Mixed Metallics Christmas Mantel

By Kate Riley December 2, 2013

Christmastime is here! Long time readers know Christmas is a really big deal in our house, we go all out with a big party for our friends and family each year (we’re talking 100 peeps!) and so the decking of the halls has begun!

Having recently painted the living room Rockport Gray, I started this year with the mantel. I love mixing metallic sheens and layers of white so I’m at it again. This year’s mantel is a merry and bright winter scene complete with a dash of sparkle and a bit of green.

christmas living room centsational girl

mantel with branches and wreath

I reused my ancient mixed metallic wreath again because I love it so. I bought it at Target six years ago and it always ends up somewhere (see it here and here in Christmases of yore).

Glitter tape dresses up a plain vase filled with light up branches and sit next to my favorite pair of reindeer. Our Pottery Barn quilted stockings are hung with simple ornaments to embellish.

ornaments on stockings

The French doors that lead to the space are now painted black and I love them! They play well with the piano and add a sophisticated touch to the room.

peeking through doors

pillow on chair

I bought the whimsical screenprinted pillow at Michelle Dwight Designs on Etsy last month – and that song ends up in my head every day…

christmas pillow in chair

most wonderful time pillow

boxes with ribbon

I like to plant or place things in unexpected vessels… a coffee cup for ornaments, a shadow box for a metal snowflake, and a silver gravy boat for a succulent. A bottle brush tree forest on a cake stand ? Sure why not. I mix a lot of faux and fresh, fresh and faux, there are no rules really.

console with trees

succulent and bottle brush trees

tree with ornaments

white branches bottle brush trees[4]_thumb

The white trees that sat on the front porch last year sit next to the fireplace instead. I swapped the nailhead club chairs that sit in this space for the low back pair from our master bedroom for a slightly different look, the Essex rug is from Z Gallerie, the gold candlesticks from CB2.

christmas in living room

My boy set up his Polar Express a few days ago as I was adding the final touches and I insisted he leave it there until January because what is Christmas without a boy and his train, I ask you.

boy and his train

boy with train

This is the first time I haven’t used a mirror on the mantel, I don’t know why I was always so tied to one in the past, but I love just the simplicity of the bare wall behind the decor this year…

gray wall christmas mantel

christmas mantel centsational girl

 

I’ll be adding a few more holiday touches to the house over the next week or so and will share them soon !

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67 comments

  1. Great space, Kate. Love those CB2 candlesticks- they remind me if the ones I saw in the dwell studio holiday catalogue, that unfortunately were very expensive! thanks for the holiday inspiration!

  2. Your home is fantastic and brimming with inspiration as always Kate! Love your new paint color too, can’t wait to show you the DIY wrapping paper wreath I made with your Ribbons Olive and Moss paper!

  3. This look is to die for. Sooooo elegant! And beyond the Christmas decorating, I will be painting my bedroom Rockport Gray. I’ve been looking for the perfect grey and seeing this on your walls I know I’ve found it. Fantastic job with the room!

  4. Absolutely gorgeous! I do have a question though – I noticed a white poinsetta, and I know you have a kitty. I have cats too and I have always been afraid to put out a poinsetta (even though I LOVE the look of them) because I’ve heard cats are allergic. Is yours faux? Or have you had any issues with a real one with your furry friends? Thanks for any advice!

  5. GORGEOUS! Love every bit of it! The train is a nice festive touch as well. Our American Heritage Troop went to a model train day at a friend’s home on Sunday and we had a great time and were educated about the different trains and equipment. Very fun!!

  6. Simply DIVINE, Kate!

    Simply DIVINE!

    I have gone the way of white and metallics this year with pops of red. I love how it looks so clean, but really brings out the punch of color for an added festive feel.

    I love how the green looks with your colors.
    Merry Christmas!

  7. I love your mantle Kate! I went to West Elm recently to buy those same candlesticks that you featured a while ago and they were LONG GONE. probably because of your blog :)
    Dang it!
    xo
    Maria

  8. Kate-

    I love the mantle- that is the color scheme I picked this year – mine doesn’t look as fabulous as yours does though. It looks beautiful!! You are always an inspiration!

  9. Ha, so sorry about that Maria! I looked for them online at CB2 and can’t find them, grr! Ashley the rug is from Z Gallerie. :)

  10. As always, looks fabulous. Can you please tell me where the round side table is from?

  11. Love the beauty and the fun in the room! I have always had a hard time finding solid color wrapping paper (without spending a huge amt)…..where did you find yours?

  12. Breathtaking! Love the icy fresh decor. I, too, fill a mug with Christmas balls on a tray beside an armchair – it looks styled, but says someone lives there, too:).

  13. Love it all….but I’m especially encouraged and inspired now to paint my walls grey. I was worried the colour would clash with my sofa and chairs (natural linen colour) but now think it will be fine.
    I love your little grey side table too. Looks very “swish”
    xx

  14. I think I just found my colour scheme for next Christmas. Thanks for the inspiration Kate!

  15. I love mixing metallics. The whole color scheme being overall white looks like new fallen snow. Very striking!
    Sherry

  16. Beautiful mantle. I love the train and it looks great where it is. You are a great Mom.

  17. Mixing white with gold and silver looks so modern and elegant. Thanks for inspiring us! I love your arm chairs which look stylish and comfortable. Would you mind mentioning where you got them from. Thank you.

    • They were a Joss & Main find Lisa from last year, they always have club chairs that go on sale, that’s how I snagged them!

  18. Absolutely beautiful! I also love mixing metals (doing that on my mantel this year as well). The wreath is adorable…..I bought the multicolored like it this year. Looks great on my turquoise front door!

    Looking forward to seeing the rest of the house! Merry Christmas :)

  19. It’s gorgeous Kate! You have impeccable taste. I love your son’s train. We have a train set that belonged to our great grandfather that we put up each Christmas.

  20. The new paint color looks great! It’s my dream someday to host that many people for Christmas (really, any excuse for a party is good enough for me), so I’ll live vicariously through your decor pictures. :-)

    Erin

  21. Looks gorgeous and I love the train! Thanks for the link to Michelle Dwight…I clicked over and ordered a pillow cover.

  22. This is beautiful I was wondering what you use to prop your trees in the urns and keep them upright. Thanks!

    • Just soil to prop up the trees, they have small planter bases they fit in, and those planters fit in my urns :)
      Kate

  23. ^^ I’m with cristin! Where are those awesome reindeer from? Everything looks so lovely!

  24. Love everything!! Thank you for sharing! Do you mind sharing where you bought the white reindeer pair? Thanks again and happy holidays!!

    • Hi Sandra, the reindeer came from a local shop, I use them every year!
      Kate

  25. Truly enjoyed touring your home. Thank you for sharing it with us. I’ve become a new follower on Fb and Pinterest as of now. I loved your little and affordable ideas…the decorations hanging over the top of the stockings…definitely copying that idea.

    Shelley

  26. I’ve always thought that a home looks better when it’s colorful, but this post of yours proved me wrong. I love it looks with white, gray and metallic.

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