Happy Holidays!
And welcome to the Holiday Home Linky Party!
Today’s party is all about merry mantels- because if you’ve been reading our blog for more than a couple months, you know how much I love a good mantel makeover!
Kev and I started dreaming up ideas for our Winter mantel, back in August- but we didn’t actually finish it until this morning. (Whew! Just in the nick of time!) Here are some photos we took of it today…
We’re totally lovin’ the way it all turned out, but I’m not gonna lie, that DIY Pottery Barn Eagan mirror project we built was a bit of a beast! But I’ve always wanted that thing, and we saved about $600 by building our own version of it.
There were, however, several steps involved in its creation. And although we planned to photograph each and every one of them so that we could do a step-by-step tutorial here on our blog, we were in such a hurry to finish it, we ended up abandoning our camera after step #4 so that we could just hurry up and git r’ dun. That being said, we will definitely be vlogging about how we made it sometime this (or next) week. It’ll be waaaaay easier for me to explain it all on video! It really wasn’t hard, there were just a lot of steps.
The stockings came from White Flower Farmhouse. (One of my favorite shops on the web!) I embellished them with some evergreen sprigs, some doiles I got on Etsy and a wooden letter “A” I got at Michaels a while back. (Secret: Two of our favorite boy and girl names begin with the letter “A”…hee hee!)
The little, red, metal bucket ($5.95) came from Tobacco Barn in Asheville, North Carolina. The seagrass pot ($4.99) came from Ikea sometime earlier this year. The pleated, white trim across the top edge of the mantel, the tiny trees, and two red hydrangeas (which I split up into four) came from Hobby Lobby (Trees- $2.50/each, Hydrangea stems $3/each). The faux snow, pinecones, white pitchers, rope-wrapped candles, all came from mantels-past.
Down in the firebox, we used a basket we got from the gals at Whiteflower Farmhouse a while back- and a suitcase we picked up at Seaside Sisters on Tybee Island. The “present” on top is actually one of my Ikea baskets wrapped in some brown Kraft paper and a piece of red and white striped ribbon I had. I topped it with a faux poinsettia and some pinecones I had in my Christmas decor stash.
The house feels so cozy with it decorated this way! Especially at night, when the recessed light above makes all the glittery ornaments sparkle…
(By the way, we hung the ones from the ceiling with white, flat-headed thumb tacks and 8 lb. fishing line.)
I almost hate to have to take it all down after Christmas! But you know me, once Spring rolls around, I’ll more than likely be in the mood to mix it up again.
But enough about our mantel…it’s your turn now!
I think you probably already know the drill, but just in case, here’s how it works:
1.Scroll down til you see the “add your link” button. Click that, and create a descriptive name for your link. This will make it easier for folks to browse through them.
2.Make sure to link to your specific holiday mantel post, not the main page of your blog.
And I created a fun, little badge especially for the party, so feel free to post the code in the box below at the bottom of your mantel post on your blog if you’d like…
<div align="center"><a href="https://theletteredcottage.net/holiday-home-linky-party-our-christmas-mantel" title="The Lettered Cottage"><img src="http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj29/LaylaPalmer/Blog/Holiday_Home_Button_Layla.jpg" alt="The Lettered Cottage" style="border:none;" /></a></div>
Thanks in advance for linkin’ up and hope to see you at Rhoda’s vignette linky party this Thursday, Kate’s craft linky party next Tuesday, and Sarah’s tree linky party next Thursday!
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Beautiful job Layla. I do like the little touches of red! and your stockings! Thank you for hosting.
Love,
Dana and Daisy
Thanks for hosting – love the way your mirror tuned out .XX Bea
Love that mirror!!! Absolutely stunning. Thanks for hosting!!
Please PLEASE do the PB Egan mirror soon!!! I have GOT to have it for over my mantel to cover up the window – yes WINDOW that I have above it!!!! WHO PUTS A WINDOW OVER A MANTEL I ASK YOU?!?!? A MAN – THATS WHO. I’ve been staring at this horrific window for almost 5 years now not knowing what to do and the PB egan mirror itself is just WAY too big (er, not too mention the $$$$.) I was actually TODAY just about to assemble a fabric covered board with nail-head trim and then figure out how to attach the beast to cover the window up – but now you may have just given me a new project that I most definitely do NOT have time to do but must must must!!! ASAP! Check out my blog to see my awful mantel window and tell me ideas of what else to do – and puh-lease, excuse the dirt that you will see…I think there is even a piece of grass stuck on it. EMBARRASSING!!!
okay, i’ve got to go get my kids from school so check out my mantel window after 4 @ http://www.hurlbutfamily.blogspot.com. Please designers HELP!!!
Gorgeous! Your mantel is absolutely lovely and I just want to say thank you so much for hosting this fabulous party! 🙂
Vanessa
Layla, this is beautiful! Magazine worthy! Your room is so cozy, festive and inviting! Love it all! Thanks for such beautiful inspiration. And, thank you for hosting such a fun gathering. I appreciate your allowing me to share my nutcracker mantel! And, my thoughts and prayers are with you during your adoption process. My husband and I are parents through adoption … it’s truly a blessing! Hugs, Becca (Adventures in Decorating)
Your mantel is gorgeous! I love the mirror, and those stockings… amazing! Thanks for hosting a great party.
Love the mantel. Wish I had one to decorate!
I am SOOOO excited for the mirror tutorial. I have been wanting that same mirror forever.
So thank you in advance!
I love the way the mirror turned out… and just the whole thing! The mix of reds, white, gold and silver… just beautiful and festive. Just what I’d expect from you too! 🙂
Sometimes I think everyone in the world has a mantel, but me! I’d totally link up if I had one too! Someday… maybe in our next house!
Oh, PS- I love names that start with “A”… both my husband and daughter have those!
Much love!
I love your winter/Christmas fireplace – in fact, I love them all so I”m glad you posted all of the mantels together so we could see how you changed things up each season. My favourites are the stockings, the balls hung from the ceiling, and the present in the fireplace.
I soooooo wish I had a mantle to decorate!! But I can live vicariously through all these awesome entries!
Your stockings are so cute, and the mirror turned out fabulously! I love the items stacked in the opening. Fun linky party!!
oops! i accidently thought the name of my link was my name instead. alas. Either way, not sure what I would call mine…perhaps.. “A Little Joy”
I love your long stockings. They remind me of Dr. Seuss. I would love to have a mirror like that for my den mantel. It’s very pretty! La
What a beautiful mantel and the mirror is amazing. I think it is so great that you guys do these projects together! I can’t wait to see the tutorial and be inspired. Love the baskets and suitcases in the opening. Thanks so much for hosting such a fun and greatly anticipated link party!
Take care,
Laura
Oh Layla (& Kevin) that is GORGEOUS!! Just like it could be straight our of a magazine, only better than anything I’ve seen in this season’s magazines. Well done you two!!! 🙂
Thanks for hosting Layla! Your mantel is lovely.
I have never done/heard of a link party before, but I had to come back and thank you for hosting it! I had so many nice people come by and admire/comment on my blog. What fun.
I also really like the mirrored panels on the mantel. My husband and I have been thinking about trying to create antiqued mirrored panels in the style of the Amalienburg. This has give me hope we’ll be able to work out something.
Glad you had fun at the Tobacco Barn. The darn thing almost washed away in a flood a few years ago, so what your seeing in there has only been collected in the last 6 years or so. If you ever back up in Ashvegas (as we call it) there are a few auctions that you can hit up. The people that put their items in the Tobacco Barn get them from the various auction houses.
Thanks again for the party. Looking forward to the future creations and the video explaining the mirror panels.
Hi Layla,
Your mantel looks beautiful for every season. Thanks for hosting the party. It was a real motivation to start decorating.
Jane
Stunning…… love the punch red !!!
It’s beautiful as usual. I love everything about it! I’m hoping our dining room is done in time to link (we’re adding a fireplace mantel. The one in the living room is hard to decorate (tv above). Lots of beautiful inspiration in the event I get stumped! 🙂
LOVE it!!! That mirror is fantastic!! And I love the present in the fireplace – just too stinking cute!
Wow!Wow!!Wow!!! I want that mirror! Fantastic job on the fireplace and mantel. I especially like whimsy of the red striped stockings and how you carried it to the hearth with the striped suitcase. Question: What do you have covering the mantel? Is is a pleated mantel scarf? Hard to tell in the photo.
I will be linking up tomorrow. Thanks for hosting such a wonderful collection of creativity!
Your Friend,
Deborah
Hey Deborah!
Thanks for the comment!
That white, pleated trim came from Hobby Lobby. I’ve seen it used on furniture a lot lately, so I thought “why not put it on my mantel?”
🙂
Layla
That’s it! I’m calling Ikea and telling them they better start paying royalties to you two… By Saturday, Ikea will be completely sold out on all those cute, cute items you have on your GORGEOUS mantel. TOO STINKING CUTE!! The mirror is to DIE FOR…
I’m afraid you two will make it in the big leagues and forget about your faithful followers :(.
AS ALWAYS, I LOVE EVERYTHING!~!
Becky @ California
thanks so much for the fun party. there is nothing better than sitting by a nice warm fire all decorated for the holidays! well, that is, unless you use it for darling suitcases! ha. cute mantel! great job on the mirror.
Wow! i absolutely love the mantel. in fact, each mantel picture from each season was beautifully done. You’re both inspiring. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my goodness I LOVE those stockings!! 🙂
I’m a fairly new reader and I just love your blog! So excited to follow along your adoption journey as well. My husband and I are starting our journey in 2011. 🙂
God bless!
Thanks so much for hosting! It took me a minute to add the button to my post but it’s there now!
I love your mantle!! It makes me wish we could change ours to a restored barn/type finish. Keep up the great work. Wishing you all the best with your adoption.
abby
Layla
Thank you for the party….so fun, and inspirational! You should do them more often….Also, your mantle was lovely, what a great job you did on your mirror.
Cindy #141
Layla,
Love your mantel.
The pop of red just completes the Christmas look.
Your mirror is the perfect backdrop for all your festive decorations.
Thank you for hosting this party, I have had fun looking at all the talent in blogland,
Merry Christmas,
Kathysue
Your mantel is fabulous!
The mirror is perfect and it’s awesome that you can keep it up all year long!
You two make a wonderful team!
Merry Christmas
XO
Kristin
Thanks for the party, I’m having fun checking out all the beauties!
YOur blog is full of so many inspiring and creative ideas!! Love your mantle!!Also love the idea of having all the links to beautiful christmas decor in one place!! Thanks for hosting!!!
I love your mantel and the stockings are super cute. I think the mirror was worth all the steps!
Thank you for hosting this party…there are so many lovely mantels to drool over!
Merry Christmas,
Mykl
It all looks sooooo pretty…love how you hung those ornaments:) Thanks so much for hosting…I’m hosting an Christmas Open House on 12/9…would love to have you come by and join in on the fun!
Blessings,
Linda
As my daughter would say “EYE DID EET” Thanks for hosting! 🙂
I got brave and decided to join. This is my first “Linky party”. What fun!!! Thanks for hosting. Your mantel looks awesome as I knew it would. The little red bucket looks cute! You will always remember that from your trip to Asheville. Love & blessings from NC!
I LOVE the ornaments hanging down!! At my first glance at the first picture I wondered how you’d done it, so thanks for sharing. 🙂 I used fishing line for a floaty looking pinecone/ornament garland this year. People always ask how everything is staying up – it’s like Christmas magic! Thanks, too, for hosting this. My mantel doesn’t get any love this year because I am tearing down the wallpaper in the living room (six layers) and painting!
Silly as this may sound, I need help posting your link button on my blog. This is the first time I have tried and am not sure exactly what to do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
I love your mantel! I can’t wait to hear about the mirror project – I’ve always liked that mirror.
Layla, Thanks for hosting this great party! I have been looking at everyones mantles and they are all so wonderful and inspiring. Your mantle is wonderful! Happy Holidays!
Layla –
Lovely mantle!
Merry Christmas to you and everyone in bloggy land!
N.
I love your mirror, it looks so pretty. Your mantel is just fabulous and your stockings look so cute. Thank you for hosting such a fun party! I can’t wait to check out eveyone elses mantels! I hope you have a wonderful day!
Hugz,
Kim
love the suitcase in the fireplace idea..very clever and so much better than the expected candles or basket of greenery.
I love your mantle! I decorated mine yesterday and I would link up, but my tripod is broken!! I think I’m going to have to rig something up…
Ok.. now that you’re done, would you come over and make one for me just like that? LOL wow! I’m really impressed!
By the way, I think you really need to check my post today. It’s about a very famous brazilian architect Roberto Migotto. He’s simply great. Take a look and let me know what you think, ok? I know you’ll like it.
xo
Luciane at HomeBunch.com
Wow. Gorgeous! And so many creative people linking. truly inspiring!
Your mantel is wonderful…love the mirror! Finally got mine done so I could link up! Can’t wait to visit some of these fun places!
I used my projector stand to get some photos. I can link up, now. Yay!
I love the clean red and white look on your mantle! Great job on the mirror – Thanks for hosting!
How fun! Thank you for hosting, Layla! I love the whole holiday home party concept. I am SO happy that you tackled that mirror because I wanted to. Now, I don’t have to figure it out…I can just watch your vlog. Your mantle is beautiful. Love those stockings. Love Whiteflower Farmhouse period. I think adding the wooden A is so sweet.
Hugs,
Jami
How fun to have a Holiday Mantel party, glad I got mine done in time.
GORGEOUS! So glad I found you and all this beautiful inspiration!
And immediately upon seeing your mantle I thought “She has one of those mirrors!” – I’ve been obsessed with them ever since I saw my first tutorial on them. Still haven’t worked up the guts to give it a shot, though…!