Vintage Decor for the Mantel

I'll be honest.  I sometimes wish I had one of those homes that Chip and JoAnna Gaines make-over on their show, the Fixer Upper.  I think I could really fall in love with all the vintage farm house elements that they put into so many of their homes. But, I'm not in Texas. I have a lovely home here in Alabama and its not an old farm house.
So, here's what I do.  I try to add some interesting elements to my home that appeal to my vintage soul. I just skip the whole tear down the walls, rip up the floor thing that Chip and JoAnna do. 
Today, I'm sharing with you the vintage items that I have arranged on the mantel in my family room.

  

The "star" of my mantel design is the lovely and chippy architectural piece that I recently acquired.  I love the size and the perfect scrolling curves.  Did you know the word "acquire" can sometimes mean you got something off a trash pile? :)

The "co-star" of my design is the vintage seltzer bottle.  You can read about how to use a bottle on a coffee table here.  This seltzer bottle came from the Plunderosa in Loxley, Alabama.  You can read about this antique trip here.

I layered my seltzer bottle and the architectural element

 with a piece of subway art that I often display on

 my mantel.  I made a few adjustments and 

then I was done!  I find adding vintage items

 to my home allows me to be to be creative and it is

 something I can do almost anytime that I have a few minutes.  

A tip I might pass on to you is to try several different vintage items in several different arrangements. Step back--leave it.  Then, just try to notice it as you continue with your day.  Give it a glance and you might be able to quickly tell if you like the way it looks or if it needs to be rearranged.  

Joining the Party:
Karen's Up on the Hill Something to Talk About

Dagmar's Home Thrifty and Vintage Finds

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson Share Your Cup Thursday

The Charm of Home Home Sweet Home

Bella Rosa Antiques Let's Talk Vintage

Coastal Charm Show and Share

My Salvaged Treasures

A Stroll Thru Life Inspire Me Tuesday


Cozy Little House Tweak It Tuesday

Spring Coffee Table with a Vintage Seltzer Bottle

I recently posted about a fun stop at Plunderosa Antiques in Loxley, Alabama.  They feature many lovely vintage items from Europe.

I got this beautiful vintage

 seltzer bottle on my visit. 

I decided it was time to change up my coffee table with

 some spring items and I included the seltzer bottle.

I gathered some spring-like items and

 arranged them on this large wooden tray.

This was a real nest that we found several years ago

 in our crepe myrtle tree.  I painted some eggs

 to give the nest a more realistic touch.

I placed the nest in a tarnished Revere bowl.  Then, I

 placed the silver bowl inside a bowl that belonged to my

 aunt.  I think the floral edge is a perfect pop of 

color and goes along with my spring theme.

 The bottle has a "foot" or rim around the bottom.  It's

 different than my other seltzer bottle.  It also has

 a glass straw instead of a plastic one. The nice folks

 at Plunderosa Antiques told me how to take the

 top apart so I could clean the inside.  They suggested

 I invert the bottle and spray the hardware 

with WD-40 and leave it over-night.

  It worked like a charm!

It's bright and cheerful. 

 A new peace lily.  A couple of books

 and a bird paperweight complete the collection.

I'll bet you're ready for spring, too.  What are you doing to get ready for the warmer weather?  

 You can read about my trip to Plunderosa Antiques here. 

Joining the Party:
Sunday Showcase with By Stephanie Lynn Chic on a Shoestring's Flaunt It Friday
My Romantic Home Show and Tell Friday French Country Cottage's Feathered Nest Fridays

Vintage-Style Halloween

I'm getting ready for Halloween. 

Do you decorate for Halloween?  In the last few years, I have begun to make my decorations just a little bit creepy and different than they have been in previous years.  I find it fun to create new and different looks for the holiday--it really gets my imagination going.  I like that part a lot.

So, my new look in my dining room began with this black urn that I removed from a neighbor's trash pile.  Yes.  I admit it, I saw it with that left-over, tired, worn-out little light up Christmas tree in it and I took it.  I left the tree for other scavengers, though. 

I added some tarnished silverware.

I added the little candle holder

 I got at a flea market this summer. 

It is tarnished, also.

I added this ledger from our family

business.  It is from the year 1954.

It is in great shape and all the

 entries are written in fountain pen!

I got four silver-plated goblets at a recent estate sale.

  They are super tarnished and were $1.25 each.



I thought my green soda bottle might

 look good with the new design.

There's the urn that started it all.

I already had the feather wreath

 and I thought it made the look

complete with a few black birds tossed in

for good measure.  I love the new look in my dining room!

It was so fun to be creative and to come

 up with a few new ideas.

Yes, I know I'm in the picture!  I later made more pictures without my self portrait, but the light wasn't very good anymore.  So, I'm sacrificing perfection for better natural light.

I came up with this idea for my lantern last year,

but never posted a picture on my blog.



Here's a picture of my foyer. 

I love this look!





I have some pictures of my kitchen table that I'll share now.

A holiday that centers around candy--can it get any better??

Have you done anything different for

Halloween or fall this year?

Joining the Party at:

The Scoop

Nifty Thrify Tuesday at Coastal Charm


WOW Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style



Inspire Me Tuesday


Share Your Cup Thursday
at Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson