What to do???

10 years ago

I'm not sure what to put on the wall on either side of our newly renovated floor to ceiling (9 ft) tiled fireplace. I want the fireplace to remain the focal point.
I'm wondering about (black) floating shelves or photo rails. I feel whatever I do, I need to make it symmetrical.
The wall space on either side is 40" wide by 20" deep.

Emily Riggs
Waterloo, Ontario

Featured Answer

shiningautumn888

10 years ago

I would do like coordinating prints if something very subtle maybe even black and white chalk sketches or ink drawings, matted with thin frames

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Comments (11)

cindyseverns
10 years ago
Floating shelves in a lighter tone than black if you want the fireplace the focal point
mramsey
10 years ago
I wouldn't put anything up. It looks clean and crisp as is. Putting up shelves and fiddly little bits will detract from the clean lines.

BTW, the chairs to the right look uncomfortable and out of scale, perhaps replacing with a more substantial chair or two will both fill that space and provide more comfort. I see electrical wires in that cormer and I really hope you are not planning on putting a tv there...
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happyleg
10 years ago
Put tv across from couch.
Brooke Olson
10 years ago
I agree with mirrors. IF you don't like the look you can take down and return! ;-) Plus they will make the room look/feel larger.
pcmom1
10 years ago
Can you post photos showing the entire room?

I was going to suggest just lights on the wall to keep the fireplace the focal point. Painting the wall around it a darker shade would also pop it out more.

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pcmom1
10 years ago
I would paint the wall there in one of the darker grays from the marble/tile and keep it simple with nothing or next to nothing.

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smdrovetto
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Wow! Your room is beautiful, and the fireplace is beautiful.

I agree with the first commenter. You need to be very careful about putting up shelves, or anything that could easily ruin the fireplace as the focal point.

With shelving also goes what to put on the shelves.

The pattern of the fireplace is so fabulous against the walls. You would have to be VERY careful about scale, especially, not mention, subject, color, material (glass, metal, wood?) Scale is so important, and most people, even if they are aware of needing size, buy too small.

Taking one look at your room, it is so outstanding, it really deserves the help of a decorator, and some very special artwork that will not diminish the expensive look of the fireplace, and should be professionally hung.

It may sound expensive, and I'm sure your fireplace was not cheap, but decorating requires a lot of expertise in some cases, and it can be worth it in the long run.

P.S. I'm not a decorator! And it may take a couple of interviews, if you consider using one, to find someone you are comfortable with.
Katherine Nutter
10 years ago
I think you should consider your storage needs and choose accordingly. I love lots of storage so I would add floor to ceiling built-ins with doors to keep the look clean and modern. Or you could have doors on the bottom half or three quarters with shelving above. Whatever you choose will be fine because it's yours!
Mark
10 years ago
I think floating shelves would be quite lovely.:)
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House Plans Helper
10 years ago
If you have some lovely things to display some shelves with thoughtful lighting would be ideal. There's some examples a little way down this page.
http://www.houseplanshelper.com/living-room-lighting-ideas.html