondering if there is a way to add black (shading) in one of the crevasses around the clock.

    Your blog is by far my favorite; thank you for sharing.

  12. Love the mantle, and the tulips do look so real. I’m out in Lancaster for the quilt show, what garden center would you recommend to visit? I did manage to get to Amy’sVintage and the Strausburg antiique center, thanks for any info, Elaine

  13. I also preferred the clock with the wood tones for warmth & variety. I would have taken down the shutters and then the mantle

    would be perfect!

  14. Lynda Schram from Seattle says:

    QUESTION: Here’s one I bet a LOT of your readers would love to have answered. Somewhere on your blog several months ago, and it may have been on THE SCOOP, someone posted how they store their dishes on metal racks in their garage. Since I love your architecture thingy on your mantel and you mentioned you are growing your collection in your garage, would you mind showing us where and how you store your excess decorating things. I am storing my extra seasonal pillow covers in a draw just like you showed us, but I am making quite an investment in plates since becoming addicted to your blog 😉 Your husband must have granted you “special love space in the garage, eh?”

    1. I also have a 2 big rolling shelving units between our cars. I keep lots of things I use often on them.

  15. Love how you decorated your new spring mantel! The clock was a shocker! That was a daring move, but it sure paid off!!! I have a Howard Miller clock that looks about the same size, and I’ve often wondered as to whether or not to do this, but my clock was pretty pricey, and I’m not sure if my husband would kill me or not:D LOL! It all looks lovely, Yvonne:)

  16. Kymberly Starr says:

    I did the burlap books and love love them! You are right, it’s addicting. Can’t wait to finish redoing my mantle.
    I read your blog every morning. I love it.

    1. I’m doing my happy dance! Thanks so much for letting me know that you make them and love them as much as I do!!!!