Spring has officially sprung here at TLC, and I. Am. Lovin’ it!
First, a whole buncha these guys popped up in the backyard…
I mostly used things I already had around the house…
Grass green, aqua, gray, white, black, brown and blue tickled my fancy this time…
I got this cute little bowl from a local flea market called J&G’s Flea Market and Antique Mall…
The plant inside it came from Home Depot.
The pillar candle holders hanging on each side of the mirror we made came from PotteryBarn.com…
They were $34 for the pair, and I got them on a day they were offering free shipping. Love it when that happens!
I made the bird art out of a piece of green paper I found on the scrapbook paper aisle at Hobby Lobby…
(I darkened the area behind the bird in the photos above so you could see the mat better. The photo below is a true representation of what it actually looks like.)
I downloaded this Bird Silhouette, resized it in Photoshop, and then used the ol’ “pencil-it-on, pencil-it-off” method to transfer it onto my green paper. After that, I cut it out and used a glue stick onto an 11″ x 14″ piece of white poster board…
I got the blue frame last year around this time, and I’m cuckoo for cocoa puffs about the color of it, but the size is a bit odd. It’s 15″ x 19″- so I broke out my ruler and a sharp pair of scissors and cut a half an inch off each side of a 16″ x 20″ mat I had…
Tip Du Jour: Don’t let those awesome, old, odd-shaped flea market frames intimidate you- just cut your mats to fit!
I bought the ruler box a while back…I can’t even remember where. Seems like it was only a couple bucks. It makes us smile, so up it went!
Tip Du Jour #2: If it makes you smile, up it goes!
I got the mirrored frame several years back from a discount home store…
I printed out a Springy quote to use inside of it…
Here’s a 4×6 version of it if you’ve got a little frame you’d like to fill with one too!
My Aunt Julie shot this amazing photo of the barn on the farm my Grandma Beth grew up on in Minnesota…
She and my Grandma live in the farmhouse on that property now and I think of them (and the farm I grew up on) every time I see it.
Since it was the tallest piece of art leaning against the mirror, I thought I better keep it on the ‘light side’, visually. I simply used a glue stick to secure it to an 11″ x 14″ piece of white poster board, and then I taped it to the back of a 16″ x 20″ mat I had with easy-to-remove painters tape…
I picked up the little, blue, tulip-shaped dish at J&G’s.
It may very well be my favorite non-living thing in the house right now.
This little faux flower plant, and the pot it’s sitting in, came from Ikea in Atlanta…
It’s one of the best artificial plants I’ve ever seen, and it only set me back seven beans. Pretty cool considering it’s never gonna kick the bucket, huh?
And that about does it for the mantel!
Down below, in the firebox, I stacked an old Barq’s soda crate on top of a vintage picnic basket, and threw in a couple of succulents from Home Depot…
(Soda crate- The Old Post Office Antiques; Picnic basket- Seaside Sisters)
The striped pillow cover on the chair on the left is made by Pottery Barn. It’s called “Linen Stripe”, and although I don’t think it’s available on their website anymore, I have seen them spring up on eBay from time to time.
I really enjoyed decking out the fireplace area for Spring. It’s definitely my favorite season, and this particular vignette really reminds me of the colors and textures found on the farm I grew up on…
Don’t let that smile fool ya…I was about 2 seconds away from waterworks when Kev snapped that pic.
My Mom and Dad put that fence up with their own hardworking hands, and my brother and I raised many a kitten in that old barn standing there behind me.
Those days almost seem like a dream now….ya know what I mean?
Uh oh.
Waterwork alert.
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I’m looking forward to seeing your little one standing in the same place having his/her picture taken….
WATERWORKS.
🙂
We had the same upbringing. AND the same barn! 🙂
Your inspiration is natural and always inspirational. Thanks!
Donna
Layla, I love your spring mantel! The pottery from the flea market are great finds! You have a gift, my friend! Thanks for sharing, especially the story behind the barn print. 😀
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Love, love, LOVE this…not just because it’s cute but because it’s pure and genuine. Design from the heart is what it’s all about.
Your spring decorating looks lovely. I love all the greenery and the cute bowls. And that picture of you is absolutely gorgeous!
Wish I could sneak the Barq’s crate right up your chimney! L.O.V.E. some Barq’s – that is the soda I grew up drinking 🙂
You know, this may be my favoritist of all the mantles that you have done. And I REALLY liked your wooden flag one. LOVE this!
happy thursday!
did you get new floors in your living room… for some reason i thought you had carpet but were thinking about getting new wall/wall… love your post layla. thank you!
Your mantel is absolutely beautiful! I love how creative you are with your accessories! The bird picture, the real plants, fake plants, photos, etc. So well done! Your blog is such an inspiration to me!
Have a great day.
Pam
very nice Layla. simple and sweet. and the pic of you.. precious. see why kevin snapped it! 🙂
i love the mantle inspiration. i am looking for mantle ideas. Can you tell me where to find a mirror like the one you have above the fireplace?
Pottery Barn, for a hefty price. If you’re up for a crafty challenge, Layla posted instructions on how to make it a couple months ago. Just hit their archives.
thanks for sharing. i love the mantle and the both lovely pictures of the barns!
Love, love, love it all. I’m going to look for some succulents to put in my fireplace ASAP.
Lovees great! I love how you incorporate things with special meaning into everything you do! It makes your home so personal!
Precious post! Very sweet.
Gorgeous! I love the turquoise crock!
I adore this mantel! It is so beautiful and fresh and just *perfect* for spring. The bird art I think is my favorite – great ideas on using the frames and just cutting the mats. Who woulda thought? Well done!! 🙂
EW! EW! for some awesome artificial plants and trips to ikea. 😉 and if you wake up in the morning and your bird print is missing, don’t worry. It was just me slipping in for a non creepy visit to steal it. WHAT? 😉 LOVE your mantel.
PPS…I also want your shirt. and…I almost left the r out of shirt. and that would have been not okay. goooooood story.
I LOVE it all! You brought tears to my eyes with the last comments. There’s something magic about going back “home”. My home is in Dominican Republic and when I go back I always cry lilke a baby at the airport. Memories are so vivid and melt your heart when you remember them where they actually took place 🙂 (BTW, I had to go to the bathroom at work and compose myself. Definitely had waterworks alert!).
can i just tell you how much i love your blog. I’vebeen reading for a long while, but i don’t think i’ve ever commented. I love your style…but i think my favorite part is your down-to-earthness. you both are very talented, but it doesn’t go to your head at all & your humility is way cool…i love that.
that spring quote is one of my FAVORITES, but i forgot about it!! Thanks for the reminder! I just put up a gallery in my L.R> but the frames are empty and need some love. So, i’m putting this in on of the frames. And the last part…made my heart hurt. 🙁 but, it reminded me about a picture i have of my old house, too. So, up on the gallery wall that’s going to go. Thanks for the reminders today!! 🙂
Layla,
I have a couple of those same tulip bowls that I bought years ago at an antique store. One of mine is white and bigger with JAPAN on the bottom and the other is blue and I’m certain it is the same size as yours. I love them… Great mantel by the way! I’m a sucker for light blue, green and black. Kinda my color scheme all over my house. Happy Spring!
So pretty! Love it when there is a sentimental story behind a photo/decoration too – just makes it even sweeter! Now I’m all inspired to do something with my dark pitiful looking mantel/fireplace. Love the black finish on yours. I have a monstrous brown brick fireplace/wetbar in our living room, and no idea what to do with the thing, until now!
Everything looks wonderful. So simple and pretty. I love the bird art. 🙂
I love your spring decor! I am going to try my hand at decorating my mantel for spring too 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration!
Mantel looks so nice. I especially like how it’s not covered in plastic pastel colored stuff.
And your outside/fence/barn pic looks so good! You look so good! I need a serious lesson in photography!
You ROCKED this mantle Layla! It looks beautiful!
Gorgeous Layla. So light and airy. Perfect for Spring. Those faux plants are too cute! I just might have to make that long IKEA trek!
Absolutely gorgeous Layla! (Both the mantel and YOU!)
I’m so happy that spring is here…I have been dying to see what you would do with the mantel. I need some inspiration!
Loving the matted bird frame. Really great idea. I so often forget how easy it is to just cut things to fit. Especially with a frame that will hide a big chunk of the edge so it is very forgiving. Thanks for the inspiration!
Layla, you just never dissapoint. There’s always something up your sleeve…love that about you, girl. Your Spring mantel is very refreshing and beautifully decorated. I hear you on the waterworks..sometimes all it takes for me is a Kleenex commercial. Still such a beautiful picture of you though..
oxox
Jennifer
I have some of those seagrass pots too, love them! Ikea really does have the best fake looking plants!
Meg
well, you were right. I love it. that frame. that little tulip bowl. I’m gonna need those when you grow tired of them.
😀
shaunna
hahahha, I had to laugh when I read your spring quote…I just did a sorta springy mantel myself and I sat there blank faced in front of my computer screen with the jeopardy theme music playing in the background while I tried to think of a clever quote to put in my frame…i ended up with “spring” lol!
Love it! And I have an almost identical vintage wicker picnic basket — my mom always used it on our large mantle. I never thought to put it IN the fireplace!
The colors are all so calm and spring-ish. This shows the benefit of having a somewhat neutral room pallete to work with.
I did a blogpost on mantle magic recently — I’m going to have to link to your post so my readers can be inspired by your ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Layla, your mantles are always beautiful! Quick question – do you put things up on your walls and then spackle and fill nail holes when you take them down? I would love to change out my decor seasonally but am afraid of making too many holes.
Nah…the holes are usually just covered up by whatever I put up there next! 😀
i LOVE your mantel…. and this whole room …..
I always feel like our house can’t look bright and airy because we love the real wood color and look. Every time I see a light and bright airy room… it seems like they have painted all of the wood white or tan. I love that your wood is still there… and a decent darkness… but the room looks so bright and clean and crisp still. What color are your walls in here? Is that just white? it looks a bit cream or grey? I love it…
Hi Lesley,
The walls are painted “Natural Choice” by Sherwin Williams.
🙂
Beautiful!!!! I NEED that ikea plant…I am always killing my indoor plants (so I rationalize and say that they are just fresh bouquets that I replace) but that ikea one looks like the real thing….got to go to atlanta tomorrow for a prom dress so i think we will trek over to ikea and get a bunch (if you girlies left any for the rest of us!)
kelly
Ha ha…yep…there’s still a BUNCH of ’em! Have fun Kelly! 😀
Great inspiration Layla! My family is from Minnesota too, so this post put a big smile on my face: )
I am inspired! My new Spring inspired mantel is going up tomorrow and Layla, I absolutely adore your website! Thanks
Yay! And thank you for the sweet comment! 🙂
Your new spring mantel looks fresh & clean….very spring like! LOVE it! Love that little ruler box! Too cute!
Hi sweet Layla!
Awww, you’re so sentimental. I also love your style, and came here know that I’d get ideas for my daughter’s wedding day brunch. I had already decided to use the pretty, soft greens and white. I’m just going to decorate as much as I can with it and then continue it with the dishes and serving and dress it up with some glass, crystal and silver. I need to add some of the great, crisp black for accent, too. Thanks for your inspiration!
Sounds BEAUTIFUL Deb! *swoon*
The ruler box is the cutest thing I have ever seen!!!!
Just discovered your blog and I LOVE it!!!!! I also love the fact that you are a fellow farmgirl! We still live on a farm and I am so thankful that we do. thanks for the inspiration! I now have projects for the weekend!
Have fun with your projects Susan!
I love it! It’s so light and fresh and subtle but definitely says spring. That little tulip shaped bowl is my favorite.
I absolutely love the bowl from the flea market. And the whole mantle. The wall behind mine’s maroon, which has made it tricky to make it feel like spring. Any ideas?
Send me a pic! I wanna see whatchyer workin’ with Gretchen!
Layla, aren’t we blessed to have memories of a barn and kitties? I, too, think about what isn’t there anymore and the waterworks threaten…but thankfulness spreads over my heart…I’m so thankful to have been raised that way. I wonder how many books I read up in the hay mow 🙂 Thanks for the lil journey down memory lane and LOVE your spring mantel!
Hugs from Iowa….I know you wave when you drive thru!
Hi Michelle!
Thank you for your sweet comment. 🙂
I miss living on that old farm SO much. Kevin and I plan to start searching for one to call our own after we’re done fixin’ up this fixer upper! Gotta have more barns and kitties!
So simple and pretty. I love it!
Thanks Marian! 😀
Very beautiful photo of you even if you were 2 seconds away from waterworks. But I just have to tell you…Have you guys watched ‘Portlandia’ yet? If not, you just HAVE TO WATCH THIS:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XM3vWJmpfo
And then you will understand why I was howling when I looked at your mantle pics! I love your spring mantle and knew that you would do something fabulous!
I was wondering how long it would take before someone linked to that!!!! LOL!!!!
I was thinking the SAME THING while I was making it! 😀
I started laughing the minute I clicked on your blog…a friend of mine has been “putting birds on things” and we have laughed our heads off! Love it!
Well I assume that when you put this stuff up you don’t mind if we copy, so I am going to Kohl’s or Hobby Lobby today. Thanks for the great look. I have a huge Elk mount in the middle of my stone fireplace, but I think it will still look great.
Thanks for the ideas!!!!!
Copy away, Annie! Have fun shopping today…and I think the Elk head will look cool too!
Another beautiful fireplace!! It’s feeling like spring around here in Va. too, woke up to 60’s this morning. YAY!