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[Oznell]

Designer Laurel Bern explains that she tends to decorate in a muted fashion on the holidays.  She has discussed this on her blog in the past.

This year, she has moved from New York suburbs to Boston, and decided to feature her beautiful old mantel in the new apartment.

One thing I so enjoy about her-- she shows the good, bad, and the ugly--  here's her messy start to her decorating, packing peanuts extra :

She takes a side journey to rhapsodize about being sent some white poinsettias (she calls them "yellow";  I've always called them "white", for some reason).

Then she shows the card, ha:

 I love her sense of humor.

But here is the mantel, which is still in process.  What a fabulous antique fireplace to work with:

It is indeed low-key, but lovely.  My likes:  the vintage lamps, the poinsettias, her peacock painting, the tiny wreaths hung from ribbon, the Staffordshire dogs, lemons...

Does anyone remember what it is called when a chimney has an antique, beveled horizontal mirror between the top mantel and a lower shelf?  I'm drawing a blank.  Am thinking "trumeau" or something, but don't think that's right....

Imagine having an apartment with a gorgeous old columned fireplace like that, gasp.  Even the tiles look very old.

Even accomplished designers have moments of insecurity--  she assured us that in real life, the mantel doesn't look as "busy" as it does in photographs!  If I'm honest, I'd say I'd personally like it better if the top mantel had somewhat fewer, but larger, items.  But to each his own, and I do think the overall effect is charming.

I also have a weakness for Staffordshire dogs.  Used to have a pair that my Dad inadvertently broke while moving furniture.  Then, in a local antique shop, I found one -- just one, not a pair--  that was only a few dollars.  He's a repro, true, but an OLD repro, and is such a sweetie.

Hers bring such a sense of calm, guarding the room!

While on that post, she had a pop up image of another stunning, traditional room (not hers, I think it was from One King's Lane), that really took my fancy:

[kate2357]

I have to say I the bottom image is more my style.

I have a sister in-law who does a fabulous job with decorating her mantle. She starts with a long cedar garland and each year she does something different. One year it was all snow globes she has collected/been gifted and interspersed white candles of different heights and white ribbon. Just beautiful. 

[Zernia Rose]

Thanks Oznell. The mantel is gorgeous!

[GingerPeach]

It made me think of a piano with a mirror above the keyboard. But unless I saw that in some unremembered movie, I don't think there is any such thing.

Haven't we all sent something to ourselves at least once? I have - just a card, though, not a package. It wasn't quite as cool as I wished.

Overall, I love seeing the process. I'm in awe of creatives, @Oznell 

[luvzchiz]

@kate2357   Snow globes!   What a wonderful idea!

[Oznell]

Snowglobes are such magical little worlds, @kate2357 ,  especially vintage ones, and especially massed all together like that--  sounds like a stunning display.

That strikes a bell with me, @GingerPeach -- a mirror above a keyboard!   What better way to highlight a pianist's virtuosity at the keys!

I'm in awe of the process too, and how people get their ideas.  Having a stately, "double barrelled" mantel could be viewed as a problem, (of sorts) but it really offers such scope too.   This one immediately makes me think of a Henry James or Edith Wharton novel, and all the long-ago "drawing room" personal dramas and machinations that might have been enacted in front of it....

I'm suspecting her apartment might be a sectioned-off part of what was once an old single-family house, to have such a grand fireplace in it.

[NickNack]

I love her Staffordshire dogs.  I have a pair that look just like those.  They were on my mother's mantel for as long as I can remember.  She loved antiques.

[wagirl]

I like it--like the nontraditional colors--all red and green decor makes my head spin---I have a mantle over a fireplace in my apt that I decorate--have never had one before and have really enjoyed it--got some Xmas themed fiestaware plates to put there in the decor---

[DREAMON]

I personally don't care for the color of the tile, the dogs, or the peacock painting. I do like everything else. I would have to change those 3 things.

The bottom photo is gorgeous ..I love everything about that room.

[stevieb]

I'm afraid not. I can take or leave the art, and I like the large urn but otherwise this mantel is, to me, a hot mess. That greenery looks like a rather dreadful afterthought, or maybe seaweed, and the whole thing, both levels of it, are, overall, a complete non-starter. I do like the One Kings Lane room.