Do you guys get stuck in a rut with your mantel?
I do.
Because I usually only change it a few times a year…maybe fall, Christmas, and “rest of the year” are my cues.  I’m kind of tired of that!
It’s a focal point in the living room, right?  Why not change it up as my mood changes?  And as of late, as my design style changes.
So here’s the mantel yesterday:
Nothing wrong with it.  Pretty.  As a matter of fact, I had just put all that up there with my cousin (thanks, Jenn!) while “fluffing” the living room.  I was trying to work with what I had and
I do love that canvas.  But…..after getting the white slipcovers and freshening up the rest of the house (check that out here, here, here, and here), I knew it had to go.  Plus, I just happened to lean that oar up next to the mantel (I had intended it for my little pirate’s room), and the rest of the space seemed to scream, “Please make me look farmhouse-fresh!”
This reveal pic isn’t the best out of the bunch, but I had to throw it in there because there’s a cute baby with red ruffles on her bottom toddling around in it.
I’m learning that as much as I lOVE white, as a family, we are more of a white and natural kind of group. 
I wanted to play up the casual feel of the slipcovers, and have a bit of a mess that worked together up there.  At first it bothered me that the shutter was the lone man way up high, but then after looking at it a bit, I liked the balance of the rest of the look, and I felt the oar pulled my eye in the right direction.
Again, mixing textures like these rattan chargers and balls of twine with some green added enough interest and made the white pop even more.  This greenery is just some rosemary clippings from our backyard.  When Grayson was a baby, I planted an entire herb garden, and it all lasted about 6 months.  But the rosemary, well, it flourished.  If you have a greyish thumb like me, get you some rosemary, girl!  You can’t kill it (or at least not in Alabama) and you can decorate with it and cook with it!!  All such plus’s. 🙂
I found this oar last weekend at Home Goods (which was my first visit) and I really had intended on putting it in Grayson’s room, which is white and navy and very nautical.  It will probably wind up there, but for now, I kind of like it here.
I do have plans for that shutter, or plans for 2 additional smaller shutters flanking each side.
I’ve been meaning to show you guys our entertainment center for some time now.  My husband built it!  I think he did a beautiful job, don’t you?  (how do you like VeggieTales playing? 🙂
Where are all your dvd’s, you ask?  Well, let me show you….
Isn’t that the niftiest?  He built two hidden compartments down each side bookcase to house all of our dvd’s.  (We are a bit addicted to movies, so this was a wonderful way to keep our clutter to more of a minimum.)  Do you guys want some plans for it?  Matt says he’s more than happy to write some up for you guys.  It was a fairly straightforward job and he finished it in one weekend.
Alright, another snippet of our home for you!  I do realize the tv screen looks a bit questionable at the moment, but I promise it’s more Veggie Tales, “Lord of the Bean.” Which has had me cracking up all afternoon, by the way.
🙂
**Oh, two more things: one, I didn’t post Saturday shout out because I’m really trying to get this whole linky party business going, and two, there are three or four of you sweet ladies who have given me blog awards, and I am so grateful!  I don’t mean to not pass it on to other bloggers, I just feel a bit funny writing about these awards. Does that make sense or just make me sound like I’m on a high horse?  I hope not….I truly appreciate it and appreciate you!**
**linking to these parties**

DIY Project Parade at the DIY Showoff

Just Something I whipped Up @ The Girl Creative
DIY day at A Soft Place to Land
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday’s @ Coastal Charm
Trash to Treasure @ Reinvented
Show and Tell @ Blue Cricket Designs
The Boardwalk Bragfest
DIY @ Tip Junkie
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Frugalicious Friday’s @ Finding Fabulous
Weekend Wrap Up Party @ Tatertots and Jello
Furniture Feature Friday @ Miss Mustard Seed’s
Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interior
and probably some more I’m forgetting! 🙂 Find the links in my sidebar or under “Friends & Inspiration.”

Y’all have a good one,