Thank you so much! I thought it looked ok but then always second guess myself. I'll just fix the scuffs.

It looks great❣️Nice job❣️

Thank you all for weighing in. I did something right! I once had a mirror over it that I was so proud of and several people pointed out some obvious problems that I completely missed. I love Houzz and the people who care enough to comment!

Any chance, Jackie, that you can post a photo of the rug? Not a criticism of what you have done. It looks great. I ask because the rug is on the same plain as the hearth, and maybe blue may be the better choice.

That blue in your picture does look pretty. Here is my rug. In person, the blue is slightly more blue than it appears in this picture. I brought home the small one to see how it looked in the space. I have ordered a 9x13.

Th

I'd stick with what you have. It’s unobtrusive and very pretty. Love the rug too!

Thank you! I searched forever for the right rug. I'm starting over in the room, new furniture too. Anyone have any thoughts about colors for couch and two chairs? Maybe I'm not supposed to stray from the original thread topic? I'm not very knowledgeable about the protocol :)

It is best if you stay on this thread. Keep it all together.

Jackie, I am going to say the blue bricks/hearth is my preference now that I see the rug. It is lovely with darker rich colors. Maybe the bricks/hearth are too light and delicate to pair with it? And, at the same time too much like the wall color, so there is no contrast? It is the focal point of the room.

I see what you mean. I used to have a very light colored rug and honey colored floors which probably looked fine with that hearth. I'm trying to get a more cozy/comfy vibe so looked for rich/dark since the floors needed to be redone anyway. The room has large windows and gets a lot of light. (pic below at taken at night)

I love these color choices for the furniture and the art! The furniture I got rid of was tailored and structured. So in my quest for comfy I sort of had in mind a 3 cushion couch. Not something sloppy but softer.

The fireplace is directly to the right as you come down the steps.

This is so fun. Thank you all for your comments!

I love JudyG’s suggestion of dark blue paint on the fireplace surround and hearth. Dark blue would look great with your beautiful floor and against your white mantle.

Would you go darker blue or match the blue in the rug? The blue in the rug is lighter than the example in JudyG's photo. My rug picture is not completely accurate.

Darker blue for a sophisticated look. Blues don’t have to match. To me, it’s more visually interesting if they don’t match, and in many settings I consider dark blue a neutral :)

I’d get the rug and furniture first, then pick a dark blue that’s pleasing to your eye.

I agree the area on the floor should not be a light color...but it also is not a special feature that needs accenting ...i would go with a color that matches the wood floor..or...if possible ...add another thin layer to raise the hearth slightly to make it more connected upgrade to the fireplace..perhaps using a thin layer of marble?

A matching layer of marble to the mantle would also give it more substance..

If you like the dark blue idea, I think the surround painted in it would have more of an impact:

Wow. All such great ideas. I love the marble idea too. But the hubs might have heart failure if come at him right now to upgrade the FP. Originally, it was just a new rug. Then floors, then furniture...probably wall paint too as the floor guys dinged up the walls in several places. Oh, and I also threw in the pendants last minute since this 1940 house had NO lights anywhere. It all made so much sense since everything was being disrupted anyway!

These kinds of projects just snowball don't they?

Marble is not as expensive as you think...any stone yard has remnants( small pieces leftover from big jobs)...they are cheap and can be cut to size

I would go darker with the blue…don’t match the rug to a T. Too cutesy.

Thanks everyone! I so appreciate all of the help and advice.

I also like the idea of the blue color. I would do the brick and the hearth. Leave the surround and mantle the color they are. Wait for the rug to come, and then try to pick a blue that also goes with your rug. I love your rug. Use the rug for color for your other furniture pieces too.

I ended up painting the bottom hearth close to the floor color. I had picked out a pretty blue but then I didn't feel up to the additional taping and prep. I now have some additional touch up needed to the lower parts of the brick and wood. But I think this looks nice and I would never have thought to do it. Thank you for all of your suggestions. (Blue is still in the future when I can hire someone else to do it :)

I would love some input about the size and shape of art. The firebox is 31" X 43". The distance of the mantle to the ceiling is 66". Initially I thought something the size and shape of the firebox. But now I wonder if I should go vertical due to the ceiling height? It's not in my budget for real art so I will be looking at some kind of repro canvas.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Beautiful, a small change made a big difference.

You've got good taste

Thanks Yayagal. I have learned so much from the Houzz community. This same picture from about 3 years ago was awful. Houzzers pointed out a mirror which was all wrong and other mantel decor problems. At the time I thought it all looked fine and was asking an unrelated question. I fixed and enjoyed the changes. Now with new floor color and rug I'm revisiting the wall.

Now that you are happy with the fireplace and rug…and ready to consider over the fireplace decor …a wider look of the whole area as it is currently…is needed…as any beautiful room is done in layers that relate to each other

It is pretty much a blank slate right now. I am probably doing this all in the wrong order. I got rid of my old furniture before having the floors done. Then I got overwhelmed trying to figure out the right furniture (see all the fabric samples lying on the rug!) so I thought maybe I'd move on to something easier like art over the FP.

I decided to keep the table and chairs in the bay window. I will recover the chairs after I get the new furniture. I'd like a 3 cushion couch and two chairs. I want to lean a little more transitional in my newer pieces. The chest to the right of the window will be gone.

Thanks for reading!

The rug is more rustic than the other elements…i think you are stumped because… the light fixtures …. trim and fireplace style and color….maybe even wall color…do not support the warm golden rustic ..even tribal…nature of the rug…tho’ it does look perfect with the floor…i think more changes in the basics would be needed to make it look right

Ideally leather furniture would enhance the rug best…or perhaps super contemporary furniture would be a better match with the more contemporary surroundings than traditional furniture

I also think the table and chairs are impractical to try to use them together in the way you show…the table is great for a console behind a couch perhaps and the chairs would work in the seating group as they are easy to move around as needed….

There aren’t enough details on how you want to use the space and how many people you want to accommodate …where the rug will be located…to really be specific in suggestions

btydrvn - Thank you! You have nailed it. I didn't know why nothing seemed right other than the rug and the floor. I have a split personality and so does my house. I grew up on a farm and enjoy more casual, rustic, functional things. But am also drawn to some refinement. I never get it right.

My goal with the room is to make it more comfortable and casual. My old furniture was tailored and stiff. It is usually just the two of us and we rarely entertain more than 6. We don't keep a TV in the room and use it for visiting, cocktails or reading. I was initially thinking slipcovered furniture...but after looking at some, it felt a little shabbier than I wanted to go. I hadn't really considered leather because I wanted something soft but I will start looking at that!

The table and chairs in the bay are awkward but it is a favorite place to sit with morning paper and coffee. I wonder if I can make it work with different chairs?

We have tried several furniture arrangements over the years. I tried the couch facing the FP with sofa table behind. But the room and view felt cut off and the bay was still awkward. The only layout that seems to work on most counts is having the couch and chairs facing each other and perpendicular to the FP. Pendants in line with coffee table. The rug is currently where I'd planned.

I have always disliked the fireplace because it seems too delicate. I hope to some day have something more substantial and rustic. Now I see how the fireplace, pendants, maybe even the style of the large window? are at odds with my goals. I was hoping the pendants spoke a little bit carriage and maybe eventually rustic with the right FP.

Knowing my goals...is there any hope? Is there a way to transition or at least minimize the problems? The room and entire first floor was repainted only a year ago...so I'm stuck with that for now too.

I would very much appreciate any other comments or advice. But you have already helped tremendously with your observation. Thank you!!

There are a few obvious moves in the right direction …painting being the best place to start….the wall color could be a warm beige tone..taken from the rug color…the trim could be a little darker ….the fireplace could be painted to match the painted floor tiles and the mantle could be removed and replaced with a more rustic wood beam to completely change the look….the table in the window will never look right for the purpose you mention but a small round or oval table would be perfect with the chairs….at that point the placement of the rug will need to be perfect so you can create an inviting and functional seating arrangement for you and your guests…furniture selection should be last…keeping in mind that the two table chairs will convert nicely for extra seating as needed…during these changes you may want to consider how important having the fireplace is…as there may be other more interesting uses for that wall space…

It is possible that draperies may add to the feel you are after…consider this as you progress as well

Thank you to everyone who has offered an opinion, suggestion or a like. Once again, I have learned so much from this community. I love learning about the observations and thought processes which go into these kinds of decisions or opinions.

btydrvn, I love the idea of a round table in the bay, and the paint suggestions. And, so thankful to know what's wrong and next steps I can take. I'm relieved I can save furniture for last. The pressure was killing me!

How would I hang drapes in that bay window? Note the curve of the ceiling at top. I would love the added softness of drapes but have avoided them because of that bay window. Luckily we have privacy, so it hasn't been a big problem.

If both sides of the bay windows are the same…it may be possible to hang a narrow drape from the ceiling ….( not inside the cove).matching the width of the flat section on the ceiling line…but i would avoid formal drapes for a more casual nubby textured fabric…a solid more textured neutral color will show best in that tiny width…since it is an odd spot you dont want to draw the eye there with a complicated treatment…it could also be installed with a wood dowel rod(stained a dark color)and wood curtain rings…to enforce the more organic rustic vibe

Thanks! I had no idea they could be hung from the ceiling. Neutral nubby sounds perfect.

I would assume I would hang the rods for the other windows as high as possible. Is there any concern that it would still be much lower than the panels for the bay window?

And would I just put short rods the width of the panels on each side of the side windows too? Meaning they wouldn't be drapes which close, but only side panels for texture?

They can be hung from the ceiling .. but I really meant from ceiling height …both should be ceiling height and same “width”on both windows…

If you are concerned it may look odd try hanging some sheets(?) as a test…just in the corner…I do think only drapes on the taller window would work …making more of a dramatic focal point of the bay window …since it is such a different window style

Ok. I understand now. Yes, "ceiling height" is different for each window. Good idea to try the sheet trick. I also do kind of like the idea of panels only outside the tall window. Seems like it would make it feel more cozy. It's a strange area. The photo makes it look shallower than it is. It's almost 3 feet deep. It will be a few more months before I can complete the room. I'll post pics when done. THANK YOU!

Aha!…it is hard to see the 3’ depth of the window area…that does change things in my mind…when you have made all your changes …painting the cove area including the little wrap around wall … another color may be a better option..to highlight it ….or if you love the drape idea…. a textured wall paper in the cove to match the nubby drapes ?…just the side drapes may not look connected enough with the 3’ recessed

I just measured. It's 32". The table is abut the same width. It has functioned ok but I do think a round or oval would look better. I like the idea of painting the cove another color too. Wow, eyes opened and creative juices flowing again.

I just broke the "new mantel" news to hubs. He's seizing up a bit. I'm going to need to manage this somewhat deftly and keep him distracted. :)

Thanks for getting me unstuck!

I'm still getting the hang of this discussion board. Trying to go back and like, thank all posts. I'm not sure exactly of the protocols. I do appreciate and like every thing that's been offered!

I think you are a natural at this… your responses are thoughtful .. your courtesy is appreciated..and your sense of humor will always make life more fun