Simple Summer Mantel: Your Flower of Choice

I have a confession to make. I’m not very good at crafting a pretty mantel. I put stuff together, only to wrinkle my nose at it the next day. I try to remember the rules. Like group things in odd numbers. Mix short with tall. When in doubt, decorate symmetrically. This summer I’m forgetting the rules and creating a simple summer mantel that looks pretty to me. No rules, just following my gut. And my gut says pick your flower of choice to display in vintage aqua bottles and enjoy.

My flea market mirror has been added to my mantel. It used to live in the downstairs bathroom but I moved it because I needed some color here in the living room. I layered it over the ceiling tins (also from the flea market) that hang on the wall.

 

I picked pink zinnias from the garden and tucked them into my collection of vintage aqua bottles.

 

If you ask me, I think zinnias are just as pretty as roses.

 

You could use any flower you choose and line them up in bottles, vases, even tiny pitchers. I left one bottle flowerless, because it would seem too perfect if they each had a flower.

 

I kept my silver candlesticks on the mantel because I like the tiny touch of glam they offer.

 

I like collecting old bottles. I have several aqua bottles, and I’ve started collecting brown ones too. The last time I was at the flea market I spied the most gorgeous shade of lavender bottles. I didn’t buy any at the time, but their memory is haunting me and my resolve might crack. At least the bottles aren’t expensive and won’t break the bank.

 

As pretty as a rose, don’t you think?  What’s a favorite flower that you like to bring inside from the garden?

 

Rounding out my simple summer mantel is a faux olive plant, a paper mache blue box, and a small, carved wooden tray painted white. The flowers make me smile every time I walk past, and I’ve got more where they came from. My garden is just bursting with zinnias this year and I want to plop a chair out in the middle of them all and just sit there and enjoy the display of riotous color.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer as much as I’m loving mine. I’m a summer girl at heart and I’m bemoaning the fact that July is almost over. At least we still have August ahead.