Thank you! Those pictures are inspiring. I have a very similar layout and it is challenging to place furniture and decorate. Thanks for sharing!

I think you need it to be larger, more of a statement piece:

Sstarr93,
Thank you! I see now that the mirror I was about to buy was not a good choice. Glad I posted this question here. Here is another picture of the place. I am just clueless when it comes to picking art and decor. :-( oh I took away that lamp.

What a terrific house! And, you have great furniture! It looks like you could use another large-format piece on the far wall past the sofa... Needs to be generally light in color.

Thanks all for your replies. I would like to have a mirror above the mantle and a nice bright art piece above the couch. Here are some mirrors that I like but not sure if they fit the space, please help pick one of these or may be another..
http://www.wayfair.com/Imagination-Mirrors-Flora-Rectangular-Traditional-Framed-Mirror-71013-QIM1213.html
http://www.wayfair.com/Majestic-Mirror-Traditional-Rectangular-Bevel-Wall-Mirror-2165-B-2166-B-MMR1222.html
http://www.wayfair.com/Uttermost-Le-Vau-Rectangular-Beveled-Mirror-in-Silver-Leaf-11201-B-UM4049.html
http://www.wayfair.com/Imagination-Mirrors-Lovers-Locket-Wall-Mirror-in-Dark-Gold-IW96605-DG-QIM1108.html
http://www.wayfair.com/Feiss-Suzanne-Mirror-MR1128OWC-MU7575.html
http://www.amazon.com/Uttermost-Lucinda-Antique-Silver-Mirror/dp/B0050ANAC0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1372714591&sr=8-4&keywords=uttermost+lucinda

The first one is too dark, would painting it brighter color would be a bad idea?

I like the leVau. Please, get your pictures off the hearth & move elsewhere to another table top!

I liked your lamp, you just need a taller table between the chairs. And then put the lamp on top of a few books to "cheat it" a little taller.

hnks- are yo sure you would not like to put your clock on the mantle and the mirror over the table where the clock is now?

Felixgrantham,
You are right, I will move the pic. Just had them there during summer time. I removed the lamp now, I am finding it difficult to have a conversation with the person sitting on the other chair with that lamp being always on the way.
I like levau too. Do you think it is bold enough and big enough for that space?

Margo,
The second set of pictures are not mine. Mine is in the original post.

I think the first one from home decorators would be nice. You have to live with it and if you like it that's all that matters.

The LeVau is a nice mirror. This is a rough rendering of how it will fill the space. You could always get some cardboard or an old piece of fabric and cut it to the size of the mirror (63"H x 41"W) and "try" to get a visual on how it fills the space in person.
Also, another option to replace the table lamp, if you decide not to get a taller accent table, is to source a floor lamp. The seating area you have seems an ideal place to read so task lighting is important there. Just food for thought.

Thanks for the picture whispar. I feel I can do better with another mirror. But the idea of cardboard would be certainly helpful.
I agree, I do use that space myself to read. I thought about having a small side table and a lamp next to one chair, close to the window, rather than in between the chairs.
I really want to have a wow yet cosy and warm feel when someone walks into my house.

would love to have this mirror..
Mediterranean Living Room by Other Metro Architects & Designers Martin Architect, Inc.
or
Traditional Family Room by Grimsby Interior Designers & Decorators gobbato//mourtos inc.
Traditional Living Room by New York Architects & Designers Laura Bohn Design Associates

[houzz=]

or this
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Hi all! hnks - you have a beautiful home and lovely taste in mirrors. I just wanted to double check -- are the measurements correct - 80" wide & 60" tall? It looks like the other way around (but of course photos can be deceiving).

Lyvonne

I like the majestic mirror and I think it would fill the space better.

like this...

The essentials inside, It is 80' wide. The ceiling is 20 feet. I measured from the top of the mantle to the upper rim of the window, not all the way to the top, 60'. How about these pics? I tried to adjust the size of the pictures of the mirrors based on their actual sizes. Or should I go vertical?

Prisca mirror from Home Decorators Collection would look nice

Go vertical.

You already have a lot of glass in the windows in this area. How about considering something different, like a large tapestry above the mantle, hung on a decorative rod, with tassels?

Thanks hnks! I wanted to try photoshopping some mirrors for you & wanted to make sure of the measurements.

pittbulls - that's funny, I was thinking the same thing about the Prisca mirror. Here is my favorite use of the Prisca from Yawn Design:




The prisca is less silver than it appears in the product pic below.


Here are some more of the Prisca:





I also found some other pictures that might help you think:










I'll be back later w/some other "photoshopped" mirror ideas! :)

Hope that helps!

Lyvonne

Thank you! Those are great photos.
The prisca mirror is beautiful, not sure the color of the frame would work with my wall color. I will photoshop it and see how it looks.
I love the stone work above the mantles. I don't know the cost and I am not sure if I want to do this now. The reason why I thought horizontal might work is because of the height of the ceiling, it 20 feet and I don't want to make the place appear more taller.,the previous owner had a square mirror which I thought was beautiful.

hnks - is it possible for you to take a picture similar to the original one you posted but back up a bit so we can see the entire wall "straight on"?

So you're thinking something similar to the Luxury Home Project 1 picture (the last one I shared) & by that I mean something that keeps the eye down toward the fireplace rather than taking it up all the way up toward the ceiling?

Lyvonne

Yes, I would like to bring the eye down.
Unfortunately, I am away from home and I only have these 2 pics.

The mirror is too small it should go as tall as the second mullion

Hello!!
Hope you had an awesome trick or treating evening! We did!!
Here is an update on the mantle mess above. I purchased the LeVau mirror and was quite excited when I got it. It looks beautiful! So I hung it up (See first picture). But it became clear to me that the color of the frame was too dark and I needed some contrast. The frame has a lot of silver tone into it and the light coming from the huge windows on both sides of the mantle is making it hard to see the mirror. So I used a gold spray paint to lighten the color. But I did not use it the traditional way. I sprayed it on a sponge and dabbed it on the frame cause I did not want to transform the whole frame into gold one, I just wanted to add some golden highlight and keep the distressed effect of it. The second photo is taken after I played around the frame. Tell me you thoughts about this. What else can I do to make it pop in the space above the mantle? May be accessories on both sides of the mirror on the mantle? I like elegance and coziness but decorating does not come to me naturally.

I think you should hang the mirror about four inches off the mantel, and tilt it a little out from the wall at the top, it will have more of a presence.

I too think the mirror should be off the mantel. 4 to 6 inches would do. Nancy had a good idea to tilt the mirror out a little on the top. With the mirror off the mantel, you can put garland on the mantel for the holidays. Bigger topiaries are needed for accessorizing.

I do like that LeVau mirror. It does need to be higher, though.

Thank you. I knew it was too low. Was hoping you would not say that. Now I have to drill a couple more holes in the wall.

The correct height would be 3"-4" off the mantle. A mirror is best utilized in a space where it reflects something pretty like an outside garden. Or, in a hallway or entry where someone can take a quick peek at themselves. They look great over a fireplace in the right application, correct size, and style.

My vote is for the Priscilla mirror. I was going to purchase it after I saw it in a showroom above a buffet on a tall wall. It is beautiful and goes with many decors. It is an aged silver and would be fine with what you have. It's a statement piece without being too ornate.

Is this the mirror in your OP?

Can’t follow your link because you typed ‘in’ as part of the http address:

I like the mirror a lot, but I would rather see something much taller and more in keeping with the shape of your windows.

One thing I advise people a lot that are thinking of putting mirrors over their mantels, look where your ceiliing light fixtures are....will you be blinding your guests by mounting the mirror in this location and simply reflecting the glaring light from the ceiling down into their eyes? I held a mirror in place for a friend and had her sit in several locations and she realized that was NOT going to work at all. Since you do have that space of flat wall rising there in the middle, I would recommend art work that brings in some subtle color (not to fight with the outdoor views) and something that would bring in texture. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have a nice big canvas painting there to also help absorb some of the reflective noise as well, you have a lot of hard surfaces. If you plan on going with some drapes for that purpose and to bring in texture, then it opens up more possibilities of what to do over the mantel. Artwork does not necessarily need to be framed paintings, think outside the box with perhaps something abstract that can take advantage of that soaring height and bring focus to the whole fireplace/mantel area and unify it. If your aim in placing a mirror is to bring light to the space, perhaps think sconces....again, elongate and look for something out of the ordinary. You have a great room to play with, enjoy the process!!

No. go tall 6 ft tall & wide and lean on mantel. Ikea carries. Wide dark frame. Perfect. You have very tall ceilings. Use them. Take the eye up. For a more dramatic effect.

Add some color with accessories.

Sorry didn't realize this was posted in June. Can you return mirror or use somewhere else. It's too small. For area.

Nancy, she has already painted it, so it can't be returned. Any mirror, no matter what the size, that leans away from the front of the mantel will reflect the ceiling--not very interesting to y way of thinking.

Didn't know she painted it. So put very tall 6 ft art in bold colors. The mirror would be for effect not to reflect. But still needs height.

But the effect of reflecting the ceiling would be boring, is what I'm saying.

Oh. I disagree, it is just for effect.

I'm no designer, but I generally prefer to hang mirrors where they're low enough to see into....and hence reflect other areas of the room. To me, mirrors that are hung above eye level lose their effect.

Yes, too many people hang mirrors & pictures too high, and then lose the effect altogether, if you are not able to see into it, hang a large print instead and find another spot for a large mirror which will make the room look bigger.

Thanks all so much for your input. Yes, the mirror is not returnable now. Since I paid about $500 for it, I do not want to spend more money right now to buy another substantial piece.
The ceiling is 20 feet high so I feel that taking the eyes up by hanging something so tall would make it less cozy and less warm. The wall next to the mantle wall has nothing and is 20 feet tall too so I will be buying an art or may be a tall bookcase for that wall so I felt that a mirror above the mantle would brighten and enlighten the space. I have a picture of the wall next to the mantle here.
Nancy, I like your idea. I am not sure how to do it. The instructions that came with the mirror advised not to hang it from the center since it is really heavy. Is there I can do that safely?

You will need two 50 lb. picture hangers, and use a heavy-duty picture wire attached to both sides of the frame. Then attach a foam block to the top back of the frame where it won't show, so when the mirror is hanging it pushes the top out from the wall.

Hnks, your living room is stunning with the brown walls and bright white trim accents and furniture and the new mirror fits perfectly over the fireplace. Well done!

I suggest the following triptych in brown and white from my art gallery for your wall, it can be placed over low shelving, a crendza or stand alone. It comes in many sizes up to 65"L x 25"W framed in addition to stretched canvas, acrylic and metal and is reasonably priced.

Should you desire a different color combination, larger than stated size or any other request please contact me by clicking my icon and website.

Star Pattern Triptych in Brown and White