Styling Evolution

First of all, thank you SO much to everyone for weighing in on the mantel painting issue. Pretty much unanimous for painting that sucker black. Can't wait to get on that project. Until then, I've turned my energy toward styling the mantel. It turns out that having a young puppy who requires you to stick close to home for hours on end + kids who want to OD on technology while on fall break = mantel styling antics galore. Don't worry lots of potty breaks (for the puppy) and technology breaks (for the kiddos) were taken during this process. First, a reminder of what it looked like sans styling . . .

As I may have alluded to before, I was honestly just lazy about styling the mantel because I didn't like it. But with all your fabulous suggestions, I was inspired to get on it. So, here's where I started. 

Now, don't judge too quickly. This is a process, remember? I basically just started moving art and accessories around my room. I decided I needed some natural element, so I grabbed my shears and cut the closest oak branch I could reach. Then, I stole this bowl from here:

And this brass and stone tree from here:

But, I wasn't quite feeling it. The bowl was too small unless paired with some other pieces. So, I kept on moving stuff around.

Another attempt. This time, I moved the small ikat bowl and tree off completely and put this faux bois bowl I recently bought from Homegoods in the center. I liked the scale of this bowl a lot better, and thought if I filled it with some pomegranates or something kind of pink-ish/red that would add more color. Of course, I didn't have any pomegranates just lying around. Does anyone? Except maybe photo stylists? Those people seem to have everything.

Then while taking a break from styling I read some blogs. While looking at Nelya's blog, inspiration struck. Nelya's blog often has that effect. If you're not already reading it, you should be. Because guess what I saw . . . 

Source: completelytotallymadly.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest

books! On the mantel. Why had I not thought of that? Of course, I loved a lot of the other stuff going on here too, but don't have any of it. Except the books. Books I have. Aha!

Since books wouldn't fit under my TV upright, I turned them on their side . . .

Better, right? We interrupt this styling session for a gratuitous puppy shot:

So, after adding some more books and scavenging some apples from the kitchen (who needs stinking pomegranates anyway?), this is what I ended up with . . . 

Granted, it might undergo some slight tweaking later on (as I've been known to move stuff around), but for now I'm happy with it and think it looks a whole lot better than it did. 

Have you re-styled areas of your home that make you happy?

Postscript: During the writing of this post, my wily puppy peed on my cowhide rug for what is now the 10th time I believe. She loves that thing. You lose sight of her for 2 seconds, and sure enough, there's a yellow puddle on the white hide. Luckily, it's amazingly easy to clean.

Back to Black

Can you guess what I'm dreaming of?

Source: housebeautiful.com via Kathy on Pinterest

If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have already figured it out.

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Is it becoming clearer now?

Source: google.ca via Kathy on Pinterest

You guessed it, super sleuths, I'm loving black mantels lately.

Source: google.com via Kathy on Pinterest

You see, my mantel is a little, well, lackluster. It's a builder-grade blah-fest. It needs a little sprucing up.

I know, it's sad, right? My plan has always been to paint that obnoxious built-in cabinet black, change the hardware to brass and put mirrors in the doors instead of glass. Now, I'm thinking of painting the mantel black AND the cabinet. Is that too much black in such proximity or will it tie it together better as I am hoping? And I know the styling on the mantel is pathetic. Does anybody have any good tips on how to accessorize around a big black television on the wall? Taking the TV down is simply not an option. These temple jars are just hanging out here till I find a better, more colorful option. I've tried different things over time but everything looks pretty lame. Exhibit A:

Plus, there's the vast expanse of wall above the TV because of our two-story room. I've thought about putting a huge piece of art above the TV like a blown-up print of this photograph my husband took in China . . . 

but then thought that might just look dumb (not the photo itself but putting it above the TV). Sigh. How I wish my room looked like this in proportion and with lovely built-in shelves like these.

I heart this room so much. Now, I realize this mantel is a dark marble and not painted black but it has the same general effect, right?

So, what do you think of black mantels? A nice focal point or a little too much? Any opinions on what I should do?

Love the One You're With

Confused by the title? Stick with me. First and foremost, thank you SO much to everyone who came to our Nashville Blogger Tag Sale this Saturday! Bri, ModFruGal, SquirrelPearl and I had a blast hanging out with old friends and meeting new ones.

Stole this photo from ModFruGal as I forgot my camera. Typical.

Also, thank you to all the Nashville bloggers who gave us a shout out on their own blogs including sweet Ceri Hoover of Cooper-Grey whom we had the pleasure of meeting on Saturday, and Kayce Hughes who is always so kind and supportive. Other bloggers on the scene included Melissa of the Insane Domain (who purchased some of Bri's fabulous art) and Kim Biggs of Kim Biggs Design (who purchased some of my fabric), both of whom I've had the honor of getting to know recently. All in all, such a fun (but exhausting) day!

Lots of people came out to see what we had to offer, and while I sold quite a bit, I made it home with a lot of stuff too (dolphin table, anyone?). So, I've got a new strategy - "Love the one you're with." Haven and Home has a series of this name where she features bloggers who are doing exactly that - working with what they've got and loving it. So, here's what I've got . . . a lot of rust and black.

Once again, please excuse my hot mess of a garage as a backdrop.

When I moved a lot of the pieces back into my garage that I didn't sell (or chose not to sell like the Mastercraft black lacquer credenza), I realized it all looked pretty good together. Rust and black emerged as the color palette with hints of green and white. New basement room direction? I think so.

The amazing samurai needlepoint juxtaposed with the rust velvet curtains that used to be in my dining room.

Oil painting with hints of rust.

Here are just a few rust and black inspired interiors to get my juices flowing . . .

Source: srgambrel.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: mdesignla.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: bellemaison23.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Definitely some food for thought. Are you using what you've got and loving the ones you're with?

Thanks again for all the support on our Tag Sale. I've received so many emails asking how it went and asking about certain items. I even pre-sold one piece thanks to my preview pics (thanks, Amanda, your bird print will get to you shortly)!