Happy New Year Everyone and welcome to my beautiful new mantel! I’ve been working on remodeling my home office slash guest room for – oh maybe three years now – and I finally have enough done to show you my favorite corner!
Amazingly, I got it done just in time for the holidays and New Years!
Do you have a room you’ve always wanted to remodel/change/update? I’ve wanted to redo my office ever since we moved in 15+ years ago. I especially wanted to add a fireplace mantel, but it’s just never been high enough on the priority list – till now.
The rest of the room isn’t quite done yet, but I did decorate this corner a little for New Years. It’ll just be my wonderful husband and me this year, so I got us a very delicious champagne to celebrate! You’ll see it in several of the photos. But on to the new mantel.
My New Mantel in Beautiful White
Even before I discovered my soul mates in the “white interiors” community, I’ve always loved white on white, (on white) with maybe some cream thrown in! Ok, and some gold too, possibly. Probably … Definitely!
And I knew the centerpiece to the whole thing would be my new mantel. A white one! Originally I was just going to get the new mantel surround, without a fireplace in it. But when I started looking in earnest, the weather was just getting colder, and my office was very chilly.
I realized that my new mantel could come with an actual electric fireplace attached. And it didn’t cost as much as I’d expected!
SO I ordered it then waited with bated breath for it to be delivered.
Waiting for my New Mantel …
In the meantime, I cleaned up the office. That was a huge job in itself because it had totally become a dumping ground. But my son and his girlfriend were coming for Christmas and I couldn’t have them sleeping on the floor with boxes and stacks of stuff all around them! (At least I didn’t think so – he said they could sleep anywhere! But I bet they were happier to sleep in a nice, clean room!)
When I finally got it clean, I painted it. White of course! Our house is over 100 years old, so the walls have quite a lot of texture, which I actually love.
The mantel and fireplace were relatively easy to put together myself, and when I finally plugged it in and turned it on, I was overjoyed! My new mantel was all I had dreamed of, plus it keeps my whole room warm!
Dreaming of a White Christmas Tree
Another first for me was the white flocked Christmas tree! I’d never had either an artificial OR a flocked tree, and this one was as beautiful as the advertisements said. It went together like buttah – and it even lit right up when I plugged it in! (THAT never happens!)
But it did, just like it was supposed to! It was so beautiful as it was, that I didn’t decorate it. I just put it up next to my new mantel and put a bow on top!
Also Dreaming of a Fuzzy White Rug
The next thing I absolutely wanted was a fuzzy white rug. Here’s a little story – and maybe it explains how I came to love white, and fuzzy rugs, so much.
Back in my grade school years, I had a friend who had two huge and very furry white dogs. My friend’s mom apparently didn’t want dog hair in every room, so she had closed her living room off with a lovely wrought iron gate. No dogs allowed! No little girls allowed either, unless we promised faithfully not to mess anything up.
We would gently open the gates and creep through, not forgetting to close them behind us. And – you guessed it – the room was all white! A gorgeous fireplace (just like my new mantel,) white furniture, and white walls!
Inspired by a Secret Magical Room
She (the mother) had those amber blinds that filtered out the sun so the furniture wouldn’t fade. It gave the room a dusky, secret atmosphere – the most magical place I’d ever been. (And have been to this day!) I’m sure I spent most of the time gazing around and running my fingers through the carpet!
So I wanted my room to be as magical as my long-ago friend’s. (Joni if you’re reading this, tell your mom thanks for my life-long inspiration!)
My new rug is big and white and fuzzy – just exactly what I wanted!
Decorating My New Mantel for New Years
I kept the decor for my new mantel simple this year. Just a couple things that mean a lot to me.
This round mirror, I got from my mother, and she got it from my grandmother. I’ve had it a couple years and I’ve just been waiting for the perfect place to put it. This was it!
I’ve had these lovely mercury glass candle holders for years too, but I use them all the time. Like here for instance!
I thought they looked nice with some silver and gold ribbon woven through them and draped across the mantel. Subtle and sparkly!
And the beautiful framed watercolor is by a super talented Portland artist, and friend, Rae Davis. I’m so happy to have one of his works in my very own house!
And Some Excellent Champagne
Champagne is one of my very favorite things to drink, especially for a celebration!
Here’s what the folks at NaturalWine.com have to say about this one:
This zero dosage 100% Pinot Meunier cuvée is a stunner. Beautiful, expressive nose of red fruits and faint floral aromas. Rich on the palate with balanced acidity, taut minerality and a super dry finish.
Meunier specialist Christophe Mignon comes from a long line of farmers in the hamlet of Le-Mesnil-le-Huttier, 13 miles west of Epernay. His 6.3 hectares of vines were planted by his great-grandparents and are spread among thirty parcels between the villages of Le Breuil and Festigny in the Vallée de la Marne. This area south of the Marne River and along the Flagot tributary is known for its high percentage of Pinot Meunier, which is particularly well suited to the deep clay and chalky Tuffeaux soils that dominate the terrain.
NaturalWine.com
Non-dosé Disgorgement: March 2018
Organic. Biodynamic
A Toast To My New Mantel, To New Years, and To You!
So Cheers to a new year! As you may know, I wasn’t able to post to Mantel and Table for most of the fall and early winter because of a technical problem. But now it’s fixed, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to be able to post again! It seems fitting that this first one back is at the start of a brand new year!
And I also can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you as a reader! I love sharing our ideas, and the joy of making our homes beautiful, warm, lovely places to welcome our family and friends!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for being here, for inspiring me, and for sharing it all with me! I’m so grateful for your friendship and support!
I hope you have a wonderful new year – I’ll be thinking of you when I raise a glass by my new mantel!
Happy New Year!
Shop the New Mantel Post
Click on the pictures of the pieces I used in this post. If the exact item isn’t available any more, I chose a similar option.
This post includes affiliate links for your shopping convenience. If you click on a link and end up buying anything from that site within 24 hours, I get a small commission with no extra cost to you. It’s a Win-Win, and helps cover the cost of publishing Mantel and Table. (You can read the whole disclosure policy here.) Thanks so much for shopping with me!
And remember, a portion of anything you buy from MANTELandTABLE.com goes to Habitat for Humanity and Proud Ground. With our purchases, we get to help people build homes for their own mantels and tables!
Pin the New Mantel Post for Later
I love your mantel Barbara! So happy for you! And your tree looks amazing next to the mantel. Your first flocked tree..woohoo! You’ll be buying one for each room in your home soon! Thanks for sharing your lovely space
Yes I’ll be visiting your past Christmas posts for flocked tree decorating inspiration for next year – you’re my Christmas hero! 🙂 Thanks for stopping over, and Happy Valentines!
hi, Barbara, The mantel is beautiful but I absolutely LOVE the Christmas tree!! It’s swoon worthy! I’m just loving the bare look trees now for some reason. It’s simple and lovely. Of course, you have such good taste! Best wishes for the week ahead. Linda @Crafts a la mode
Oh thanks Linda – how sweet of you! I’ve been loving my little tree, and I agree, sometimes simple is all you need! 🙂 Happy January and thanks for stopping by!
Barbara, the new mantel/room is just lovely! Electric fireplaces are becoming popular, they easily can heat a room and provide beautiful visual appeal. It was great timing that you waited until the weather became cooler 😉
After the new mantel, I saw the mirror. So pretty and I love that it first belonged to your grandmother.
I’ve been having some tech difficulties too as we switch over to Guttenberg, and MailerLite. Like you said, hopefully things will smooth out.
hugs,
Rachelle
Hi Rachelle! I’ve really been loving the fireplace. It’s such a cozy thing to have in my office – makes me want to do more work! 🙂 Good luck with your tech. I’ll cross my fingers for you! Happy Thursday!
ALTHOUGH I COULD NEVER EMBRACE THE WHITE ON WHITE WHERE WE LIVE MY AUNT HAD A HOME IN Palm Springs THAT WAS JUST THAT AND SPECTACULAR!IT REALLY MADE AN IMPRESSION…………
HOPE THE SON AND GIRLFRIEND ENJOYED BEING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!
XXX
Contessa! I can’t embrace it in any other room either, but having this one makes that ok! 😉 I think we all were happy they were here! I hope you had a wonderful holiday too! Thanks so much for stopping over!
Your fireplace is beautiful Barbara! I had no idea such a thing was available, and the price is amazing! What a beautiful and cozy room you’ve created and I love the white and gold. Cheers to 2022!
Hi Jenna – isn’t that cool?! Once I realized they existed, it was so easy to find one and set it up, and I’m so glad I did! It really makes me want to be in my office now! With any luck I’ll actually get some work done too! 🙂 Happy New Year my friend! I’m looking forward to all your great recipes and art!
Barbara, I missed your posts and welcome back. The mantel is so lovely and your grandmother’s mirror has a beautiful place of honor. I hope to work on my office this year, you have inspired me. Happy New Year, sweet friend!
Pam! So lovely to see you! Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m glad you like the mantel – I want to be in here with it all the time now, so can’t wait to get the rest of the office done! We should compare! 🙂 I hope you two have a wonderful new year!
Barbara, I’m so glad that you are able to post again – yay! I’m looking forward to your future posts. The new mantel and fireplace are gorgeous and the flocked tree is stunning – you’re right – its looks perfect just the way it is. A virtual New Year’s toast to you from chilly Calgary for the best in 2022 and I hope the champagne was delicious!
Hi Kim! Yes, the champagne was fabulous, and even better the second day! (Which would be today – I’m just finishing off the bottom of the bottle, is all …!) 🙂 Hope your New Years Day is great, if chilly! We’ve got some freezing temps ourselves, which is always fun this time of year, as long as the fireplace and heater keep working! 🙂 Take care up there and thanks as always for stopping over my friend!
Happy 2022, Barbara!
What a beautiful mantel and a lovely post. So glad you are back posting again.
Hi Diane! How lovely to see you again too! I’m thrilled to be back to posting – I really love it! Hope you’re having a wonderful holiday and can relax a bit after making all your amazing stockings! Can’t wait to see more of your creativity in 2022!
Hi Barbara
I am glad that you are posting again. Everything looks beautiful. Happy and Healthy New Year!
Thanks so much Edmee! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday too, and that you and your loved ones are happy and healthy as well! I’m predicting fun things in the new year! 🙂 I’m so glad you stopped by!