Software
Houzz Logo Print
webuser_51513818

Please help with fireplace accent wall

3 years ago

I have a very open concept home, which is hard to plan when trying to achieve that Modern European Countryhome aesthetic. I want to create an accent wall of the two walls marked. I love natural texture and would love to achieve this stone veneer wall all the way across with a beam set atop. I’ve also considered a limewash, however I’ve already limewashed other parts of the home. Not shown behind is my dinning room and builds in all painted dark green, so not keen on adding another accent color in.

Any imput or ideas would be helpful. I worry on the scale to the ceiling height; would I mount tv or keep the tv stand? Should I take the stone all the way up and not halfway like I have shown? Any ideas beyond what I’ve pictured to achieve that natural texture in a European country home theme? I already have vertical shiplap in dinning room so avoiding that.

Thanks in advance!

Comments (21)

  • PRO
    3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I am not a lover of sticking on stone either inside or outside . I have a huge stone FP and it actually is part of the structure of my house but it would nt be anything I would stick onto walls to give the illusion of a stone wall.The stone wall you show I will bet is in Europe and part of the exterior wall . IMO the shiplap ship sailed and sunk a long time ago and just slapping stuff on a wall is not good design . Your house looks quite modern and trying to make it something that it is not is IMO not the way to go. The modern country homes I have been in in Europe are actaully relly old stone homes with contemporary interior design, embracing the old but mixing it with that very new . I have my kitchen on the backside of my stone FP and I love the juxtaposition of the very contempory kitchen with the stone wall. Not sure what you are trying to show with the FP you posted since that is nothing like yours. The fact is where you want to have the stone would not be in athe middle of a country home so to get the illusion even close this would beed to be on an exterior wall and again not just glued on but made to look like it is part of the structure.IMO the thing I think is not right in the space is the FP so maybe a nice rework of that with some stone tile to the ceiling might be okay.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Which European country are your thinking of? Seriously.

    I think if you do what you are contemplating you will be very unhappy with the results. You have a modern house (you can find houses like this in Spain!) but with some American tranditionalist elements, in particular your fireplace with columns and redbrick. Consider whitewashing or lime washing out the american elements, and then bringing in some bleached or lime wood cabinetry for that area (including redoing the media cabinet), and going the rest of the way with furnishings and European decor pieces.

    Does this come close to the feel you want?


    Rustic Eclectic Farmhouse · More Info


  • 3 years ago

    or stick with dark woods, grays and charcoal but use your layout

    Modern Spanish Revival · More Info


  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I would fully decorate your room first and then decide if you need to add architectural details.

    It looks like your room needs lamps, art, and window treatments. I think once you finish the people-level decor, the tall ceilings will look light and airy and not bare.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Also, as a cheap investment in experimenting and making mistakes you can remove, buy a roll of faux venetian plaster wallpaper or similar, peel and stick, to see how an old world texture will look as an accent wall when everything else stays the same. And if you are thinking of doing dark and charcoal on that wall, buy some removable wall paper in that tone and put it up and stand back and make decisions.

    You can buy a lot of old-world wall covering on Amazon, but for your experiment you might want to upgrade to a higher quality product to give it a fair test.

    https://www.simpleshapes.com/products/venetian-plaster-faux-texture-mural-wall-art-wallpaper-peel-and-stick?currency=USD&variant=44764802089250&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQjwib2mBhDWARIsAPZUn_lx2diqbBLrZEbG1wvz3pzRfOgS5y01DFACgTQFm8JSy8S7XsERte4aAga_EALw_wcB


    Kitchen Feature Wall In Decorative Venetian Plaster / grey & bronze tones. · More Info


    This above is real Venetian plaster but you absolutely need a pro to do it and you should see completed work of theirs before hiring. It can be really ugly if not done right.

  • 3 years ago

    Thank you, I do gravitate towards warmers creams/browns over grey. The layout I have now is final, and I just want to avoid using small decor pieces cluttering the space and opting more for invest in more structural design. I am planning on removing the wood mantle and building out some kind of stone/stucco design around the excising fireplace. Walls will be a cream color, and no more orange oak trim.

    Taking into account all imputes, maybe instead of doing the stone veneer across, just do the small wall the fireplace sits on all the way to the ceiling? I agree I want to to look natural and not like an add on.

    I would like to incorporate some of the same stone in my kitchen to keep things balanced. the photo below is the direct opposite side of the open concept room.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Build a wood surround, and up to the wall height on its right. Exact style TBD...these are concepts. No stone, I agree...and no stucco. I just saw that beautiful green in the Kitchen...might look nice painting the wood surround that green.





  • 3 years ago

    Try imagining your inspiration photos with a TV in them

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    We lived in Brussels for 3 years and visited Paris and all around Europe. But not sure of what “look” you are talking about? What you need, imo is to add a large antique unit on the TV wall and put the TV in it. Then totally minimize the fireplace with an antique metal front grille and a minimal mantel. That would suit your home and make the TV wall your focal point. Then consider a darker wall color for the whole room or at least the TV and fireplace wall. Bbl

  • 3 years ago

    A. What exactly is “modern European country house”? You can ask 10 people, and everyone will tell you something different. I definitely agree with the above statement by Patricia Colwell that many of those country homes are actually old, but updated and furnished with modern furniture; and in Europe lots of home interiors are REALLY modern! I don’t see that happening in your house, unfortunately….it’s just not built that way….I’m not sure that adding some stone (or stone look) to your wall will get you the results you’re looks for. Look for your actual house and its surroundings to inform your interiors. Good luck!

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    The stone will look like an "add on" no matter where you put it because your house isn't made of stone. Stone walls inside European houses are exposed. The plaster has been removed. So there is a cognitive dissonance arriving to an American suburban home and walking inside and seeing stone walls or brick walls.

    I can't see anywhere in your quite nice kitchen where you could add stone veneer and not have it look odd. Things you could do to give your home a more European style and European warmth is to take the green up to the ceiling above your cabinets and to the shiplap to the left, and pile large havest baskets and dough troughs atop your cabinets, tone down the white at your counter seating and use European bar stools.

    I agree with Flo that a huge European antique piece for your TV is a better investment than calling attention to your fireplace. Make the mantel disappear or become minimalist (hack up the removed mantel, weather it, keep just the upper cross piece) paint over the brick or hide it under plain weathered Europen tile. Maybe consider assembling a few antique mirrors over it. But the TV really should be (and is) the focal point.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Hunt sources for either a sideboard with carvings or textured interest for your TV or a large unit you could put TV inside. Then simplify your fireplace wall with simple antique elements for a cleaner look. Add a nice chandelier to polish off the room. You could make a mantel to coordinate with TV sideboard or armoire/China cabinet (reworked for TV) and add interesting corbels to support shelf/mantel. Add mantel mirror and small accent. Keep minimal. Here is a vision board with some ideas.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Antiques are coming back because they are usually solid woods, made well and at bargain prices right now. Great time to grab some real great pieces. 😊

  • 3 years ago

    A european kitchen would rarely leave so much unused space above the cabinets



    and some simple tile to cover your fireplace brick after you've removed the mantle


    4"x4" Seashell Tumbled Rustic Tile · More Info


  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    layering a few mirrors over a fireplace, but yours could by country instead of fancy


    Ladies retreat · More Info








  • 3 years ago

    You have a lot going on, on that fireplace wall with a lot of competing heights (vaulted ceilings,doors, hallways, TV, console, angled FP etc) have you tried floating your white couch creating hallway behind with TV to the right of your fireplace & looking out your windows? I think that would help de-emphasize the modern architecture of your home and then adding antique elements as noted above would help tie in your kitchen/dining space. Continuing that great green from the other side of the room even in antique area rug/throw cushions would help tie two sides together. It’s a great space, can’t wait to see what you do with it!

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    You can go with stone veneers partially on walls as you show.

    Fairview Farm Redesign · More Info


  • PRO
    3 years ago

    I think your concept might change if you set up your seating in a different manner.. Hard to tell without seeing the total room, but the TV might be better positioned on the other wall.




  • 3 years ago

    I love the room and it has a lot of potential. Here's another idea for your fireplace wall with ceiling beams. To me the mantle seems very heavy and traditional compared to the rest of the room and your furnishings. I'd remove it and go with something with simple lines (doesn't have to be a stone mantle like pictured though). Adding a chandelier that is placed over your seating is a nice feature too.