Howdy! Jess, here, and I’m STOKED to be a part of this Spring into Summer blog tour with a fab group of talented bloggers. It’s, like, so cool! EEEE! A-hem, anyway. I’m here to share my summer mantel refresh and every year, I go through this intense compulsion to completely overhaul all my nooks and crannies with every seasonal change. I think it’s some sort of odd, instinctual urge for change and while it’s exciting, it drives me bonkers! It’s seriously like my brain goes through a reboot and I feel a *need* to switch up my space and I experience an immediate sense of relief once I do.
This isn’t a problem, really, BUT I often use it as an excuse to buy all the new “in” things for the season — somehow making myself believe that whatever was decking my halls was drab and in need of the boot. Let’s be real, though, and admit that refreshing your space between seasons shouldn’t cost much (if anything) and it can be as easy as swapping out a piece or two — a little shimmy and a shake, if you will. Let’s take a dive into my simple spring to summer mantel refresh!
Spring Greens to Summery Florals
I’m talking mantels today. Mostly because they are my favorite. I love a good mantel. It’s like a glorified, fancy shelf. It’s “extra” if you know what I mean (wink, wink). What I love most about mantels is that they *are* the focal point of their space. They reign supreme. This makes them one of the most important areas of your home. I enjoy two mantel areas in our pad — one in our bedroom (a faux mantel) and one in our main living room. Today, I’m sharing the faux mantel in our bedroom and I want to give you a glimpse into the quick changeover from spring greens to moody summer florals.
After the spring thaw, I jump straight into all things green! There is something so refreshing about big, fig leaves and ferns, guys, and I keep these greens going full force in my home throughout the summer. For this space, I used my killer antique jug and Fiona, my fantastic planter bust (yes, I name my busts – you should give it a try) to add that pop of green that I crave in the springtime. Mantels are a great space to play with lots of layers and I did that here — using an old pair of bead board cupboard doors, a vintage mirror, and a vintage-repro botanical. These layers add texture, interest, and balance to the space. I wanted my spring to summer swap to be as simple as possible — so I kept a lot of my foundation staples before swapping my florals and WOW, what a difference!
Simple Summer Mantel Refresh – Floral Swap
Again, I wanted to focus on simplicity. A seasonal refresh should be sweet and simple — and there’s no doubt about it — even when it is, the effect can be absolutely dramatic! I swapped out the fig leaves and replaced them with gorgeous drooping florals and luscious blush rose stems. Roses have quickly become one of my favorite summer blooms. I fell in love with them after moving to the midwest. I can’t stand the humidity but the beauty of a blooming rose garden makes it worth the butt sweat (…erm…sorry). Even though roses are so cliche and predictable, their variety and dramatic blooms make them top notch, in my book.
Before adding my rose stems, I wanted to piece together extra long green and white stems with a lot of extra droop. Honestly, I have no idea what they are – I just let my eyes be my guide. But I always try to balance my florals, ensuring that I have a mixture of large to small blooms. Balance, balance, balance! Gosh, Fiona is looking GOOD, am I right?! It’s like she’s wearing a fancy hat from the Victorian era and I am here for it!
Moody Summer Vibes Welcome!
I tend to lean heavily on the moody side (I can hear my mother laughing right now – like, “yep, yep you do”). Jokes aside, my moody soul definitely pours out into my style. I love to incorporate pieces that bring out the temperamental, edgy side of life. It’s a reminder that the world is a combination of the light and airy with the broody and dramatic and the result is this beautiful mess of living. I am a big fan of vintage portraits and nab them whenever I can. While some find them macabre and dreary, I delight in their vibe – always curious as to the stories they could tell. I found this gal from Heirloom Print Shop and knew she would make the perfect addition to my summer mantel.
I mean, look at that side-eye #savage! She was meant for an antique gold, ornate frame. I didn’t have any on hand that fit, so I painted and aged this little beauty — see how I created this antique gold frame, here. The frame is the perfect pop of antique gold that pulls in the warmth of our vintage crystal chandelier. Yummy!
Spring into Summer – Do What You Love!
Beyond keeping things simple – do what you love anytime you’re refreshing your space – and have fun with your summer mantel refresh. It’s easy to fall into keeping up with what’s “on trend” or questioning if your style is the *right* style. But there’s no need because the answer to that question will always be a resounding, YES! Let me give you a little example, here. I want you to meet Yin and Yang: my Yoga bunnies. They’re cute, they’re on point, and they’re oh-so-Zen!
So take it from me (and Yin & Yang), spring into summer with everything you’ve got to make your space feel like a sanctuary away from a world that can at times be hectic and feel a bit drab. A seasonal refresh can be as easy as swapping out a few floral stems and painting a frame. Do what you love and you’ll always be on trend! Peace, love, & light, peeps! See you soon!
