I am a tad late in putting together my summer mantel, but better late than never right? For this mantel, I did some serious house shopping. Since I’ve been collecting shells and coastal things from age three on, a beachy mantel was incredibly easy to pull off! (Funny story: Matt walked in the room and saw both couches and the floor overflowing with shells and coastal props that I gathered from around the house. He shook his head and said, “Maybe it’s time to be done with the coastal theme?” Gasp! Theme??? What an awful word! I don’t have a theme going on here! Hmmmm. Okay, well, maybe I do. What can I say? I grew up on the beach and I miss it. Beach equals home to me. I’m not parting with my shells anytime soon–even if we do live in the middle of the city. So there. Beach Themepark A to Z it will have to be.)
The only recent purchase I made for the mantel was my vintage printer’s tray. I am in LOVE with it!
Forever ago, I purchased a $10 Groupon for $25 worth of merchandise at a thrift store in Virginia (that is near my mom’s house). On our recent vacation, Groupon emailed me that my certificate was expiring that day. Lucky I was able to cash it in! I scored some AMAZING deals and this was one of them. It was so incredibly filthy. I cleaned it with TSP and sanded the exterior of the tray.
I wanted to give it a specimen box feel, so I added some letter and number stickers that I purchased at Michaels.
All of the shells, are ones I have collected over the years with the exception of the starfish. That one is fake. I think it looks very Pottery Barn’esque.
On top of my vintage scale, I placed my faux coral in a bowl and wrapped some rope around the base. My handmade “vintage” spools fill in the gaps and add interest.
This lantern was previously in my master bath. I placed more of my faux coral inside and added more spools.
The letters used to spell “ASHER” above his crib ;). Now they spell SEA and typically hang out in the boys’ room. I placed them on some bottle vases with a seagrass placemat behind. The table runner was something I made forever ago.
And my cute driftwood sailboat sits on top to complete the look.
And here is one more look for you of how it all plays nicely together!
Layla says
Gorg-a-licious!!!
Love the dark, specimen-style shell box against that crisp, white board and batten! 😀
Amy says
I love your mantel! I ready your post when it posted. Then, I went thrifting this past Friday, and I found a vintage printer’s tray, too! I was so excited! Thank you for the inspiration!
Tammy Loves Dishes says
Your mantle is great! I love how you have evoked a beach feeling while still incorporating vintage items. Very nice!
Jenna, SAS Interiors says
I love the “theme”! Your mantel looks great Beth and it’s never too late. Hope you’re enjoying your summer!
~Jenna
Andrea says
Beautiful……love it!
Emily@Decorchick says
Love your beachy mantel Beth, it’s perfect!! When are you gonna have another mantel party?? Maybe a “I don’t want to believe Fall is around the corner” mantel party? 🙂
Linda Slattery says
Theme? Ummmm…Nope I don’t see any theme going on here!! Maybe your DH should remember who is the decorator in the family? lol You scored big time with that printer’s tray. Love the idea of the #’s and letters on it.
Shaunna says
SO coastal and SO pretty!
🙂
shaunna
Coastal Femme says
Love it….love it!
Jen says
Beth, you are so creative and it look beautiful! That printer’s tray is a wonderful treasure…the possibilities with it are endless! Great job…and I like your “theme”.
Kim B. says
I LOVE it!! We are a BIG beach family & thankfully live only 20 minutes away so I TOTALLY get your beach at heart feeling 🙂 As they say, you can take the girl away from the beach, but you can’t take the beach away from the girl!!
Susan bush says
Finally got your blog….after many try’s…really nice Beth ,thanks for some more idea’s….
Heidi @ Show Some Decor says
I think it’s lovely, and who can blame a girl for trying to channel the beach? Perfect touches, Beth!
Jennie Larsen says
Hey Beth- I adore it all, but my fav. is the bowl and scale so darn cute. winks-jen
Lauren says
Beautiful, Beth! I love the fact that it’s all from different places in your home. And the ‘theme’ is great 🙂
Leanne says
It’s beautiful Beth! I always love your mantels.
Michelle says
Well tell your husband that I love your “theme”. Seriously! super cute summer mantle. I love that you used most of the stuff you had on hand. Really love the lantern! Where is it from?! I just redid my mantle today actually. Going to post tomorrow 🙂
Leen says
looks great! Cool printers tray too.
We have tons of shells and I can’t part with any of them even though we go to the beach a few times a week and bring home even more!
Staci says
I have a printers tray tucked away on a closet shelf in my office closet. Great idea you’ve got here! Now if I just had a source for small shells here in landlocked Utah…
Brenda Keefer says
I am in love with the mantle and decor. This is by far one of my favorites mantles I’ve ever seen. I have a beach “room” so I hope you don’t mind if I get some ideas from your decor. We have some of the sweet grass mats and coasters and I had never thought of using them in the beach room. THanks for sharing.
Becki says
My husband worked for an old printing company. When they did some cleaning out, we were able to get several printers trays and we gave them to all our friends and family. I love what you have done with the tray on your mantel and love the beach theme as well.
April says
Very nice!
Elaine says
That looks GREAT! so summery and breezy. Way to go!
Cara says
Looks wonderful Beth. I too have a beach *themed* mantel. Had it up since early spring. Maybe it is time to take it down…Nah…..:-)
Debra from Bungalow says
I just realized I wrote mantel and mantle. Whateva!
Debra from Bungalow says
Lucky you, growing up on the beach! The mantel looks great…very summery. All the collected things do play nicely together!
I didn’t get my summer mantle done yet, but then I haven’t gotten much done since I’ve not been feeling so great…..at least that’s the excuse I’m using.
Miss M! says
Super cute! I just finished my summer mantel this week too and blogged about it. It was inspired by your spring mantel. 🙂
Beth @A to Z says
Aw, how fun! I’ll come and see :).
Emily says
Gorgeous! I’m all about seashells, too. I need to find more though.. and in bulk! Everything looks so vintage and plays together very nicely. Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Jeanine Okio B Designs says
Your mantels are always so lovely and this one is no exception! The “specimen” look is such a great idea! I have one that we use as a memory box and now I’m wondering if I should do the same! Wonderful!
Jeanine
Jenny says
I love it! The tray looks really neat. I also like the scale and spools.
Angie says
It looks beautiful Beth! I love the printers tray with the shells in it!
Jenn (GreenDoorGirl) says
looking good – I was a little late on getting my summer mantel done as well, but since it stays SO HOT here until way into September/October, I figure I am good – LOL. I just need to finish and post about it 🙂 I think my favorite part is the lantern.
Lindsay says
How did you make your spools??
Beth @A to Z says
The post about it can be found here: http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2010/09/myo-vintage-spools-fall-vignette.html
Anita says
As a huge beach fan myself, I really loved your summer mantel! So sweet!
Beth says
I love this!! Ahhhh and I just passed up a vintage printer’s box today..I couldn’t think what to do with it..what a great idea!
Tracey says
It’s beautiful!
I struggle with my summer mantel and front door. They always look fallish instead of summerish.