Friday, August 4, 2023

Vintage Painting and Sunflowers on the Mid-Summer Mantel


When August rolls around I feel a slight hint that fall is on the way. I'm not wishing summer away, but I know many of us are done with the heat and humidity. August means sunflowers and dried hydrangeas with darker colors of the harvest. There's a small shift toward my favorite time of the year. 





Time for tweaking the mantel in the hearth room for late summer. A few years ago I found a wonderful vintage oil landscape painting at the vintage market with late summer vibes. It was a very low price, but just one problem... it had a rip in the canvas right in the middle. Good thing it was in the lower area where the grass met the pond. A little packing tape on the back pulled the rip together and now you can't even see it. I love the horses pulling the old hay wagon... it looks very French Country to me.




A small showing of some sunflowers and black-eyed-susans in medium vintage ironstone pitchers, small ivy topiaries, and my smaller version of white "house" lanterns that I bought from Hobby Lobby several years ago join in. The mantel is pretty long and I have to be careful not to pile on too much.




The large gold gilt mirror stays here on the mantel, then other items can be layered in front. The mirror helps bounce around some light in this space which it badly needs. At the previous house this mirror was above the buffet in the Dining Room. I loved that look, but at this house the buffet is below the large window.






Old book stacks are my way to add a little height to elements, especially on the mantel.












I'll share the rest of the hearth room for mid to late summer next time.





...And here are a few more posts from the past with sunflowers on the mantel.




joining in at these great parties:
The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 
 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 
  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey
Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode, Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest
 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn
 Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  
Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  
Home Matters at Southern SunflowersGrace at Home at Imparting Grace
Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  
 

9 comments:

  1. Debra, the painting and sunflowers does transport me to the French countryside. I'm in the process of setting a table with a sunflower theme for next week's Monday Morning Blooms. I've been trending to a little Country French of my own. It's inspiring to read your post. Thank you. I'm off to take a look at the previous ones.

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    1. I actually googled old French hay wagons and there it was. Can't wait to see your sunflower tablescape Sarah. I know it will be gorgeous!

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  2. That looks very good and seasonal appropriate, Debra. I'm so lazy inside that I still have my blue & white everywhere, which I set back in March and haven't changed. The good news is blue & white works year round, but I really need to change out a few things.

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    1. You're so right, blue and white is wonderful any season. I wish I had more pieces, but it's so hard to find around here. I have to make myself get up and get busy this time of year. I bet you're still working in your yard even this time of year. My landscaping is a wreck!

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  3. I loe your summer look. I never do summer here because we are north so I especially love seeing yours!

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    1. I envy your cooler northern weather. I'd love to have to put a sweater on in the evening, but it's an oven even at night. blah.

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  4. I think your mantel has just the perfect amount of looksies! Love it and that print! Having a great print is my thing these days. Even though I can't say any of the ones I have are great. Have you seen the girl (either IG or TikTok) that goes to thrift stores and finds ugly old prints and turns them into Halloween prints? If the print was a farmhouse with a farmer and hay wagon, she makes them Frankenstein and adds pumpkins to the wagon etc. Maybe little ghosts in the windows of the farmhouse.
    I don't decorate for Halloween but those are the cutest little prints ever. I'm tempted to try it out.
    Anyway, stay cool! The only good thing about August is that soon it will be September which is my birthday month. Yippee!

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  5. Looks great love the picture. Have a great weekend. Hugs. Kris

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  6. This is GORGEOUS, Debra!! That painting is fantastic...I love those old oil paintings but they are so hard to find!! I'm so happy you rescued it :) The sunflowers are so pretty styled on your mantel, perfect for this time of the year. Thanks so much for sharing at Home Imagined this week!!

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