Krista from The Happy Housie reached out to me last month asking if I wanted to take part in a Christmas Mantle Blog Hop (basically, a tour around different interior blogs all showcasing how they've decorated for Christmas). As you can see, I said yes but what you don't know yet is that we don't actually have a good mantle to decorate on. So, this is My Non-Traditional Christmas Mantle tour.
If you've been a long-time reader, you may remember that we DO have a fireplace and mantle in our playroom. I could have decorated that mantle but we don't use that room as a family. Our little man uses it as a playroom (on the weekends) and that's about all that goes on in there. So, it didn't make much sense for me to decorate that space. Today, you get to see our Kitchen Shelves all decked out. =)
My Non-Traditional Christmas Mantle
When I think of a Christmas mantle, I immediately think of beautiful fresh garland and adorable stockings. Well, my Christmas Kitchen Shelves have neither of those things but I think they still evoke the same type of feeling. You know the feeling I'm talking about... that sugar-cookie-eating, snuggling-in-pjs, snow-on-the-ground, type of feeling.
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Coffee Cups | Foil Art | Antlers (similar)
Minted reached out to me last month and asked if I'd be willing to style up some of their Holiday Art collection. I absolutely love Minted so I picked out a few pieces and had the best time styling them.
Beyond the new pieces of art, I brought in some twinkle lights and a few holiday accents.
Christmas lights always add that extra charm. Last year, I had a small strings of twinkling lights and a mini garland strung on the shelves and I really liked that. Check out last year's Christmas home tour to see how I decked it all out. This year I wanted to do something a bit different. So, instead of adding lights to the shelves, I draped a garland across the kitchen window. I love both looks but I think I might like this year's look a bit more.
Curacao Art | Glass Canisters (Similar)
For the past few years, I've seen those bottlebrush trees all around town and I've been loving them. I couldn't resist picking up three of them this year. I placed two of them on the top left of the shelves.
If you are new here, the kitchen is my pride and joy. It was our first major renovation, check out our kitchen reveal if you haven't seen the before! The DIY floating shelves are the star and they are just so much fun to decorate and redecorate every month or so! I'm not a minimalist but I don't like a ton of stuff either; so it's always fun trying to find the balance on the floating shelves.
I hope you enjoyed my "Non-traditional Christmas Mantle" tour. You'll be able to see more of my Christmas decor later on in the week but no pictures of our tree! We cut down our tree on Saturday (a favorite family tradition) but it still doesn't have ornaments on it. My kiddo doesn't seem interested in it, so I decided to just wait until there's some free time... I'm going to bake some cookies and then see if he wants to eat while we decorate the tree. Who could say no to that, right?!
Shop The Look
Ready to be totally inspired by all the other Christmas Mantles?! Make sure to click around and go visit!
The Happy Housie / A Pretty Life / Place of My Taste / Two Twenty One / Newly Woodwards / Cherished Bliss
Lovely Etc. / Town and Country Living / All Things With Purpose / House by Hoff / My Fabuless Life / Lehman Lane
Green With Decor / The House of Wood / Fynes Designs / Bigger Than The Three of Us / Casa Watkins Living/ Blue I Style
cassie bustamante
i love your kitchen shelves! the penguin is so freaking cute, too!
Ashley Mayes
Thanks girl! I found the penguin years ago and still love him
Mary Coakley
I liked your non traditional decor nice for a change not a hint of red anywhere looked at some of the others WOW too
Ashley Mayes
Thanks Mary!! I wasn't sure if it'd be well received or not but I love it so I guess that's all that matters!
Kim@NewlyWoodwards
This is too cool! I just love your floating shelves, and this really lets them be a star.
Ashley Mayes
Thanks Kim! Not traditional but neither am I so it works!
Krista
I love your little holiday touches on your kitchen shelves!! Crisp and festive and such a beautiful backdrop! Thanks for joining in on this hop, Ashley!
Ashley Mayes
Thanks for putting it all together!!
Meg Green With Decor
Looks great!! Love the penguin!
Ashley Mayes
Thanks Meg! I can't remember where I got that little guy but he always finds his way somewhere with our Christmas decor.
Tara @ Lehman lane
The shelves look great Ashley! Not sire if that white stuffed animal is a penguin or a polar bear but its super cute 🙂
Ashley Mayes
Thanks Tara! I think he's a penguin. =)
Carrie
So simple and pretty! Love the animal guy.
Tilesbay
Looks great!! I love your kitchen shelves! the penguin is so freaking cute.
Ashley Mayes
Thanks so much!