Simple Design Ideas Archives

3 Easy Mantel Decorating Ideas Using Art

Aug72018

I haven’t changed up our mantel in a while and am getting the itch to do a little rearranging. Right now, it’s simple and straightforward, with a pair of ginger jars flanking the DIY art I made. Here’s the way it looks currently, along with two more mantel decorating ideas I like.

See the before/after pics and how I painted the brick white here.

If you struggle with accessorizing, this look is the easiest to accomplish. I’m obviously a fan of blue and white jars (with some beads and a green leaf thrown in), but a pair of topiaries or ceramic birds or vases can work, too. The focus here is more on the art.

photo source: Park and Oak

I’m a fan of the collected look, but the trick is to make it look as effortless as possible. Mix things up by using different frames (hang one, lean some, mix in a canvas, etc.) and keep accessories minimal. I like how they’ve used a couple of substantial pieces on the ends and nothing else. Another tip: If you’re worried about a collection looking too busy, keep the art neutral.

photo source: Emily Henderson

A gallery above the mantel is a great solution if you have higher ceilings and don’t want to invest in one huge piece of art. Etsy is a good source for affordable sets (many that you can even print and frame yourself). To balance out the clean lines of a grid, I’d keep the accessories minimal and asymmetrical using one larger piece on the end.

A High/Low Mix in Our Kitchen Dining Area

Jul252018

Although our kitchen renovation was officially finished almost two years ago, I’m still making tweaks in the dining area. Like most of our house, it’s becoming a high/low mix of a good statement piece or two and some really lucky Craigslist or thrift store finds. (My favorite way to decorate!)

Since moving into this house, I’d been using an inexpensive light fixture that I had bought for our last home. It was intended to a be a placeholder until I found the one. And nearly three years later, I found the perfect replacement.

I always felt like the fixture needed to feel lighter against the wallpaper, and the arms and white linen shades on the Dillon chandelier from Hudson Valley Lighting do the trick. It also gives off plenty of light, with the shades making it feel very cozy at night. I’m using 40 watt bulbs (although you can do up to 60).

The Dillon chandelier is traditional without being stuffy. I anticipate that it will be here for a very long time. . . I also think it’s a better blend with the brass pendants over our island and the wall sconces I used over the gallery wall.

In the market for statement lighting? Hudson Valley Lighting (#hudsonvalleylighting) has some great options. Shop them all here.

Lighting isn’t the only way I’m changing up this spot. I took away the heavier wood chairs and, for now, I’m using a mix of slipcovered end chairs and a pair of Chippendale style chairs I found on Amazon a couple of years ago that have since sold out. (I also found a similar set for another room here.)

The dining bench was a budget compromise when we did our renovation. I found a bench that fit the wall perfectly and decided to put my money into other things (like wallpaper) instead of doing a built-in window seat, changing out the windows, etc. Finding a good high/low decorating mix is like figuring out a puzzle, right?

For a full list of sources, see the bottom of my kitchen renovation post.

This post was sponsored by Hudson Valley Lighting.

Follow #hudsonvalleylighting on Instagram for more lighting ideas.

Quick Change: Faux Bamboo Dining Chairs

Jul182018

Today, I’m sharing one of my best Facebook Marketplace finds to date and some very kid-friendly fabric you might be interested in checking out. I wasn’t even looking for dining chairs when I found this faux bamboo set listed for a steal. (And, six hours later, they were in my in my garage. . .)

See more of my entryway here.

The only kicker was that they didn’t come with cushions and definitely had to have them.

I wanted something with no maintenance so I started looking at vinyl. After ordering–and returning–an inexpensive embossed ostrich vinyl that looked way too shiny, I decided it was worth shopping around and paying a little more per yard. I ended up going with this light blue linen-lookalike:

For reference, I needed three yards for this project and my upholsterer charged me $60 per chair in labor.

By the way, I guess this room has given up the title of being called my office. I’m forever working in a comfortable chair or on the porch with my laptop so for now, we’re calling it the dining room again. . . .