HI - I think it would look better to go to the ceiling . But it depends on your budget .

Not sure that isn't going to overpower your untrimmed and plain windows. You'll want to move the chaise away from the FP too. May we see the rest of the room so we can properly advise?

Las Vegas not big on window trim. Keep in mind I just bought the house and have to do a little at time. Also part of me thinks I should have put the TV over the fireplace...it's a work in progress and it's a little house.

Let the drapes hang as drapes rather whatever you're trying to achieve with the current arrangement. Take a simple stone treatment WITH NO MANTEL to the ceiling.

I like the stone although if you did stone, instead of going to the ceiling, maybe have a stone mantle, just a thought, and choose a brick that would incorporate a color if you so desire to change the color of the walls.

Sins since your on a budget then do something like this.

you don't have to add all the stones or things but put some wood above fireplace for a mantle. Then add a photo above the mantle. I thing a beach themed photo looks nice. At least with a blue wall......

Wow bellburgmaggie thank you for the visua, what a huge help...I'm thinking I like it up to the ceiling. And I really like that solid frame around the fireplace. Is that still called a surround? How do the glass doors work with that and where would I find either that or a refresh for the doors...I like to just change out the old brass trim if I good as the glass is in great shape. Got ton have doors with dogs....

Hey There: We are not big on fireplaces but I saw the whole discussion. Your windows are perfect for a different window treatment - these clean lines need pleated blinds that operate bottom up and top down and are inside mount installation. They are available in over 700 fabrics from transparent to black out. If you change the blinds, a fireplace will be the perfect addition to the room...

On another issue; all of your wall hung items are too high. 5-5-75 is an easy gauge for that. If hung alone center art/mirror/item 5' above the floor. If above a piece of furniture the bottom frame should be 5" above the furniture. Keep the width of art or groupings that are with furniture no wider than 75% of the furniture's width. I think if you lower the clock collection so it is centered 5' above the floor, you won't need any furniture in that area. The current barrister's bookcase actually detracts from the impact of the clock arrangement.

Love bellburgmaggie's visual, too. Taking the stone to the ceiling is a clean, elegant look. Granted, these things are a process, but you might consider Roman shades for the windows. Maybe fabric, but a woven wicker would be less pricey and add nice texture. I'd paint any brass on the fireplace doors black.

I'm agreeing with the window treatments. I think your room would look fantastic with woven roman shades - inside mount.

I have no idea what Roman Shades are...I'll have to look them up

I see what you are saying about the curtains I have something similar in my kitchen. The problem I have with the living room is that corner window could quote figure it out and so I tied up the curtain so the dogs weren't rubbing on them too much....it's my first house so I have a lot

to learn...lol

Well the bookcase is there basically out of a lack of anywhere else to put it. It was my grandpa's, it old and beat up and I just don't know what to do with it.....I keep looking for something else to fill that space but can't find anything I like. The ceilings on that side of the room are really high and it was basically four walls of empty boring nothingness I got sick of looking at. I had read somewhere that you put stuff high like that to draw the eye up and I didn't want just a line through the middle of the room. I only started it the other day and it's a work in progress. I wanted to put some photographs under it, but then maybe that be too much. In any case I have all the boxes and tags are still on so nothing is set in stone.

I could move it to the bigger wall all together.

I like your clock collection, but it needs to come down to eye level or a few inches above the bookcase.

P.S. You have the TV on the right wall.

Groveraxle you just moved my whole wall....how do you guys do that? I'm not done I wanted to mix photos in with it and keep those at eye level.

Don't mix anything with it - it is already too busy. Lower it and simplify. Personally, I don't like art to rise above the door or window frames unless it is a monster piece of art. If you centered the entire arrangement at 5' above the floor, you might only have a couple of pieces that are too high. If you have to remove anything it should be the sign, the arrow and the starburst. Keep the focus strictly on the collection which is clocks!

I don't think the stacked stone goes with the style of your house. A simple surround with tile would be a better scale for the space.

Hahaha nothings goes with my house...it was built in the 90's. When I first bought it as a short sale it was mauve with a thick sheen of nicotine, had never been updated or repaired, and was vandalized. Just to move in to make it livable I had to rip all the mauve stained and smelly carpet out, rip all the tile and LINOLEUM out, all the trim, the fixtures...everything. Then I had to wash the whole thing, paint, hardware, baseboard, new floor (which is polished natural cement, btw), and have the airducts cleaned out.

The only thing I knew when I was trying to figure out what to do with it was that I was sick and tired of living in beige and white apartments my whole life. With the exception of the floor that I am sure I overpaid for and my new heat pump on the roof that I got a great deal on I have spent less than $3000 making my house livable, that includes knocking out the wall between the dining room and kitchen replacing all the lighting and all the vents and solar panels.

So while stacked stone may not go with my house now, I hope for it to go with my house in the future and I sure don't want to do it twice. I am single, by myself and can only afford to do a little at a time....I mean really, have you seen my kitchen - what would possibly go with that.....lol. The worst part of it is... not the peeling cabinets, mismatched appliances, brass hardware....not even the ugly tiled countertop....its the electric stove installed in front of a gas hookup...that is the worst.

* Notices your dog first

How about a very simple surround? Like this?

I like that, it is really nice. I have never come across that in my searches wonder if it is custom or not.

What do ya'll think of this?

or I just saw this and this mantle is 50% off now making it $194-$229 depending on the size

The one I posted is probably custom. I couldn't find it anywhere. This is as close as I could come for reasonable price.

Something like this would look nice, but it depends on what you want the style of your home to be in the future. As you mentioned, you are going to be making changes slowly and you wouldnt want to do something that will work now but will need to be changed again later.

I wouldnt put the TV above at your home, perhaps put wood mantle and a piece of art above.

Please keep in mind that stone and bricks could get pricey as well.

another option that would probably be more cost effective.

The white stone makes the dog "pop"-- it will look great!

You can see in the photographs below, a variety of our fireplace renovations. Perhaps one of them will work for you?