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You are here: Home / Mantels / Summer Mantel Decorating

Summer Mantel Decorating

Jul 7, 2016 By Layla

Happy Friday!

Remember that photo I posted a while back…the one of the cows that my friend Ruthie took so she could use it as inspiration for a painting for us?

Ruthie-Carlson-Art

Well, she finished it recently and although I had planned to hang it above our bed, I was inspired to do a little mantel decorating around it this week! 🙂

Ruthie Carlson Painting | Cow Art | Farmhouse Living Room

(Still don’t have shelves in or doors on those cabinets!)

I wrangled together a few things from the surrounding rooms and went for a farm-y look from side to side. The crackled ceramic lamb is one of my favorite little things! Seems like I found it at Tuesday morning while back?

Ruthie Carlson | Cow Painting Art | Farmhouse Mantel Decorating

I love the pops of cobalt up there too…

Ruthie Carlson Cow Painting | Succulent in Bowl | Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel Decorating

So glad I picked up these candle holders a few years back too…

Barnwood Candle Holder | Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel Decorating

I only used one on the left side of the mantel, and I balanced it with something that’s a similar color/tone- this straw hat:

Straw Cowboy Hat | Farmhouse Fireplace Decorating | Mantel

Back by the candle, I used a few of our salad plates to prop up this pitcher…

White Pitcher | Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel Decorating

Hey- whatever works, right? 😉

On the hearth, I filled an old wooden trunk I got from my friend Marian with a houseplant and the closest thing to “cow print” I have. 🙂

Old Blue Wood Trunk | Farmhouse Fireplace Mantel Decorating

I’m sure the painting will moooove (ha! get it?) around the house from time to time over the years, but no matter where it hangs, we sure will treasure it forever! (Thanks again, sweet Ruthie!!)

Ruthie Carlson | Art | Cow | Painting | Farmhouse Living Room | Mantel Decorating

PS- Ruthie’s email address is [email protected] and she’s RuthieCarlson on Etsy if you’d like to connect with her and/or see more of her work!

Filed Under: Art, Mantels

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Comments

  1. Emma Clemantine

    Jul 8, 2016 at 4:51 am

    Nice blog Layla. Simple and short blog, but you have done an amazing job. I love this painting, this painting is very attracting and looking great. Seriously great job are you done. Thanks for sharing this.

  2. Chris

    Jul 8, 2016 at 6:12 am

    I always look forward to your mantel posts. You are a master at mantel decor and I love studying them and learning your secrets to a good composition.

  3. Michelle Fox

    Jul 8, 2016 at 6:33 am

    The painting is beautiful.

  4. Karen

    Jul 8, 2016 at 6:51 am

    Just love it! Ruthie did a great job on the painting.

  5. Maggie

    Jul 8, 2016 at 7:31 am

    Just beautiful!!

  6. Sandy A

    Jul 8, 2016 at 8:27 am

    I love your new painting above the mantle. It looks perfect. And what a talent Ruthie Carlson is. Cows are one of my favorites so I really love this…

  7. Marianne in Mo.

    Jul 8, 2016 at 8:32 am

    Love the casual, relaxed summer-y style of the mantel. Ruthie’s painting is adorbs!
    It will look great in your bedroom when you decide to change out the mantel.

    Hope the build is going well there! Been a rainy few days here, so slow progress, but today is pick cabinet day! Yippee!

  8. Julia

    Jul 8, 2016 at 8:51 am

    I really like the painting and your mantel. So casual and homey for summer!

  9. Maryjane from Manitoba

    Jul 8, 2016 at 9:12 am

    I too love Ruthie’s art! And, like Chris, I love when you do mantel posts because I also study them in hopes of figuring out how to make my own. I love how you shop the house. (aka – do more mantel posts please! if you feel like you have nothing to tell us, do a mantel post) 🙂

    In regards to your little lamb (so cute!), what is Tuesday Morning? A shop in your neck of the woods?

    I’m excited to see the welcome home Sweet P mantel…so excited for you guys to bring Sweet P home! And your house is beautiful and welcoming. Wow. So cool that The Divine allowed you to work on every room before his arrival!

  10. Maryjane from Manitoba

    Jul 8, 2016 at 9:14 am

    P.S. have you seen the little cow (I think it’s a creamer) in the Farmhouse Fresh décor on Pier 1 website? Made me think of you the second I saw it!

  11. Angie W

    Jul 8, 2016 at 9:17 am

    Super cute!!!!

  12. Sunny

    Jul 8, 2016 at 9:33 am

    adorable..and love the painting..

    I have a summer mantel going too…The focal point is a blue green weathered whale that has “Beach House no shoes required” written in a navy script…It is a good size, and doesn’t really have the same feel as the living room.. but it always makes me smile and I have made it work with a beautiful ceramic vase of the same color with ferns and white flowers, and a few white ceramic starfish, and other lovely nautical shells( we sell at the store) throughout the room, which I mixed with succulents.
    If I can’t get to the Sea…I will bring the Sea to me..Happy Summer

  13. Karlene

    Jul 8, 2016 at 11:01 am

    I can see why you hung the painting over the mantel, I love the colors she used, it’s awesome! and what a great inspiration for mantel decor! I need to make a list of your strategies, using numerous white accessories repeats the color, a few colorful containers adds interest, your tan candle holder and straw hat finishes each end! And you seem to work plants in that add so much! Plus the various heights and textures you worked in. I love that you “shopped your house” to see what you had to work with!

  14. montanahappy.com

    Jul 8, 2016 at 11:21 am

    I love that cow painting. Wow! What a great job.

  15. Donna Doble Brown

    Jul 8, 2016 at 12:51 pm

    Oh my . . I love Ruthie’s painting! And of course I love how you’ve styled the mantle . . .beautiful!

  16. Beth

    Jul 8, 2016 at 2:52 pm

    Love Rutie!!!! She is so talented

  17. Linda

    Jul 8, 2016 at 5:45 pm

    Thanks Layla for he blog showing us the finished cow painting. My Mom is in heaven now.When she was a little girl she had a Cow that would only let her milk her. My Mom was so attached to her she would get tears telling us about her. Because of her love for cows, I have a tender spot for them. Every time I see a cow I thing of my sweet Mom. Ruthie is very talented be Thanks!

  18. Mindy

    Jul 8, 2016 at 8:41 pm

    Such a sweet painting and lovely finds to go with. Shopping your home can bring unexpected treasures ?

  19. Jillian

    Jul 9, 2016 at 7:02 pm

    Wow, so nice interior 🙂
    Love it !

    Jillian – http://www.cupofcharisma.com

  20. NickiJ.

    Jul 10, 2016 at 9:34 am

    Your Mantel posts are my favorites. Such an easy way to freshen a room. A few new pillows and candle and you have a new look. Happy summer!

  21. Kathy

    Jul 30, 2016 at 9:04 pm

    I love the painting! The other thing that caught my eye was your barn wood window covering. Do you have any information you could share on that? Thank you!

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