Or just put rock on whole wall to ceiling? That would be dramatic.

Hi Aja,
Long time ! One solution that may be less expensive - or more depending on how high in quality/authenticity you want to go - would be to have some (large) stone based art - or even faux-stone possibly (cheaper there) that's vertically rectangular - just to the right of the archway to balance it out. It would of course be the same height as the archway AND to look right, you'd want something thick enough (cost enters in there maybe) that it would protrude out from the wall and really even out the archway effect.

This could possibly keep you from having to do an overhead beam over the archway.

It just looks silly. Like you are trying to ... anyway, an arch would help soften it.. I do like your fireplace. Not a fan of fake rock.

leave it, paint and dress the room-I think once its dressed it will look fabulous-but at the moment its the only thing to look at. and if the archway "needs a purpose" as someone said - I think you have created a great ledge for artwork. as someone who has been agonising over ever minute detail of her own renovation for almost 2 years (and we are yet to even break ground) - it is not worth agonising over everything. It will work out, or else you will find a way to make it work. good luck. looking forward to the finished photos

Why does a suggestion need to include an insult? Does it add a little "pop of color"?

HELLO @Frank Bright ,
[who entertained and educated us with his pillow dilemma in one of Houzz's most beloved longest running threads!]

You are looking good!

Why am I not surprised that in addition to all of your other talents - music, decorating, and all the grand qualities of a Southern gentleman - you are an artist!

Check out his work at http://frank-bright.artistwebsites.com/

I especially love your birds, particularly the egrets and cranes - I live only a block from a mangrove swamp and often see them strutting in the sun.

So glad to see you again!

Incidentally, do you have a sledge hammer I could use?

Hey! @travis interiors,

We have yet to see another actual photo since March, I believe......
I do believe rouxb, as proxy for jdrtebs, is preparing us for no photos of the end result.

Well, Aja, with the number of careless, rude comments she has received I can't say I blame her. I just don't understand the need to be snarky and, BTW, I cast only my own vote.

The project is undoubted finished by now and I hope jdkrebs has many years of enjoyment in her new home.

@Connie, I quit reading the thread and scooted to the bottom. I was so glad to see your comment. Sometimes I think people are sorry that they exposed their ideas to the commenters here. I agree with you. When the rest of the room is finished it may make a lot more sense. And if it doesn't make sense to the commenters here...so be it! I find it very interesting and quite beautiful.

@rouxb"

"Snarky and rude" are judgments you are making and applying to the comments of others
who are offering advice and opinions at no charge.

Please keep in mind that soliciting the advice and opinions of others is the purpose of this forum.

Is it your place to call out others, in general, as rude, careless, or snarky?

Is it your place to continually hijack this thread?

jdkrebs has received a great many comments from pros who have taken their time and effort to offer their expertize?
Some have even done computer mock ups.

I think they deserve gratitude, not criticism.

And welcome to Houzz!!

Marilyn Wilkie,

Wise words indeed.!

I think that you have explained the psychology in a few words, quite well.

I have no opinion. Just been reading others input. Looking forward to seeing pictures of completed project. Just hang in there and "inspiration" will eventually come to you.

Sorry arch looks too heavy and out of place.

@aja mazin

constructive criticism is one thing (which we all ask for, by submitting questions) Plain rudeness and insults are not.
Just saying

posting against my better judgement : )

@Aja Yes, they are judgements and no, they are not being applied to those offering positive advice and helpful opinions at no charge. Constructive criticism is welcomed.

Absolutely

Sometimes. Sharing design dilemmas can make a Houzzer quite vulnerable. Having people make thoughtless or unkind comments ( i.e."that is hideous", "that looks silly" "what were you thinking"-sorry can't resist-"do you have a sledge hammer I could use?") makes me feel bad for the OP. Right or wrong I sometimes feel the need to remind posters that there are people on the other end of their comments. Houzz is an island of relative tranquility in the sea of ugly on-line communities. I value that.

Thank you, though I am not new to Houzz. Hi-jack done, climbing down. YMMV

z z z z z ......

HI! The reason this is looking different is because of the vaulted ceiling. Please look at this photo of an arch room divider with a flat ceiling. It may give you some insight on how to proceed.

If it were my house, I'd beef up the floor below (if needed) and finish the entire wall with the stone. Then again, I love stone.

Personally I agree with some of the others who advise you to leave it alone for now, paint add your beams, flooring, etc. and then see how it feels. I like it "as is".

The problem is, the height of the stone goes into the sloped ceiling. Create a built out fireplace mantle look that covers the top courses so that the "beam" look goes all the way to the wall, with a small bevel. Build it beafy with lots of details in the layering. Then, paint it white or stone color.

I'm no expert, but what occurred to me is to finish the arch in a triangle that touches the ceiling on the left side and parallels the ceiling on the right side. I think it's gorgeous, by the way.

I think that you would need to see more pictures of the house. It depends on how this arch flows with the remainder of the house. If you are shooting for an eclectic collection, then this could be a great way to add a cultural influence. Not sure just how big the home is, but if it is limited on space, the arch may be a over bearing. Just something to think about. Hope that this helps!

The room is done.

Awhhhh. At last. Hope it's great.

Some sconce that hold candles and frame the top up the width of the stone or a little wider or smaller...that lip is unfinished or like above cap with beam like cypress which would be like 600 bucks and done but the beam would have to termanate at the end which would look odd like why does it stop. A fake box out beam would be crap because you have real stone like why faux it.

I think we would all like to see some pictures, as promised.

The one beef I'd have with that arch is that it's clearly faux--as a true stone arch has, well, an actual arch of stones that are physically transferring the load to the walls. But if you like it, then that's great. It really is a bold element and if it works for you, that's all that matters.

Do the whole wall. It seems this stone is floating there in between the two rooms and stone doesn't float. Putting stone on that entire wall would confirm the need for the arch. Did you think about putting in a keystone? Or using larger stone on the arch itself? Those are the stones doing the work. Check out the Aqueduct in Segovia.

How about a heavy column on the right?

Aja, sometimes waiting is hard, but something later may pop into place that means something more to YOU, and it wouldn't have come any other way than by letting it come naturally at its own pace.

My eye is immediately drawn to the top left hand stone and the expression "square pegs and round holes".

It reminds me of a chipped tooth in need of repair.

Frank,

True, indeed.
We must have been writing within minutes of each other!

We are so very anxious to see the results and it may be we never see the the completed room so asking sometimes prompts a response.

Why do those who did not get caught up in the drama miss out on the finished product. Best thing is to ignore the drama and enjoy the discussion.

Hi Aja, Thank you for your support. I guess we should both be locked up. That girl goes out of her way to provoke people I've noticed. At first I thought that girl was a teenager because of her lack of manners and internet etiquette. She was correct that I had not read the comments; I believe a person's opinion is none of my business. I felt you were attacked wrongly as well. I don't believe animals should be in cages on a day to day basis. The idea of putting a kennel in a workshop or laundry room is as absurd as having a 2 story home with all of the bedrooms upstairs and the laundry downstairs. I'm sure the builders meant well, hoping to maximize space but it's a bad idea if you are doing the laundry. Birds belong in the air and 4 legged animals need to be 'free' to run about. I love your plans to put in an arch. With the grayed walls and wood beams you already have I agree with you in that the photo's bricks and patters do look a bit too finished. A more rustic French Country kitchen design may be worth looking at. I have a few references with some very nice photos if you are still shopping for ideas. Drop me a note and I'll get you what I can.

@rochound, you said..." as absurd as having a 2 story home with all of the bedrooms upstairs and the laundry downstairs." It isn't absurd to me. I don't spend my time upstairs in the bedrooms waiting for the laundry loads to finish. I'm down where the action is, collecting laundry as it finishes. Why walk up and down the stairs multiple times to change the loads over??? That is absurd to me.

@rockhound,

You were brave to speak out!
Insults and name calling are prohibited, and that was clearly violated.
Your comments showed more wisdom and patience than I possess!!

The above home is not mine
My home has no brick or stone, save 2 small fireplaces and all of the walls are "white".
My oriental rugs and furnishings add the interest to a blank canvas.


Now about positioning the laundry!

It is not about checking on the laundry, but carrying the laundry for 5 people up and down the stairs.

Pity my poor mom who is the mother of triplets - me and my brothers [who are identical twins.] Our bedrooms and a small playroom were upstairs, with the bathrooms and other bedrooms.

My mom used cloth diapers for us [six dozen] and with crib linens, blankets, clothes, etc. , my mom carried a diaper pail and laundry baskets up and down the stairs.
She did 5 to 6 loads of laundry 5 days a week!

Hi Aja, I see you are up to your old tricks again..... Your mama is quite a woman!!!

I don't think the arched wall 'fits' in the room in the photo. It appears a bit disjointed but it's not finished... As for the room Aja described (grayed walls and wood beams) I agree that she may want an arch that is more subtle with weathered stones and/or a different pattern. Gray tones and wood can work with beautifuly with a variety of materials. I just painted a mural on my arch instead of adding bricks. It turned out great. Plus with paint if you get tired of it you can always paint over the mural and add rounded moldings or something different. Brick is more permanent. I like doing as many projects as I can myself. I'm not a contractor by any means but I'm good with color and I've collected a lot of photos of great decorating ideas. (None with laundry rooms farther from the bedrooms than the floor they are on!)

Hi Marilyn, Thankfully all homes are not built the same! We each are individual with our own routines. With a house full of boys plus their friends and teammates adding to the laundry and overflowing hampers I was grateful to have the laundry room away from the 'living areas'. Doing laundry once a week was enough for me when my house was full. Now, we have downsized a bit and have a single story home. My husband didn't want to deal with stairs in his golden years so we bought now rather than later. I do have a lot more room for my art studio and a fabulous workshop for other projects. He takes care of the vehicles and motorcycles so that leaves lots of time for my club and projects. Needs change over time and even though I dreaded laundry day with my son's friends asking me to wash their uniforms too I also loved the fact that the kids felt comfortable in my home. I miss cooking for lots of hungry people but I don't miss the laundry!

https://www.houzz.com/photos/stone-arch-phbr0lbl-bl~l_143289 This link has some beautiful designs. I like all of these photos Houzz posted under stone-arch. I like Modern designs also but these are very soothing.

These arches are from sites other than Houzz

Keitha,

Thank you on behalf of my mom.

Yes! LOVE!

I really think you should make that entire wall limestone and I also think the beams will look fine but you will need to make your trim all around the room heftier to pull it off. Keep us posted and enjoy the process. :)

WHERE ARE THE PROMISED PHOTOS?

Should have done something like this picture.

It would be nice to know how this worked out!

It was voted Designer's Disaster for 2 consecutive years.

The owners are presently building a new house out of Lego Blocks,

<eye roll>