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Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Winter's Mantel

 I was so slow in getting a new display up on the mantel after Christmas.
I loved my Christmas Mantel and wasn't anxious to take it down.
And since it was all trees and snow...I thought it ok to leave it a little while.
See it here.
 But last week I decided enough was enough...and down it had to come.
I really had no idea what I was going to put up.
But then I remembered I'd recently been given a few more silver things...and I decided silver 
was a good theme.
I kept out a couple of glitter snowflakes.
The silver coffee pot was a Christmas gift from my sister. 
She knows to pick up anything silver for me at the flea market.
When she called to tell me she'd found me something. 
I told her..."You shouldn't be buying me anything. I don't need a thing."
"But...but..", she said, "It's a silver coffee pot!"
"Oh", I said "In that case, yes I need it and I'm so glad you bought it for me!"
 After Christmas my friend Petra was doing a big clean out of her kitchen.
You know getting into those bottom cupboards that stuff just gets shoved into?
She had bags and bags of things going to Goodwill.
 But she had a few things set aside that she knew I'd want.
That included two silver trays.
Yes, please!
The frame I painted awhile ago but I don't like the color. I'll be repainting it.
But the color works well in  this arrangement. 
 At Christmas I had icicles hanging from my scones and loved how they made the sconces appear larger.
Don't know why I didn't do this before...but I dug some old crystal garland and prisms out
and dressed my 1930 sconces up. I added the aqua colored beads for now too.
They will probably change when I do the Valentine Mantel. 
I'm loving the dangling sparkle on my old sconces.
 Small faux succulents add a little color.
This silver has just the right amount of tarnish....but then it will get to be too much 
and I'll have to polish. 
I can't believe Petra gave me her silver trays but she does have lots of other nice things. 
She really didn't need them...but I do!
 Took a shot of the chandelier in the room...
I am having so much fun photographing in here ever since I painted the room. 
Everything looks better with the new wall color.
See that burnt out bulb? I hid it in the above photo...
That bulb had been burned out for awhile but not the others.

So before Christmas, I climb on a step stool to change it out.
When I put the new bulb in....there was a popping sound and all the lights went out in the living room.
Ugh....
I checked my breakers and one had blown.
I have two breaker boxes....a big one outside and a little one in the kitchen.
The big one was fine but the little one had a burnt fuse.
Thankfully that fixed the lights in the living room but now my dimmer switch does not work 
for the chandelier and I assume that socket still doesn't work.
I put the old bulb back in.
I'm scared to try a new bulb again.

This chandelier is very heavy. It's the only light in the house that I had professional installed.
It was just too much for me to do alone.

Now I guess it will have to come down....be checked over and rehung.
Which sounds like a big job.
So it's probably going to stay like this for awhile.

So expect to always see one dark bulb in my chandi for awhile.

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19 comments:

Number Fifty-Three said...

Silver mixed w/ greenery & plants is a perfect combination. Love it!

Angela @ Number Fifty-Three

At Rivercrest Cottage said...

couldn't believe those plants are faux. they look so real. your room is lovely, burnt out bulb and all!

Renee said...

Very pretty. I could so live in your house. However, with three boys, it just wouldn't work.

"Create Beauty" said...

The silver is great for a winter mantle! Thanks for sharing the beauty!
~ Violet

Unknown said...

I am so in love with your fireplace vintage tile- it is perfection!

Scribbler said...

Everything is so beautiful! Lucky you to get such nice silver. I need a couple of trays, too, so I am always interested to see what other people do with theirs.

Your sconces, chandelier, fireplace and that blue ceiling -- love it all.

Olive said...

The chandelier is gorgeous. Hanging them is perilous by yourself. We still have a glass one to move and I dread doing it. xo, olive

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

Your chandelier is gorgeous. I love all your silver items as well. The garlands on your sconces work perfectly with the tiles of your mantel.

Amy Chalmers said...

WEll I wouldn't take it down...just use it with the burnt out bulb. I have a few in my old chandy that don't work....so the mantel looks great, and i love the dripping sconces. Where did you get the blue beads? They really look like my blue opaline macaroni beads that are on the chandy in my dining room.

Cindi Myers said...

Your mantel is so you. Lovely.
I agree with Amy, forget the burnt out light. It's only bugging you.
Sounds like too big of a job for one little light.
xoxo

Candy S said...

The mantle looks charming with the silver and the aqua beads on the sconces. Nice chandelier too! Don't worry about the bulb, I won't notice it.

Brenda Pruitt said...

I was going to say how beautiful the frame color is! Would you believe that I have an old fashioned fuse box with those glass thingies??? Never been updated.
Brenda

Unknown said...

I loved your Christmas mantle too but your winter mantle is stunning. How can you go wrong with silver pieces right? Gorgeous chandy too!

BTW, I will in Pasadena next month visiting my daughter. Any tips on the best places to shop for fun "junk" while I'm there? She said she wants to take me to a place where they sell fabric by the pound and also the Pasadena flea market. I'm so excited to shop!
Blessings to you Nita,
Patti

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Love the silver and snowflakes, they look so perfect together. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

An Oasis in the Desert said...

I really like the subdued elegance of your winter mantel! Great idea for adding more significance to the sconces with all the crystals -- beautiful!

Lori @ Dining Delight said...

Terrific winter mantel! Great friend to give you the silver tray and how nice that your sis thought of you too! They were smart because you sure knew what to do with them! I like the beaded garland on your sconces too! Visiting as your linky neighbour at Common Ground.

DD

SuspiriaLux said...

wow such beautiful things!! i have a new blog, it talks about lots of stuff: hair, makeup, clothes, stores, food! can you check it out? :)

http://crustycherry.blogspot.pt/

thank you!

Amber Lyon Ferguson said...

Love it all. Pinning away! Hope you will check out my recent winter post too!
Amber @junkaholicsunanimous.blogspot.com

Debra@CommonGround said...

love the silver and sparkle of the snowflakes. and wow, those amazing sconces!!