12/01/2009

Deck the Halls Tuesday

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Christmas 2009 at Happy To Design
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Hello my friends! It's time to let the Christmas decorating begin!
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The Christmas decorating has just begun at my house! I love Christmas...it's my favorite holiday of the year!!! I just can't wait to dig into all my boxes and start decorating! Ohhh boy...there is sooo much...it's almost overwhelming! I mean...what to put where? Hehe!
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*Brand New Faux Fireplace
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*One of the things that I have been most excited about this year...as far as Christmas decorating goes...is being able to decorate my brand new faux fireplace mantel! I just finished the faux fireplace project this past month and I've just been "bitin' at the bit" to decorate it for Christmas! Hehe!
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A Christmas Mantel

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Ta Da!!! And...here it is! In all of its Christmasy glory!
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Creamy White and Gold Elegance
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As you can see...my living room is done in shades of olive green and deep reds with accents of gold. I really do love these deep, rich colors and they are very conducive for Christmas decor! Because of the deep shades of red and olive green...I thought it would be pretty to use a soft creamy white and gold for the Christmas decor in this room!
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A Christmas Mantel
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The mantel was my beginning point and primary focus for the living room!
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The "How To's" of Layering the Mantel's Decor.
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1. I placed a pine garland with white lights entertwined throughout the garland on top of the mantel allowing about 2 ft. to hang over each end.
2. Gold ribbon with flocked white trees was entertwined amongst the garland. I found this pretty ribbon for just a dollar at Dollar Tree.
3. Gold reindeer were placed at each end of the mantel. These pretty reindeer were 50% off at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago for $12 ea. Oooh...I just love the pretty filigree cut-work in the sides of the reindeer!!!
4. After placing the reindeer on the mantel...I decided it needed more so I "shopped" my house! Hehe! I found three chunky gold candleholders...and a decorative gold finial. I placed them behind the reindeer and it was just what it needed...lots of "layering" going on here!
5. For the centerpiece, I used a frenchy looking "Noel" sign that I purchased last year at Hobby Lobby's after Christmas sale...it was 90% off and only $4. It's a sizable piece standing 12 in. tall...just perfect for the mantel centerpiece!
6. Then I just scattered a myriad of gold ornaments throughout the Christmas mantel vignette.
7. Last but not least...I added a few creamy white poinsettias to the mix. The poinsettias brought in the creamy white that I had envisioned for the mantel vignette.
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And...Voila!!! An elegant gold and white mantle!
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A Christmas Mantel "All Aglow"!

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The next few photos are "night shots". This mantel really is soooo pretty at night with the Christmas lights that are entertwined throughout the garland turned on!
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I didn't have much success with getting good night photos. I'm not sure how that is done?
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Decorating the Hearth

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Honestly...I have changed the decor of the hearth several times...this is what I ended up with and I'm still "tweaking" it! Hehe!
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Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

You know...with all the fun of Christmas...the decorating, the gift exchanging, etc., the real reason for the season is Jesus!!! I love it all but I fear that our world has taken this momentous occasion...when we celebrate the birth of our dear Savior...and so commercialized it! My desire is to celebrate Jesus' birth and to bring Him glory in all that I do!!!

Do you see this very large, thick book (underneath the candles)? It is a very, very old family Bible that belonged to my husband's family! The first recordings of family births, baptisms, and deaths upon the old pages were made in the mid 1800's. This is truly a family heirloom...a treasure!!! I wanted to place it on the fireplace hearth...for Jesus is the reason that we celebrate Christmas in our home!!!
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On top of the old family Bible...I placed an old french table tray filled with gold and creamy white candles...a few little pearl berries can be seen twirling around the candles.
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My little french girl bust has also joined the hearth's decor...ahhh, so serene!
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I also added a couple of tall decorative iron candleholders with white pillar candles...to each side of the hearth. I just wrapped each pillar candle in a pretty creamy white Christmas ribbon...just letting a long length of ribbon hang down in front of the candleholders.
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Well my friends...there is still yet sooo much to do at my place! I guess I better get busy for Christmas will be here before we know it!

I'm really looking forward to Marty's Cloche Party this Friday...I'll be sharing a little more of my living room Christmas decor then. In the meantime, have a fabulous time decorating and enjoying this precious Christmas season!!! I'm so happy that you came by today!!! Please leave me a comment and let me know that you were here...I'd love to visit with you!!!

I am joining up with Susan over at Thoughts From Over the Rainbow...for her "Deck the Halls Tuesday" party! You'll have to go and pay Susan a visit...she has some of the prettiest Christmas decor going on over at her place...you won't want to miss it!!! And...while you're there, you will find a list of all the other party participants! Thank you, Susan...for hosting "Deck the Halls Tuesday" for us...what a treat!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

49 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Chari, your Christmas decorations are absolutely beautiful! I would never guess that was a faux fireplace. Your husband's family bible is a treasure

BonjourRomance said...

Bonjour Chari! You did a fabulous job on the mantel. The family Bible is the most beautiful of all!

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Chari, I still love that faux fireplace and you really did it up royally. Beautiful choices - especially love the gold "Noel" sign! Linda

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Beautiful! You did a great job!

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

Hi Chari!!! Your new mantel is a beauty all decked out in it's best finery!!!!!Have fun decorating your beauriful home, xoxo~Kathy @ Sweet Up-North mornings...

Theresa said...

Your fireplace is just gorgeous! How in this world could you make it be sooooo wonderful? I saw it from the day you started. Chari, you are one talented lady!

Have a blessed day and Happy Tuesday!

Jeanette said...

Elegant, beautiful, lovely just can't say enough!

Melissa Miller said...

Oh Chari you have truly outdone yourself my dear friend! What a showstopper just dripping with understated charm and elegance.
It is GORGEOUS!!!! You must be having fun with it. My favorite part is the NOEL sign. Love it!

I'm so sorry you fell down. OUCH! I'm glad you are okay now.

Love ya girl, ~Melissa :)

Lynn said...

Oh, my goodness1 Your mantel is just so beautiful!
Now I feel inspired. I haven't really gotten the hang of decorating my Casita yet. Before we moved I started with the stairway and branched out from there.
Now I don't really know where to start. However, we are going out into the forest to get our tree.

Unknown said...

Chari...your mantel is breathtaking. So beautiful!

Blessings to you!
Gail

Sandi@ Rose Chintz Cottage said...

Chari, your mantle is lovely with its gold, cream, and lights! Love it! I love peeping at everyone's decorating, don't you? Thank you for sharing and thank you too for mentioning the real reason why we celebrate; Jesus!

Blessings,
Sandi

Barbara Jean said...

Chari,
It is all sooo beautiful, and beyond words!!!

Thank you for sharing with us.
Your new fireplace is awesome all decorated up!

blessings and hugs

barbara jean

Jane said...

Chari,
Your mantle and Christmas decor is beautiful, the pictures looked like they could be in a magazine.
I love everything but the family Bible is such a treasure! How wonderful to have something like that! I love the fact the you incorporated it in your Christmas decorating.
Jane

Sharing with Sherri said...

Oh Chari! Your mantel is soooo gorgeous! I can tell that you put a great deal of thought into each and every detail. I just love all the rich gold tones especially the reindeer!

The beautiful family Bible was a wonderful touch on the hearth.

You photos are great too! You've really outdone yourself on this one!

Hugs,
Sherri:)

Bunny Jean said...

The fireplace is perfect! The soft creamy white and gold is so classic and inviting. You have talent!

trish said...

What rich decorations! It is beautiful!

Stacey said...

Chari, really, that is just stunning! Can you believe what a difference that mantle makes? Everything you have done is just gorgeous.

Joyce said...

It all looks so elegant! Now sit down and enjoy it all before the holiday passes much too quickly.
Joyce

Unknown said...

Chari,
Your fireplace looks just perfect.
I love your ideal with the family bible and candles. The whole room looks so warm and inviting. Thanks for sharing.
Sandy

Miss Laura Lu/RMS4291960 said...

Oh my gosh Chari! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! Gorgeous! I bet you were excited about decorating that beautiful "faux" fireplace and mantle! You've outdone yourself my friend! I wouldn't change a single thing! And guess what?! I've got that very same Bible! Mine's in much worse condition! It's a family heirloom but nobody recorded anything in it! I bring it out at Christmas and put it on my secretary open to Luke and the Christmas story! I'm still just starting my tree and plan on hitting it hard tommorrow, (my day off) getting my Christmas up! I'm gonna be in San Antonio this weekend! Love Ya! Lauralu :)

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Chari,
It really is stunning! You have turned this into something so special! I am so loving the reindeer, the Noel sign, the gold ornaments and what you did to that hearth! The bible is such a treasure and how neat to incorporate it the way you did! Everything is just so perfectly intertwined, you got it girl! Hugs, Cindy

Sarah said...

Chari, your new faux fireplace with its decorated mantel looks terrific. Love the little bust of the French girl. What is she made of? Is she an old piece? You've done a fabulous job pulling this all together. Thanks for sharing. ~ Sarah

Blondie's Journal said...

Chari~~~

Your fireplace is beautiful!! Aren't mantel's fun to play with?? I love everything but I think those big white poinsietta's really make a statement! Just lovely!!

xoxo
Janie

Marsha said...

Your Christmas mantle is very beautiful with the golds and creams. Very elegant and striking. I love the surround/mantle on your faux fireplace - a beautiful piece. How wonderful to have such a beautiful piece of history from your DH's family in the Bible.

nannykim/spindlecottage said...

Very beautiful--what a transformation of a space!!! I was looking foward to seeing this finished!! NICE!!

podso said...

It's all so lovely. You did a great job transforming that mantle, the chairs, and the whole area! You will really enjoy that new scene this Christmas. Thanks for the reminder for the reason we do all this celebrating!

Enjoy!

Sonia said...

Chari,
This is just beautiful...your fireplace is gorgeous and elegant and you did a wonderful job with all the layering. I love the reindeer too! The poinsettas give the mantel softness and the creamy white just pops against the rich tones in the wood mantel! You definitely have taken it up a notch girl! What a precious heirloom of the family Bible..Jesus IS the Reason for the Season! Holiday Hugs to you! Miss Bloomers/Sonia

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!! I LOVE it! It looks so beautiful and just completes the room!

Beautiful!!

Lou Cinda

Foley said...

Your mantle is beautiful - I just love the look and shape of it.
My favorite has to be the NOEL piece!!!

Sharlotte said...

This is just gorgeous! I love all your layers...it's perfect for the season! Thanks so much for the tutorial...I'm looking at my mantel and need to do some tweaking myself! Thanks for sharing!

Love the Decor! said...

Beautifully elegant!!
Love all of it especially the reminder that Jesus is the reason for the season. I just posted that too!!

Anonymous said...

I knew this mantle was going to be beautiful for Christmas when you did the first post on it!! I love it - perfection!

Oh friend- I am feeling further and further behind- we go to Pueblo tomorrow for eye appointments and the big grocery trip - no time for decorating yet!

blessings
mary

Sandra said...

Hi Chari! You did a wonderful job on your faux fireplace! I love it! Love the way you decorated it too! Girl, you are talented! What a beautiful treasure your hubby's family bible is.
Have a wonderful day.
Sandra

Kristens Creations said...

Hi Chari, Oh My what an elegant mantle!!! I love it!! I haven't even had a chance to do mine yet, and haven't had time to blog either. Next week I should have more time to see what everyone is doing. I did a tree topper post the other night if you want to take a look! Kristen

Anonymous said...

Chari, you did it again! Superb! Just gorgeous. I love the Noel sign. And what a steal - $4! The Bible is so perfect there. The reindeer on each side works so well, too. Everything about it is dripping with glamour and fine taste, yet so cozy. Rosie

Barbara Matson said...

WOW - nice fireplace. Love how you layered everything! Beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Your mantle looks so beautiful. It is this time of the year I wished we had one at this house. We do have a several bookcases and entertainment center that I do decorate on top of though.

Willow

Lynne (lynnesgiftsfromtheheart) said...

Hi Chari, I can see you are having a ball with your new fireplace mantel. What beautiful decorations! I'm sure Russell gets a kick out of seeing your enjoyment. Your family bible is an absolute treasure. I'll have to pull out Mr. P's family bible and work into a vignette somewhere. Thanks for sharing such beauty.. hugs ~lynne~

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Chari, this is SO pretty! I love the family Bible and that bust is one of my favorites I've seen. Like how you layered everything withthe pretty ribbon, the flowers, and the bling of pearls. And shhhhh... don't tell us the fireplace is faux. We wouldn't have known. LOL!

XO,

Sheila :-)

susan said...

Chari- I am just getting around to visit--have been trying to wrok out Mr. Linky issues. Aren't you excited to have a mantel to decorate??!! It looks beautiful and you got a great deal on the reindeer. I love the layering. I am glad your French girl came in for the fun...wouldn't want her left out :0) Thanks for partipating in Deck the Halls. Hope you will come back next Tuesday!

Carol at Serendipity said...

Chari,

Your mantle is absolutely gorgeous. The gold and cream are elegant. I love that the family Bible plays a part in the design.

Carol

Wanda Lee said...

Dearest mon cheri;

I am literally running out the door to the theatre to see a musical rendition of charles Dickens Christmas carol..,

I love, love love the fireplace mantle and have fretted over getting the time to visit you my dear friend!.., (I'll be back later;many thanks for the sweet comments and the concern)!..,I am well and improving! thank God!)..,

I trust you are also well my dear,later my friend!

Hugs and blessings Wanda Lee @ The Plumed Pen

Wanda Lee said...

Oh my, my coment just dissappeared.., cheers Wanda Lee

xinex said...

Love, love how you decorated your mantel, Chari. I like your reindeers. I used reindeers on my family room mantel too but they are white and I got lazy with the garland so it is still sitting in the garage, lol....Christine

Picket said...

Morning girl...that mantle is so beautiful! My babay girl has talked about getting her one...since she misses her fireplace from her old house...she loves decorating a mantle and would squeal if she saw yours! Oh that family bible is a treasure for sure...I love how you gave it such a place of honor...as always everything is just so pretty..take care sweet friend and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

I am just gobsmacked!!!!!! How lovey is that,so much attention to detail,hats off to you darlin,hats off!!!! x0x0x00x

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Just Beautiful Chari...you did her up proud...I love the creams and gold and Oh girl the family Bible is the best ...That mantle looks like it was just made for your wonderful home...You do have that magic touch my friend...I hope all is well on your side of the mountain today...Been thinking about you...miss you and love ya sis...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Oh Chari....everything you do is soooo pretty........and soooooo elegant. I love your mantle...you lucky girl. None here. Stocking are on armoire....WHAT?....yep, crazy woman here.

Huggies,
S

B. J. Brooks said...

How beautiful. I love the flowers and the picture the way the blend into each other.

I love the Bible addition. I have our old family Bible and have used it many times on my fire place at Christmas Time, it truly brings out the Reason for the Season.

Many Blessings
B.J. Brooks Robinson