the space between

upcycle, repurpose and reinvent your space

rustic, coastal summer mantel with beach accents

This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

Almost 7 years later and after just publishing a new post on my spring mantel and some thoughts on decorating and I realize that my philosophy has been the same for many years. This post originally published in July 2012 and while reading through it I had to laugh. How I couldn’t stop messing around with everything. How I like to use plants, always. How I always lean toward the sentimental over the trendy. How it is just so me.

So I thought I would give this old reminder of that time we lived on our first Caribbean island a refresh and share it with you again. It’s a good reminder to just be you. You do you. Use decorating as an opportunity to make yourself smile. And for goodness sake, decorate a shelf in your kitchen if you just want to pretend you have a mantel for a minute.

——-

I don’t know about you, but I think one of the worst feelings in the entire world is to feel left out. Whether it’s intentional, accidental, preventable, whatever. It always just sucks to not be included and know about it. No?

rustic-nautical-summer-mantel-2012


And you know what one thing I have felt completely left out of since joining blogland?

Mantels.

Some people have some seriously beautiful mantels out there. And bloggers host mantel parties and update their mantels for each season.

And I, I have a driftwood shelf in my kitchen that I am going to pretend is a mantel, somewhat fantel-esque.

I did not make my summer mantel entirely out of paper, but I did try my hand at a couple of paper mantel accessories. Like a book page bowl and a paper mache letter B. And I decided to go with a summer theme, cause, well, it’s summer. 🙂  And I’ll apologize now that all of the pics are relatively dark. This was a late afternoon project in an east facing kitchen. 🙁


And then once I had my fantel all decorated for summer … I fiddled with it. Would it work better without the paper bowl that didn’t really turn out how I had hoped?

Does that make it too off-balance and should I take out the book page framed word art I made my dear husband for our 13 year anniversary of living together? See the 13 there on the frame? 🙂

The grey lettering says “you’re pretty much my favorite of all time in the history of ever”. True statement.

And does the sprig of flower in the corally thing I found at a beach hide my little ‘hope’ sign made on driftwood with a little shell?

That sign is the pair to the other driftwood, shell and sea glass sign that says ‘joy’.

And, would I like the look better without the little pop of hot pink flower?

And, what if I added these other pretty white flowers I found instead of that little shell?

Oh, or, what if I put those flowers in a little blue mason jar and took away the tall blue bottle we found, along with the other bottles, while scouring for driftwood one day?

Ohhhh, I could put the little blue mason jar with the pretty white flowers on the end where the paper bowl was, then I could put the word art I made Joel back on the other side and all would be right with the world.

I didn’t actually realize how much I missed fiddling with decor like that until I lost a couple hours minutes doing just that. The reality is, I can’t keep it like that, because our glass containers filled with food stuffs need a home and storage space doesn’t seem to just be appearing at random in this little breadbox of a house. But, it sure was fun to be back in the game, even just for a hour minute.

You can find the tutorials for these projects in our archives:

Comments

  1. Whew – that is some serious fantel tweaking! Your arms must be exhausted from all the lifting, placing, moving …

    Love that you can just walk along the beach and come home with the perfect fantel accessories!
    Kelly

  6. In the end the fantel is just right. Perfect. Beachy. Personal. Love all the little touches … and loved seeing it so prominently displayed at Layla’s party! Congrats!

    And that OPC project is amazing …

    🙂

    Linda

  7. I love your new mantel. So pretty and I love all the accessories.

  9. Karah,
    Just saw your fantel on Lettered Cottage.
    How pretty 🙂

    I’m excited to hear more about OPC as it goes.
    Very cool. Love Habitat for Humanity.

    All the best,
    D

  11. I loved reading your thought process for styling your “mantel.” And I totally know what you mean about how you can just get lost for minutes doing it! : )

  12. Karah,
    Who needs a mantel when you have a ‘fantel’ like that? Perfection. I especially like your planked sign.
    Deborah

  15. oh my friend — this mantel is WONDERFULLY YOU!!!!!! it has your essence and that is just so awesome!!! guess no more feeling left out — you are in baby!!!! unfortunately your excellent taste does not spill over into your baseball preferences but none of us are perfect : ) hugs…

  16. Wow, Karah, you’re definitely not one to be left out! And sharing the Habitat love is WAY cool!

  17. I was telling my hubby last week how left out I feel without a mantel! Great minds. We decided to build a fake mantel too. I like your drift wood idea. We also live at the beach, so this is perfect. Thanks for bringing the inspiration for the fantels. xoxo

  21. Your mantel is beautiful. I love the fresh combination of blues and greens. And the natural elements are so soothing. You did a great job.

    Sharon @ mrs. hines class

  23. Holy wow! I was not expecting to read my name on your blog this morning!! I’m so flattered and totally glad you fanteled. I love a good fantal!! 🙂

    I actually spotted this loveliness yesterday on a little blog called The Lettered Cottage (perhaps you’ve heard of it?). I adore it’s beachy beauty. Great job!!

    Thanks for the shout out. You are too kind!! 🙂

  24. I love your mantel and the beachy theme is so lovely. Your sign is amazing, such a fantastic piece. The paper bowl, B , shells and flowers are all very pretty. Love it. Just so you know, the party is for any surface anywhere that you create any kind of vignette. Kitchens, bathrooms, shelves, mantels, tables – just anywhere you display anything. Hope you join in again soon. Hugs, Marty

  25. Well, I think you did a fantastic mantel layout – love the old bottles!
    JoAnn

  27. one day i’ll have a mantel & can do cute things as such. in the meantime, i’ll enjoy looking at the cute pics you posted. nice job!
    xoxo
    ali

  28. Yay for fantels! I finally realized that I could decorate something even though I don’t have a mantel, so I decorated the top of my piano. Fun!

    I love your beachy vibe, and those old bottles are just perfect!

    ~Angela~

  29. I love your “mantel” We are thinking about adding one to our family room fireplace since it doesn’t have one (who does that?) Thanks so much for sharing at Tout It Tuesday. Hope to see you next week.

  31. Mantel or fantel – either way, yours looks amazing! I love all the personal pieces you’ve included, like the little driftwood signs and the framed word art for your hubby 🙂 Love the blue bottles & jar and the blue B too 🙂

  32. How in the world had that bottle not been found on the beach before, I wonder. Great find! Reading your tale of fiddling with your fantel made me remember why I don’t ever change my mantel. I can’t decide and I like what I have and I’d like the new way and then I’d always feel like I was missing out or there could be something better. You have some really cool things there. Loved your paper bowl!
    Liz

  34. The mantel turned out great. You are right, there are so many great mantelscapes out there in blogland, it’s hard to compare……but yours is just as fabulous! Great job!!

  35. Beautiful! I have a bad habit of tweaking my decor over and over again too, but it’s worth it in the end! 🙂

  37. I think it looks great! I don’t have a mantel either. I am not big on fireplaces so we specifically did not have one put in this house when we built it, but I would love a mantel… I need to find me a fantel, too. 🙂

  39. This is awesome. I didn’t have a mantel for the longest time and felt super left out myself…

    this looks great!

  40. WOW!! It’s awesome! Every inch of your mantel is AMAZING!!!

    Thanks so much for sharing this at The DIY Dreamer.. From Dream To Reality! Have a great day! 🙂

  41. Beautiful, Karah! The ‘fantel’ itself is a showstopper and then all of the different elements combine to give it such a relaxed vibe. I want to find a blue bottle when I go for a walk ; )

  42. I love your summer decor! It’s perfect and beachy without being overdone. Great job! Thanks for linking up!

  43. What a great little display–so many interesting things to see. Thanks for linking up.

Trackbacks

  5. […] {The Space Between} […]