New Mantel and Changes

Y'all, it's been a hot minute since I have shared and posted. Oh, so much to tell! But, today I will just start with a few of the changes I have experienced this summer.

We became empty nesters and moved from Montana to Northern Idaho. Hubby retired from education in MT and is able to collect full retirement from MT (not enough to live on) and be a principal in another state. Moving wasn't necessarily the game plan, but Covid made it clear in about May that it needed to be the plan.

We kept our old schoolhouse in Montana (more on that to come) and bought a new, cute little house in our new hometown.

I am just starting to get it decorated and have more boxes to unpack (going from 5000 sq. ft. to 1500 is challenging, but good!). My new town does not have natural gas so propane, electric, and wood stoves are the heat sources come winter. We have a cute little wood stove tucked in the wall. 

It has a metal mantel that we are going to put a piece of reclaimed wood on that will make it a little wider and longer, but for now I decided to play with some thrift store finds to juuzsh it up (you know juuzsh, right?).

There are outlets, etc. above the mantel for a TV but we chose to make one of the bedrooms a TV room. I knew I wanted some wood, some texture, some color. I started with this this thrift store card table I found at a thrift store in my new town.

I used Wise Owl Furniture Salve to restore the wood's natural beauty.

I placed two wicker thrift store candlesticks on one side and two tall wood spools on the other side for symmetry, but not an exact match.

I silver tray tucked behind the spools and a thrift store paint by number propped in front of the card table finished the look for now. I will definitely be changing my decor on the mantel seasonally, but am happy with the flowers and bit of blue for now. 

I look forward to sharing new projects in a new home. I hope to inspire you to personalize your home.