Thank you for visiting our Blog. I hope you will join us every week to find inspiration for your home, and some of the most romantic designs ever!

Welcome to Full Bloom Cottage

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Decorating Ideas for Bookshelves & Mantles

Alot of people ask me what to display on shelves
and mantles.
There are no rules, the best things are usually things that you
have collected over time.
For instance,
I have an obsession with all things coastal.
I love coral, shells, and especially 
vintage ocean oil paintings.
I rearranged a few things on my bookcase
today, as well as the mantle. 
I like to bring a little
bit of the coast into every room that I decorate.
 My collection of French Leather bound, and parchment books
are just petite enough for these narrow shelves
 Scattering seashells along the shelves brings
the ocean in.
A collection of old faded blue jars & bottles
also bring that sea glass color in
the bookcase
 This Anna Fixler oil painting from the 50's 
has all the right rich midnight and faded blue
coloring.

 A little coral here, and a little there....

 These beautiful sea shells, urchins, are a beautiful
faded purple and green. They remind me of
hydrengeas in the spring.
 My mantle...
I can't tell you how long it took to find
the right mantle.
 

 I like to use old books with the tattered
bindings exposed, stacked high
with my coral collection.
Some vintage silver plated
trophy cups, finish off this side of the mantle.

 This is a beautiful piece of lacy cup coral
in the original brown color.
I love how they look like flower petals.
 The colors are so soothing, I can hear the ocean
crashing on the rocks.
I found this oil painting from
a collector, and it had the 
biggest chunky gold frame
and light above it.
I stripped the oil from the frame,
and hung it frameless
above the mantle.
 I love anything with original chippy paint.
I sealed the mantle with a couple
coats of polyurathane.
Not only to protect the finish, but also to protect us,
since this is an old mantle, it may be
lead paint.


 Last but not least, a grouping
of your favorite things under
a taxidermy dome
looks great too!

Be sure and stop by this week,
I will be showing some of my latest
shower curtain, curtain panels, and bedding designs.

10 comments:

Divine Theatre said...

Lovity, love, love love!

Cindy said...

beautiful! I love the curly coral, and the oil painting. And, the wall color is perfect... i'm gonna have to try to match that!

Anonymous said...

Hi Loretta,
I love your book shelf and mantle, gorgeous!
Where did you find that beautiful cup coral? It's amazing!
And your oil paintings are wonderful!!
Hope your doing well and I wish you a happy week!
Sincerely,
Melinda

Sue said...

I too love the ocean & beach and all that goes with it. Right now its only in my bedroom. I've got beach and ocean frameless prints in my room. I think growing up near the beach is a big part of my heart. Your shelves and mantle look awesome, by the way!!

Take care, Sue

espritlumieres said...

congratulation

Your photos are wonderful, I adore what you're doing.

Anonymous said...

This is just beautiful!

A Shabby Moment in Time said...

So pretty! Thanks for the great ideas.
Blessings,
Karen

Unknown said...

Where did you get the beautiful white table cloth

Stephanie said...

LOVE that old chippy mantle!!

closets Bergen said...

This is really very creative. I also think that a bookshelf stuffed with all books is boring. I really like your idea of the sea theme. Where else is the best spot to read a book if not by the seashore. Well, that is according to me anyway. Nonetheless, thank you for such a great idea.