North Star Stone Congrats on your new home! That's a really great space! Are you looking to change the look of the fireplace? You could add stone veneer to make it floor to ceiling- that makes the room look bigger, and also helps make it a focal point. You could also anchor the tv then above the fireplace (Just make sure to add the wall mount for the tv before you add the stone).

ReSquare Architecture + Construction If you can't afford to re-face it, you can always go with faux painting to simulate a new material(s). Much less expensive, same basic visual effect. If the materials are rough finish, even a simple tinted glaze will make the texture pop out by accumulating more glaze in the crevices.

pattiegoode Think about the traffic flow. When you leave the kitchen area, would you rather walk behind the sofa or in front of it? That's why the previous owners didn't have the sofa against the wall, and I wouldn't either. But - I would consider placing their desk at the window to the left. What pieces are you planning to place in this room, and what function will it serve for your FP?



It looks like the FP surround is tile & that would be hard to paint (but not impossible). Here's my fav:

North Star Stone You could make it into a stone column, using stone veneer that you could custom color to match the hues in your counter tops, cabinets, etc. It would add a little density to the column and make it stand out less.

sam0705 A couple of things I am noticing that I don't think were specifically mentioned above are the barstools - you have a beautiful kitchen and I think you would be better served by some more substantial stools with a back that make more of a statement. I am not sure if it's the lighting, but the thing that has jumped out at me the most is the yellowish hue to the walls. I would do more a light café au lait color as I think that might coordinate better with cabinets and counter. It is hard to tell if you have a backsplash or what it is?
I agree with adding at least one long runner on the sink side of the kitchen. I would have put a second one, but it may interfere with your barstools.
I have similar windows and you may find that one of your issues is that the room feels unfinished without window treatments. I go back and forth between liking the clean open feeling and feeling like I need something. If you make some of the other tweaks and keep feeling like something is not right, I might try some woven shades on the windows.

DMH DESIGN Catherine--I have to agree with ADDC. Without a bird's eye view and/or additional photos, it is difficult to tell if this will work, but my suggestion, like ADDC's, is to extend the cabinets toward the column, extend the wall behind the cabinets, and then hide the column in an end wall at the end of the extended base and upper cabinets, if that still allows for enough room to navigate through the opening into and out of the kitchen comfortably. There is some added expense in cabts and countertops, and possibly relocating some light switches, but then the column becomes part of the wall. I would suggest verifying with an engr. whether or not it will take a 6" wall to hide the rotated column, or if the loads will transfer within a 4" wall, due to the position of the existing column. Hiding the column wiithin the wall makes it visually disappear, which facing it with another material, in my opinion, only serves to augment it's existing location, which you say bothers you (and me, too). I wish you good Houzzing.

North Star Stone Do you have a picture of the stone? What style is the stone?

Envision Landscape Studio Inc. It's a quartzite veneer. See other questions posted on this image to see a closer image of the stone but in panel form.

North Star Stone You could easily add a stone veneer to cover and update the fireplace. There are a variety of stone types and colors that would work with the blue hues that you're looking to go with. You could even use a driftwood style mantel for the fireplace- that would be really neat.

donnasd Wait... I guess I'm confused. Is this your mom's house? As your dilemma is being re-read, I'm almost certain that it is. If it is, then I think her wishes should definitely carry more weight. I think that I need a clarification on this but the way I'm understanding it now is that she lives there but you live elsewhere. However, she's asked for your help in redecorating her space. Please let us know & try to attach more pics, if possible.

Rosemary Resnick If it is yr. mom's house and you don't live there, then she gets to do whatever she wants. Maybe she really doesn't need yr. help but just yr. company, so let her decorate to her heart's content, she's having fun. Pls. post pix of finished product, we can't wait to see them.

julie77777 Mark - wow you are very talented!! That is amazing! Thanks for sharing with us.

North Star Stone Wow- there are some very talented designers and contractors! What a great post! Here's some of our favorite fireplace restoration before and after's:

North Star Stone The name of the stone is what we call Castle Rock and the color is Chateau. We manufacture the stone in Illinois and can ship the stone or install the stone in the Chicagoland area.

North Star Stone The fireplace dimensions are 7'w x18' high. The mantel is knotty alder and we used 2 1/4 inch limestone. The existing brick needed to be channeled to run both electric and pvc to run the cables. Total cost of the project is approximately $7000.

North Star Stone The peak of the fireplace is 18 feet.

North Star Stone Nice transformation and great use of materials. I assume you used thin veneer brick. Was it real brick cut thin or man made brick?

John Hill Construction It was real brick that we cut down to about the thickness of a standard piece of tile.

Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design Who wouldn't love this? Utterly Amazing!

Casey Tomlinson The stone work is extra-ordinary but don't forget the effect of the cabinets each side.

North Star Stone Great transformation. I like the way you incorporated the TV and book cases. Usually I don't suggest the mantel, but the crown molding and the mantel work very well with the TV.

Sam Allen Custom Home Design Since the brick is actually reclaimed as they tear down buildings in Chicago...you can never be sure exactly what you'll get. We just go to the supply yard and look at the bundles. Check with your local supplier.

North Star Stone Is it the color of the brick he likes? If that's the case, you could custom color a stone veneer to match. We offer this option and can ship if needed. (we're in Chicago) If it's the mortar he likes with the color combo, you can match a stone veneer with that mortar color and get a similar look.

Otherwise the supply yards would be a good bet, but you would need to do a little searching which might be difficult from Austin to match the exact brick.

Schroeder Design Group, NCIDQ, Licensed If you do not have to put up anything on the windows,,,that is actually really great ! Just keep the ceiling white/light. Try a test patch with the darker color on the walls....buy a quart for starters....

amandaala Thanks SO much for the help. I have just been lost. The exterior has been pretty easy compared to the inside.

anniebird Is there a way to make the existing overhang wider so that it can act as a porch? You could change those windows into french doors and add more substantial elements of modern style with a railing and the supports for the porch. I think your house needs some angularity and some metalwork, perhaps in the new railings and in the supports for the the porches. To balance that upper right quadrant, I think you need another window just like the one that's already there: part of the reason things feel so out of whack is because you're not obeying the law of threes. Additionally, landscaping will help your house blend into the environment (which looks quite lovely, by the way!)

Here's a quick sketch of what I mean when I suggest adding angular elements. Best to you!

KARKELA CONSTRUCTION Heres another option for you. Install real slate horizonal stone half way with a wood mantel and a granite hearth then frame out around the TV and sheetrock, finish and paint. This would give your wall some depth around the TV and make it flush with the wall.

North Star Stone If you're looking to save on costs, we'd recommend going with a stone veneer (manufactured stone). The stone veneer looks the same as the stone (We offer a stacked stone veneer) and you save on costs. This would allow you to go all the way to the ceiling and still have the tv mounted as well. If you go with a stone veneer, you can also custom color the stones to match the room design.

Here's a few stacked (mountain) stone veneer examples:

North Star Stone We offer a custom color selector where you can choose the layout, colors and design of the dry stack stone you want to use. It's nice because you can try out different color combos to see how they'll fit.

http://www.northstarstone.biz/stone-color-selector/

It's a great space and using a dry stack stone will help the fireplace pop and create a very nice focal point in the room. Will you be using a dry stack stone with mortar or without?

marhop1 Thanks North Star Stone. We are exploring options now, but think we would prefer dry stack without mortar.

North Star Stone That's a favorite of ours. You can see some of the other options here too if you want to explore a little more. We also ship stone and custom color stone, if you find one that you like. http://www.northstarstone.biz/stone-styles.htm Either way, we're excited to see the finished product!

North Star Stone The stone style is our Cobble Stone and the color is Northern Brown Stone.

Keitha I agree to add some trim to make the door stand out. Paint the door and sidelights the same color, leaving the trim moulding same as your other trim.

North Star Stone We manufacture the hearthstones and they are made from concrete and tinted to coordinate with the stone that we also make. The stones are 20" x20" and can be cut to size. The cost of each stone is $18.00.

North Star Stone The style of stone is our Mountain Stack Ledge Stone in the color of Ventura. The texture is medium with nice relief. THe stone looks incredible with both a mortar joint installation or no mortar joint. The color has different hues of brown, burnt rusts and some light charcoal blended in. The stone can be shipped if you are interested.

Christina Marie Thank you so much for the info!

Lisa Wolfe Design, Ltd those pendants are from WORLDS AWAY -- you might need to search to find a vendor in your area (generally these are thru designers only although sometimes i've run across them on big lighting websites).