Beautiful Modern Contemporary House Elevation

kraft + bells + greenery

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWsQvwr3txG0Wp0Igbwj4q3tBzcOVX6vZO3RPTpqvXRpTHPpe9g9KHkfei4Xyt2EdDmpgrCYLIo4HV9TTctX4bl-jfilyL-YHkcE5GEJDcpdMsP-7Ydt__BTfnwHluz2CuVA0ylKxDvl9/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOWsQvwr3txG0Wp0Igbwj4q3tBzcOVX6vZO3RPTpqvXRpTHPpe9g9KHkfei4Xyt2EdDmpgrCYLIo4HV9TTctX4bl-jfilyL-YHkcE5GEJDcpdMsP-7Ydt__BTfnwHluz2CuVA0ylKxDvl9/s1600/photo.jpg" /></a></div><br />Gift wrap inspiration - Grab Kraft paper from the business supply store, white string (found anywhere) <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/accessories/products/bells-assorted">some bells </a>and of course, some greenery - and <i>voila!</i>. A pretty awesome wrapping job. This is a little scene from my dining room - I'm hosting a wine and shopping night for girlfriends so it looks like a gift show in my dining room right now. More pictures to come in a bit. xo Linds

kraft + bells + greenery

Gift wrap inspiration - Grab Kraft paper from the business supply store, white string (found anywhere) some bells and of course, some greene...

8:06 PM

Our Christmas Lists

It's Christmas time! With Black Friday passed, our family is starting to ask what we want for Christmas. So here's our Christmas Lists for the house related items.<br /><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/my_christmas_list/set?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64070706" target="_blank"><img alt="My Christmas List" border="0" height="555" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/qcTp1taIe8wrMbsxzDjYWQ/cid/64070706/id/U8UXBEnWRlmr-9kFu7e6DA/size/c600x555.jpg" title="My Christmas List" width="600" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/my_christmas_list/set?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64070706" target="_blank">My Christmas List</a> by <a href="http://klacowsky.polyvore.com/?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste" target="_blank">klacowsky</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a></small></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64358147" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64358147.jpg" title="Worlds Away Leah White Lacquer Bottom Cabinet" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64118119" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64118119.jpg" title="Lucy Upholstered Chair-Hot Pink" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64355639" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64355639.jpg" title="Jonathan Adler Zig Zag Grey Throw Blanket" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64357890" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/64357890.jpg" title="Spell It Out & Pillow" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=67010706" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/67010706.jpg" title="Questions and Antlers Buck Trophy" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=70882648" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/70882648.jpg" title="Apple iPad mini 32GB Wi-Fi Cellular (Sprint) White (ME219LL/A)" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=70883168" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/70883168.jpg" title="Young House Love 243 Ways to Paint, Craft, Update Show Your Home Some..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><div style="position: relative;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/justins_christmas_list/set?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64227657" target="_blank"><img alt="Justin's Christmas List" border="0" height="538" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/b7O6Uds96aU6aXxWQWDvg/cid/64227657/id/HmoC4xycRkKGCeyfQWNhyw/size/c600x538.jpg" title="Justin's Christmas List" width="600" /></a></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/justins_christmas_list/set?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=64227657" target="_blank">Justin's Christmas List</a> by <a href="http://klacowsky.polyvore.com/?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste" target="_blank">klacowsky</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a></small></div><div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 600px;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71021778" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71021778.jpg" title="Amazon.com: Char Broil Magnum 500 4-Burner Gas Grill, with Sideburner:..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71021564" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71021564.jpg" title="BARNES & NOBLE | Assassin's Creed III - The Complete Official Guide by..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71021524" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71021524.jpg" title="BARNES & NOBLE | The Twelve (Passage Trilogy Series #2) by Justin..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71022909" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71022909.jpg" title="4-Gal. Portable Electric Air Compressor-D55153 at The Home Depot" vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71021664" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak2.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71021664.jpg" title="Amazon.com: Bose® Lifestyle® V35 home entertainment system--Black:..." vspace="4" width="50" /></a><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/thing.outbound?.embedder=2675664&.svc=copypaste&id=71021850" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img height="50" hspace="4" src="http://ak1.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-thing/size/s/tid/71021850.jpg" title="DualShock 3 wireless controller - Red (PlayStati... : Target" vspace="4" width="50" /></a></div></div>

Our Christmas Lists

It's Christmas time! With Black Friday passed, our family is starting to ask what we want for Christmas. So here's our Christmas Lis...

8:43 AM

Europe Modern House 3D Design, American House

Europe Modern House 3D Design, American House

8:28 AM

bits + pieces

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3TmH6UstChpIgGiGZhvm3wn7Wo4BTJlO_NgJbEBjQZAP2zap5pcezGA7zK9TkSfAjVBcfEUzME8onJqzbfIr0XX_Ahi-5YzeL9sLLmOq_3Gokdhe3clXHe7zqbEkrwQCg7YyBNRZsefY/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-3TmH6UstChpIgGiGZhvm3wn7Wo4BTJlO_NgJbEBjQZAP2zap5pcezGA7zK9TkSfAjVBcfEUzME8onJqzbfIr0XX_Ahi-5YzeL9sLLmOq_3Gokdhe3clXHe7zqbEkrwQCg7YyBNRZsefY/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />A little roundup of what happened here this week. A little bit late but for me it's still fun to post. Numbers correlated to photos up until number 6.<br /><ol><li><a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/collections/accessories">New ribbon is arriving into the studio</a>. I'm obsessed.</li><li>My front planters are done. Although I could add more to it, I'm happy with how it looks. </li><li>I'm seriously in love with<a href="http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.ca/2012/11/diy-kids-ornaments.html"> Oscar's little white Christmas tree</a> that sits in our Eat in Kitchen. We're finding new decorations daily to create. I love that it's just <i>his </i>tree. </li><li>Oscar and I unintentionally have matching jackets for the winter. They are both from <a href="http://www.gap.com/">the GAP</a>. My jacket is from last year and I bought <a href="http://www.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=85719&vid=1&pid=148805013">Oscar's online when they were having a 30% off sale</a>. I seriously LOVE the hoods. </li><li>It's busy in the <a href="http://www.pennypaperco.com/">shop</a> - Holiday shopping is in full swing. In the last two weeks I've had waves of exhaustion and the occasional sense of being overwhelmed. It's hard to complain about any of it because the bottom line is, it's all a great deal of fun. I love running my shop and me being busy means my little shop is busy.... and that is a <i>good thing</i>. </li><li>Oscar has been pretty sick this week with a cold. What's made it so much better is the fact that we have the <a href="http://www.fridababy.com/">Nose Frida.</a> I can't stop recommending it. If you're a parent, I highly suggest this for your medicine cabinet. </li></ol><div>Anyhow, that's what our week was! Have a great weekend. xo Lindsay</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Ps., I'm totally stealing the title of my post from  <a href="http://bleubirdvintage.typepad.com/">Blubird Vintage</a>. I feel as thought "Bits + Pieces" just totally fits this style of roundup. </i></div>

bits + pieces

A little roundup of what happened here this week. A little bit late but for me it's still fun to post. Numbers correlated to photos up u...

7:47 PM

Updating Picture Frames

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8207412070/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Frames by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="Frames" height="304" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8207412070_8dfa6ddbf8_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>What do you do with all of your old decor when you've completely updated your room's color palette??<br /><br />You buy all new decor. <br /><br />Wrong. <br /><br />You paint it!<br /><br />I'm not about to bring all of my things to Goodwill and start all over, so I'm repurposing as much of it as I can. And I've got TONS of things to repurpose. You've already seen my DIY colored chandelier, and now I'm on to picture frames. <br /><br />Here's you can see the four pictures above our dining room table from long, long ago when we lived in this house the first time around. These frames are gorgeous, but I knew if I didn't paint them white, I'd likely never use them again. So, the decision was made. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8206226841/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="OLD Dining Room by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="OLD Dining Room" height="300" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8206226841_71a0ae57cd_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our dining room about 5 years ago, featuring the wooden frames.</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Now painting picture frames seems simple enough, but it actually takes awhile. Here's a couple of tips:<br /><br /><strong>HOW TO PAINT WOODEN PICTURE FRAMES</strong><br /><br /><strong>Step 1:</strong> Take the glass, matting and backing out so it's just the frame. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8196805561/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_6377 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6377" height="286" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8196805561_ebec829903_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><strong>Step 2:</strong> Sand the entire frame (don't forget the insides!) with a sponge sander. Then clean off the dust. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8206308381/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2012-11-186 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="2012-11-186" height="285" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8206308381_0035f58e58_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><strong>Step 3:</strong> Paint a coat of primer. Since these are wooden frames, I used actual paint/primer instead of spray paint because coats more evenly and soaks into the wood. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8196805035/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_6381 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6381" height="286" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8196805035_552f9dfe4e_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><strong><span style="color: black;">Step 4:</span></strong> Repeat the sponge sanding.<br /><br /><strong>Step 5:</strong> Paint a coat of paint. I used Behr's Paint & Primer, so it was really just a second coat of paint. But you get the idea. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8197896780/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_6383 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6383" height="286" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8197896780_30770fd78d_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><strong>Step 6:</strong> Sand off any paint runs or imperfections and touch up as needed. <br /><br />And here's how they turned out! What do you think? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8197904480/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="2012-11-187 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="2012-11-187" height="457" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8197904480_6026ac3676_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22623969@N03/8196802423/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="IMG_6400 by klacowsky, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_6400" height="458" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8196802423_0038bf5139_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>

Updating Picture Frames

What do you do with all of your old decor when you've completely updated your room's color palette?? You buy all new decor. Wrong. Y...

1:05 PM

Seven Steps to a Gorgeous Fireplace Mantel

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020432.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">Christmas and fireplace mantels are a tight twosome. With or without the traditional hung stockings, you can make your mantel the nostalgic and charming focal point of the room.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Because nostalgia and charm resonate with home buyers.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s what I did to dress for the season a  driftwood mantel on a rugged stone fireplace that needs to be the focal point of this family room. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 1.  Start with an Idea</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your idea might be a particular color scheme or a specific topic. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">When it comes to colors and style, at holiday time you have an excuse to go glitzy or dramatic.<br /><br />For example, metallics and saturated colors that you might normally avoid while staging your home, are perfect for holiday décor. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the other hand, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-all-white-color-palette-is-it.html" target="_blank">monotone color schemes </a>and minimalistic styling can be smashingly elegant. It’s one way to simplify your life, because putting decorations up at the start of the season takes time, and then taking them down and storing them away takes time again in January. Keep it simple.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">For this mantel I decided to concentrate on traditional reds and greens for my color theme. My topic theme was nature, because this house sits on a densely wooded lot. In fact, all the greenery came from the property. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Some examples of specific topics would be themes like antique toys, Mercury glass, shabby chic angel ornaments, ceramic animals, or the classic nativity crèche. If your home is for sale, you might want to choose a theme that accentuates what's special about the house or the room.   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 2.  Go Collecting</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1020347.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">This garland has plenty of texture, but <br />the colors keep it simple. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">If you are undecided about an idea to tie your mantel decorations together, begin with step two. <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html" target="_blank">Shop your home</a> and see what elements you have available. Use your imagination to repurpose items. An inverted vase can become a pedestal. A necklace can become a swag.  Books can become wrapped gifts.    </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Don’t ignore what’s growing in your vicinity (pinecones, greenery, logs, seed pods, bare branches…) as well as what you’ve tucked away in closets and other storage areas like the garage, garden shed or storage building. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Remember that paint will transform almost anything into what your color scheme calls for. That old <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-faux-finish-plastic-flower-pot.html" target="_blank">plastic flower pot can look like granite</a>, and those thrift store vases can look like silver or gold  once they are spray painted.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 3. Go Shopping</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This step isn’t always necessary. You may have all the things you need on hand. And if you are like many crafters or budget decorators, you’ve already scooped up Christmas decorations at summer garage sales and last year’s post-holiday sales. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your materials should include some items with different textures, sizes, and materials. For example, don’t make everything transparent or everything solid. Instead, include some of both. Include dull surfaces and glossy surfaces, large forms and smaller shapes, some round objects and some hard edge objects. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 4. Set up Your Backdrop</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s best to begin with a clean slate. So, remove whatever is on the mantel and give yourself room to work in front of the fireplace. Spread out the possible objects you’ve collected. <br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020438.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Large magnolia leaves and sprigs of <br />variegated holly brought some weight <br />to one end of the mantel</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal">Next, place one large object as the background for the mantel grouping. You will be surprised what a difference this makes. It gets you off to a great start. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I hung a round wreath of artificial red berries on the chimney breast to get my arrangement going. You could use a mirror, an empty frame, a painting like I did for the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-abcs-of-staging-seasonal-mantel.html" target="_blank">autumn mantel</a> I blogged about, or something vintage like shutters or a door like I’ve see Angela at Cottage Magpie do when she <a href="http://cottagemagpie.com/how-to-fall-halloween-mantel/" target="_blank">stages a mantel</a>.  </div><div class="MsoNormal">     </div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 5. Balance the Weight</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I often begin by hanging or draping something the length of the mantel. This is another way of unifying and balancing the grouping that’s to come.  </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">On the driftwood mantel, I strung the garland that I purchased at Michaels. I fell for it the moment I saw it. I adore the warm colors and woodsy feel to it. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">I placed one item – the red berry tree – on one end of the mantel and some oversized  greenery at the opposite end. Now I had some balance and I could fill in with smaller items. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Repeat the Colors</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020439.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Plenty of greenery softened the look of the stone and unified my arrangement.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">I added a string of glistening red berries to the center of the mantel and some more springs of greenery that included real red berries. I wasn’t about to complicate things with too many colors since I was going for tradition and natural simplicity.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 7. Add some details</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">To tie the brown garland into the green arrangements above it, I wove some evergreen sprigs into the chain. That’s all it took to finish the entire mantel.  <br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-P1020431.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Evergreen sprigs tucked into the swag and more red berries were part of the finishing touches. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">In the staged home, too many details will draw attention to the mantel itself, instead of the mantel calling attention to your selling point – the fireplace. Keeping decorations simple saves time, money and stress. When your home is on the market, you need <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-favorite-15-minute-holiday.html" target="_blank">easy and quick ways to add festive touches.</a>   </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="MsoNormal">I write about mantel décor -- as well as what else you need to know about home staging -- in my $5 eBook, <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar.</a> You can download the book now and start learning how to attract buyers to your property. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div><div align="center"><a href="http://theletteredcottage.net/christmas-mantel-decorating-ideas-link-party" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img alt="The Lettered Cottage" src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Linky%20Buttons/The_Lettered_Cottage.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center>

Seven Steps to a Gorgeous Fireplace Mantel

Christmas and fireplace mantels are a tight twosome. With or without the traditional hung stockings, you can make your mantel the nostalgic ...

2:00 AM

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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