A Few Of My Favorite Things: Fireplace Mantels

I don't have a fireplace.  But I didn't let a minor detail like that stop me from getting a fireplace mantel!

I envisioned a white, slightly chippy mantel that maybe has decorative touches like fancy molding or designs carved into the old wood.

Then I found this old vintage mantel at On A Whim in Lucketts, VA for $35, and had to have it :

I still might paint it white, but right now I am liking how the black contrasts with everything.  Even though it has simple straight lines and no elaborate molding or carvings, I still really like it.
 

It has five old rusty hooks along the front.  I can't wait to hang Christmas stocking from them!  (Side note: Since we are currently in a heat wave with a heat index of 118 degrees, thinking about Christmas right now is refreshing!)  That cute little metal bird was a find at Old Lucketts Store.  I <3 it.

The vintage window pane is the one that I picked up from Community Forklift.  I have been going back and forth about putting a painting here, but for now this chippy frame is just right.




On a similar note - one of my most favorite blog series is by Nibs Blog who did a Fireplace Mantel Series of 12 different and distinct ways to decorate the same fireplace mantel.  The transformations are so amazing! 


Here are just a few:

 

Unbelievably creative, right??  You need to check out Nibs' Blog!

And those are a few of my favorite things!