Deal with what to put on there later. But you do need to be sure that the material you used around there is okay with wood burning around it. I would probably get someone in there and not DIY

hi tybates, wow i love the diagonal wood walls & we have a similar wood burning fireplace layout in our family room. we put a large framed Hmong fabric piece of art above the fireplace. the stucco walls sound scratchy. do u have young children? i just got home from gym so i will write you later and even try to send u a pix of our fireplace. i am a newbie so getting a pix to you will be a new skill 4 me.

Not sure if you would like to add modern art to your room. If yes, you could check out our Houzz page for some art ideas. Enjoy and good luck finishing your room!... Raisa

Take a look at my ideabook. Do I have a set style? Is it glam? I'm totally clueless. I like the wood walls but also the glitz of glam. Would they mesh well together. The fireplace is not finished. The white there is drywall mud to cover nails.

I'm fairly new myself mkittaka. The walls are scratchy and I do have children. I want a way to update them without a big price tag. The problem with this room is too many texture,, ie. Wood wall, scratchy stucco walls, faux wood beam ceiling with same stucco and parquet flooring.....Then to add some sort of glass tile to the fireplace? My delimma is how do I make them cohesive or what do I change to get that look without breaking the bank. I just purchased the house and want to make it nice for upcoming housewarming. I think the wood walls are unique and would like to enhance them for an updated look.

I think a matte finish is called for here, and would look at metallic tiles, or the softest, plainest slate you can find.

I would keep the wood which will work. It will be a great look with what you want. You have a nice look to start with with your furniture also! Look forward to the journey!

tyb - What if you did a herringbone pattern on the whole fireplace elevation with some gorgeous stone in maybe 4 x 16 sized pieces. I'm thinking of crema marfil marble or vein cut travertine and not in a mosaic with busy herringbone at small backsplash scale but large pattern that is sized / scaled to repeat across your fireplace. See this attached Ann Sacks pattern of chevrons to get the concept - a tile layer can replicate herringbone for you - it is a little different that these chevrons with angled ends - see the 1 x 12 travertine on the second image floor - i found that at http://homedecorbudgetista.blogspot.com/2011/09/bathroom-inspiration-tile-shop.html so you can look at it from different vantage points. That would sort of echo the wood angles and honor it, but also make it feel deliberate and stylish by repeating the pattern.

I would wash the wood with one coat of whatever taupe / gray / greige / tan paint you choose without priming. The grain will read through, but you will get some gorgeous cream, taupe, grays as the neutral paint softens the reds in the wood tone, but the grain reads through. As far as paint color, I do think you will like the blue-gray, but then I guess I see that won't be terrific with the red accents you are showing now.

If you were selecting a rug (sized for the seating grouping is enough) and you chose it like art, would you rather have red than blue? That tells you what shade of paint to test (blue = blue-gray, red = camel / tan) If red is your favorite (and most women look great in red, love it but have to keep it in the gal cave), I say look at classic oriental rugs or even consider a kilim - they have the sort of style that fits perfectly with the wood wall and would elevate it -especially after it becomes a real feature wall from the tan paint wash. Pottery Barn has great kilim pillows too.

If you love the red as your color here, then I would go more towards a camel tone on the wall and to wash the wood - like sw crewel tan. I think having the wood washed (painted one coat with paint that has been watered down just a bit so it can be spread evenly) with a camel or taupe paint like crewel tan or reticence http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6064-reticence/ will give you an amazing result that you will be really pleased with - it pulls some gray tones out of the wood, but since the walls around it are also camel, or gray - it seems like a feature but unified with the whole room rather than apart. You can test this on the inside of the doors on your casework.

With gray paint or camel, I don't see any white paint. If you painted the walls camel, I think I'd paint the ceiling between the beams a soft gray matched to the wood elements that were grayed after the wash. If you go with blue gray, I'd put a beige / off white to match my upholstery. Taupe go one lighter on the ceiling.

The juxtaposition of the wood wall, kilim, your pretty chairs and stone herringbone could be wowsa!

I'd totally do the wood chevron walls in this finish and the beams..... http://www.bradley-usa.com/furnishings/case-pieces/credenzas-consoles/charlie

Just saw your last post tybates -Have you checked yet to know if you have additive grit vs sharp stucco? If the former, it can be largely reduced by sanding and painting. Every paint layer disguises more of the grit.
Endgrain gave very good advice re your wood and styrofoam, (While you have the sander out) and the stain color of your wood can be changed to coordinate any way you like. Texture is a good thing, as long as it doesn't cut you, so leave it be on the ceiling, lose the styro, work with the wood and tame the walls.

Probably I am a radical, but if this were my room I would buy a large royal blue carpet, keep the white walls and fireplade, and discard all the red accents. The coffee table would be glass and metal. As for arrangement of seating, that depends on how many you anticipate to entertain.

To me the wood walls and faux beams scream MAN cave 70's style and the Parquet floors and the chairs are more Marie Antoinette feminine. What about fabric covering the paneling?
Instead of sanding, it might be easier to skimcoat a smoother texture over the sharp stucco with texture paint.

hi again..do u have time to look at Ann Sacks tile store site? Ann Sacks has some very interesting wood tiles. I like the Thai inspired wood collection. I'm thinking you could eyeball how Ann Sachs highlights her wood tiles to get ideas for highlighting your diagonal wood walls. i'm half way 2 figuring out how 2 send u a pix of our fireplace. the easy solution is steal my hubbie's iPhone. keep on designing. christine

Omg. You all have some very good ideas. I like the whole concept of "washing" the walls with paint and having the pattern on the fireplace, Libra. Very detailed. I just have to do some research into some of the terms you used. I am not set on the red pillows. They can be changed. I really don't have a color scheme set. Mkittaka, I will check out Ann Sacks. Fabric sounds like a great temporary change especially since I my house warming is coming up.

-CMRI&DCI your link did not work,hope its ok i've put the picture of charlie,like the look of that very much

Well I decided to just decorate and have a impromptu housewarming. I took 2 hours at the store and bought things for this room, family room and dining room. So here is what I did with this room. What do you think? ?? What finishing touches are needed here?? I want to add something to add some glam and sparkle. The things on the cabinets are few housewarming gifts....disregard; they will not be staying there. What decorative items would look good on the cabinets? Would chevron and color washing the wood walls still work? What about wall color now; what should it be? The beams; stay and painted or removed? Excuse the shadows..its morning.

It's looking so much better!
1. I would either paint the beams or remove them.
2. I like the wood walls and cabinets, it adds a bit of character to the space. What is the finish of the top of the wood cabinets on either side of the FP? If anything, I would consider painting the top or tiling to match what you are considering doing with the FP. It will break up the wood and perhaps glam it up a bit.
3. Replacing the vertical blinds with drapes is going to help the look of the room immensely.

After tackling the above, you may want to work on the home office portion of the room. I think you can make it look much more cohesive with the rest.

Paint your beams a caramel color to better match the diagonal wood or paint them to match the ceiling. They really distract as they are. Add a small table and lamp to the left side of the sofa on the blank wall. Add some art or mirrors above it. I'm not crazy about the tufted bench in this grouping. The coffee table would look better if it was closer to the sofa. Bring your reading chair and lamp back into the group where the bench was.

Happy housewarming! I still vote for chevron stone tile on the chimney bump, and washed wood to give you a completely sophisticated look. Or, if you are loving the natural wood tones, pick out a stone that is lovely with that.

To install some large (long skinny) format stone tile in a herringbone pattern on your fireplace wall - A tile pro can lay this out for you - or take the time to draw out what you want so you get the scale you love / and can envision what it will be. Use some grid paper and a pencil to see what you like best and hand it to the tile guy.

You can start by dividing the width of your chimney wall into 5 - (2 full chevrons plus legs), 6 (3 full chevrons) or 7 (3 full chevrons plus legs), then draw in the 45 degree diagonal (measure out a square and draw from corner to corner) in that distance (length of tile will increase) and see how long the pieces would be. That will give you a sense of what size tile would work best - 6 x 24 seems like one of the better scales for the images we've seen and the scale of your wall. The actual length of the 45 would need to be 6" less to allow for the end trims that would make the perfect chevrons - giving you 18" lengths on the diagonal. (Now, there will have to be grout joint room of at least 1/8" and you will want to cover the sides with tile too/ cover that joint with the face stone which will widen the face by 3/4" or so - but those can work together to make your measurements pretty close.) Those joints are one reason to select real stone instead of tile, however, so you don't have any raw edges to worry over.

Lots of stone tile is available in this size - you may want to test wash the wood on the inside of the cabinet (try out other ecru color options if you like/ get the water paint ratio right) before you finalize the stone so you can pick up on the tones that come through.

I recommend you drybrush the beams with full strength paint (they are darker and will be drier too) and wash the wood walls with a platinum taupe paint watered down by 1/3. You will get grays and browns and taupes and creams out of the wood walls and doors from this method. Paint the walls two shades lighter - test http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7017-dorian-gray/ on the wood and (from the same card) repose gray on the walls. Test also amazing gray or pewter tankard tones for wood. Or go warmer by leaving the wood walls, drywashing the beams with a camel toned paint like sw rookwood clay and pick out a stone with golden undercurrents or warmth. You can get the look of the reclaimed wood if you wash it with one of the taupe grays - and it will still look great with the wood floor.

Consider painting your desk with sw mink - a terrific neutral that is a match for annie sloan french linen. p.s. loving your poster art as stand in for future stuff - this is an amazing space that will be great no matter how far you go.

The fabric idea is great. In fact, you could hang draperies there to make it feel like windows were behind it. Or a light blue and white color wash on the wood that is akin to the rug isn't out of the question. What about two very large mirrors leaning up against the wood wall?

If you are planning to add an art piece over the sofa, here is one suggestion... Raisa

2 points...Why is the VanGogh like pic over the firelplace hung horizontally when the picture appears to be vertical?

Is it just the camera angle, or does the beam that goes to the white part of the fireplace wall not go to the center of the white part? My house has the same styrofoam beams and they are not in the center. I painted them white like the ceiling and they weren't as noticeable. Thought of removing them, but my handyman said it may cause damage to the ceiling to do that, so I left them. Got compliments on the solution, people said it looks better white.

The new rug is nice! I like what you have done so far, but the side wall needs some art on it too! Love the idea of fabric on the walls as a temporary fix.

I haven't read all the comments, but please get that mantel done by a professional, wood burners emit heat, a lot, which might damage your tv. I personally would never do a tv on/in a mantel. I see loads of them and I assume their either very well insulated and/or have gas hearths. Your hearth seems to be too recessed now to be able to put wood in it safely. Have that done by a pro and focus on the rest of the room for diy.

By the way, your room does have a classic and early 20th century feel to it. I'd say embrace the wood, add caramel/gold and champagne color and bronze, paint the ceiling pale seablue to cool it all down a little, some dovegrey. Black, eggplant and magenta accents. Leave no spot untouched/white. Wish you the best.

Hmm, just saw some pictures of the recent situation. Furniture - rug - looking very good and ladylike! Hope you'll be painting all walls like I mentioned in my post above, some in metallic shine. Keep the beams brown, will look great with pale blue inbetween. Or, if you want to keep some things white, paint the beams white, but add a crown mold to frame the enitire ceiling.

I would paint the beams white and hang white floating shelves on the wood paneling. A very large piece of art on the end wall and colorful pillows on the sofa would help a lot. Place a geometric flat weave area rug, make sure it's large enough for the coffee table to sit entirely on it. Less small accessories and a few more statement pieces. Remember less is more. Reupholstered your accent chairs in a more modern printed fabric and rehang your window treatments at the ceiling height, it will make the room look taller. These are all inexpensive things that can be done with great websites. Home decorators.com. Ballarddesigns.com, art.com, spoon flower.com Have a great time decorating and make it a fun cheerful room, one that puts a smile on you face every time you walk into that room.

this is just me but...I'd sit and figure out what my favorite things /places are...ex. the beach, Italy, the garden etc. then based on your answer make that room a reflection of that. We are building a house so it's easier for me but I need a home office and have always wanted a library, hubby and I lived on a boat for 10 years so I like nautical things and the house style is French Cottage...so my office is going to have built in library shelves that are distressed French white and a French Writing Desk. I picked colors of the sea and will decorate with things like a globe, the temp/humidity readers from our boat...or maybe you have a favorite piece of art pr artist...start there and doctorate using the colors in that art. You want your likes and personality in the room. It should be obvious it is your space! Good luck

you could paint the beams and the wood an walnut brown/black ... with a glossy finish... the walls gray ... Revere Pewter would be nice... then a large picture of Marilyn Monroe in Pink/white over the sofa... add some zebra print splashes... like a rug or pillow... add a pretty glossy black chandelier over the table... and over the fireplace I like that sunburst mirror. :)

[houzz=]

A washer machine a dryer and a slop sink with some shelving for appliance storage and a place to put the vacuum cleaner and something for cleaning products and buckets and stuff.

Hi! I came across this and I must say your room is beautiful. The only shame is that it looks like it was intended to be a "man" cave because of excess of dark colors, (straight lines from beams, dark wood). And you've done a great job doing a quick fix up to make it more feminine. It definitely looks more feminine. I am not an interior decorator or designer, I sometimes don't know the right terms to use; but I do know how colors work together, I've been told many times that I should get into this business, so I hope I can also give some useful feedback. I could not help but notice that in addition to the dark wood, you may be adding to the darkness/ muteness with all the dark furniture. Your chairs are absolutely lovely and the rug exquisite. However, too much neutrality (if that is a word; greys browns and blacks) in a room when there is a heavy accent wood wall makes it harder to make the room feminine. On that note, my suggestion is a process of elimination.
1. identify the problem area
2. figure out why its a problem area
3. Look at what you have and don't have (in terms of furniture accents)
4. What style you are looking for
5. Create/draw the style plan without the problem area (as if it doesn't exist)
6. Rearrange your plan/so that it incorporates the problem area while fixing the issue at the same time (this would be the hardest part but this always works)

So, In looking at your fabulous room and your goal to make it a woman's cave. I thought of all the colors, shapes and textures that reflect woman/feminine; white, pink, purple, gold, silver, clear, crown molding, fur, paintings, circles/curves etc. And I drew a plan of what the ideal woman cave to me looks like; drawing it based on the typical shape and set up of the room (beams, fireplace,large open space) and colors and wall art etc. Note I said ideal because this sketch may not even incorporate the furniture you have and the wood wall isn't included in the sketch, because I see the wall as the main problem area.

Once you draw that ideal room space, then you can see how you can incorporate what you have into that space (the chairs) the kind of paint you should use for your ideal space, the furniture you have that you should place or not place in the room (perhaps replace and take from another room?). Then look at the accents you can use to now incorporate your wall. If you look at it that way; your wall becomes an accent instead of a dominating factor in your home. In this case the colors that would resolve your issue is gold (bright) white (neutral bright and balancing) These are my off the top quick suggestive changes, perhaps you have already thought of them; but here they are anyway :)
a. Move or place your white cushions and put one on each of your dazzling chairs. (white offsets the dark neutral color if distributed evenly. If you use fancy glossy white cushions with embroided detail (gold undertones), it will bring out the lush of the chairs (Parisian style)e and make your room 50% more feminine.
b. Another rug cant hurt, or you can even replace the rug you have; a large white fur/sheepskin rug or multiple sheepskin rugs (ikea). Again the bright white offsets the wood color while still complimenting it as background accent and we cannot deny that "fur" is feminine.
c. Not sure if what you have above the fireplace is a mirror or a TV? I cant see from here sorry, but if its a mirror, why not look for a round accent mirror with a fleur-de-lis style? To add with a gold frame? The mirror would brighten up that side of the room, the round appeal is feminine and the gold frame compliments the wood beams and wall (acts as balancing color) and adds to the currently going gold undertone from cushions on the chairs.
d. For your center table think exquisite ornament or vase. With just the right vase in the right color and texture you wont need to place anything on your ottoman.

Before I conclude, I did find at least 9 pictures on Houzz that have the same features; beams, wood accent walls, fireplace as your room. If you do a search "white with wood" you'll find them. I felt that these were the best examples on how to make your room feminine without being dominated by the wall and beams. Hope this helps! Your room is fantabulous!

Check these rugs too. They are hand woven Persian rugs on sale with free shipment. For more information and receiving our catalogs mail us at:
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thoes r nice can i ask u a question

ofcourse

Your room is actually pretty nice. Maybe new flooring but mostly just artwork and finishing touches unless you want to put a lot of money in it then you have some great ideas. If not, I say large pieces of artwork on each side of the fp. Maybe a starburst mirror in the center then. You could paint the short wall where nothing is there a dramatic color.

Paint the whole room one color the gray will be nice. Ceiling and trim in wide. Leave wood beams alone. You have no Color in this room. Remove vertical. Add a panel on each end on stainless rod. I like the teals with gray walls. At Bed &bath they have a satin shiny peacock blue panels. Very nice. Add same color in a print with silver to pillows on sofa and chairs. Put the 2 wood arm chairs Side By side facing window. Put bigger white chair opposite facing others. Center desk on wall it's on. Place chair so back is to wall. Put a large rectangle mirror in black and silver frame big 5 ft by 40". Center on wall low. Put a 40x40 oil painting lots of bold colors on wall over sofa. Hang 5" above back. Fill in dead space in corners with potted palms. One on each corner of desk wall and window. A very big coffee table in wood and glass square 40 x40 brush nickel lamps change shade on one you have to black.

Large 8 x10 area rug in contemporary design, black, gray, white some teal. Or blue shades. On wood wall walls paint lack. Firepl will be the gray. Is that a TV? Remove all Luther from wood tops. Place large contemporary art on each side of FP. 40 x40 hung 7" above top of cabinets. Put very tall pots in various size on counters do groups of 3 on ends. Mix teal, black and gray ceramic pots. Mix it up. Maybe some large plates on plate stand on other end. Nothing else. TJMax good place for accessories. And art.

Put back can lite over desk. Desk doesn't need low light. Black boxes put by plants. Ikea has some great desk supplies. Get in brush nickel. Ikea also has 36" silver metal plant containers, get two and use by desk corners. They also have ceramic pots get in color teal or turquoise or black would work. On coffee table put a very large basket fill with plants silk and orchids . Orchids on wood counters would add interest. For chair at desk get a zebra print or lip cover the one you have in zebra. Put lamps you have on either side of sofa.

Remove beams. they are not modern looking. Leave wood as is or paint as I suggested above. Paint desk black. Or get a larger one with a lass top and crisscross dark wood legs. Pier one has it. Other looks to little girl. Pier One has great chairs, for desk. Also end tables and lamps. You could add slate stone to firepl. Looks contemporary and adds interest. You could put large TV 50" on top of counter to right of FP, just have art on one side. Just sit on counter.

Do not do chandelier unless you can hang from ceiling not swag, that went out in the 70 s. start by painting the other stuff will fall in space.

By the way the gray is more than so so. It looks great up.

Don't worry about texture of walls will all blend when done.

Don't waste your time with DIY design. Hire a professional who can get it done for you right the first time- it will save you a ton of time and money. Some of the best interior designers can be found here: http://keyinteriordesigners.com/

Just saw pics of housewarming better. Don't like bench. Add big chair instead, but arrangement works. I would still center desk and fix hanging light. Removes beams too. Put slate on FP. It's getting there I would still do windows I suggested before.

I would do what Travis interiors suggest and you will be done, tho not sure about removing beams.

I had foam fake beams & removed them & repainted ceiling. Room is brighter & bigger.

I like wall paper with trees above. Sanding walls no. Way to messy and won't do much. Wallpaper on desk wall would give interest to rm. nothing hung on it. It's art by its self.

Love the herringbone tile above for fireplace. The pearl is interesting.

Paint the beams into light grey. Pain the wooden wall into light brown, but keep the dark brown of the built in dressers

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