The January Fireplace Mantel
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I decided to decorate the fireplace mantel for January. I’m going for a dark, moody ambiance here.
I’m unsure about the miniature painting in the middle, but it will do for now. I recently ordered the other two from Amazon.
12 x 16 inch Young Lady At The Spinet
I loved this painting for a reason I couldn’t quite figure out. It shows a lady in a scene from another era.
What does she have in that little silver storage box up on the piano? Do you think she’s happy or sad. What do you think her story is?
This one is a 13×16 inch Nature Rural Scenery.
The Paintings I Used For The January Fireplace Mantel:
I kept going back to look at these paintings online again and again until, finally, I ordered them. And I was not disappointed when they arrived at my door.
The moody atmosphere of the paintings seemed to fit with the month of January somehow. They depict days of cold weather and possibly snow, which doesn’t happen around here very often.
I leaned the paintings against the mirror over the fireplace.
If I don’t hang them on the wall, they’re portable, and I can move them around to my heart’s content.
I like the layered and leaning look for this January fireplace mantel.
I’ve read that leaning and layering artwork creates more depth and interest. What do you think?
How do you secure leaning art? I wondered.
When I googled this question, it said: When leaning something on a slick surface, put something underneath the wall art frame to keep it from slipping.
Leaning artwork could be impromptu; I’m just going to set this down here for a few minutes, a temporary-type thing. It is transitory in nature and has a feeling of impermanence to it.
I keep looking at the mantel and wondering if I should center the three paintings. Hmm. I dunno. What do you think?
The Strange Light In The Middle Of The Night:
Well, I have to tell you what happened during the night. Something woke me up in the wee morning hours. It was a bright light. I realized it was from the office/craft room.
What in the world? My first thought was I hoped no one was in here but Ivy and me.
Well, that’s just the thing. If I didn’t turn on the light, it had to be Ivy, right?
The standing lamp leans over my yellow table by the office window and it was turned on.
I can’t see how she turned it on unless Ivy somehow got to the remote. And the remote was up on a piece of furniture I didn’t think she could reach. But could she?
I should never underestimate Ivy, so I got up, turned it off, and went back to sleep.
That funny, unpredictable, and silly cat.
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The rural picture is titled The Gleaners.
I really like your January mantle and the paintings you have chosen. You said you weren’t sure about the one in the middle, but I happen to really like it. It’s pretty and I think it goes well with the other two paintings. I had no idea Amazon had things like that. I’ll have to go take a look!
I love the little picture of the white roses. It’s lovely!! Happy New Year!!
I really like the arrangement just as you have it. The art is lovely – all three work together so well. Very quiet and peaceful. You might consider using museum putty, just a tiny amount would work, to keep the pictures safe from sliding. It won’t bother the paint on the mantel. I use it all the time. Probably bought it from Amazon – I’ve had the same package for years as it’s totally re-usable.
Happy New Year to you and that funny,dear Ivy.
I’m the total opposite with my mantle this month….I put a fiber optic white birch tree for light on mine and will add a few snowmen. I love soft lights for this part of winter. Then in February I love the red decor I will add for happy hearts day.
Especially love the girl at the piano.. maybe the silver box is a music box…I would like to think she is happy playing a beautiful melody..noticed the comb in her hair and that there is a vase of flowers that they cut off in the pic…love things that look old…we have one more xmas…but I mostly put up winter decor this year so it can stay up…looks beautiful..💕
The two new pieces of art from Amazon are good additions to your collection of wall art. I especially like the one of the young lady at the spinnet. I like to go for symmetry when arranging furniture, but not necessary on anything else, including hanging art on walls, or leaning art against walls and arranging decor on my mantel and bookcases. I do stick some rolled bits of painters tape on the bottom of framed art when I lean it rather than hang it, just so it doesn’t slide. Years ago I had a large (2′ x3′) framed and glass covered print slide off a mantel and the glass broke. Ever since I’ve made sure there’s tape to hold the frames, stuck on the bottom of the frame and sometimes some clear scotch tape rolled up and placed in front of the frame as back-up, depending on the size of the art. The only thing I might change with the arrangement would be to add something tall and dark on the other side of the mantel opposite where the spinnet picture is to balance out the height and color a bit. Maybe a couple of candlesticks or a tall narrow vase (no floral arrangement but maybe holding a couple of tree branches from outside)? Maybe a couple of candlesticks or a vase (or sculpture?) sitting on top of a couple of books to add height. I can’t think of gardens and spring yet – my Christmas decorations will be up until January 6 (Three Kings Day) and all I want to do in this cold dreary weather is snuggle under an afghan while watching videos on Youtube and streaming my favorite shows and hibernate. I figure we’re going to get hammered sooner than later with snow storms and Polar Vortexes, which hasn’t happened yet. The thought just makes me want to hibernate more.
Brenda, I think your mantle set up is perfect. The placement of your paintings looks great, as the pictures do also. Love the moody look, and often wonder about the artist that painted these types of pictures. And koodos to Ivy. She is one smart cat, gotta love her antics.
We had about 12 snow flurries today. That is our Winter so far, hope we don’t get a ton of snow in March to make up for this.
Have a nice day, from WI.
Brenda happy New Year! Your mantel looks perfect love the paintings. You always do such a nice job decorating.
I love the mantle arrangement. I plan to try it with some things I have. Silly cats! I have to put my remote in a drawer as my Lucy walks over it and turns on the TV during the night if I don’t. 🤔😂
I like all three of your new paintings and I also like them in an asymmetrical position. Your beautiful, unpredictable Ivy and her tricks! I have a friend who once had a cat who was able to turn doorknobs. Happy New Year!
Ha ha, never underestimate a cat. I had a lamp at my bedside that plugged into a little disc that made it a touch lamp. I could just touch the disc to turn out the light rather than struggle to read the switch on the lamp. My cat quickly figured out he could touch the disc and wake me up for snacks. I even tried hiding it in various places on my beside table. He figured it out each time, so did away with that.
I have a question about your decor. Where do you store everything? Or do you move things from other areas of your home to give things a new seasonal look?
I love coming and reading your page. You have a very peaceful home.
Happy January Brenda, your mantle is cute, I like the pictures off center…I’m struggling with my mantle, since Sept I’ve had a theme, pumpkins for fall, then Christmas. So yesterday I took down all of Christmas and had a clean slate. Still working on it, the unchangables are a large antique gilt mirror, and sconces flanking the mirror. So far some candles and a vaguely Chinese style alabaster vase that my Grandmother had, origins unknown. But my plants are back which gives a very cheerful green, alive vibe. Maybe rain this weekend……