When we were looking at houses seven years ago, Hubby and I didn’t have very high expectations. In fact, any house within our price range had already won half the battle: we could afford it!

When we walked into this house, a major selling point was the absolutely gigantic fireplace mantel that greeted us at the far end of the living room. It is almost always one of the first things that somebody notices when they walk into the room for the first time. “Your mantel is HUGE!”

Well, you know what they say… big mantel… big…. candlesticks? (I don’t know. Ignore me.)

I’ve had a lot of fun dressing up the mantel, especially for the holidays. Currently, it is where my brassy babies are showing their stuff, and also where an enormous clock (hey, it’s to scale!) rests. However… I was starting to feel like it was a bit dull. When a mantel is two feet deep and six feet wide, it needs a bit of pizzazz.

I knew I wanted blue. Blue and gold go well together (they both signify 1st place, don’t they?) and I needed a bit of life happening up there. I went on a “Decor Mission”, and I think I came back with some lovely stuff.

I love things in threes; I can imagine these candle holders with flickering tea lights. Candle light is so nice on summer nights… even indoors.

Together, this is my “newly-blue” mantelscape. And in this picture, you can also see the sheer size of this mantel. I am now hunting down fabrics for accent pillows to tie this colour into the rest of room.

It’s going as slow-as-a-tortoise, but eventually my living room will be done. Eventually.