great room help!

10 years ago

Hi, so it has been 5 months since we moved in! Thank you for all your previous advice! I took a lot of your comments and added the seagrass rug, put in lighter sofa and white dining table and white entertainment center that is just out of the frame of this picture. I painted the french door white and put in white blinds. I'm struggling now with paint color. This room is so dark and faces north with little natural light. It pulls so many shadows! I think creamy white paint would be nice but it washes out my white entertainment center and white dining table. My husband says we can't remove the trim on the fireplace yet. Should I paint it white? Should I paint the ceiling beam white? Maybe whitewash the fireplace? What kind of fan should I buy....a white one or a regular one with a light? I am not a decorator but I'm very sensitive to the feeling of a home. Thank you for your advice and any tips!

Featured Answer

kittenmama

10 years ago

I love your fireplace -- please don't whitewash it! I don't necessarily mind the fireplace trim, but you need more going on with the mantel for sure. We have a similar fireplace and added a small spotlight from the ceiling to shine on it, making it a nice focal point. Also agree with adding colorful pillows and throws to the furniture to punch things up. You can also add colorful glass or canisters to your kitchen to punch that up as well. One other thought is lighting overall. It will make a big difference, along with painting the walls. Good luck!!

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Comments (15)

T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
The photo makes the after picture look dark, but that's just because the "before" picture is overexposed! This is one dark room.
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
the room blends into this kitchen so it all has to coordinate somehow ?
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kimedge
10 years ago
Try to find a paint sample that matches the **lightest colours** in either your stone wall feature or your floor. That could give you the match you're looking for, and if it has enough tone it shouldn't wash out your white furniture.
T r4 thanked kimedge
User
10 years ago
Consider ceiling pendant lighting, one on each side of the fireplace. The fixture would against that wall and add another source of light.
T r4 thanked User
suzykparis
10 years ago
The room has a great feel to it. I think an accent wall in a strong color will make the room have more presence. Bright white accents here and there set off whichever color you want to go with. If you decide to go that route, make sure to apply 3 to 5 coats on that wall.
suzykparis
10 years ago
Also the scale of the coffee table is a bit small. consider a darker more rustic style in a larger rectangle shape. It will fit in better with the lodge feel of the floor and room size.
T r4 thanked suzykparis
grapefruit1_ar
10 years ago
I really like your new furniture! I never saw the room before...did you just add the shades? I would get rid of them and use curtains. A dark room should not have covered windows. Also, you need lamps not harsh overhead lighting. If you get a fan you should get one without a light.
T r4 thanked grapefruit1_ar
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all for your comments. I like the idea of not having a fan but we live in south florida with high ceilings. Any photos of acceptable fans? We have a floor lamp in the corner by the chair (same side as the fireplace). We could hang pendent lights - do you have a photo of an example? I would like the room to look less dark and rustic. That's why I was thinking of painting at least the trim of the fireplace instead of enhancing it.
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
Yes! Thank you! I like that!
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you for your comments. I'm going to bring in more lighting. I've tried to look at the fireplace with new eyes, but it just doesn't work for me. I can't stand it. :( I really need to bring in a coastal, beachy feel to this home. That's why the dark fireplace frame, the dark ceiling plank and the darker colors are not working. I hope to one day replace the stone, but for now, what do I do? Is there any way to avoid calling a contracter to pull out the fireplace? To PureMichigan: it looks like the photo of the fireplace you posted has been whitewashed. Do you think so? I like that fireplace much better than what i have. I like their mantle too!
decoenthusiaste
10 years ago
If you hate it and think its coming down eventually, you can always paint or whitewash it for a cleaner look right now.
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Susie .
10 years ago
Adding several lamps (table, floor) would help brighten the room a lot and is much more flattering than overhead light. I am torn on painting the timbers, since I don't know what the wood is like up close. Instead of paint you could use a pastel/pickling stain to soften them a bit and maybe give a driftwood or weathered look. They do break up the wall too much for my eye.
T r4 thanked Susie .
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
I love Houzz! Thank you for bringing the coffee table size to my attention. It was fine in our previous home but size has been overlooked at this new place! These are things my friends don't tell me! ;) Susie, I'm going to look into getting some lamps- I'll have to find what to put them on because this space is odd. Not a lot of tables to set lamps on and I already have 2 floor lamps. Maybe brighter bulbs and I'm considering hanging pendant lamps on each side of the fireplace as suggested by puremichigan60.
T r4
Original Author
10 years ago
I want it to be more coastal, but we will always have the saltillo tile floors so I guess coastal/mediterranean......but NOT a lodge! Please don't call it a lodge. please.