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meaganchayes

Do we leave this room as-is, or are there too many beams?

11 years ago
We would love your opinion if we should keep this room as-is or sheet rock over some of the beams. We could also white-wash them. Thank you!!

Comments (233)

  • 10 years ago
    When you have an architectural feature - spend time looking for appropriate ways to disguise or enhance them - search "painted beams" for ways to use 1-2 paints rather than slapping one paint without thought. Try paints before reconstruction. Agree with not needing the diagonal floor elements, but cover it first with more plain than crazy design area rug. So much going on in this room with a view!
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Keep the beams, they are absolutely gorgeous! As others have mentioned, consider changing the floors and change paint. :) This is a beautiful room!

  • 10 years ago

  • 10 years ago

    Hmm...all but one of those pieces of furniture turns its back on the view. And they look scrunched together to fit on the rug.

    I'd pull the rug away from the wall (at least another foot). Let the furniture hang off the rug., And I'd flip the couch to the opposite diagonal corner (near, left in the photo), looking outside, with maybe a sofa table behind it.

  • 10 years ago
    I would keep the sectional and replace the large club chairs with a set of high back upholstered chairs..all the brown in the room seems to take away from the beautiful beams..I would work on a rug with lighter colors to brighten the room.
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    @tatts and @zzmom40- I agree with both of you!

  • 10 years ago

    Update with furniture!

  • 10 years ago
    I still feel you need to replace the 2 big leather club chairs...way to much brown in your space....I would work on buying. 2 high back upholstered chairs..the architecture in the beams is getting lost in a sea of brown.
    meaganchayes thanked zzmom40
  • 10 years ago
    Inspiration pictures that show how you can lighten up your beautiful space.
    meaganchayes thanked zzmom40
  • 10 years ago

    The room is gorgeous, but I agree with zzmom; too much brown leather and too matchy-matchy.

    meaganchayes thanked groveraxle
  • 10 years ago




  • 10 years ago

    After taking another look at this room, it looks like a garage that was closed in badly. I love the beams but there is a clash between how the room is decorated/designed and the beams. It just doesn't work.

  • 10 years ago

    Upholstered furniture with exposed wood look better in medieval type constructions. Also use chests as coffee and side tables. A refectory style sofa table will also work. You can mix in Polynesian or Japanese etc artefacts and floor coverings.

  • 10 years ago

    Wow ya'll are dude. Im done sharing with yall.

  • 10 years ago

    State that the thread is closed, but you will probably still get some responses. I didn't think I was rude. We love medieval in our family.

  • 10 years ago
    State that the thread is closed??? How about you shut your pie hole for change? You don't make the rules on Houzz and I wish you and your hijacking and butting in with unfunny "jokes" on threads where no one is bothering you would stop! Some one comes on here asking for help and they get some idiotic quip from left field that only four of your cronies understand is ruining Houzz. YOU ARE NOT HELPFUL OR FUNNY.
  • 10 years ago
    Half your comments lead me to believe you're drunk!
  • 10 years ago

    WELL, Toon, you don't make the rules either, so practice what you preach.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    AND half your comments lead me to believe you should seek anger management!.

  • 10 years ago
    Wow...so horrible to see this.....love your room and your beams and hope you can forget about the above comments And continue to enjoy good advice.
    meaganchayes thanked zzmom40
  • 10 years ago

    I think your room looks lovely! I like the warmth of both the rug and the furniture. It looks very welcoming. You can play with the placement, maybe spread out a little. Is there a TV that you're working around? Please don't let anyone spoil your experience. You've had some good advice from caring people. Ignore the rest. This is your room and it should reflect you.

    meaganchayes thanked marcia6700
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    I would leave it. The natural wood looks amazing!


  • 10 years ago

    Terry toon, I drink about once a year. Last time was a drink of wine on my 50 th bday. Please stop stalking me and making nasty comments. This is your second warning.

  • 10 years ago

    Looks terrific! Your paint choice and decision on what and where to paint and leave the wood is perfect. The room is very inviting!

    meaganchayes thanked Darzy
  • 10 years ago

    Amen, chook. Terry - you have definitely gone over the line.

  • 10 years ago

    Multiple times, and not just to me. Some very upset OPs.

  • 10 years ago

    I think the leather and timber work looks lovely and rustic together. People will always provide suggestions in order to help folks fine tune a room but it is advice -- you can take it or leave it. Then...there are people who feel the need to dump all over you. Please ignore those jerkoffs -- they have not learned to consider the feelings of others (and are the first ones to take offense when they feel that their feelings are trampled -- which is ironic).

  • 10 years ago
    I would paint out the ledge to white. My personal white colour would be Cil Wedding white. Not a total white. It is a great clean colour with wood. I would install wrought iron curtain rods at almost ceiling height with a simple end and install curtains to almost cover the arches. The curtains are not to be drawn.
    I would also place a wrought iron medallion or something in the centre of each window to give your eye a focal point and then your eye would look around.
    Find two benches for the outside windows and in the centre a small table and two chairs.
    The floor. Restain.
    Your lighting do a large wrought iron chandelier. More contemporary than traditional.
  • 10 years ago
    By the way the arches are not structural and if you did want more of a weathered look to the ceiling and beams. Use a semi transparent stain in a driftwood gray. Roll on and brush dry. Fast and easy and reasonable cost.
  • 10 years ago

    deensiron: The arches are NOT structural? Really? How do you know?

    That's post-and-beam construction, and the arches are there to keep the walls from racking; they brace the post and beams to keep them at 90 degrees.

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Do you all like this decor better? We are on a budget and I cannot buy new furniture or a new rug! So trying to optimize what I have. Any other recommendations that won't break the bank on decor? Thanks!

  • 10 years ago

    It's beautiful Megan! You have done a great job. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.


    meaganchayes thanked Rhoda Powers
  • 10 years ago

    I think it's lovely!


    meaganchayes thanked Lynne Mysliwiec
  • 10 years ago

    (and the puppy is adorable!)

    meaganchayes thanked Lynne Mysliwiec
  • 10 years ago
    Please keep the beams. Gorgeous, unique feature.
    meaganchayes thanked purplehoneypie
  • 10 years ago

    Really turned out to be a big, beautiful space! Think you've got the furniture balanced really well....seems open and SO inviting that I'll be over with a bottle of wine and a book.....you don't mind if I just grab that throw on the sofa arm (perhaps the puppy too?) and sink into one of those chairs to finish a few chapters, do you? No need to stop whatever you're doing.

    meaganchayes thanked desmonddesigns
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Looks so warm and inviting!! You've done a wonderful job. Great work!

    meaganchayes thanked Kemora Landscapes
  • 10 years ago

    I think it looks great! The furniture and rug colors work well with the wood and I like the indoor tree tying in with the outdoor trees. I don't know what the area that you're taking the picture from looks like but I can't imagine it's a better view than the one out the windows. I'd be tempted to try the sofa turned to look out if it would fit that way. It's been a journey! Thanks for sharing it!

    meaganchayes thanked marcia6700
  • 10 years ago

    Beautiful room. Very welcoming and has an casual elegance. Your current furniture and rug look great.

    meaganchayes thanked saratogaswizzlestick
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Meagan, I think it's just beautiful and welcoming. Love the small touches of texture and color you've added. Small changes but big difference. I don't think you need a new rug at all! Nor do you need new furniture.

    meaganchayes thanked Darzy
  • 10 years ago
    Looks great!
    meaganchayes thanked 1beth58
  • 10 years ago
    put in some dramatic chandeliers with Edison/ filament bulbs. Restoration Hardware has a lot of gorgeous ones.
    meaganchayes thanked Jessica Lee
  • 10 years ago
    I would not change a thing. What you have is beautiful unique and classic. You don't need to chase trends.
  • 10 years ago

    WOW! Looks incredible! I wouldn't even think of buying anything right now. Time to put your feet up and enjoy the space. Nice work!

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    DON'T TOUCH the BEAMS!!! This is a gorgeous room. If there is too much wood for you, balance it out with lighter-coloured, clean-lined furniture (not too much). If you wanted a lighter look on the ceiling I would only paint the beams which lay flat on the ceiling - nothing else. How lucky are you?!

  • 10 years ago

    I think all that wood is ugly and tired in appearance causing the place to seem dreary and dark. All white paint is my personal preference to bring in light and life.

  • 10 years ago

    DONT TOUCH THE BEAMS.....it adds so much character....stunning and unique...If you feel overwhelmed...paint them white to match walls and it will blend better...maybe doing simple clean line furniture and a stunning area rug to bring warmth

  • 10 years ago

    Design Wakefield, Zeetulip, and Imhaji - the dilemma was created in June and the original poster has left the beams in place & put together a lovely room around them...but welcome to the thread!

  • 9 years ago

    My god, the amount of light that room gets is unbelievable.

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Leave all the beams...so much personality! Definitely replace lighting and fans. Definitely get rid of white around the windows. Experiment with that...but don't leave all the white around them. Too clinical. No brownish furniture ...... too boring....kills furniture and beams. Have minimal furnishings. You want to show off the terrific structure of the room and highlight the space with just a few interesting pieces of interesting color. No room-sized carpet....can't appreciate floors or carpet! Disperse interesting rugs.