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I have come to the realization that I don't like my house. Well, I love the house, I just don't like the way it's decorated at all. I did some serious thinking, putting myself back into the frame of mind I was when we built it and I made all the decisions I did, and I think I've figured it out.
I had these visions of doing a lot of entertaining, and having a "showplace" type house that everyone raved over. What didn't enter my visions was that I and my family had to live here every day.
So, I stare at this huge, ultra formal fireplace surround and mantle, and these high ceilings and white trim everywhere and realize that hey, this isn't me. I like warmth, comfort, familiarity, a place where someone can sit down, take off their shoes,and feel at home.
If you want to talk styles, I'm much more Tuscan or French Country than I am Formal Traditional, and Formal traditional is what my house is right now.
So, I'm now starting the redecorating process. What to do with my fireplace however? Have a look:
My plans so far are to paint the walls, get rid of the pale taupe for something warmer. Replace the pics with a big mirror from my dining room, which has an antiqued gold frame. Add some wall sconces with candles (and actually light them - it bugs me when people have candles they never, ever burn. I love candlelight)
On the mantle itself, add some items like old books (I have some we inherited from Wes' grandfather, some almost 100 years old and in good condition), more candles, maybe a live plant, a smaller print leaned up against the wall.
I'm at a loss of what to do with the mantle itself. Would you paint it? Would you distress it, antique it? If so, how? And what about that shiny brass? Is there anything I can put on it to antique it?
Normally my husband would pass out at the thought of painting trim, but I think I can get away with it. One, I'm doing it while he's in Honduras. Two, the mantle has been damaged in several spots and needs to have some wood filler put in and repainted anyway.
As for the brass fireplace, neither of us liked it to begin with, it was the only one the fireplace store carried big enough for our fireplace opening. That mantle by the way is 78 inches long. Our ceilings are 17 feet high in this room.
Considering the high ceilings, what can I do to make the room feel more comfortable and less like a cavern? Darker colors on the walls?
The room gets a lot of natural light. The wall opposite the fireplace has the staircase, which is open to the room and is oak treads and handrail with white trim. The furniture is dark wood and a navy leather sectional. Carpeting is about to be replaced in a neutral tone.
Fire away with any suggestions you have. It's your chance to influence my living environment for the next five years or so. (one doesn't repaint 17 foot high walls all that often. We've had these for six years now)
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
I would paint the walls different colors from each other (two or three) a la Trading Spaces, use eggshell paint. And put your furniture close together in the middle of the room.
(Still thinking about the fireplace.)
Posts: 6367 | Registered: Aug 2003
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From the little bit visible. I think you need to pick up the warm tones of the red fireplace brick in other parts of the room. Right now the red and white contrast between the mantle and the brick is stark. I'd definitely try warmer tones. If our rooms were bigger I'd be going for darker colors. But too dark in a small room is bad IMO. One trick you can actually do is painting the ceiling a darker color too, since it brings it down a lot of the time.
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I would do exactly what you are thinking of doing -- antique the brass and then do some sort of treatment to the mantle -- paint it a dark brown and then put some sort of wash on it. Polo by Ralph Lauren has some good looks -- leather, antique, etc.
Considering how dark your furnishings are, I think that some color on the walls would be great -- a rich but not super-dark color i.e. red or green or a rich but not too-dark brown. I wouldn't do blue or dark brown. Leave the ceiling light. This will keep it from feeling cavernous but still maintain an open fill. Is the ceiling white? You could use a very light, but not white shade for the ceiling to make it come a little closer -- just so long as it harmonizes with the color you put on the whiles (obviously).
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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I also think in a warmer-colored room, the tones of the gold fireplace screen won't be nearly as stark either. If you have a gold lamp or something in another part of the room it can tie it together and mellow it out at the same time.
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That's true. It's the combination of shiny brass, red brick, and white! white that I find jarring. Get rid of the white! white and the brass won't be such a big deal.
Posts: 3423 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Would it look good to have large sections of interestingly patterned cloth hanging from the ceiling, suspended by their corners kind of billowing toward the floor, creating a lower artificial ceiling of sorts? They/it wouldn't have to cover the entire area to be effective.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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You are free to disagree with me, but I think a single framed picture over a fireplace looks better than two side-by-side.
Posts: 7050 | Registered: Feb 2004
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Bev, I'm asking for opinions, you don't have to preface with "feel free to disagree" I always feel free to disagree with everybody.
Normally, I'd see your point, but you'd have to see the scale of this fireplace and this room. The wall is huge. The fireplace is oversized, one picture would be completel dwarfed and look like a postage stamp.
My mom and I have been discussing it today, and she said something that AJ has already brought up - the ultra-white fireplace is the thing I dislike the most. If I were to change it, and the colors of the walls, and add curtains (right now my windows only have valances) then any other more drastic changes (like replacing all the artwork in the room and painting all the trim and antiquing the brass) might not be necessary. She suggests starting with the fireplace, replacing the carpet, making curtains and throw pillows and painting.
She says I may like the artwork I've already got just fine on another background. She could be right. And, if she isn't, I can always change it after I've done the rest.
But the white fireplace, it's got to go. Everyone seems to agree with that so far.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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Big tapestry. We're having a house built and it will have vaulted ceilings, so we've been trying to figure out what to put on these huge walls.
Of course, huge tapestries cost huge money. I'm still working on that.
From previous experience with candle sconces, be careful when you blow them out. Candle wax can stain walls.
Posts: 4625 | Registered: Jul 2002
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My mantlepiece is jampacked full; candlesticks, candles, ornaments, pictures of friends and relatives. Above the mantle we have one gigantic picture. It's cluttered, but cosy.
If I were you I'd paint at least one wall in that room a deep colour (deep orange, for example). Even if you don't change the colour of the mantle and fireplace surround, paint it less shiny and a creamier/browner white.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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Two, the mantle has been damaged in several spots and needs to have some wood filler put in and repainted anyway. 
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I always feel free to disagree with everybody. ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
