What a shame that your mantle was looted. Definitely replace the mantle with a rustic reclaimed beam and consider a collection of baskets for the niche. You could even incorporate the great print.

Well you definitely need a mantle! A chunky wood or stone would look great. I like Don there, why don't you paint the insert a fun accent color you could carry throughout the room? Once you add a mantle, get some larger accessories to add some height (chunky candlesticks and candles, woodsy/twiggy stuff, interesting sculpture) and hang Don, it won't look so big. Don't feel like you have to fill every inch but you could always put in a taller print if you need to.

Paint the Arched Niche above the fire place In Shimmering Gold and a Octagonal Mirror and for the Mantle some Sculpture maybe a Pair of Busts or a Octagonal Mirror .

check out themantleguy.com

Really too bad about the mantle. You don't say what your style is, but I was thinking that a tile mosaic would look really colorful above a new mantle made from some reclaimed lumber.

whatever you do with the brick - paint, cover over,remove and change to tile, etc. - get a decent thick mantle on top. I'd go with a painted wood surround, tile at the opening, a thick mantle and then some vertical artwork in the recess above.

A nice, simple and elegant cast stone mantel might be your solution.
They come in all sizes and shapes and can be custom made to fit your space.
Feel free to peruse our website to see if there is anything that resonates with you.

I would love to see a super fun wallpaper in the niche.

I would do a nice rugged solid wood mantel and balance it out with a sophisticated wall art/mirror/sparkly accent for a vertical appeal in the recessed area.

I would add a mantle . If you collect something u could add like crosses or metal stars. Build some shelves and store above it .. My house has 20 ft ceilings and I had same problem.It looks alot like my fire place. I wanted a big screen TV but realized it was too much with a fireplace .

I like the idea of a wood mantel. Depending on your style a chunky, dark, rustic wood mantel might work well. I would hang either a Tibetan textile or African Kuba cloth in the long narrow space. You can get something as bold or graphic as your style dictates.

You need height in that space, a tall mirror or sculptural piece? Fight that builder beige look by darkening up those walls with a mid-range earth-tone, so they're not so vanilla. Think rich yellow ochre to add textural depth and to weigh-in with the existing dark brick.

Love love love the mirror idea and yes you need a new (old) mantle with reclaimed chunky wood.

New distressed mantle, paint the inserted area a warm color and add rustic wall sconces on either side of the insert. Maybe something wrought iron or aged bronze. Maybe a longer, more narrow picture hung in the center of the insert. It's a great fireplace!

The house looks contemporary? if so I would paint the bricks white or cover them with a light small tile and add a large/heavy white mantel, also completely fill the niche with mirror. Have fun decorating!

if you use mirrors beware of what they will reflect! i hung a series of similar abstract pictures vertically. picked one of the colors common to all of the pictures for the background of the niche i created with molding. replaced the 50's early american wood mantle with a hunk of limestone. it would have been so much easier to use a stained wooden box hung in place with a french cleat.

I love the idea of painting that whole fireplace wall some wonderful accent color - maybe the inside nook a shade darker - and hanging a beautiful print above it. Sconces on either side would also be nice!

I love the idea of a vertical sculpture. I did a google image search and found this: not for everyone, but you get the idea:

What is your style?

1: Built In bookcase. . .
2: Tall full size picture of Empire State Building, Eiffle Tower or some other tall architectural structure, perhaps even a full color picture of a Full Size Sequoia tree!

I would add a thick rustic wood mantle and then continue the brick all the way up the niche, possibly in a herring bone pattern within a brick vertical border around for interest. Place large white wooden candle sticks on the mantle and that may be enough of a statement. Eileen Hanuse

i will put a mirror from top to bottom. or a mural of a country you love the most.

You can add a gorgeous mantle by buying a beautiful tin valance that is usually used over a window or one of those metal shelves that are made from antique tin can be attached to the wall right over the brick. I would find a long glass and iron mirror to hand in the niche.

Take out the brick and install a stacked stone wall (in a neutral color) from floor to ceiling. Make sure to pre-wire the wall for sconces. Add a slate mantle and tall mirror
between sconces. Don't forget the dimmer!

I really like the built-in bookcase idea. I'd still get a replacement mantel, a big, thick one made of salvaged wood.

Double up the print and play up the height and vertical lines.

And maybe a stainless steel mantel.

A mantle is a must - paint the inset black with a long narrow mirror & sconces on each side

I would put stainless steel for all the fireplace, and paint the inside vertical wall black,and yes double up the print.

Dear Acornfall - if I could hit tripple Like, I would !! A tall wrought iron feature with dark accent colour and wall scones would be amazing

I think it would look good to have staggering stone from the top going down in the recessed area and have water shimmering down over the stone and have peebles at the bottom and it can have a tube to take the water back up to constantly flowing

https://www.houzz.com/photos/21st-century-bungalow-contemporary-living-room-new-york-phvw-vp~413007
An overall wall treatment would pull the room together. I love how this branch is the art.
Paint the wall and the brick white and a wood mantle painted white.

I would have the entire brick refaced with stone and go all the way up the niche with it. Put on a cool mantle and you would only need accessaries on the mantle. The stone would be the focal point. Would look awesome.

I would paint the brick, add a simple mantle, and add art. Stack two art pieces and have them gradually decrease in size. Add a small sunburst mirror at the top for a finished statement. Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart

I see the fireplace as being too short for the height of the wall. I recognize the color of the brick (lived with it for 20 yrs) and it's hard to flatter. Perhaps replacing the face of the fireplace would be a good basic investment and allow the entire wall to become the focal point of the room. My second home had a 2-story stacked (local) stone warm tans and blue grey and it made a vast difference incorporating a fireplace into the decor.

your windows look contemporary....the basket and dried flowers look country, but you have leather furniture (contemporary) I would reface the fireplace in a contemporary finish and mantle , and double stack coordinating pictures ( I like the one there, does it have a mate?} or possibly consider putting a flat screen tv there if one is needed in the room...no mirror....keep it simple..good luck

Hi Witha_smile: another option would be to completely remove the bump-out above the mantel that extends to the ceiling. Its just framing and drywall applied to the face of the actual wall framing. You would would have to patch the crown molding at the ceiling where it currently bumps out and minimal drywall patching on the wall.

Removing the bump out gives you far more options for dressing up the area over the mantel, as visually you would have less space to fill. You could hang a piece of artwork that aligns with the top of the windows instead of trying to fill an over-sized space as you have now.

Steve

I would use a reclaimed thick wood mantle. Pull out the grays (from the grout) and paint the entire room (in a lighter shade of gray). Tile the niche with either glass or metallic tiles. I would put a tall rustic wood artwork in the niche. (similar to the picture below...use only 1 of the paintings). Or a tall wood sculpture. Then either rustic wood or heavy metalic sconces on the walls on each side of the fireplace.

I think some classic film photography will go amazing with the eclectic feel of the wood or stone. We have a photographer on our site who exclusively shoots film that has that rich grain that can only be accomplish by using this medium.

Everything on the site can be order in a range of sizes, materials, with or without custom framing. Let us know what you think or if you had a different style in mind. Enjoy!


http://bit.ly/Rick_Covert