DesignThusiasm

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Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

It’s a funny thing about spring decor. I’ve been decorating for autumn my entire life, and holiday decor is of course ubiquitous, but when it comes to spring, I’ve always focused my efforts on planting outdoors. This year I decided it’s time to change that and celebrate this most optimistic of seasons around my home. What better place to direct my attention than a spring mantel in the family room?

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

I’ve in fact been peppering our home with springy decor for several weeks now, with gentle touches throughout the house. It’s actually curious that I’ve ignored this season in the past when the soft light colors and ever-present flowers are exactly what I love most in decorating a home. In styling this vignette, I wanted to underscore the renewal that spring represents, so I started with cheery toned eggs tucked into one of my vintage boxes.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Our mantel itself is a lovely new piece we added to our home a few months back. I enjoy its classic lines and traditional detailing and it seems to work with many different looks. The gorgeous French antique mirror that sits above it is a favorite new acquisition of mine since we moved into this house.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Flanking the mantel on opposite ends, I keep these wonderful blue and white chinoiserie vases with ormolu detailing and for this setting the perfect addition was rich blue hydrangeas peeking over the sinewy edges.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

I was utterly stuck on the notion of nests this year, and what I particularly love about this little sample is how the rustic bit of nature contrasts with the gilded clock it rests against. I’m a huge fan of such incongruities because they emphasize the unique essence of the varied objects. (Put a grouping of similar objects next to each other and you tend to perceive the group as a whole rather than as individual items.)

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

With eggs and a nest present, sweet little birds can’t be far behind. These chippy wooden pieces are exactly what was called for and the mossy orb behind them is another nod toward reawakening nature.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Next to the fireplace we keep a pretty French chair and here it’s dressed with a blue and white toile needlepoint pillow.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

The full view of the mantel is delightfully upbeat, the reason I love spring so much in the first place.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

You can see the detail of the delicately carved mirror, which when viewed in this seasonal context, one really notices the viney florals laced around the frame.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Among my absolute favorite flowers are hyacinths, which I buy the second they’re available for their intoxicating scent. I find myself lingering in any room they’re in, because I simply can’t get enough of them.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Across from the mantel on our coffee table, the spring color palette is continued with a French country milk bottle and linen napkins. The wonderful crowns are from my blogger friend Dore’s Etsy shop, called Burlap Luxe.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

I forgot to mention this is my first photo shoot with my brand new camera, so I’ve been enjoying the light this camera captures.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

Draped over an edge of the gilded clock is a nest and egg candle ring which ties all the imagery together.

Designthusiasm - Spring Mantel in the Family Room

In addition to our family room, you can visit a few more of our rooms decorated for spring. Below is the breakfast room which you can see more of in Noontime at My French Kitchen Table.

Noontime at My Kitchen Table - Designthusiasm.com

I also did a full spring table setting that you can visit at An Elegant St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape.

An Elegant St. Patrick's Day Tablescape - Designthusiasm.com

You can also peek at spring in our master bedroom in Waking Up to Croissants and Coffee.

Waking Up to Croissants and Coffee - Designthusiasm.com

I’m joining in today with a talented group of friends for a SPRING Home Tour and Design Party and I hope that you can visit their inspiring posts!
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
 Confessions Of A Plate Addict
Dixie Delights
Edith And Evelyn
Eleven Gables
Maison Decor
Maison de Pax
Savvy Southern Style
Shabbyfufu
HomeSpringHome

Comments

    • Thanks so much, Amy! So glad you mentioned the rustic because I’ve been making an effort to get more patina and rusticity in my home. I love antiques and I’m trying to avoid a ‘too buttoned-up’ look, but I tend to lean towards polish. Trying to relax it up a little more. It’s a work in progress… 😉

      Reply

    • Thanks so much, Shirley! So happy to be sharing this party with you!! Funny thing about that clock… I tend to walk around my home with gold paint, gilding everything in sight. When I bought it, it was a dull shade of gold and I wanted to add some lights and darks, so gilded it became… 🙂 Have a Happy Easter!!

      Reply

    • Thanks so much, Debbie! I, too, am enjoying seeing the homes of bloggers with the same taste and aesthetic I have. It’s actually a delight at a time when so many are going mid century modern. No surprise you like the blue and white… I love yours too!! Delighted to be sharing this tour with you. Enjoy your Easter weekend!!

      Reply

    • Thanks, Janet! While I absolutely love mirrors, it’s sometimes difficult to photograph them with the curious things that wind up being reflected. Not a problem when working with flowers… 🙂 Thanks for the lovely words! It’s a delight to be partying this spring with you. Enjoy your Easter weekend!!

      Reply

  10. Lori!! Your tour is a feast for the eyes! I enjoyed every single detail. You have such a gift of teaching your readers how to simply sprinkle Spring throughout their homes. What a pleasure to be included on such a beautiful tour with all of these gorgeous blogs! So much fun!! xox

    Reply

  11. Most beautiful of spring mantels! Reminds me of a line from a Robert Louis Stevenson poem, “of speckled eggs the birdies sing and nest among the trees……..”.

    Reply

  12. Sigh….that amazing mirror!…those gorgeous clocks!…that beautiful new mantel! All my style and just perfectly arranged! Love your design style! Have a happy Easter!

    Reply

    • Thank you so much, Jemma! The mirror is relatively new – picked it up at an antique shop earlier this year when we first moved in. The photography is also new… well, al least the camera is… 😉 It makes a pretty big difference! As I learn more about it I hope to continue improving…

      Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  22. Oh my goodness, I am in love with your mantel Spring décor! I love all the elements used here, specially the blue and white.
    Your mirror is to die for!
    I have a wood mantel, so sometimes it doesn’t show as much as a white like yours do.
    Thanks for sharing. I just subscribed to your book.
    FABBY

    Reply

  23. Lory, all your Spring flowers are so refreshing. I love how your ornate mirror is complemented by the fabulous click! How old is the clock? It looked sky as though it was in a castle in the 16th century. Everything is lovely. Happy Palm Sunday! XOXO

    Reply

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