Tole Tray Inspired Spring Mantel

March 03, 2013
I should not even be thinking spring with all the snow outside my window.  But I got an inspiration this morning...

This tole tray that I found thrifting last year for $4 inspired my spring, vintage mantel.





I have an abundance of vintage vases and planters in the pastel shades painted on the tray.  I grabbed my over the kitchen sink shelf to add a little height to my mantel vignette.

Most of these flower pots and vases were purchased thrifting for amost nothing.

This black chair is from my small bathroom.  Pastel colored Reader's Digest condensed books are standing on the left and Mccoy, Flea Market and Figural Planter price guides prop up the black chair.

My black metal scale attempts to balance out the other side of the mantel with black and pastels.



Various faux greenery are stuck here and there.  I can't grow real houseplants on my north facing mantel.  I even need extra lighting to get decent photographs of the mantel.



The black pops on the white wall and mantel.  I haven't had my flower pots out of storage for quite a while.  I have a fair sized figural collection too.






















Thanks for reading my blog, Carlene

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Comments

  1. Really pretty Carlene... love the pastels!

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  2. I love the blacks and pastels together. Looks very 1950's. I love the hand holding the vase one, but they are all adorable.

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  3. Perfect for Spring. love that wonderful tray!!

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  4. Great mantel! I love the shades of all the vases. I know my mother had some very similar pieces.

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  5. Carlene, this is one of the best mantel arrangements I've seen. It looks great! I like the way you mixed in the books, used the shelf and little chair for anchoring and elevating the pastels with a bit of black. Well done!!!

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  6. Carlene I truly love this so much! I adore pastel planters and vases and the way you used them with your Tole tray is perfect. I would copy this in a second! Love it!!!! The touches of black to balance with the tray are inspired!
    hugs, Linda

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  7. You needed that tray to bring everything together....looks good

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  8. Your tray is just gorgeous, I really like it and the price is unreal. Love the whole vignette. Using the pastel vases is so pretty and very creative. Makes an interesting display. Hugs, Marty

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  9. The tray really pulls everything together.The little dog is so cute and that scale is very nice !

    Chantal

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  10. How pretty, Carlene! The beautiful tray was a great find...and I love all of your pastel planters...definitely feels like spring! Lots more snow here tonight, but we need it!

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  11. how smart you are to use that shelf to elevate the tray and still give you room for the pottery. Your mantel looks so pretty, and I think I have that same tray (or very similar). laurie

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  12. I love the pastel pottery and the tray makes them pop. I have a turquoise hand vase.

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  13. The vases sure do bring out the great colors of the tole. What a great idea to add the black and the shelf. A great use of your collection.
    Liz

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  14. Love the contrast of the pastels against the subtle pastels, Carlene. That tole tray was a great bargain! :-) The mantel is wonderfully spring-like.

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  15. WOW Carlene ... That display is really pretty in that your beautiful pottery pulls the colors from the tray and the other black pieces just ties it all together. Well done, my friend.
    Hugs,
    Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures

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  16. Carlene, that is so pretty. Love all the pastel shades and shapes of the vases. Match perfectly the colors of the tole tray. What a great focal point..Happy Sunday..Judy

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  17. You've got all the right colors of pottery pieces to make the tole tray pop on your mantel. It looks like spring in your house!

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  18. This looks beautiful!! I love the idea of how you raised your tray up. I've been trying to figure out a way to raise a picture I want to use on mine. Thanks for the inspiration. Love the pastels!

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  19. Very pretty!! Love how the colors all match the tray. Makes me think of Spring!
    hugs,
    Cindy

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  20. Such a wonderful tray! I love its classic look! Thanks for sharing Carlene!

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  21. Carlene - Pretty mantel. The various pastel shades of flower pots sure do make the tray pop! Love your vintage scale also,

    Really pretty.

    Judy

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  22. The tole tray pulls all the pottery pieces together and makes the colors POP!!! Lookin' good!

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  23. Carlene, you did such a great job of coordinating all the colors in your tray to your accessories. That mantle just really pops with color. I LOVE black because its so stunning.

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  24. It looks lovely! Are those McCoy pieces I see?

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  25. Your mantel looks great ... I LOVE the vintage vases. Sadly, I don't have room for many more collections, but that doesn't stop me. I buy them for my daughter ... ":o) Your collection is fabulous!

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  26. Now I love the Hull pottery with that tray. Great combo and a really pretty mantel!
    Sherry

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  27. I had one years ago that I actually painted myself after taking a class. Hmmm....probably got sold in a garage sale! LOL!

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  28. That tray is great inspiration. I love all your Spring colors. The vignette is so cheerful.

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  29. Carlene, Your mantel looks so pretty with all of your pastel vases and planters. The beautiful tole tray makes a great anchor to your display.
    Mary Alice

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  30. How fantastic Carlene. I love love love this tray. I can see why it would inspire you. Have a great day.

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  31. Your mantel is so pretty! I love the colors of the vases and the scale is wonderful!

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  32. Oh my goodness, I LOVE this! So fresh and unexpected! I am ready for spring, aren't you? Happy Wednesday from the enchanted oven.
    xo,
    Lisa

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  33. Love all the pretty pastellies and I'm a sucker for anything Tole. Great job!!
    xoxo,
    Kim

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  34. I LOVE this display !!!! The black with the pastels, awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  35. Love your display!

    I am a new follower from the blog party
    ButterflyInTheAttic

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  36. This is absolutely gorgeous!!! I love all the pastels with the black!

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  37. Carlene, I love all of the colors in the tole tray. You hi-lighted them beautifully with your wonderful collection. I really only have one vintage pot. Seeing these make me want to find some but I MUST try to resist. Love the pops of black. You know that I too love scales. Great job my friend! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  38. Hi Carlene, Your Spring mantle is so pretty! I love the colors and your new tray is wonderful. Check out this weeks Open House party for your post featured.
    xx, Sherry

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