Mary Ann Pickett from Classic Casual Home and Cindy Hattersley from Rough Luxe Lifestyle recently asked me if i wanted to participate in their very own "Project Design".....i said "YES!!!" of course!

so i've been trying to figure out how to really style my mantle...it's always been kind of an afterthought and i wanted to max out the potential. this process reminded me that i like simple.....less is more, right?

FIRST WAY: so i decided to purchase these blue and white ginger jars that i have been staring at online for years.....great anchor for paintings and great way to chunk up the focal point of the room (being the fireplace!) next, I've been wanting to paint an abstract marsh scene...one of the my most beautiful memories from my charleston, sc days are the marshes in the early spring at Sullivan's Island. the marshes are FLORESCENT green and absolutely stunning-perfect subject matter for my spring mantle! then i stacked books to give the jars more height to help balance the weight of the painting....i threw in piece of white coral and we have a spring mantle!

SECOND WAY: so I'm still using the ginger jars and the stacked books, but if you want more room on the mantle to more stuff, use a smaller painting...now i have room for my dried boxwood pots and or course the coral! looks like spring to me!