Spring Mantel & Layla’s Fireplace Ideas

Each year, I love to bring branches of Forsythia inside. I clipped a few for our Easter table (which ended up being outside this year as it was so warm). Yesterday, I brought these beautiful branches in.

Decorating with Branches I Finding Silver Pennies

On the branches was a little lady bug which John helped bring back outside. I thought to myself, “Oh,what good luck! A lady bug.” They’re lucky you know?

Decorating with Branches I Finding Silver Pennies

I clipped the branches and put them in fresh water.

Instantly our fireplace looks like spring –

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

I love how nicely it pairs with the succulent wreath. I’m thinking of moving this to the front door soon. It’s from Balsam Hill if you’re looking for one.

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

The seeded vase is from Bambeco.

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

Before I had a faux fig and some DIY Terrariums on the mantel, now the yellow flowers add such a warm note.

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

That lovely milk jug, I found antiquing with my family in England. Isn’t it pretty? Now I wish I bought more….

Isn’t that always the way?

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

I’m still trying to figure out what to do with our fireplace. You guys all know how much I don’t like it. Well, don’t like bits of it. I LOVE the mantel but don’t love the brick, the tile and the cracks. (Sigh).

Are you familiar with The Lettered Cottage? This is Layla:

Layla from The Lettered Cottage

The photo is from her Spring Home Tour which is fabulous, by the way.

I’ve followed Layla and her beautiful blog for many years. She actually inspired our fireplace makeover in the other house. I’ve been sooooo stumped on what to do with this fireplace that I thought, “maybe I should email Layla?” So, I did. I asked her if she could Pick My Presto the fireplace.

For Pick My Presto, Layla uses her mad Photoshop skills to give readers an idea of how they can transform their space. I’m so delighted because Layla just did Pick My Presto to my fireplace yesterday, click here!

So here’s how it looks right now:

Decorating with Branches I Spring Mantel I Finding Silver Pennies

Layla came up with 7 ideas for our fireplace that were different than ones I was already mulling around in my head. Here’s one I really like:

Layla's Pick My Presto of our Fireplace I Finding Silver Pennies

Marble with a dark hearth. I would LOVE for you to stop by and see her ideas here and tell me which you like best.

Also, I’ve wanted gas but now I’m wondering if we should just line the chimney and do real. What do you guys think?

She also had the idea of painting that little cabinet next to the fireplace. That’s one from my childhood that my mom has been saying for years to paint but it had sentimental value, but I think I might just paint it 😉

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Linda
Linda
7 years ago

Personally, I would do a whitewash (or similar technique) on the existing fireplace bricks, paint the inside bricks & replace the flooring tile in front. And paint the little cabinet. But that’s just me.

Ellen Shook
Ellen Shook
7 years ago

The one I like best is the encaustic tile with the darker hearth and the little painted cabinet. Layla has mad skills, and it was so easy to decide for me. Of course, it is not my house, darlin’!

Pamela
Pamela
7 years ago

Well if was me I would white wash the brick, and use solid dark gray slate at the bottom hearth.and may be paint the wood around the outside on sides of mantel white and or distressed a little and leave the top of the mantel the color it is now. But that is just me. Have fun deciding.

Janet
Janet
7 years ago

I do love the white marble with darker hearth. I wonder if you went with wood burning fireplace, would you be cleaning that white marble a lot? There is something very special about wood burning, the ambiance, smell, coziness. There’s also something to be said about flipping a switch & whala fire is lit, no clean up. That’s certainly a personal choice. I personally love the dark wood, I wouldn’t change that (or stain different color of choice). Oh and I agree, painting little table brought color & did indeed break up all the wood tones (or keep table as… Read more »

judy h.
judy h.
7 years ago

Dani, I love the encaustic tile with the dark hearth. If you could find that exact tile pattern, how awesome would that be??? That tile with the dark hearth and the fabulous dark wood reminds me of you and your terrific, somewhat eclectic decorating style. I have followed your blog for a while and your style speaks to my soul. My grandma lived in a Dutch Colonial home full of the enchanting dark wood, same as yours. I always told her she was ahead of her time as she had a sense of eclectic style like no other. It was… Read more »