I don't think you need a stone facade. Paint it the same as the other walls, or you could paint it a contrast color, a dark neutral that goes with your other furniture. In any case, I would simplify the whole area and find one statement piece--a long one--for over the mantel.

I have started the process below. The important thing is that your accessories need to be in proportion to your fireplace. No teeny vases on the mantel. And you might consider staining the mantel dark. It looks pretty orangey here.

Goodness gracious me. Agreed. No point in covering it with anything but paint. Lots of paint! and art -- Groveraxle got that dead right, I think. Find that lovely object and put it up there!

Just painting the FP wall a dramatic dark shade and decorating it like this example is all you need.

I agree with groveraxle. I also think a beefier slab of barnwood would be a nice mantle? This one seems tiny?

It that wall painted or does it have tile?

It is still a bit on the tall side even with the paint change. I would try to add width by building the sides of the fireplace out at mantle height ...perhaps put in cabinetry and extend a beefier mantle beyond the chimney by at least 3 inches...Adding a long piece of art emphasizes the long chimney so I would choose art that is 3/4 the width of the chimney and only part way up.

I think painting it a solid neutral color will be fine. A rock face would be beautiful...and sophisticated, but if it's too much to afford...go with paint. I like that long vertical piece grover posted.

You could also go with an arrangment of art, several pieces down the column. Or leave it blank for more of a minimalist look.

You could do it yourself with Lowe's AirStone product. Check it out here, I think it would look great! http://www.lowes.com/pd_376371-35760-CLAMF_0__

n https://www.houzz.com/photos/weston-house-modern-living-room-boston-phvw-vp~579514



Here's some fireplace ideas. Tile, stucco, wood, stone tile. You have lots of options. The shape and size appear to fit well into your modern space.

Groveraxle what did you use to alter the pic? That was awesome. Thanks for all the insight everyone. The furniture in the pic was left to match lol

What if you added some architectural paneling? You can see a brief idea of what I mean here: http://theletteredcottage.net/my-82-fireplace-makeover/

It would require a tall ladder (but so would painting) but it would at least give it some interesting detail.

Here's another link to the same similar idea (photo from this one): http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg1011292410884.html

I cnn 't imagine that traditional paneling in such a modern
Living area. Seems all wrong. It would help to have additional photos of the living room so we can suggest changes that. Are at least in the same style of your home.

I like groveraxles idea and I also like reclaimed wood, horizontal or vertical, beefier mantel.

Check out this product, stikwood, do it yourself and easy. Certainly cheaper than professional job or stone.
http://www.stikwood.com/

mforr...i don't even know you but I love your style. You always give great advice! :) I'm going to remember this stickwood link for a project of my own! Neato!

Well, thanks charliebeth. :)

dogfarm, I use Photoshop Elements.

This has so much potential! We carry a wood facade product that you could cut and stick down. It would look gorgeous! Check it out.
http://www.purehome.com/mocha-peel-stick-wood-planking

The use of a mixture of both dark and soft color stones all over the fireplace can really make it the focal point of the room. Colors like a dark brown granite and beautiful limestone. If you were to add some kind of space above the fireplace, you'll have enough room for candle sticks and beautiful frames with pictures, even an antique clock. Then you can get dark brown furniture with a coffee table that can be the same color as your candle holders (possibly black). Hope you enjoy your new living room!

If you don't want to paint the fireplace right away, try putting plants on top. Something like a thick money plant hanging down will cover most of the colour below. Try fixing a tall mirror above.

You could even try to cover the lower areas with interesting photographs with one liner comments, or you could make a nice collage of family pictures on the pink area.

De-emphasize the verticality by placing 3 pieces of art (abstracts with color) horizontally above the mantel. Replace the mantel with a thicker wood mantel and wrap it around the corners/stain same color as ceiling beams, install neutral horizontal stones or tile on the lower half / sides and paint the upper the same color as the adjacent walls, remove existing artwork on the right.

I like that picture groveraxle posted - but I would also paint that beam a darker color to match the mantel. And maybe a warmer neutral under the mantel. That tall artwork really de-emphasizes the angles though!

You could update with a custom fireplace hood.

Groveraxel : Great Taste. Well done

Are you going for a beach look? I would paint the fireplace a revere pewter by Benjamin Moore. Then put lighthouse pictures on fireplace hang 5" above mantel. Add two yellow ors horizontally on top of each other with a 6" gap from top of pics and a 7" gap between ors. Paint mantel and oak around FP the same gray paint. What is silver thing on FP? All trim in rest of room should be white. By the way is any of this stuff yours. Should have asked that first.?? Only thing on mantel,should be a few big seashells.

Dar, love all the fireplaces good job. Reclaimed wood on firepl would give that look at a small cost.

Wow, what an "interesting" color design. Good for you, seeing past this artful detail & buying the home. Looks like it has really great bones. Whatever you decide, color-matching wall paint or inexpensive stone/tile veneer, (keep shopping - there's something out there for you) consider keeping the update clean & modern, if you like that look. This way your new design doesn't conflict w/ or muddle the room's architecture.

The ceiling beam works very well with the mantle & flooring. I wouldn't fool with that. All 3 details tie together very nicely. It looks good. The cross-wise elements of the beam & mantle also help break up the tall facade of the FP. If you paint the beam & mantle to match the walls, an illusion of further height may be added. True, the details will blend together, & detract, but the FP facade w/ still throw elongating shadows. Allow the mantle & celiing beam to interupt & slow the height flow by keeping them a contrasting color.

Also like the way the builder fit the FP into the space. Unique & interesting in itself. But as you see, too many colors make it appear bulky & awkward. Painting the FP drywall facade to match the walls looks better. esp. white. Classic modern in it's simplicity & quite beautiful w/ the golden brown woodwork. Either way, a matching wall paint or adding a subtle warm & earthy stone would look fabulous, as many here suggest. Keep it simple & uncomplicated. You can always add more zip later w/a piece of wall art, if you like.

groveraxle has some great idea...I love the fireplace....just needs paint and art. :)

Yes it does.

Charge Admission?

i feel you must color the fireplace with some other colors and decorate that with some art peace it will give a great look color must be of white family.............

Have you thought about Stucco? I can help www.jamesVconsulting.net

How about a textured paint to add some interest?

I've done this kind of project using 3 gray paints, in three different shades. They all were a true grey, and one at least must have significant blue undertones. I watered the paint down, and would paint three stripes, let it dry, and overlap another three stripes. I did some wide horizontal stripes, but was careful not to make it look like a plaid.

This effect gives an almost plastered look with depth, that can look old world, or modern depending on the accessories. The key is the simplicity, and not giving into temptation to accessorize the mantle or hearth, and focus on the fantastic mirror, and the the subtle elegance the stained glass screen gives.

Here it is

you could do the stone yourself for a fraction of the quote. its a fun diy

So here are some additional pics for those who asked. The tile color is a gray color, the wall is textured and those glorious colors are paint. Keep in mind the beams in the pic are painted a brownish orange. Lots of beautiful wood in the house. The mantle is like driftwood continuing with the previous owners beach theme. Really really appreciate all of the expertise and creativity that has been shared

tiles might be a good choice for you. Here's a few examples. Modern yet warm or go ultra modern with textured tiles. Still will have installation costs. Pay the piper instead of having something that looks cheap and you are unhappy with.

Dar, you've provided beautiful photos of expensive options. Dogfarm clearly stated she would prefer not to spend a lot of money. So, the challenge is to come up with more reasonable options. The option I offered is one of the least expensive, interum options, with pieces that can be used elswhere if a major remodel is done.

You may be a good designer, but you need to brush up on your etiquette and the dynamics of productive group discussions.

smdrovetto, glad you liked my ideas. I am an artist not designer but have done much improvement to my home over the years. I found that a little touch of luxury is well worth the price as is a job well done. I'm on this site to give ideas that people haven't thought of. It's not my place to decide what they can afford.

Dar, I'm pretty sure smdrovetto was really referring to this "little dig", perhaps you meant it to be funny, but it was pretty flippant. As an artist, I would hope you would appreciate someone thinking outside the box and not make them the straight guy for a wisecrack. Obviously a lot of thought went into smdrovetto's advice. Try to be a bit more kind.

Ya, you're probably right. I'm used to critiques and forget that this group isn't.

Dar , this group has lots of critiques , the challenge is sifting out the opinions from the great thoughts and ideas .

Goodness! Pinks/Corals and black/charcoal can be so dramatic and you are half way there. You have such drama in the shape of the fireplace and the angles of the wall. Then, you have the bold seating. If I was doing this space I would consider painting the entire fireplace wall charcoal; adding a tall art piece with lots of white or a spectacular carved over sized white mirror. Then, I would work the rest of the space around it. The photo below found here on Houzz is great for inspiration drama effect and color.

Dramatic white mirrors ideas shown. If the mirrors are small, like the square one, you could stack several.


If you are the one who has made the bold moves so far in that space, bravo! Stay bold and tone down the wall and fireplace area color, but try bold color as accents but small. Large bold is LARGE BOLD.

Thanks for your nice comments, mforr, and james v consulting.

I didn't read past the first comment Dar made about me, but the comment that implied that she is superior to the general population that contributes ideas on this site, deserved a response.

Dar, I think you are confused about a few things. You are not here to decide what dogfarm can spend, because she already indicated that a $5600 quote was too expensive. She was obviously asking for ideas that would cost less than that. That was her reason for posting.

You suggest that the price of a little luxury is worth it. The photos you posted were examples of what she could easily find on this website looking herself, and the cost of all the examples would easily be more than the $5600 quote she said was too expensive, and was exactly what she was not asking for.

Your examples were not solutions to her challenge, they were someone elses designs. if you posted photos with suggestions of ways they could be adapted to fit her budget, those would be your ideas.

Luxury is great, but it isn't great if you just don't have the money, it's discouraging to be given beautiful examples that are simply not affordable.

smdrovetto.....get over it

What, exactly, are you suggesting I get over?

I think painting it to the color of your walls, and painting that fan part black so it blends in would totally help-

I like the taupe color on the walls but it is bland especially with the color of the wood on the beams. If all the walls are taupe, I might paint this entire wall a shade darker in taupe including the fireplace and then add some kind of picture, mirror, or wreath that is large above the mantle. That would be an inexpensive fix and you could change it out with the season. I know wreaths are out of style but I love them. I make my own and add expensive silk flowers for color.