July 4th Patriotic Hearth Room

If you've known me for a bit you'll know for sure that I love a holiday and the changes of seasons. I'm always ready to pull together a new look with quilts and pillows and vintage collectibles. Give me some seasonal "color" and I'm a happy gal. This time of year, mid summer, and I'm all about a good red/white/blue color scheme. 

Last week I had a little idea to create a patriotic mantel using a bunting on my vintage "French" mirror which lives above the mantel year round. The mirror is heavy and unwieldy, so I leave it there and just add seasonal prints and color layered in front. The hearth room tends to be a bit "dim" so the large mirror also helps to reflect and bounce around some light.

I found a bunting on Amazon which offered two looks. One a crisp RWB with stars version, the other, the "tea-stained" version that I ordered. Good price and quick delivery except the tea stained version was overdone and leaned toward orange instead of "tea stained". I decided to paint it with Chalk Paint, and I shared that fun little DIY HERE. (I say that very tongue-in-cheek because it was a mess in reality). Anyway, the end result turned out pretty well, so I was satisfied and I finished decorating with flags and a few fun vintage collectibles. 

The  recent 70's Bicentennial Eagle collectible vintage mall "find" received a mini makeover with antique gold Rub and Buff. It added some extra patriotic Americana flair along with an antique insurance advertising plate from 1919 and a small Old Britain Castles mini platter on either side.

A vintage flag rests on the back of the sofa. The flags I use are vintage ones I've found at flea markets and antique malls. They are not "commissioned" or government flags. I use them for decor in a respectful way with honor, so I don't mind displaying them. The vintage handmade ticking feather pillow (below) was one of several that my husband's grandmother made for our wedding gifts. I just did a quick stitch and added on an old vintage memorial flag to the ticking.

The old family sideboard has a bit of patriotic color with a small flag display in an old crockery cream jar on the narrow upper shelf. On the main surface of the buffet an 80's Tiffany and Company pottery crock is filled with faux hydrangeas and a pair of very old small memorial flags with 46 stars. I checked the time line for 46 states and found that these would have been from before 1907. I was so surprised to see that date, but they are very very thin and fragile.

My painted lunch hamper stack has a divided vintage basket on top

with two recent memorial flags.

Changing up pillows and quilts is my way of decorating seasonally, along with displaying a few vintage pieces and collectibles. The colors and textures change for the holidays and calendar. 

My Sunshine Biscuit Tin, probably from the 70's, depicting the commissioning

 of the Liberty Bell, sits on the bench/coffee table on my antique book page tray. 

I love using old flags, and I have one of my larger ones draped on the old armoire for a bit of patriotic drama. Our hearth room TV is housed inside. 

The little sewing table turned lamp table in the corner is a newer (vintage) piece for here in the hearth room. I've really enjoyed having the cozy soft light here in the evening.

My Redland Cotton striped ticking quilt is folded here on the ottoman. I've been using this quilt here pretty much non stop this last year, and I've found that it coordinates with almost every look and season. I like to say ticking is a neutral because it matches almost every/any thing. I made the R/W toile pillow years ago and it's a favorite for summer, Valentine's Day, and Christmas.

Here are a few more fun Patriotic posts from the last few years.

that you might enjoy visiting later.

Easy and Instant Patriotic Decor

Clad in Liberty

July 4th Farmtable