There was something missing from my “Beachy” mantel. I couldn’t put my finger on it yesterday. Then last night as I was getting ready for bed I remembered some free shutters that I picked up by the side of the road on trash day a few months ago. Perfect!! You know how a flashbulb goes off in your mind?
So this morning I dusted off those old shutters and dug through my spraypaint stash for some paint. I painted the first coat the same “aqua” color as the frame on my mantel. And then when it was finished drying, I added “heirloom white” over the top.
The last thing I did was get my trusty mouse sander and I roughed it all up so the delicious aqua peeks through as well as the original brown color and the bare wood. I love the dimension that sanding adds!!
Then I put it on my mantel. I opened the shutters a little so that the reflection of the mirror still comes through and lights up the room. Then I rearranged some of the mantel items.
And I put the little canvas pennant at the top of the mantel. I got the little sewn pennant shapes from The Canvas Corp. I love the plain canvas with my beach theme.
I put my Summer Subway Art above my entry cabinet. I decided it didn’t really go with my Beachy Mantel. But I still really love it!
PS — While my shutters were drying, I ran to Home Depot and got some samples for my kitchen makeover. Here’s what we have so far. Any opinions?? the cabinets are now white so I was thinking a warm grey would be pretty….
Wow, you did such a great job. What talent you must have. Thanks so much for sharing
Hi….It feels so nice to find somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. Really thankful to you for starting this. This is really informative and I will for sure refer my friends the same. Thanks…
Your mantel is awesome! so creative! The shutters really add a nice dimension. 🙂
Stephanie
http://junkernewbie.blogspot.com/
I've fallen in love with "Silverdrop" by Behr. It's a yellow-toned neutral, so definitely in the warm category, but it IS gray. Comes out so pretty.
Love these projects!!! Thank you for sharing.
Ingrid
How funny that you are painting your kitchen gray with white cabinets. I just had mine painted gray with white cabinets. Actually, I have white bead board and chair rail on the bottom half and gray on the top. And painted my kitchen table and chairs white and yellow. So pretty…but not done yet.
I still have to get new counters and sink/faucet. And I'm trying to convince the hubs to let me have a black and white checkered floor to finish it off.
BTW, I picked medium shade of gray from Lowe's Glidden Pebble Gray.
And I love the shutters…why can't I find fun stuff like this while I thrift shop
Love your mantel, its sooo fun!
Do the grey, we are building a house right now and are doing an all white kitchen with grey walls to pull out the marble backsplash! I think it's gonna look amazing! 🙂
Beautiful mantle! I love it all – especially that wreath! But the shutters really pull it all together. I love shutters and grab them whenever I find them at ReStore. My mantel has a large old photo my Dad took in the 1940's so I can't cover that up. I'll find a place for more soon!
As for the colors, I like #1 or #3. Two different looks but gorgeous colors!
Thanks for hosting
Mimi
Your mantle is perfect. I love the shutters and all the touches. So fantastic.
I choose the second and last gray, from the top. Can't wait to see how it turns out.
Ruth
The shutters are perfect ~ I love the finished look! (I like the bottom grey fyi, but I'm sure the others are pretty too : )
~Kristin
Loving your beach theme!!
the shutters are perfect! I've been on the look out for a set for my house! {Also, I really like the grey 2nd to the bottom} 🙂
i like the 3rd gray down. i love the shutter idea, it makes me want to find some old ones to recycle
your mantle is always beautiful!!!
and I think I would go with the second color going down for the kitchen. Can't wait to see it!!!
ooo, i love the gray that second from the top. can't wait to see more!
I like the second one down… But have you thought of using two of those greys to do a stripe on an accent wall? I kind of like how it looks now 😛
Just a thought.
and your mantle looks amazing! I have a fireplace but no mantle. It makes me sad! Not much you can do about a rental 🙂
Ali
http://www.foundintheali.blogspot.com
I like #2 grey. It is still warm enough especially if it is adjacent to your beachy mantel/room.
I like the first gray. I think it would really brighten up the room! Great shutters, btw.
2027
I've seen so many great projects with shutters lately! So fun! I love the grays for your kitchen. I would go witht the 3rd from the top…I like a gray without the beige undertones:) We just painted the interior of our Airstream a nice gray color.
The shutters were the perfect addition!
The shutters are the perfect touch… love that you opened them to capitalize the reflection from your mirror!
We're on the same page with kitchen color; can't wait to see what you choose. So many options, it's a little overwhelming. 🙂
Happy Friday!
Heidi @ Show Some Decor
Second gray for sure.
The mantel looks lovely.
The mantel looks great! So many ideas running through my head at 8am. I need more coffee!
The 2nd one down for sure. Happy Painting!
Those shutters were in great shape for a side of the road find, Jen! Great project! Love all the greys you got but I get the "warm grey" feeling from #2 and #4 {going top to bottom}.
Oh grays are hard! I helped a friend with gray and they are tricky.
I think #2 isn't too cold or stark but maybe just right. Didn't read the other comments so I may be the odd ball out! 🙂
I agree that the 3rd is a touch too cold. 2nd from the top has my pick!! Great mantel also:)
love the itty bitty bench. I'm totally stealing my parent's shutters if they ever get rid of them (going strong 30 years now)
LOVE this. I'm now needing to find me some shutters!
I'm thinking the second one down. It's hard to say though. I love the new mantle! I've got to find me some shutters somewhere.
Hi Jen! I love your mantel. The shutters are the perfect touch. I have shutters on my mantel too and love them. I love the little canvas pennant and all your other beachy fun stuff too. I just painted my kitchen, dining room and living room gray. It feels a lot more calm in there now. I love the 2nd or 4th one you have on your wall. Have a great day.
Love the shutters! That last color (which kinda looks like the seond) has my vote.
~ Mona : )
Mona’s Milestones
Go with the Grey!!!! I think it would be fabulous!
The 2nd shade is definately a warm grey. We painted a light cool grey and it was way too light and way too cool. I like the 2nd. 🙂
I'd go with the second from the top. I also love the third, but not for a whole kitchen. It's too cold.
The darkest shade. Go bolder 😉
Looked great before, looks even better now.
second and forth colours 🙂
Love your beachy mantel. What a great reuse of shutters!
2nd from the bottom is my favorite.
Love the shutters. I want to live in your neighborhood where shutters go on the curb for trash day! You lead a charmed life, my friend!
I see several comments voting for Gray #3, but with all due respect, that reads kind of cold and industrial to me (at least on my monitor!) It is the color of concrete. I like #2 from the top.
xoxo
I love the mantel! I think you should go with more color on the walls if you're doing white cabinets. Just my opinion. 🙂 I'm sure I will love whatever you do. 🙂
I love the second grey from the top,, we used one of Marthas gey colors ,, something goose but I'm not certain,, lovely mantle and shudders,
Seriously loving the 2nd one down! Of course whatever you do will look fabulous so really, this is all just a tease anyway 🙂
I like color number 2, too. I've always wanted an apple green kitchen with white cupboards, myself.
Have fun with the makeover!
I love the second gray down from the top. I am so obsessed with grays. My kitchen/Dining Room/ Living Room is Wood Smoke by glidden (a smokey gray) I love it!! Great mantel by the way.. I love your creativity…
xxLiz Marie
Lizmarieblog.com
The shutters were a great solution. I like the second grey the best. Good luck.
Third gray from the top down I like.
What an improvement! Looks great!
ciao from Newport Beach
i love this idea. and heirloom white is my fav spray paint colour 😉
xo dana
thewonderforest.com
Your mantle looks great! I think the top grey option is definitely too light for white cabinets. The third grey option from the top would be my favorite pick.
Love it!! I think I just spray-painted these EXACT same shutters to make the "planter" in my new bathroom…so funny!!
http://christinasadventures2010.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-diy-bathroom-makeover.html
I love the colors of your shutters 🙂