I like the shape & color of it, but it seems too small.

Your home is so lovely. It is warm and inviting. Just looking at it makes me want to curl up on the couch with a good cup of coffee.

And your dog! He is so cute! He really makes the room!

Awww... that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my house!!!

If you are ever in Pinehurst, NC you are invited for coffee on the couch!

So I should find a taller one? Or taller and wider? Or could I hang something with it?

Thanks!!!

I like the color of the mirror with the decoration on your fireplace screen. Can you stand back from the FP, but right in front of it and take a pic 'straight on' so we can see how the size of the mirror goes with the mantle?

My ceilings aren't as high as yours, but I think you MAY be able to get that mirror to work if you have some other things on the mantle on either side.

I'm showing my fall, holiday and spring mantle pics below. I have taken a couple of old mirrors and made them look OK with the other things I added. Do you have any accessories in your home that can be used with the mirror?

And the dog is SO sweet - looks like a photographer's dream!

Fall

Holiday

Early Spring

ncnewhome how much space is there from the top of the mantel to the ceiling? It looks like the ceiling in pretty high. I think you need a much taller mirror. The width is ok as long as you have something to put next to it like my3dogs lamps.

My3dogs: I love your beautiful seasonal arrangements. It's all I can do to come up with one. LOL

Bigger is better for your space. Nice room and the puppy is a dolly!

First of all your Mom is gonna flip when she sees how great your house is decorated, mirror or not! I was expecting the beginning of decor, not just the frosting if you will. I would do as 3dogs suggests and follow her ideas. I have cut and pasted all of her mantles,heck, every photo she has posted!
Stuff (as I call it) on a mantle doesn't have to be matchy matchy or new or trendy, just arranged in an eyepleasing composition of size, shape, texture and color. Looking at your rooms I see that you already have the knack. And your pup is adorable!

My ceilings in this room are cathedral.

My mantle is so tiny that I dont think lamps would fit but candlesticks would.

Here is the front view you requested:

Thanks everyone!!!

That's a beautiful fireplace. I love your fireplace screen. Is that marble on the face of the fireplace?

Lovely ....is your sweet 4 legged friend a Westie or a Cairn terrier. I have 3 wheaten Cairns--your just like my Wiley. The terried blends very nicely with your color scheme. LOL

Love your home..very inviting!!! Your Westie is so sweet!!
The color of the mirror is very nice, taller may be better, but I bet you could make this work and put something tall on either side..I'm not too good at decorating, but I know what I like when I see it...

I totally love all of you! I feel better about everything regardless!

artlover - my fireplace front is marble. I guess I should take the plastic off the logs. I didn't realize that until you asked about the marble.

debbimc - my dog is a Westie. She's my shadow and has such a funny little personality. If she sees that I'm getting the camera out, she runs and finds her place.

My3dogs - I sure wish you lived close to me. I absolutely love your insight!

Thanks for all the input. I'm taking the mirror back tomorrow to find a taller one. My mantel is too narrow to do anything creative and with these cathedral ceilings, I think I will be happier will a bigger mirror like everyone has suggested.

Again, thanks for your suggestions.

Wait!! I think it look great:

{{!gwi}}

You definitely need a taller mirror. The photo above looks good, but you're not seeing the entire vastness of the wall either. Also, the beautiful wall hanging over the sofa is quite large the smaller mirror would reflect so little of it.

ncnewhome, let me be the sole dissenter here.... I think the size of the mirror is perfect. It is square (or appears so) which is a very clever choice to contrast with all the huge rectangles you have going on in that room, e.g. fireplace itself, armoire, windows, artwork---basically everything else is a rectangle. I think the smaller mirror calls a nice attention to the FP itself, and will be fine if you use something on the mantel on either side (not fussy, what was photoshopped would be just enough) or even two sconces mounted directly on the wall on either side of the mirror.

If you do change out the mirror, I would buy a ROUND one, not another tall rectangle! With your cathedral ceilings you do not have to decorate the walls up to the sky! The scale of artwork and mirrors should still be for the human form that inhabits the room. The mirror you choose (hopefully that one you have or a round shape) should be hung so that the bottom edge is between 6" and 8" above the mantel.

I do so admire your energy and enthusiasm, and I am sure your mother will love all you've done so far... who wouldn't? :)

I agree....a mantle scape is needed with that mirror........my3dogs can really put it together!

Ncnewhome, you've gotten great advice here. You have a good eye for color and design already and I think you've done a beautiful job with your room so far . . . good for you! I like your idea of adding the colored metal frame to that area. After seeing that last pic you posted, I do believe that a larger mirror would be ideal, although My3dogs ideas are ALWAYS fabulous and doable. Is there any chance you can find a similar mirror that's larger? I like KSWL's idea of a larger round mirror there. Something with a nice chunky frame. Not the right color? Don't worry, you can paint it. If you decide to keep your present mirror, use M3D's pics to accessorize your own mantel. BTW, your little Westie is darling!
Lynn

I like the mirror you have now. Or maybe one a bit larger but same shape. A circular one would mimic the circle on the firescreen and I think that would be too many circles in the one area. I also like that it contrasts with the iron and whispiness of the firescreen. Are you able to fold the sides of the firescreen in a bit? They are visually extending the firebox which makes the mirror look smaller than it would otherwise. If you want to make the mirror look a bit larger, you could extend the sides like my3dogs did by putting like objects on either side. Actually, I would use her mantle as a template, just substituting objects that suit you.

I would consider an arch top or crown-top mirror. It will give you the vertical feeling that you want, plus it will echo some of the round feeling of the fireplace screen, which is a good balance for all the angles of the fireplace, mantel, dentil moulding, etc.

However, if you are not married to the screen, I would change it to something much simpler, and let the mantel and what is on the wall have the attention. The screen is very pretty, but seems to me to be a better fit in a more rustic, less formal fireplace design. I actually think the current screen would be very cool mounted on a wall as wall decor, or as a headboard above a bed!

Well, you don't want your mirror or its pediment to be as tall as your armoire because you will lose that wave thing, you know up and down, up and down, up and down . You want peaks and valleys and if you get a tall mirror, you will lose that and it will make your room look crazy. Get tall things on either end of the mantle and keep the mirror short so it does not compete with your armoire.

I'm praying you guys agree that this works...I only have one day until my mom gets here! :-) And mirrors are heavy!

I picked up the urn and eucalyptus just a few minutes ago. I wish the urn was in the orangish-red color but it only came in the color I bought. They had two red vases that were the same height (not as big as the one I bought) and much more simple that I considered. Please give me feedback!

Close up:

Thanks so much!

Much better!
I would underdress the mantel...your fireplace screen is wonderful, so something round like a circular flat vase or an Asian gong on one side, and a million dollar Asian stone horse on the other?
Oh, sorry, I went a little crazy...
But you get my drift.

Keep the arrangement where it is. Set the candle on the other side of the mantle. The armoire is big enough. The mantle will need the candle to keep it from looking like it dropped off. Leave the arrangement where it is. You didn't want to get two just alike?

the mirror is very attractive..if you aren't comfortable hanging it keep it leaned up..just remember if it is reflecting something ugly like the ceiling that won't do..make sure it doesn't slip off by using rubber under the place it touches the mantle..

if there are no studs to fasten your hangers to..use mollys..