Holiday Decor: Ho Ho Mantel

The following is an excerpt from the it all started with paint blog.

No Fireplace Mantel? No Problem. 

I’ve always envied those with fireplaces. Especially at this time of year … you know, the whole hanging the stockings by the chimney with care and all.

It’s hard to believe that our 100-plus-year-old house was built in Chicago sans fireplace.  I’m pretty sure it was either removed at some point – probably by the same braniac who thought outdoor paint on original woodwork was a good idea – or it’s hidden behind a wall somewhere.

My options:  Start swinging a sledge hammer or make do with what we have. Which is radiator heat ... which comes from large radiators … which the owners we purchased the house from made custom covers for …

I never really used or considered decorating these as mantels. That is until now.

I typically dress up the radiator cover in our living room with my Santas and stockings.  This year I gave the old, gold and chippy - and not chippy in the good way - stocking holders a coat of silver paint.

At the craft store I discovered the wonders of adhesive removable chalkboard vinyl and used it inside the existing picture frame.  It needed two layers to cover the original art completely.

My sister-in-law painstakingly needle-pointed the kids’ stockings when they were born.

The candle pillars were ‘wrapped’ with wrapping paper and twine.

The ice skates - purchased 20-plus years ago and never used - are hanging from a command hook that claims to hold up to 5 pounds.  We can only hope that’s true and they don't come crashing down in the middle of the night...

Linda is the creator and author of the "it all started with paint" blog. She’s a Jersey-born-and-bred-Midwestern transplant who lives with her husband and two children in Chicago.  She recently started blogging to chronicle her adventures as she refreshes her turn-of-the-century – and that’s 20th century, not 21st – home one room at a time, for $500 or less.