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Grey brick wall dilemma.

2 years ago

My home is a 60 year old cottage on a farm...pretty rustic. This is the main wall in the living room and a wood burning fireplace shares the space. I've also got my TV against this wall.


I'm not sure that painting it is the route to go as there would be no going back. Maybe mounting shelves or a mantel of sorts? It is pretty monolithic.


All the great minds here can

come up with something creative....Jan Moyer I'm looking at you.






Comments (33)

  • 2 years ago

    I'm not a fan of the tv on that wall.

    Can you give dimensions and photos of thrbrest of the space?

    I don't mind the gray stone work.

    Heather Brookes thanked eld6161
  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    If you put the TV on another wall and orient the furniture toward it, the gray wall would not command so much of your attention.

    I have a red (brown) brick fireplace wall which is nice enough to keep, but if I had to look at it all the time, I’d probably want to change it, because I don’t love brick. I like it OK. So I oriented the sofa so that the fireplace is on the wall to the left of the sofa, and the TV is in the corner of the wall to the right. It’s not ideal from a design perspective, but it gives me control over the design of the walls where my focus goes. I added a nice credenza, vase and gallery wall around the TV, and I now have views of beautiful things, adjacent rooms and a window, instead of just a brick wall.

    After that, you can decorate the blank parts of the gray brick wall with anything you like. It may even be a good location to install some ambient backlighting.

  • 2 years ago

    For dimensions the room is kind of narrow at 15 feet wide and including the dining room 27 feet long. The grey wall is 16 feet of the 27. I tried to orient the couch for both the TV and the fireplace but I agree it looks awkward.




  • 2 years ago

    Pallets of styrofoam outside are to insulate under the siding...once the new windows arrive. The wind practically whistles through here

  • 2 years ago


    The bay window on the left is going to be replaced by French doors on to the deck. Above the long wall are windows up to the vaulted ceiling. They start at 8 feet up the wall and continue 5 feet up to the peak.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    i actually like that wall, and think it could be a feature. It's being done no favors by the monolithic blue of floor and couch (and curtains), however -- would help if there were echoes of the gray elsewhere, like trim color, cushions, curtains, or rug. Also, the TV needs to be on a properly scaled piece of furniture (current dresser is too small).


    Coaster Alvin 2-Drawer Wood TV Console for TVs up to 72" Brown and White · More Info


    Arabesque Blue Printed Cotton Twill Curtain Single Panel, 50"x108" · More Info


    Chai Silver Embroidered FauxSilk Taffeta Curtain Single Panel, 50"x96" · More Info

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/1291533519/watercolor-leaves-curtain-panel-blue?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue+and+gray+curtains&ref=sr_gallery-2-25&pro=1&frs=1&organic_search_click=1

    https://www.etsy.com/listing/1094687252/pk-lifestyles-shibori-indigo-curtains?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=blue+and+gray+patterned+curtains&ref=sr_gallery-1-46&frs=1&organic_search_click=1

    Heather Brookes thanked acm
  • 2 years ago

    I agree with putting the sofa along the stone wall. The placement of the soft fabric against hard stone is a nice juxtaposition (unless you think you might lean back and hit your head). Better still if the couch were a warmer tone like a soft cream but that's not what you have. Like ACM I do struggle with the blue floors. Especially with the blue couch and the gray wall. The room is very dominated by cool tones which may be why the stone gray wall is a struggle. it would otherwise be a really cool feature.

    Heather Brookes thanked Iluvdark kychns
  • 2 years ago

    I’d much rather look out that high window than at the gray wall. If the sofa were against the gray wall, you might even be able to see the sky, which is a big deal.

    I would think it would feel a lot more spacious too. You’d have a window on the right, a window in front, open space to the left. Your rug can cover the visible part of the blue floor if there is too much blue.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you for an idea that hadn't occured to me...move the couch to the opposite wall. And yes I need to break up all the blue. When I arrived here the floor was a very depressing mud brown and there wasn't time to sand the paint off to see what was underneath so I made a quick decision. I could also repaint the wood panelled wall something warmer?


    On my list is a new TV; maybe the Samsung Seriff. It will probably be smaller but not small enough that that dry sink will work.


    I love House of Hackney fabrics, cushions and rugs

    Holiday home living room · More Info


  • 2 years ago

    Very much love the look of your inspo pic. and I think a classic brown wood floor would help that blue and those colors pop more. Might be tough to coordinate with the gray wall. Hanging a large piece of art on that wall behind your couch would relegate the stone to background status (more than the tv). The one question I have is would there be a safe enough distance from the wood stove (do you use?)

  • 2 years ago

    Good question, iluvdark. The wood fireplace does get used. Thus the mess of kindling and firestarter. When I arrived here it was a major source of home heat but I’ve since installed a heat pump and so far this fall I only need it to take the edge off if it drops to freezing.

  • PRO
    2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Well Heather ...........

    I think Bev gave you a possible that could work. But I think you want to think about the long term solution. You're working on insulation, windows etc, and you did the heat pump.

    It's 60 years old and it rather does have the 1964 look and perhaps not in the best way.

    I'd just want the stove gone, along with it's annoying pebble pad. Out. If the heat still needs a boost , you can probably do it with an electric; even a plug in can throw a lot of heat!

    What's the long term flavor you want? Is the floor what you want? My guess is no. As to no turning back on the gray wall? No lie, I would have to paint it for now, and long term, drywall over it.

    In the short term, get rid of as much visual clutter as you can? How much wood need be indoors, the wood box could go? Do you need the rocker? Things like that.

    I'm probably not the person to ask: ) I need calmer spaces, even if they are a bit eclectic or boho.

    Plus, despite the charm of wood burning, it drives me bats - the mess of kindling and newspaper and fire starter stuff . Just bats.

    Heather Brookes thanked JAN MOYER
  • 2 years ago

    I did see a similar gray wall in one of the homes featured on the ”Open House” TV show yesterday. It was in Connecticut, I think. It may have been gray stacked stone in a similar pattern, but it looked almost the same as yours. So I would hesitate to change the wall itself until you are sure. It can be a welcoming ”wow” wall, instead of a ”view you look at all day” wall.

    Heather Brookes thanked kelli_ga
  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Do NOT paint the wood wall. It fits the architecture of the home.


    See if you can get the floor back to a wood tone instead of blue.


    I'd install linen line drapery panels instead of the blue draperies.


    Unfortunately, that wood stove is taking up too much real estate in the room. It would help if the stone floor was something less obvious like tiles of stone or slate.



    Heather Brookes thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 2 years ago

    Jan, I’m so glad you weighed in. I love your succinctness ( is that a word). Yes it truly does have 1964 vibes in the not a good way. You should have seen the bathroom; shower plumbing outside of the tile in a totally not cool way. And there is tile in the bay window that should also return to the past. I do though love the Jetson’s stove that is in the kitchen although sadly I can’t get a manual for it as GE’s microfiche collection was destroyed in a fire 😂

    I’m happy to hear your thoughts as I had considered drywall over the whole thing. Isn’t that hearth horrible, to add to its charm it has been shedding pebbles.

    This is going to be a long term project. I bought the property for the ten fairly level acres and I’ve built my dream barn. Horses are happy. Blew through the budget so this house won’t be as originally planned, a temporary home. I’m happy to pick away at jobs one at a time but I want it to be charming, slightly eclectic and comfortable when I’m finished.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    color scheme -- powder dust pinkish and peach tones might help soften the brutalist look of the gray stone wall, go good with all your blues, although switching out the drapery fabric to textured gray might be best if not peach -- plants in the room a plus -- keep ceiling a nice white


    Heather Brookes thanked mytwo cents
  • 2 years ago

    Mytwocents, I love that fireplace; and I probably do have to continue to supplement heat that way. I’m very proficient at starting a fire, mostly because I let the darn things burn out. Also like the tapestry. I don’t want to lean too hard into the mid century vibe. My daughters are fans in their own homes as is my partner. Feel like I lived through it once already.

  • 2 years ago

    Bev, excellent suggestion on the hearth. That is a new wood stove and the installer was horrified by the existing wood and pebbles, thus the sheet of black metal under the stove. I had to replace the original (looked the same just couldn’t actually hold a log more than 11” long).

  • 2 years ago

    as much as I love dark blue/navy. I would get rid of the drapery and lighten it all up.

    Leave the brick wall as is. the focal point of the home and edit... especially the heavy dark furniture, etc.

    keep only what you need and use. How about painting some of the wood furniture?

    Heather Brookes thanked Lyn Nielson
  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    sorry I deleted the tapestry! I didn't think you were interested.

    Here it is again. It is Indian, so no midcentury vibe. It would need to be hung with quilt hangers, but they are not expensive. Alas, the tapestry is not cheap, although given how much wall space it covers, if it were the perfect solution, might be worth it.

    https://www.chairish.com/product/9306415/antique-hand-stitched-indian-tree-of-life-wall-hanging

    Hope you can find the right mix of things to rearrange and get what you want. It's actually an interesting space, and I like that you have the desk in there too. Hope you can work it into the ultimate layout. Makes the house feel well used.

    Heather Brookes thanked mytwo cents
  • 2 years ago

    Happy horses and a huge copper cookware collection, your home is pretty great so far!


    Very good suggestions here already. Cheapest and easiest seems to be painting the floor a different color and getting new curtains. I think the blue is harsh and contributes to the monolithic look. More neutral, less saturated colors might make the stone feel more natural and pleasing rather than like a climbing wall gone wrong.


    What is the sq foot of the blue floor area? Is it in your budget to put down Marmolum or flor carpet tiles?

    Heather Brookes thanked Kendrah
  • 2 years ago

    Kendrah, climbing wall gone wrong! I love it. Those jutty out bits are so random and make it difficult to picture even a shelf on it. Of course the wall has a history; my long deceased neighbour, Peter Christmas a stone mason from England built it. He was evidently quite a character. Walked off more than one job because the home owner had an opinion. His grandson lives on the property next to me. I dropped in to a wonderful neighbourhood where I’ll be the new neighbour if I last 30 years. This property had only two owners before me. The manager at the lumberyard gave me a photo, he is the toddler in front of it half constructed

  • 2 years ago

    Oh my! It sounds like you have landed in a neighbourhood with a lot of character and some interesting characters with stories. I love your sentiment that you will basically always be the "new" neighbour and will probably always be known as the one who bought so-and-so's house.

    Enjoy your new home

    Heather Brookes thanked blfenton
  • 2 years ago

    this is a tough one. There's personal history behind that wall. It ultimately depends on what kind of style you want to live with and that will determine what to do. The wall does not go with the inspo pick you posted. If you want to go that direction you should drywall over the wall. Otherwise soft warm and light colors are needed for the larger items in that room (i.e. couch and drapes) not rich primaries. Regardless of the direction, I would definitely try to get the floors back to an actual wood tone. (Not gray). I also agree with the others that the drapes are too heavy in color, again regardless whether you keep the wall or not. Rocking chair also does not fit either direction.

    Heather Brookes thanked Iluvdark kychns
  • 2 years ago

    A few ideas, using existing items for the most part, turning the rug and adding one under the desk, lowering the TV, and (if you're replacing windows) lowering the sill of the back window so you can see out while seated. Lighter drapes, maybe on a ceiling track because of the HVAC unit, neutral floor, new tile under the wood stove.

    And (weird idea, I know) maybe set a planter at the base of the gray wall, plant something like ivy in it, and let it climb the wall in interesting patterns? (Someone did mention a "climbing wall", right?)


    Heather Brookes thanked simplynatural
  • 2 years ago

    I like the grey brick and wouldn't change it. I would paint the cabinet the tv is on a shade of blue like the floor or rug color you have and also paint the wooden rocking chair the same shade of blue. The wood burning stove looks nice and cozy. Maybe add some blue accent pillows and get a nice throw with that shade of blue in it.

    Heather Brookes thanked Cara Fidler
  • 2 years ago

    Simply natural, thank you for the rendering. I’d love to learn how to do that. When the new windows are installed that one will be about a foot lower. And good idea re the drapery track. The heat pump was just installed this summer and I only sort of solved the loss of the former longer rod. I do like the lighter drapes.

  • 2 years ago

    Thank you so much for taking the time to share your ideas. I’m out of town for the next little while so won’t be there to make any changes but when I do I’ll post updates

    Absolutely love the idea of natural wood floors so may get a quote on that.

    Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving to all of the US Houzzers.

  • 2 years ago

    I’ve replaced the huge TV with a Frame and I love it. What I think I’ll do next is build a wall unit around it with storage for my books. I’ve drawn over the photo with a rough idea. Do you think the shelves should be backed or let the grey show through? Also not sure on the colour of the wall unit? I’ve also replaced the drapes but need to upgrade the quality and colour of the IKEA ones I’d ordered …they look like sheets. The big box of wood will be able to move outside on to the deck once there is a covered area for it.

  • 2 years ago

    The hearth will get knocked out and can be made much smaller. I’d also like to raise it so sitting with my back to the fire is an option. Still looking for inspiration for that

  • 2 years ago

    I have enlarged the window but waiting on the new sill and curtain rod

    The second photo is my dining area; which is waiting on French doors to replace the bay window currently behind plastic. This also requires a new supporting beam that will tie in with the covered porch