Awkward fireplace/ceiling combo.

9 years ago

We just bought a house that we LOVE, but this dated living room needs some TLC. I've scraped the popcorn and prepped the sloped part of the ceiling (IDK whether or not you'd call it a tray ceiling), and plan to paint the walls and sloped part of the ceiling SW hubbard squash to warm up the room. I need advice and suggestions about the fireplace. I dont know that adding height is an option because of the ceiling's slope (this is a strictly DIY project because we need to spend the $$$ elsewhere). I'd like to keep the brick-I actually wish there were more of it because I love those 70's and 80's huge fireplaces. I wondering if you'd recommend anything beyond/other than just painting the mantel white and hoping for the best? Thanks in advance for any help or ideas!

Featured Answer

Rina

9 years ago

I think you could DIY extending the fireplace with cupboards/shelves on either side -- to look built in, if you can't actually build them in. It is a way of framing its importance in the room. Obviously you can ignore the actual objects I've drawn in below -- to make them convincing I've had to go rather dark, and the options for accessorising are many. It's an exercise in shapes.

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Comments (19)

Irene Morresey
9 years ago
I would be inclined to paint ceiling and walls all one colour. Hubbard squash maybe to deep to do all in one colour. Otherwise paint ceiling perhaps SW belvedere cream like in pic below which the have used with Hubbard squash
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HD Dobson
9 years ago
Uhhhhhhhh....

Red brick plus red wall?

How about grey wall, white fireplace, leave brick, make a tray around bottom of ceiling start with wood, LED light run the tray (above with trying, below with small cans), loose the wood trim and make Ceiling edges smooth, and pic colors that bring out your floors with go brick on red wall?
HD Dobson
9 years ago
Meant not red with red brick.

Second the built in bookcases.. doesn't have to cover whole wall and over fireplace but present it nicely. You never mentioned room's intended purpose?

Also modernize ceiling fan.
silviakunst
9 years ago
I would paint this ceiling dark ......even as far as black ...then take care of that red wall ..make it all white or a light grey or beige ...including the fire place ...if you like the brick color leave it ...then start from there ...the ceiling is easily camouflaged ..by separating it with color or with a trim and a darker tone color ...you have to try ...different ideas until you are happy !
silviakunst
9 years ago
But that fan has to go ...paint the fan the same color as the ceiling ! It blends in and it's not noticeable !
Elaine Doremus Resumes Written
9 years ago
Paint red wall to match other walls. To make the fireplace the focal point, paint from the top of fireplace width straight up to tray ceiling. Use a color from the brick/ similar to floor to unite everything.
Rina
9 years ago
Just for the record, the OP says she is repainting the entire room. Check up top.
Rina
9 years ago
I'd love to see the fan replaced with a chandelier.
Jenn Jarnagin
Original Author
9 years ago
Now that I'm typing I cannot remember who asked, but this is the living room. Also, I have a follow up question on the suggested built-in look. I really like this idea, but the current mantel isn't deep enough to add shelving on the sides and have itall be flush. Do you think that it would look bad if the shelving stuck out a little past the mantel?
Rina
9 years ago
Jenn, I think that could work well. Here's a really nice example:

https://za.pinterest.com/pin/289637819757236929/
HD Dobson
9 years ago
You could do it and it would look great. Here's an idea that you could modify ...
HD Dobson
9 years ago
Just frame around it. 12 inch built ins.yes, that example build it out.. built ins like this...
HD Dobson
9 years ago
Another more like yours
Jenn Jarnagin
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks, Drex D. I think for now I'm going to paint the existing mantel white and see if I can live with it and put some $$ away to play with later when I have time to really make something like this look great
ocotillaks
9 years ago
Let me chime in. Paint the walls and ceiling the same color. let the fireplace and mantel be the focal point of the room
katinparadise
9 years ago
If you use the Hubbard Squash in the room, consider doing the ceiling in the same color but at 25%. I would consider a warmer or creamier white for the fireplace mantel.
PRO
Color Zen
9 years ago
Painting the mantel white will do wonders alone... I wouldn't even dive into built-ins at this point :)
jbtanyderi
9 years ago
The "feature wall" colour skews the whole perception of the room. Paint it the same colour as the other walls. Change the fan for one closest to the ceiling colour.