A Quiet Christmas Mantel

When I think of Christmas decorations

I usually think of silvers, golds, whites and greens.

I do love a touch of red- it is my favorite color

 but for the most part I am happiest with metallics and elegant naturals 

 for the Season.

I wrestled a bit with myself for the living room mantel this year.

Big, bold and beautiful... or quiet and serene.

I wanted something elegant but simple. 

A lot of natural touches

but a little glam at the same time.

I decided to just start playing around and go with what I liked and save the
big, bold and beautiful for a little something else that I am working on.

This is a big old (about 8 foot long) wood burning open fireplace that we use 
all.the.time. 
It has a load of wood stacked in it right now ready for the morning.
So I can't really do too many things draping down or dangling over front
 I also don't like to have fresh garland draping across the front too
 low since the fireplace is open and it can get pretty hot as large as the fire opening is.
So for this mantel- it's all about what's on top.

I pulled out my collected vintage silver, 

a bouquet of white spray roses and gathered fresh greens from our yard.

 I also added a few of my white & silver vintage ornaments 

Usually I leave the silver tarnished-  I love the mottled old look tarnished silver has 

but I decided to let it shine for the Season 

and I almost forgot how much I love gorgeous polished silver too.

A few sweet little European trees and just a few fresh greens

I love the bit of green color since this room is mostly shades of whites.

 The wreath and the little trees are from Lowes.  

I tucked a few little bunches  of  gypsophila into it's branches

 and dotted it with vintage silver ornaments to dress it up.

The silvers, whites and greens go perfect with the tree we put in here

which I am loving and will be sharing soon.

I also took a couple of pictures with the candles lit at night

and a couple strands of that beaded garland that I adore...but that probably won't be staying.

The rain took a break and the flooding has cleared up but there's more rain on the way tomorrow.

I plan to be staying indoors, lighting the fire and decking the halls a bit more-

I have another mantel to finish up.

Happy Monday!!