Gilted

How was your weekend? Our child-less one was unreal. So relaxed and fun, but it was great to see the kids last night. 

The temperatures are definitely on the way down and cozying up to the fireplace sounds so perfect. And though the actual fire is usually the star of the show, what is on top of it needs to make a statement too. My Pinterest has been filled with ornate and gilded mirrors on top of mantels and my gut says it is time for one at our house. 

Gold mirrors on mantels feels so Parisian to me. And while you usually think go ornate mirrors going in ornate rooms, the juxtaposition of a gold mirror in a more modern or traditional room can be awesome. Plus, there are options that are not so ornate, just gold and lovely. 

Love the height of this mirror and how it reflects the light fixture. 

 Blue grass cloth and gold is such a gorgeous statement

Eclectic yet modern 

Love the scale of this skinnier mirror in relation to the narrow fireplace. 

Plain and round is an easy option that would work in any room. 

And then there is what my apartment in Paris would look like. Swoon. 

These types of mirror are an investment, but could always be moved to another room or given new life in a hallway. But really, a gold statement piece over the mantel is so chic. Here are some options. 

1. I can't even handle this mirror, so in love with it. Chairish $455

2. A pretty scrolling shape by Uttermost Co. $199

3. Straight out of Paris apartment. Chairish $950

4. Love the lattice pattern of this Surya $459

5. This Uttermost Co. mirror has great line and great adornment on top. $509

6. A thick banded gilt mirror is so classic. Uttermost Co. $309

7. This is a gorgeous mirror by Howard Elliot, great for lower ceilings $545 

8. This bamboo mirror is such a gem and so fun. Zinc Door $530

9. The pretty line of this mirror gives it an ethnic feel, but simply Uttermost Co. $309

xo

Erin 

Freshened Up

A few more updates on what has been going on around here. There are a few additions courtesy of generous family members that read my blog and some mantel updates to keep things fresh. 

After the NEAT girls interviewed me and I shared the total mess that was our bar, I got around to organizing it so it actually functioned as a bar for Christmas cheer. 

My parents gave me this guy to watch over the dining room. It is fitting since these roam around the house all day eating. 

My mom helped me give the mantel in the kitchen a fresh update and I officially hung the first picture in the house. We have been here six months, guess it was about time. 

My sister in law also reads my blog and got me these cute running shoes that help motivate me to run on my new treadmill that santa brought (and put together). My other secret motivation? Downton Abbey Season 2. 

And though not the sofa that should be arriving today to finish the basement space, this teepee is the perfect addition to the family room. How fun is it? And the babe loves lounging in there. 

xo

Erin 

Back to December

Two weeks on the beach was bliss. It made coming back to reality today not so fun, but I am really looking forward to the holidays at home. I have started posting some gift guides and have a few more for next week. 

For now, just a few of my favorite pins that I am glad I found while I was away. 

How sweet are the color of these chairs? I have high hopes of making it a flea market soon to hunt down ones just like it and painting them. Convincing Matt to get new kitchen chairs, when the ones we have are perfectly fine is a stretch. So it will need to be a steal. 

I am obsessed with this photograph, but cannot locate the source. Does anyone know? 

Our mantels are very similar to this. I like the idea of hanging the garland high to the ceiling instead of draping it along the top. 

How cute is this little hair bow? And it is actually pretty easy to master. 

I love this idea. A story book of your parent's love story. 

Enjoy your weekend friends. 

xo

Erin 

Mantel Madness

Mantels can be tough to put together. There are endless ways to chic up your place by using your mantel as a center piece. And with all those ways, there are a lot of ways to make it over complicated. I loved this easy to use diagram I found on Honey & Fitz. An easy road map to help us novices.

image via 

Now I have a bit more of a dilemma at my house. Our television is mounted super close to the mantel and there is giant speaker underneath it. I have been playing around with how to dress it up without looking like I planted a bunch of junk up there. I have settled on this for the moment. 

I stare at it all day thinking how to change it and I certainly do not think that I have done the kind of job an actual designer could cook up. But in the quest of trying to make it look great, this is my favorite so far. 

My diagram is amateur hour, but thought I would share what I have done as I know there are many of you with this same TV over mantel set up. 


I am sure I will be changing it again in an hour. 


xo
Erin