I like your fireplace overall, but it's a little dark surrrounded by all the new wood. I might whitewash it. I definitely would keep the brick, though.

Groveraxle, I love the lighter wash and we can paint the inside the darker green like the half wall. My husband worries we would mess it up, so we would hope to find someone with experience to do it. Great idea!

Hi. I for one would like to see your kitchen and how contemporary it's become - I've seen houzz fireplaces painted, more modern [like the glass elements]. Might've been a semi-gloss... idk.

Happens to be grey, and walls same color, which is good. "Brick walls might require a masonry primer, such as Loxon by Sherwin-Williams."

BRIARCREST REMODEL · More Info

Is bottom/ half wall darker? I think brick [whitewashed or not] would tie in better with a tan/beige sofa cover. A rug could have mix of spicy type like the brick, like moss/olive, a dull burgundy.

Groveraxle, great job! I think both white washes seem to bring out the colors that are used everywhere else and ties everything together. Also like re-using the darker green on the inside. House looks fun! It’s nice that the brick is a nice, simple design already. Great party house!

That is a cool fireplace and I'm glad you didnt change it. BUT. What bothers me about it is the big giant "U" shape because the top centre is a different colour. I would unify it by painting the whole thing a creamy colour similar to the colour of the blinds in window beside fireplace (don't paint the top centre part a different colour). I would also remove the dated black fireplace insert and get a really cool freestanding fireplace screen. Remove the vase and bowl from hearth and accessorize with a single fireplace accessory like a basket of kindling or a large lantern. Don't clutter up the lines of this cool fireplace.

Everdebz, here is a pic of the kitchen, and I love all the great advice! https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-remodel-eclectic-kitchen-seattle-phvw-vp~27603873

Frankly, I really like your fireplace and your teen’s art piece! One thing the room really needs is a big bright area rug to go with the art and to tone down the floor.

Very cool space! I agree with others here who have suggested painting, whitewashing or limewashing. I would suggest that you paint/wash the brick and gypsum board the same color. That will make it a better background for a dynamic piece of artwork. You space/house has a very cool vibe and I love the openness!

Norwood, would you also whitewash the hearth? I’d also look to replace the door with perhaps a more coordinated brushed nickel look, that complements the glass and metal railing dividing kitchen and family room. Although more spendy, my husband prefers insert vs free standing to help with draftiness. I’m including a close up of hearth.

If you whitewash, as groveraxle’s photoshop suggested, I’d keep the entire space one color so that any art work chosen is the focal point. I wouldn’t paint the back part a different color.

Here are a few more iterations with the overmantel painted to match the fireplace, with the hearth whitewashed, and with a rug. One thing I would do is paint that piece of trim at the top of the half wall behind the sofa to match the wall.

I painted that little trim piece in the renderings below:

So kind of you, and everyone. I do have a carpet in the family room now, but I don’t like it anymore so I will look for another. It really does make a difference, I love all the renderings!

grover's first photo seems inviting in combo with your furniture. I wonder what style you are going with?

[I don't think paint behind the sofa is darker, just has less light shining there]

Actually the paint on the half wall behind the couch matches the beams and is darker.

Nice room. Yes to painting the fireplace, but I would not paint hearth. Def paint the trim piece on half wall and while you're at it paint the outlet too.

Might seem small thing, but the green as opposite in color [to sofa] draws imo too much attention to that area. There's much to look at: open area and 2 levels, fp, nice floors, etc....

I love the green and purple.

following

Idk if burgundy or not, but seems on traditional side -- art might be more red. Just to me with various styles [glass especially], I'd reduce elements that throw off the balance.

And let's see the whole space. :)

Transitional rug helps.

Small thing again, but is ottoman dark brown? is island basically dark brown... black?

Found a way to show more pics of kitchen...

Nice house!

Everdebz, does the third carpet option have a black flower behind the black ottoman or a different color? Now my husband and I plan to Craigslist our current carpet and try to find a new one.

your Grover helped with rugs, and I liked the enlarged-casual grey and olive flowers, fitting with majority color of green.

just curious if you like your current rug - post it.

Gorgeous and love the white wash, painted half wall trim and muted purple rug. Wonder if you could get a smaller rug for the kitchen for consistency. Can you pull that purple couch away from the wall a bit?

I wonder if a couch table behind the purple couch might help create some space to mute the contrast or move the couch to the middle of the room looking into the fireplace? Hmm.

Grover yesterday at 8 04 - is it dark green? could be great anchor, and equally deep as tha sofa!