Software
Houzz Logo Print
ashgirl_gw

Twig mirror is in, what do u think?

13 years ago

All,

Many of you helped me pick this mirror for above the FP. I like it, haven't yet hung it, its just leaning to the wall. I plan to hang it abt a foot high from the mantle, but DH is not liking it at all and I'm tired to start my search all over. what do you think ? Please help!

Please ignore everything on the hearth.

{{!gwi}}

Comments (33)

  • 13 years ago

    Hi, my first thought was that it was a little small on that big wall. I don't know what other plans you have for the wall. I did some photoshopping to help you visualize the placement. I may have it too high:

    Then I enlarged it to give you an idea of bigger:

  • 13 years ago

    I never saw your original thread. I agree that it looks a little small. It might look better if you have items on your mantle on either side of it and don't hang it quite so high (6" up?).... You could try putting those candlesticks up there, although they may be too tall. I think that would fill up the space and add some balance...

  • 13 years ago

    Sorry, but it's not working for me in either size. I just don't think it adds anything to the room.

  • 13 years ago

    The size of the mirror isn't that bad, if all it was visually sitting above was the fireplace. But because the tv is the same height as the fireplace, it tells your eye that the width is really fireplace AND tv.

    Is there any way the tv could move to the other side of the fireplace? I think it wouldn't feel so massive if it weren't jammed in between the fireplace and the curtains. Even a couple of open inches between them, and a different angle on the tv, could help.

    What you also might try is putting the mirror over to one side a bit, say just to the right of center, and then using something like the tall bottle with the branches in it to stand to the left side of the mantel (not all the way to the outside edge, though).

    I wonder if the mantel is paintable? If it were black, I think the whole arrangement would feel more cohesive.

  • 13 years ago

    I think the twig mirror with the room color is another concern....the mirror (and stone FP) say rustic, while the wall color, curtains, and light leather sofa say something quite different. And while the tv is there you really cannot notice anything else anyway. It looks like you have some interesting architectural features in the room---- vaulted ceiling, hardwood floors, some kind of built-in ledge behind the sofa (?), etc., but these have little or no impact because of the TV and the incongruity of materials. I would take a look at photos on houzz.com to get an inspiration and then work towards that. But short answer to the twig mirror is that it looks completely out of place.

  • 13 years ago

    I think the mirror is lovely and works well with the mantle but I agree that the t.v. is a distraction. If you could paint the wall the width of the stone on the fireplace and use a color with some pop, it could look super. Let us see the rest of the room so we can give you more input.

  • 13 years ago

    I have to agree with your husband. I can see your frustration. The high wall and on a slant. Is there another way that the room can be arranged so the tv is else where?
    The fireplace is such a nice focal point and it is distracted by the tv.

  • 13 years ago

    I agree, the TV is a HUGE distraction and is visually disrupting the space. I like the mirror, but not the circle (frame) you can see behind the twigs (out from the mirror). Is it that noticeable in real life or just in picture? If kept, it needs to hang closer to the mantle and place some taller objects on the mantle - but don't overcrowd.

    What is on the wall to the right in the picture (not to the right of the FP, but the next wall)?

  • 13 years ago

    If you can't move the TV then I would treat the TV & Fireplace as 1 unit. If that would work for you then don't try to fight it - save your sanity!

    I can understand your frustration and being tired. Sorry but I think that the mirror is too off scale.

  • 13 years ago

    enduring - thank you so much, that helps.

    TV at that location is serving its(TV's) purpose very well as we can view it from the kitchen and breakfast/eating areas, that was the reason why I moved the TV there (most of my inhouse time after work is spent there).

    Drapes will be replaced in couple of months and I'm not a big fan of the wall color either, so that will change eventually as well. Room is still under progress.

    Here is the link to my original thread about this. You will see some more pics in there.
    Original Thread

    I found some old pics to show the other wall next to the FP. THe old TV was on this wall. I have a 3 seat sofa in place of the old TV right now.

  • 13 years ago

    The twig mirror isn't working for me, either. I think it is a bit too small, and too maybe too rustic. I also agree with others that the TV is a bit of a challenge, but seeing the additional pictures of your room, I understand why you positioned it there.

    I saw a project on HGTV (I think) where they mounted a round mirror on a larger round of plywood, then 'framed' the mirror by glueing assorted lengths of scrap moulding pieces in a starburst pattern around the mirror. They painted the wood gold, but it could have been painted any color. If you have the time an energy for this type of project, it could give you a the look in a more finished version than the rustic twig.

    Here is a link for a similar mirror project -

    Here is a link that might be useful: Similar Starburst Mirror Project

  • 13 years ago

    The entire room with the tv on the wall with the
    steps is a big improvement (although it should be centered on the wall more.)

    You're compromising the
    look of the room by craming the tv next to the fireplace
    because you want to view the tv from the kitchen. Give some serious thought to
    unsticking your tv from the fireplace. Once you do that, you'll be able to decorate
    above your mantle, as well as both sides of the FP.

    A simple solution is to get a small tv in the kitchen.
    I have a small 23" tv in our breakfast room. It's something
    that I can't live without either, as I spend a lot of time in the kitchen,
    so I can appreciate pour need to see the tv from the kitchen.

  • 13 years ago

    Ok I just returned the twig mirror. Now, what do you think of this mirror, I have it in the house at a different place, I can move it here if it works.

    {{!gwi}}

  • 13 years ago

    If you have to leave the tv in the corner, I think yayagal offered the best possibility for returning the focus to the fireplace. For the cost of a little bit of paint you should really give it a try.

    I would paint one rectangle the width of the fireplace, all the way up to the ceiling. You may even want to paint a second rectangle inside the first. This would frame whatever you hang there very nicely and draw attention away from the TV.

    We'd have to see this gold mirror you are showing us, on the fireplace. We can't get any idea of how big it is from the picture you posted.

  • 13 years ago

    Sugar Plum, that hand-crafted sunburst mirror is a really neat project. Hmmm, might have to try that one myself. Thanks for posting it.

  • 13 years ago

    Thanks LazyDaisy! My daughter will be in her first college apartment in August, and I'm thinking of making one for her.

    Sorry for the hijack, ashgirl :) The second mirror you posted could work - just depends on its size. I like yayagirl and cindyloo's suggestion of painting a darker vertical stripe above the mantel, all the way up to the ceiling, to bring focus back on the fireplace rather than the TV.

  • 13 years ago

    Have you thought about doing built-ins around the fireplace? Even though putting the tv above the fireplace might not be everyone's cup of tea - it may work in your space. You could put your tv accessories in the built-ins. Or have built-ins and set your tv inside them.THey would help fill up all that wall space.

  • 13 years ago

    TV next to the fireplace just looks awful so there really isn't anything you can put on the wall to make the space look better.

    I'm saying this because you should just not worry about it and spend any more money on trying to make it look better when it's impossible to do so.

  • 13 years ago

    I'm very conservative when it comes to paint, so take it with a grain of salt that I'm not so sure about the suggestion to paint the area above the mantle a different color. Instead I'd look for a larger mirror, hung fairly low about the fireplace, and use two groupings of objects, one on each side of the mantle, to define and draw the eye to that space. Things with some height and varied texture, three to five of 'em on each side, grouped close together, to help make the fireplace more of a focal point. If the mantle is shallow, it's hard to do groupings -- can't tell the depth of it from your photo.

    Sugar Plum -- your lucky daughter!

  • 13 years ago

    Sorry OP, but I agree with kellyeng. The OP has a nice size room with some interesting details, but a large Tv shoe-horned into the corner only makes the space look small and crammed. This might be one of those places where a thin LCD or plasma tv would work well over the fireplace. You can recess an articulating (moves out, sideways & up/down) mounting bracket into the wall and the TV will only project 1-3 inches from the wall. You could also do a wall mount on the staircase wall.

  • 13 years ago

    SugarPlum, Yes, that proj is awesome, but I'm not at all handy, I can certainly paint things but not make things.

    About the TV - If I absolutely have to move it I guess I will, but it will take time. Theres a million cords, wireless router and Subwoofer behind the TV cabinet and I will have to think about how to hide those because the entry into the room will be perpendicular to the TV so we see it side ways and the cords will be visible. The other problems with that position are 1) TV will be facing the large window and the glare during day time was impossible to handle, window had to be closed most of the time, which is a shame especially when the weather is perfect.
    2) Majority of the seating would be backing the beautiful window.
    Anyways... will certainly think about it.

    Mean while, for those who wanted to see the other Sunburst on the FP, here are the pics. Again, its just leaning to the wall and if hung, will be a little higher than the mantle. Sorry pics are washed out due to day light.

    {{!gwi}}

    This one is with some stuff that I had, all of which can be removed or returned.
    {{!gwi}}

  • 13 years ago

    I agree that the ideal solution is to mount your TV over the fireplace. But it looks like it has to be angled so you can see it from the sofa? Are there any other furniture arrangements that might work for you? We can't see the "fourth wall" in that room. Could you take a pic of it for us?

    Do you use the FP? If not, why not put the TV right in front of it and put the sofa directly opposite the TV on the "fourth wall"? I think part of the problem is that the FP is too small for that wall. It is not making the statement it should make.

    I usually love a big mirror over a FP, but not when it's right next to a TV and when the reflection will be the kitchen.

    I don't think it's impossible to make that wall look better than it does, lol. I think even a few small changes will help. I would change the color of the mantle because it does not seem to work against the stone. I like the gold mirror there. It is a much better size for the space.

    If you can show us more of the room, including traffic patterns (where are the entrance/exits to the room), maybe someone will come up with an arrangement you never thought of!

  • 13 years ago

    Looking at the old pix that were further up the thread, why not put the tv under the opening to the kitchen?

    I realize that doesn't solve your issue with being able to see the tv from the kitchen,and it may mean a different tv stand, but that would allow you to have seating on the stair wall and the window wall if necessary, and still not have the tv jammed in the corner next to the fireplace, or opposite the window and the glare.

    Or, as suggested,if you don't use the fireplace, then for now put the tv on the hearth, paint the mantel dark, and call it a day.

  • 13 years ago

    Cindy/les - TV over FP was thought through and ruled out due to hieght issues, even if its angled.

    TV was temporarily infront of the FP on the hearth before I bought the TV stand. I cant tell you how good a position that was, it worked out perfectly from every direction. But for some reason I never thought of it as a permanent location for it. Will think it through, but will have to keep a cabinet on each side for the components and game consoles. I cant do builtins on either side of the FP as the right side is leading towards the stairs and they might be blocking the way.

    I do plan to paint the mantle dark, something similar to the floor color or may be black, if you guys have a paint suggestion please share.

  • 13 years ago

    Just a little food for thought. Think about putting the TV in a cabinet and angling the couch to face the TV. Below is a pic I cobbled together. This way you can keep the TV in the corner, the couch is comfortably facing the TV but the fireplace isn't being overpowered. See how even the twig mirror looks better?

    {{!gwi}}


  • 13 years ago

    If you don't use your FP, putting the TV there is absolutely the way to go. A cabinet on each side will help complete the arrangement so it doesn't look like the TV is sticking out all alone in the middle of the wall.

    I love that stone but as a FP, it is not really bringing much to the room. It would make a lovely TV stand. If you move it please come back and show us pics!

  • 13 years ago

    Here's a mock up showing how it would look with the area above the fireplace painted a darker color, and with a larger mirror.

  • 13 years ago

    terriks, Wow-What an impact! that helps a lot. Thank you so much. When we bought the house, we had an option to take the stone all the way up to the ceiling and we didnt take it, I regret it now.

    Kellyeng, thats so nice of you - but the sofa will be blocking the entry in that set up.

  • 13 years ago

    If the corner beside the fireplace is what works best for you and your family and then that is where it should stay. It sounds as though you've exhausted many other positioning options.

    I think that you have to either visually separate the fireplace & TV or treat them both as one full unit.

    Hard to be able to tell if treating them as 1 unit would work w/ the TV on an angle because it's kind of tricky on the eye in the picture.

    Terriks mock-up of Yaya's suggestion w/ the paint is also very nice - it is giving both items visual separation. Maybe some type of inexpensive mouldings in the painted area?

  • 13 years ago

    Foxes, Yes moulding is definetly an option. Couple of years ago we did a lot of moulding work in the entire house, but couldn't do anything in that room(as you can see), because of the angles etc. We thought of doing something over the FP as well but couldn't come up with a design that looked good so left it alone.

  • 13 years ago

    Darn TVs are problematic for everyone, aren't they? Your two focal points are smack dab next to each other. To me, that is the most important thing to address.

    But I also do think you should think about paint color. I am not sure if its the monitor, but it looks peachy and feminine, which fights your fireplace and anything you want to do above it.

  • 13 years ago

    TVs are not a problem for us---we have a screen for movies but no tv per se, for more than fifteen years now. I can safely say that what to do with the tv is the one decorating problem I have not had, maybe the ONLY one :)

  • 13 years ago

    I agree that the darker paint color at the top of the fireplace makes it stand out more and the TV diminish. I think moldings going up the sides of the darker paint color would look good. Another idea....probably a no-no but how about your TV on a low stand in front of the window? On a swivel you could see it from the kitchen and your could arrange your furniture around it better. We have our big screen in front of a window because of necessity...meaning the shape of the room and number of people that watch it.