So we got another foot of snow today.
I want to cry.
This is the worst, most depressing winter I can remember.
It doesn't help that my husband is away in Australia soaking up the sun FaceTiming me with a burnt nose complaining it is "too hot".
Oh sure he says it's for work…but really?
Meanwhile my neighbours are nice enough to come and snow-blow my driveway. Thank heavens. Otherwise I would literally be buried under the snow.
So to cheer myself up I decided to decorate my new fireplace and mantle for Valentine's and Spring. It may be the only Spring I get for months to come.
My Valentine to you is this printable text block. It is designed for an 8" x 8" frame but I decided to put it in an 8" x 10" frame and added the decorative masking tape to hold it in place.
I picked up the little silver vase and grape vine heart wreath from HomeSense (like TJ Maxx but for the home).
The fake flowers and frame are from Michaels. Believe me, if I had real ones I'd be using those instead. Sadly I don't expect that to happen for a long time yet here.
I planned on putting a few more decorative items up that I'd made but in the end I like it sparse and clean. It feels fresh.
If you don't remember this is what my fireplace looked like before…
Part of the bricks had fallen down and then I torn down the rest. I debated for a long time about trying to tile it on my own and finally broke down and got someone else to come and do it. I'm glad I did. It was TONS of work.
I think it has brightened up the room tremendously.
I'm excited to have a blank canvas of the white.
I wanted to buy this wallpaper for the other wall in the room, but when it turned out to cost $800 I said to the saleswoman, "What??? Are you serious? What is it made out of, spun gold?"
So I am trying to source it elsewhere. Either that or I will simply paint the wall white. I had my heart set on those darn barn planks. I love that look. Rustic but clean.
What do you think of my fireplace makeover?
Will you be decorating at all for Valentine's Day?
Oh, I like the decorated mantleplace!
It looks beautiful – very fresh and clean. We’re getting snow here right now, but hopefully it will be fairly light. And I hope your winter will break soon!
I didn’t want to sound like a nag, asking about the fireplace. I love how it turned out! And, that wallpaper is really cool! The price?! Might be cheaper to put the real thing up, haha. Your mantel makeover is pretty; you need that with all that snow outside. No Valentine’s decorating going on here…
Oooh!! Pretty!! I remember you talking about working on it, it’s looking great now! And no Valentine’s decorating here–my main house project is beginning the sorting and getting rid of stuff process.
Oh, this is so lovely! I could not tell the flowers weren’t real from your photographs. I’m sorry you’ve been in the doldrums- winter is so hard, especially in the third month. I hope sunshine is headed your way soon!
So lovely! Happy Valentine dear! xxx
http://www.stylentonic.com
Oh your winter sounds like a tough one. We’ve had nothing but rain, rain and more rain…
On the positive side, your fireplace looks fabulous! Very clean and clear and chic. I don’t have a single surface in my house that isn’t covered with all sorts of crap!
Do people decorate for Valentine’s Day? I had no idea, doesn’t happen here! xxx
The revised fireplace is so pretty, and soothing – I love it. Sorry you’re inundated in snow, while darling husband has sunburnt nose. Will you be together for Val. Day?
Amazing pictures!
I just nominated you for the Shine On Award. See http://searchingtheinnerme.blogspot.com/2014/02/shine-on-award/ for rules
xoxo
The mantle looks amazing – it really did brighten up the room. Did you get new flooring too?
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
I think your fireplace is beautiful…so simple and clean looking. I also think the Snow Miser has staged a coup and taken over all land above the equator. I’m so done and over this…my poor puppy has never even seen grass, has no concept of sunshine and frolicking in the yard…how sad is that?!
FYI…the new hair is up on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.blogspot.com
I think it makes the room peaceful,
What a beautiful fire place dear. Love the crisp clean touch of that deco :-9
ani
http://www.fleurani.blogspot.de
Your fireplace makeover looks fabulous-so fresh and clean! I love your creativity and decorative touches, including the printable text block-such a cool design. Sorry to hear you are being dumped on again. I know it’s a brutal winter out there. Here’s hoping hubby is back by Valentine’s Day.
xx
It’s gorgeous, Suzanne, so clean and serene looking. The old look was so heavy and dated. I’ve never been attracted to the all-white look in decor until now – odd, for a bohemian clutter bug like me! But it’s just so calming and simple. Maybe I crave the simplicity and clean look because I now have a kid! I used to find wallpaper at dollar stores in TO, I kid you not. I papered an accent wall in my bedroom with black paper with tiny flowers. It was very dramatic. I don’t think I could do 800 bucks either. Keep searching and you will find something similar for less, hopefully – I say that but I know little about wallpaper. Xo
It is funny because I never decorate much for holidays but since I’ve been following some interior design blogs they always change up their mantles every month it seems.
I think this doesn’t scream Valentine’s so I’m happy to leave it up till I get bored with it.
That’ll be lots of work, but I know you’re so excited about your move.
Just send some over here from California would you? : )
Thanks Constantinos : )
Well now with all these interior design blogs seems like they decorate for everything.
I’m really trying to avoid the whole “chotskie” look. Clean and simple clears the brain I think.
He will be home for “our Valentine’s Day” which is in fact the day we met day, two days after Valentine’s Day.
I think that is just the lighting that makes the flooring looks so much better. Funny what taking down the drapes and adding some white to a space will do.
The hair looks GREAT!
Your puppy will be delighted when Spring finally does show her face.
Thanks girlfriend : )
I am thinking about changing up these frames I bought. Since I can create anything I like I want to change them out every few weeks with some inspirational quotes. I might put them on the blog too. It creates positive thoughts and good energy.
That is funny about the wallpaper from the dollar store. I never would have thought of looking there! LOL
I know if I was handier around the house people just buy the wood from Home Depot, faux age it and then nail up the planks on their own. Wallpaper seems to much easier to me though.
The fireplace looks great! Love your floorboards too. We bashed our fireplace out when we were in Australia recently (it had horrid yellowing tiles) and stripped the painted surround and found it was a lovely mottled grey marble beneath – it completely changed the look of the room. And when I say we I mean that actually I paid someone to do the hard work for us.
How funny your hubby is in Australia!
Yes…he is often in Australia or Asia. How I wish his suitcase were bigger!
I hope you show some photos of your finished room. It sounds lovely.
I think you are right, it has brightened up the place AND you have a blanc canvas. How about trying to find some wooden planks yourself? There will be places where they sell them like they sell dresses at estate sales? Or on the internet? What is rubbish and old stuf for one, is precious for another. Then you have the real thing instead of wall paper. My husband once bought old panel doors for next to nothing, laid them on their side, one after another (painted white) and made the bottom part of the wall into a boarding wall? Panelling wall ? (Is that the right word?). And then put wall paper above that: big vertical stripes of blacl and white. But white wall paper would also do. You creat the look with the doors.
Greetje
Apologies for my typing errors. As if it isn’t bad enough that I don’t fully grasp the language.