celebrate the holidays

Holiday Mantel Home Ideas

Find the perfect mantel for your holiday decoration. Choose from this collection of our top picks.

These retro-inspired stockings with green garland bring this classic cream mantel into nostalgic holiday mode.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

Take advantage of fragrant spring bulbs and use them to create a unique mantel masterpiece. Wrap your gifts in craft paper this holiday for an organic natural look that is sure to impress your recipients. Tie a shell to the top for that unexpected attention to detail. Craft paper is very inexpensive – ‘tis the season to stay green.

Photo: Courtesy of Coastal Living Incorporate an elegant collection into your holiday scheme. These silver serving pieces filled with poppies brighten the room. And round out the space with fresh evergreen clippings that are both fragrant and festive.
Photo: Courtesy of Southern Accents
Even a muted palette of rust and olive, which blends well with the rest of the room's look, easily makes the transition from autumn to Christmas. Photo: Courtesy of Cottage Living
Rather than traditional stockings, consider hanging homemade bags from the mantel. Make these out of extra fabric or even old sweaters. Not only are they creative, but they also hold more gifts than regular stockings and coordinate with your decor.
Photo: Courtesy of Cottage Living Don't overlook the opportunity to create an unconventional mantel display in the bedroom. A simple wreath and garland made of greenery can take the space into cozy holiday mode in no time.

Photo: Courtesy of Coastal Living

Fill a large mantel by hanging the wreath a bit higher and adding tall candlesticks and tapers. These easy tricks get your eye moving upward and create the illusion of higher ceilings in the room.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

Go ahead, get that super-long pine garland and hang it from the ceiling so it drapes all the way to the floor. Grand gestures are especialy appropriate at the holidays.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Accents

Use nature that is hanging around for a unique twist this year. Drape a garland made of sweet gum seedpods and pinecones from the mantel. Or, use items from your yard for cost-free decor.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Accents

Celebrate the nostalgia of the Christmas season and turn back the clock to the days of the childlike allure with excitement and surprise of Santa and his reindeers. Recreate this Retro Christmas look and turn that Santa hat upside down for a creative and playful stocking alternative. Add candy cane treats and simple plants to the mix for easy access.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

Layer different types of green garland to create contrast in colors and style. Then accent your mantel with pinecones, feathers, and berries.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Accents

When you're expecting a crowd for the holidays, make everyone feel at home with his or her own personalized stocking.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Accents

Dish it out with your holiday china that has been nestled in the cupboard and put it on display. Mixed with greenery and figurines, these plates can dress up any mantel.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

Take a fresh approach to your holiday decorations. For a simply classic look, fill white ceramics with small evergreens, culinary herbs, or Christmas tree trimmings.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

If you're not using your fireplace for an actual fire, use it to enhance your holiday motif. An old chest or dresser can be used in front of the fireplace to display candles. We love the slight touch of the sea with the starfish interwoven in the pine.

Photo: Courtesy of Coastal Living

Turn the lights down while this simple garland instantly becomes more polished by candlelight. Using a restricted color palette of candles (no more than two shades), light several pillars of varying heights. For safety, be sure to light the candles only when you’ll be in the room.

Photo: Courtesy of Southern Living

Meet our Fabulous Tuvalu Gals!

Thursday night we were able to gather all the Tuvalu girls up for yummy dinner and fun chit chat. It was great to get everyone together and share in the excitement of the upcoming holiday season.

I am going to attempt to tell you where everyone is from, so if that's not interesting I do apologize and you are free to just look at the pics....

Lindsey (warehouse), Emily (LB store), Sandy (LB store), Sammy (accounting), Carol (LDR store), Maria (warehouse/my right hand mam) she is leaving us in a few weeks to attend a great accounting school in Mexico - oh how I am going to miss her so!

Kara (LDR store), Steph (LB store), Pamela (LB store), Hillary (LB store), Allison (LB store)
Madeline (LB store) and Marie (LB store)

Anne-Liv (LB store) and Laurie (owner) doing what they do best - telling funny stories.
Laur - Please forgive me for this pic but you have to admit this was a moment that should not be forgotten. We were all in tears.
The girls giggling b/c her story really was hilarious and lucky for me and my photo op it kept going on and on... who knew memories from a design project circa 2003 could still be so entertaining?

Ashley (LDR manager) and Emily (LB manager)
Sweet Rexy stopped by for a visit - can you handle that smile?! Yours is pretty too Sammy.
The Gals
Laurie keeping everyone's thirst quenched
Me at home in my element since I am a caterer and all...
THE END

Thank you girls for coming out and Laurie for welcoming us into your home.

A very fun night!