design and hung lower on the fireplace screen. TIPUse zip-ties to secure stockings to a fireplace screen.
You can find zip-ties in green or red which makes them
more discreet.
To add interest and dimension to the family design
style, we added lots of light by adding tall candles as
anchors on each side and smaller gold mercury glass
candles with tea lights in the center. Layers of décor
were also added with crystal angels in the center, a garland of red poinsettias and white roses and the layered
approach to the stocking placement. You do have to
be careful when layering: There is a fine line between
layering and junking it up.
Our second mantle is a classic more grown-up design.
We began this design with a lighted green garland
with silver tinsel tips. We added a silver glass beaded garland around the green garland. This began to
ground the mantle. From this starting point, we had a
collection of crystal and silver Christmas trees that we
added along the mantle. Anchoring the mantel with
taller matching silver trees on each end and moving
across the mantle adding the smaller trees using the
wave effect. We also added tall silver reindeer to the
heart, which contributed to the grounding of the design and brought the entire design together.
Flower market and pick up a few large poinsettias and
place on each side of your heart. While at the flower
mart purchase two large (20” or taller) clear vases. If
you have lots of classic glass ornaments, you can fill
the vases with them, or you can simply get some long
branches of evergreen and holly berries for the vases.
Place the vases on each corner of your mantle. These
four items, the poinsettias, and vases will ground your
space, and now you can add some layering with a garland perhaps, a few candles, small-framed photos,
some ornaments a bit of each. Just remember as you
begin layering to keep the wave pattern in mind.
Hopefully, our holiday mantle designs and tips have
provided some inspiration (and holiday cheer!) so you
can begin to add some holiday décor to your home or
perhaps update your existing design. Remember begin with knowing your Christmas design style. Are you
a traditionalist or do you prefer a more modern look
with bits of sparkle? Once you decide your preference
modifying your home by adding some holiday décor
is simple. So get going and bring a bit of the holiday
spirit into your home today.
To add visual interest and movement we dangled large
silver stars and words off of the garland. We added
two silver snowflake stocking holders to display the
graphic designed stockings made of brushed burlap.
This rustic touch was the perfect counterbalance to all
the silver and crystal. The result was festive and elegant.
Our final mantle design is a simple one with a fantastic
garland of oversized Christmas balls.
We began by anchoring the mantle with the same
large candles. We wrapped the Christmas balls around
the candles, which further ground the corners even
more. At first, we thought an new centerpiece might
be needed and tried adding a few. None worked and,
in the end, we decided the simpler the look, the better. The colored balls are so reflective, and combining
them with the two beautiful bright red beaded stockings was the perfect punch of color to add a bit of interest to this mantle holiday design.
So which is your favorite?
If you don’t have any large oversized pieces, don’t despair. Make a quick trip to the Downtown Los Angeles
CM DESIGNS
Cathi Marcoly
(323_ 942 9920
Mary Alice Slattery
(323) 942 9921
www.cm-designs.com