Another Mantel Idea

I love this look (and my walls are almost identical to the color of these)!

I have been obsessed with finding a new mantel, or I guess any mantel since we do not currently have a mantel and I really like the look and feel of this one. I think though that the side pieces that hold up the mantel might be a little ornate for my taste but, I really like the detail on the top shelf part of the mantel. Now I can't remember where I found this so I cannot even see if there is something like it or not.

The search goes on...

What Kind of Mantel Do I Need?

Now that the shutter is complete in our living room, I am starting to focus on the mantel. This is a picture of our, as yet, untouched mantel in all its glory. Now, the picture that my husband hung for me that is way too low, but it's there. I don't have a photo to show you but the wall that that fireplace sits on is very tall and the room has a cathedral ceiling which makes the wall appear even taller than it is. We are lucky in that the fireplace is not just hanging on the wall like so many are these days until we finish them off but, actually already had a nice marble tile surround that I think I'll keep intact. So, the trick for me is finding the perfect full mantel in the right size and for the right price.

I keep waffling back and forth between stone and wood. I think I want a lighter color, like a creamy or whitish color and that is why I think a stone or faux stone mantle would be nice. I think any wood color might look funny but, it also might tie in nicely with the wood floors from the dining room and pull the two spaces together.

Now, if I am able to just focus on one space, the mantel area, I actually might be able to get something accomplished.

Here's the fireplace up close. The marble part is 64.25 inches wide by 43 inches tall with an 18 inch apron and the fireplace is centered in the marble tile at 40 inches wide by 31 inches tall with the actual opening starting at 6.25 inches from the bottom. I think I'd like to remove the doors and just have a screen there and maybe even just put in the fake logs so we can have a fire without polluting the environment.

What do you think? Do you have any good sources for mantels? If so, I'd love to hear them.

Shutter Complete!

So, last weekend we had out beautiful shutter installed and it is really lovely. This shutter changes the entire look and feel of the space. Here are before and after photos so you can see:

This is the before photo

These are the after photos, first with shutter open, then closed

The installation of this shutter has made a much larger impact that I had anticipated and has gotten me primed to get the remainder of my dining room and living room complete. Next is the fireplace mantel, valances for the windows that flank the fireplace, new base boards, then I am ready for furniture (you can see that we use the space for furniture storage at the moment) to complete the look. Maybe within a year or so the living room and attached dining room will finally be complete.

A Party Idea

I went to a party at some friends' home and the idea they had was fabulous. They used gate-leg tables as console tables then when they have parties they pull the tables out into the room and open them up for serving or seating. I have never seen this done before and I thought it to be a fabulous idea. They are much more sturdy than a card table and you can leave them in the room in the folded state when not in use for entertaining. Since I am always troubled about how to accommodate everyone when entertaining I really latched on to this idea. Now, the implementation, that's a new nut all together.

I Shutter to Think About It...

All right, you are right, that is a bad pun. But I have to say that our shutter is finally on order. Actually we ordered it several months ago but because they were doing a custom color match we had to approve the color. The first sample was too grey, the second sample was too yellow, so we got out our can of paint (Kelly Moore Ice Cream WS 11) and stirred ti up with a paint stick, let it dry and shipped it off. Low and behold the third time was a charm, it matched perfectly! So now that we have the correct color approved, the shutter should be read in about 2 weeks. Then our gigantic, West facing window can be covered to keep the summer heat out and the winter warmth in. I'll post a photo when it's installed but for now I'm just so happy we are almost there and just in time for Indian summer.