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wil554

Please help us finish this room! :-)

10 years ago
I would love some advice on how to finish off our hearth room/den.
We need some end tables, lamps, and I'd like to change what's above the fireplace. The "plates" were a temporary solution to hide a hole in the wall where there's a TV mount (and no stone) but I'm not sure if I'm loving them now that all of our furniture is in. I'd love to try a mirror up there, but it's not reflecting anything interesting - just our kitchen cabinets across the room.
I also feel like it's looking a little formal for a family room/TV watching room. My husband loves oriental rugs and very ornate things while I prefer sort of a "clean country" look. This was our compromise, but I'd like to see a little more of my style in the accessories. Storage somewhere within or under the end tables would also be nice for kids books & toys. I attached a photo of the breakfast nook and part of the kitchen since it's pretty much one, open space. The TV will be wall mounted in the same spot eventually.
Suggestions would be great, if anyone has some fresh ideas for us!

Comments (50)

  • 10 years ago
    Here's one more shot from a little farther away.
  • 10 years ago

    I love your room!! It would look fabulous with some " country" additions. Could you put something unique above the fireplace? Wagon wheel, old wooden tennis rackets, a single tree, farm implements, etc? Your accessories could reflect the country feel, too. The look would be so much more interesting than a grouping of things from Pottery Barn.

  • 10 years ago
    I love the wagon wheel idea! Unfortunately, whatever goes above the mantle has to be solid to cover the dreaded "TV" hole. We're not sure if we want to cover it up for good or not.

    I have a huge Pottery Barn problem. My husband is constantly trying to save me from myself. It's just always a look that I loved growing up and it's hard to stay away now that I can actually afford it.
  • 10 years ago
    You need some end tables, so everyone can comfortably set a drink down. Add a floor lamp by the chair and a couple cozy throws. I do like the plates on the mantle, especially the large one. You might leave the large "plate" and add some seasonal items instead if the small plates. Such a pretty room.
  • 10 years ago
    Thank you!
    I'm not sure about what style end tables to get. I considered nesting tables on the end of the couch near the open space. I don't think I can put a lamp on that end since it's a high traffic area.

    The small plates were my husband's grandmother's from Germany. The large one was from...Pottery Barn. I wanted to incorporate the little ones somewhere, but they can be moved to the kitchen, or in the china cabinet that gets switched around frequently.
  • 10 years ago
    Yes! I did have this style mirror in mind. I looked at the attached mirror from Ballard's, but I thought the black looked a little too contemporary. It may have to actually rest on the mantle and be attached to the drywall where the TV mount is near the bottom. I'm not sure I want to drill any more holes in the stone.
  • 10 years ago

    Since the fireplace is a hard surface and a mirror has some similarities to the windows, I would suggest a textured art object that's not solidly gray or brown above the fireplace.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    In securing the mirror or any other item do not drill in the stone. Drill in the grout so it can be patched easily. I believe the frame is bronze not black.


  • 10 years ago
    Thinking the large plate looks good over the mantel. You could add some hurricane sconces with candles and greenery appropriate to the season on either side. I'd use a contemporary rectangular glass and natural steel coffee table in place of the ottoman, with scaled down side tables to match, to balance the round lines and to bring a more relaxed look. Add a couple of cozy throws, to the sofa and a warm inviting floor lamp to the other side of the sofa such as the Denley bronze floor lamp from Crate and Barrel. Good luck and happy designing!
  • PRO
    10 years ago

  • 10 years ago

    I agree with acm with having some artwork above the fireplace to add some color and something that is more of a focal point. I would also consider painted side tables in a cooler color, perhaps the cool color that you have in the rug. I would also add some cooler colored pillows and throws as well.

  • 10 years ago

    Would like to see all of your curtain rods throughout hung at the same level. Loosen the tie backs for a more casual country feeling and use panels on both sides of the windows. The single panels drawn back aren't providing a completed look. The heavy drapes will be fine for winter, but you might go with a fiber shade for summer with a light sheer over it. I'd remove the formal swag valance at the dining area. Fiber shades there and a faux roman done with the same shade above the slider (without drapes or sheers) will look more country casual and will be much easier to deal with. The large plate looks good and doesn't reflect the kitchen as a mirror would.


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  • 10 years ago

    I think a wreath in the colors of the room would look nice above the fireplace to add softness and curves given all of the hard surfaces and straight lines on that wall.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    First of all, your room is beautiful and architecturally well-done. I love the fireplace stone and the doors and windows! The area rug is very attractive and sets the palette for the rest of the colors in the room.

    However, the curtains aren't doing anything for your room--they're skimpy and squooshed, the headings are droopy, and the tie-backs are not an attractive look. I would select a fabric with a pattern that has the colors of the room, then have full-width panels made, with french-pleat headings, lined and interlined, to add color, softness and dimension to the room. I'd also consider woven wood shades on each window. Custom made curtains will be more expensive than ready-made, but oh the difference! And they will last a very long time.

    There doesn't seem to be a lot of room for accent tables. But you could fit one on either side of the sofa in rustic woods, like pine/weathered oak/distressed cherry. Adding more pillows on the sofa and especially on the 2 chairs would add a lot of warmth. As far as over the fireplace I'd place a large piece of artwork in a substantial wood frame, one that complements the wood in the room.

  • 10 years ago
    Thank you for all of the great advice!

    In regards to the window treatments, the drapes were all custom made and ordered by the previous owners. The ones in the breakfast nook are even sewn to the rods. I actually like the ones in the kitchen, but I agree that the drapes look flimsy in the hearth room. There are also roller shades on every window, and although they are synthetic, they look exactly like the ones in the photo that decoenthusiaste posted.

    When it comes to window treatments, I usually have a "less is more" policy. I like as much light coming in the room as possible, and I like to enjoy my view. I usually go for drapes that blend with the wall, or some kind of shade that practically disappears when closed. Custom drapes seem to date themselves pretty quickly, unless they're a solid color. I'm guessing this is happening to ours since I usually get comments on drapes when I post about a room. It would make sense, since they're probably about ten years old!
  • 10 years ago
    Does anyone have suggestions or recommendations for lamps?
  • 10 years ago
    What a beautiful space!! I agree with much of the other postings and thought of one more thing...what about adding touches of nature? You know how you see twigs or branches bundled, standing in tall planters (maybe in a corner?), etc....Maybe not "greenery" per say, but nature elements that feel country but not TOO country.
    Good luck! I'm sure with all the ideas coming your way you will come up with something awesome!
  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Agree with DianaBiers above. If you don't want the expense of curtains, perhaps consider woven shades with a hefty texture and no fabric at the windows. Worth it for the texture, and you can mount above the windows so when they stack, the light loss is minimal. Add some tables chair side, they could be metal....perhaps a different coffee table as it nice to put ones feet up, but you're losing a chance for another texture, (perhaps a pale stone top on that! )

    http://www.ethanallen.com/en_US/shop-furniture-living-room-coffee-tables/vida-stone-top-coffee-table/138340S.html#start=1

    and display. A pair of standing lamps, alongside sofa. Lamps are jewelry : ) And presto.

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    mmmmmmm one more. I would say goodbye to the window treatment in kitchen as well. To fussy/formal, despite they cam with the house . Sorry: )

  • 10 years ago
    The expense of the drapes does not bother me as much as the light loss. The wall that the fireplace is on is a northern wall. We get a blast of sun through the sliding doors at sunset, but for the rest of the day the sun is on the other side of the house. Could we get away with natural shades only in the hearth room, but keep the drapes in the kitchen? Otherwise, I like the look that decoenthusiaste recommended, and I'd probably go with something like that if we decided to switch them out. I think we have to live with the drapes a little while longer while we work on furnishings for the rest of the house.

    We have cocktail ottomans in this room and the living room since we have two young boys that tend to bounce off of the furniture on occasion. I considered getting a tray for the one in this room, but it would probably be covered in Legos in no time.
  • 10 years ago
    Awe, rats. :-) I still like the drapes in the kitchen. I feel like they add a feminine touch. I completely understand what you're saying though. When we do start updating the drapes, I'd probably start with the giant panels in my great room, since they didn't get a lot of love in one of my other previous posts.
  • 10 years ago

    If YOU like your drapes, then keep them!!! YOU live in your house!!!

  • 10 years ago
    Can we get a picture of the home in the fireplace, from the same distance as your other pictures? It will help in recommending things to hide it.
  • 10 years ago
    ...the HOLE in the fireplace.
  • 10 years ago
    Here's the hole above the fireplace when we moved in.

    One of the obstacles that we face when we make decisions about how to decorate this home is that we don't feel like this is our "forever" home. We'd both like a place with more land and privacy. We're also a little grumpy because soon after we moved in, a 56-home development started being built behind the tree line in our back yard, and the place across the street from us went into foreclosure so our view hasn't been the best. Who knows. By the time that all goes away we may be all settled in and loving our place. But, when we make decisions we tend to think "what will everyone love" (for resale value, or what would "show" nicely) rather that "what do we love."
  • 10 years ago
    Here's the TV mount...
  • 10 years ago

    My daughter is in real estate and I have been to almost all of her open houses. I understand you are looking for suggestions, however mine is merely a statement. Your house looks as if it was staged by professionals -- it looks that good. Sorry I couldn't add any input..

  • 10 years ago
    Thanks!
    I'm glad to hear we're on the right track. The large pieces in the den, rug and china cabinet were all from Ethan Allen.
  • 10 years ago
    That is a big hole to hide.
    When we were "finishing" our great room, I had a great time, haunting Pier1, HomeGoids, etc. for nifty eye catching pieces. I kept a tape measure in my purse to check sizing of things and I brought home more than a few items to test out before deciding.
  • 10 years ago
    My husband wanted to go through another football season in the house to make sure he didn't want the TV over the fireplace so we could see it from the kitchen & breakfast nook. We will be putting the TV on the buffet on a mount so we can swing it out to face the kitchen when we have sports-related parties. There's also a smaller TV in our great room that you can see through a pass-through in the kitchen so he should be covered. Don't even get me started on the basement! :-)
  • 10 years ago
    And, giving more thought to what to put there... a canvas/wall art with fairly little fussy detail, to balance the "pattern" of the stonework behind. Keep looking at art and large decor pieces. The right "something" will present itself.
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Very much like your room as is -- especially all that natural light and great wood floors. You've furnished it well, too.

    If you may want your tv above the fireplace later, you wouldn't want to do anything permanent; however, for safety sake, do you need a metal plate before you cover it -- or to keep the hole covered when you are using the tray? If so, consider finding a sheet metal worker (someone that does duct work for heat/air units) and see if you can have a copper or stainless steel plate made that would both temporarily cover the hole and serve to hold the large tray when it is not in use as a tray.

    In lieu of a mirror reflecting the kitchen cabinets, you might consider a large round clock above the fireplace, however, for what it's worth,

    I like the huge tray and plates and would like them more if rather than just sitting on the mantel the larger tray was actually hung on the chimney above the mantel.

  • 10 years ago
    If you remove all the drapery tie backs, and remove all the swag valances in the dining area your rooms will look less formal. And get some color in the room with big art over the fireplace and patterned throw pillows for the sofa and chairs.
  • 10 years ago
    The large plate/tray just barely covers the hole. If you look closely, you can actually see the corners of the rectangle where the stonework starts to end - near the top. I'd also like to see the plate a little higher, but it wouldn't cover the hole as well.

    It might be nice if we could actually use the large plate as an ottoman tray when needed. It's the exact same size as the top of the ottoman.
  • 10 years ago
    You could try flanking the fire place with the two lighter chairs and face the couch towards fire place.
  • 10 years ago
    Art for the fireplace
  • 10 years ago
    Terry toon - That's beautiful! I love the style and how it has the warm colors of our room, but adds a pop of blue.
  • 10 years ago

    I love your sofa and chairs. Would you share where you purchased them ?

  • 10 years ago
    Thank you!

    The couch is the Bennet Conversation couch and the chairs are the Mr. Swivel Rocker - both custom made from Ethan Allen.
  • 10 years ago

    Thank you. I think your room has a warm and cosy look.

  • 10 years ago

    I would like to see the TV over a lower media center. The drapes all hung at the same level. Perhaps the sideboard can go into the eating area. The fancy window coverings in the eating area removed. Change the large round item on the mantle to a painting.

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    I will suggest some tables & lamps for you to add to your room

  • 10 years ago

    See if the light fixture above the dining table can be lowered to be 36" above the table top. Aside from some accent pieces, end tables, lamps & minor tweeks, your rooms are very tastefully done & look like a great place to sit down & enjoy your company.

  • 10 years ago
    I would first of all get rid of that bright yellow paint. Go with something either neutrals or pick up something complementary to your rugs and furniture. Also remove tie backs from draperys. Paint ceiling and trim a softer off white instead of that white white. You have a beautiful home and furniture just needs a few tweaks. I would also remove smaller plates and maybe put a tall vase on one side in a glazed pottery with seasonal things in it. Maybe now some beautiful leaves in oranges reds and greens. . Then put two large wooden candlesticks on the other side
  • 10 years ago
    Tarnished treasure by Sherwin Williams would be a good color.
  • 10 years ago
    Some lamps that would look nice with your home.
  • 10 years ago

    It's a beautiful room. I like the wall color and the use of fabric on the windows. The TV still doesn't seem right and can not be seen from the chairs. Perhaps you could wall mount it and use a lower table under it that might accommodate some small stacking tables. Have you thought about placing it above the fireplace? I see no art! What about a dominant painting, water color, or even a fabric? Quilt? A weaving? A framed antique one can add lots to country feel. Bigger rug under the furniture and perhaps use the other for under the table. Warm it up with your personal touch. Stay out of pottery barn. Try antiques, art shops, even thrift shops.

  • 10 years ago
    Some more lamps and tables
  • 10 years ago
    More side tables