Blue and White Are Back...or...Pierre Deux, Monet and...Me?

OK…I stood it as long as I could! I tried doing neutrals and actually have not had my favorite colors on my mantel since September. But now…it’s time for a change! Yes, my blue and white are back!

And at the center of it all..this great wreath topiary that I found in a consignment shop for $7.00! I love the shabby white container! I placed it on a couple of vintage books that came from Goodwill to give it a little more presence.

When I found it, it was looking a little Christmasy…with a red bow and berries…so with the help of our co-host Baby Kitty, I removed all evidence of that and added an oh-so-frenchy Provençal fabric bow!

I also added two double happiness jars from my growing collection and topped them off with identical plates (what else?) from the Spode Blue Room Collection called Caramanian.

Flanking the topiary, a pair of candlesticks…also GW finds at $2.72 for the pair. What a bargain…and they match the plates in my header! 

The trio of white plates on the fireplace has been there for a while. I think they help to dress things up. And here’s the final look! What do you think? I have been having so much fun with my mantel since I added the mirror! It has opened up a whole new world of possibilities!

But I have to say…I am not the only fan of blue and white! Have you seen the new Pierre Deux online catalog for Spring? Does that caption say it all? There’s a nod to the chippy look plus lots and lots of the more traditional Provençal style that I love! Check it out! It takes a moment to load, but it is so worth it!

However, it’s not a new color combination. In fact, it’s an old one! Take a look at the fabulous blue and white pots at the entrance of the home of my old friend…impressionist painter Claude Monet in Giverny, France! Come on in!

Don’t you love his  yellow dining room…so warm and welcoming! And look at the tablescape...a fabulous collection of classic blue and white plates!  This photo and many more, plus recipes written in Monet’s own hand can be found in one of my favorite books…Monet's Table : The Cooking Journals of Claude Monetby Claire Jones. Monet believed that a successful meal was dependant upon a beautiful dinner service and even designed a personal set of china!

But my absolute favorite…the wonderful mismatched tiles in his blue and white kitchen! Now this is real French country decor! You can explore more of his home in Monet's House: An Impressionist Interiorby Heide Michels. And look...there's even a pot filler!

And finally, just in case you don’t believe we are old friends, here we are at the water lily garden during one of my visits. lol Don’t I  look young for my age? So I must say that, as much as I have enjoyed doing a little experimentation with neutrals, I feel like I have come home, surrounded by my favorite color combination.  After all, if Monet chose those colors for his house, Pierre Deux and I must be on to something! lol
(Antique photo look achieved using combine, clone stamp and antique photo features of Photoscape.)

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my mantel!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Kathleen at Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Leigh at Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Linda at A la Carte for Junkin' Finds on Fridays
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!