I would not decorate up there, keep the art at human scale

I love the idea of adding a third arch!!! Where can I find the 3D metal branches

Also what should dimension of chandelier?

I would not decorate that wall. It's busy enough with your cabinets/shelves.

I agree… even the gray paint is nonsensical….. paint them to match the walls … and treat it is an architectural feature.. it is not a reasonable place to add art or anything else…I would have them painted to match the walls.. especially as the spaces below are full of decor pieces

I would drywall over the two arched niches +extend the fireplace up tp the ceiling + add a dramatic light fixture.

I would also paint the backs of the bookcase the same color as the wall (or maybe white?) - the dark paint just makes it look super busy. All of the wood shelving just stands out due to the dark color on the back wall.

You could extend the fp the inexpensive way by building out the area over the fp with a drywall box for now (a lot less money than using stone/tile/etc. - you could change that later if you wanted).

There are quite a few tik tok videos showing how to do this. I assume that there are YouTube videos also:

You can just simply paint the drywall box extension - or you can add trim/moulding to the drywall - once it's all painted with semi gloss paint, the drywall will appear to be wood (like the trim/moulding). You could also use mdf trim/moulding to save $ + regular boards instead of actual moulding pieces.

This next fireplace doesn't have the built out box with drywall - the trim boards all appear to have been attached directly to the existing drywall over the fireplace. I think it looks better when it's built out a little bit - provides more dimension and makes it more of a feature. However, it would be very easy to do what was done in the below photo.

I suppose that you could leave the two arched niches + add this over your fp to match the niches. However, don't paint the inside of the niches with a dark paint. I think it would look better if the two niches were covered with drywall in order to have flat walls on both sides of the fireplace even if you like the arched moulding over the fireplace in the below photo.

This link below takes you to a diy for taking a drywall box over the fp and adding trim/moulding to make it look like a focal feature:

https://www.thriftydecorchick.com/2018/03/my-first-big-diy-projects-in-new-house.html

Before:

After:

The above photo shows what a difference a little moulding + paint can have on a simple fireplace extension. Plus, it doesn't have to go all the way to the ceiling - you can stop it before the ceiling by using some crown moulding.

They changed the fireplace surround out + added some solid stone.

I think the above would be better than adding a third arched niche + some metal design in each of them.

There are ways to calculate the size of chandelier/light fixture for a room - I don't remember it but if you do a quick search, you'll find it.

Some option to go with large wall art plus tall vases in niches.

or better no TV

Lights in niches would bring warmness and coziness

Sheetrock over the upper niche areas or at minimum paint them the main wall color.

Get rid of the shelves in the right side built-in and place the TV in that recess.

75" Samsung The Frame TV

Elaine, can you give a little more info on what those niches are and why they are a different color?

You can paint out the upper niches. You don't need too much visual clutter. If you don't want to do that, get some white branches to fill the niches.

You could do a subtle wallpaper, too.

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I found the bronze branch wall decor on Etsy. They will custom make them to the size required. Google Image Search the photo I posted.

Add the length and width of the room to get the minimum chandelier size. 15 + 24 =39 “ diameter though two story rooms can often take larger units.

If it were mine I’d do what chispa suggested …. My second home has 12’ ceilings, all of the art is hung at eye level, I ignore higher. BTW, I love my Samsung Frame, rotate the art depending upon my mood.

I think I will Sheetrock over both arch. Paint the inside of bookcase white or gray? Get a large painting to hang in the space over the TV. Can someone show how this would look? Also I like the idea of removing the shelves to the right of tv and placing tv in that nook. But viewing from the present seating arrangement would be awkward. The love seat would need to be moved. And only the sofa would be ideal viewing seat

The ceiling is about 22 feet. Would a 55” x 110” work? Any web sites to purchase this art?

If you are keeping the TV over the fireplace, I would not add art above it. I really don't think it will look good. Glad you are drywalling the arches.

Ok. Thanks!!

Any good places to purchase large chandeliers??

If it were me, I’d put a pin in the chandelier and add some lamps to the room - once you are done with your room refresh come back and tackle the chandy (I think you’ll have a better sense of what you want then)

The problem with lamps. There are no floor outlets! Would need to run extension cord to adjacent walls. I have done this and got tired of extension cords!

It would be helpful if you supplied a photo of the room that showed it all

I think your layout needs to be tweaked but I can't tell what you have in the room from this picture. I don't know how large those seating pieces are and how many you have.

I think placing the TV where the bookcase is currently located is viable.

Here are more pics of this room from different angles.

View

Another angle

More views

You can have an electrician put in floor outlets. My husband did one for our house. Very helpful. Depends on your crawl space.

Beautiful home. I like the idea of the fireplace wall extension for filling that space as suggested. Or do nothing. I think it looks fine. Not sure why they did the arches other than trying to break up the wall expanse.

No crawl space. We’re in Texas. No basement

Yeah. Not sure why the arches either. Initially they were the color of wall. I thought painting darker would help. So I think I will have them drywall over and do drywall box above fireplace. Also do crown molding in this room. On the back wall paintings and or picture molding?

Elaine - I think that adding drywall over the arched niches + adding a drywall box extension (I have no idea what this should really be referred to as - I just made it up in order to explain my thoughts in my first post! 🤣) over the mantel of your fp will make a big difference.

If at some point, you decide you'd like to add stone/tile/etc. you will be able to do that. However, I think that many of the extensions that have trim boards/moulding added to them are more than enough - especially if you add a nice piece of art over your mantel. Plus, you can leave it as just drywall for now if you want. Maybe you'll decide later to trim it out or add tile/stone, or maybe not. It's just an inexpensive way to add interest to the wall.

Too many fp are built flat against a wall - even when tile/stone is added all the way up to a vaulted ceiling. It just looks odd to me that there isn't any dimension - everything is just flat against the wall.

I have a double sided see thru fireplace between my living room and study. I want to update/change all of my fireplace surrounds (= four - the two sided one + one in kitchen + one in primary bedroom). Currently, the portion above the mantel on my living room fireplace is just a bumped out drywall box (the room has crown moulding all the way around) - my ceiling is only 9.5' in that room - unlike your high ceiling. I've been thinking about what to do over the fireplace. After looking at photos for your post, I think I'm going to just keep the drywall as is - and spend $$ on purchasing a new beautiful piece of art to hang over the mantel.

The ”alcoves” make sense to me because you have other windows in the room that are the same height. I would paint them the same color as the wall and stop there. I would paint the lower shelf backing the wall color as well and add some colorful decorative items so they are more interesting.

I think you’re right. That makes sense. I will have my painter paint it back to the wall color or cover it and extend fireplace to ceiling - drywall box to ceiling with molding at ceiling

So much better! Paint the inside of arches and back of bookcases! Next step replace chandelier. Then bump out above mantle to ceiling with picture molding??

Wider view

This room is approximately 20x20 with 22 foot ceiling. Looking at these two chandeliers as possible options

That two-story wall is such a strong architectural move, it gives you height, drama and a visual anchor, but it does change how you approach design. Since the wall is tall, go for proportionally large furnishings and believable focal elements, for example, a major piece of art or a floor-to-ceiling bookcase next to the fireplace to hold up visually.

Because of the volume you’ll likely have more light and potentially echo, so use layered materials, soft rugs, curtains, upholstered furniture, to temper the scale. According to recent design inspiration, two-story family rooms benefit from strong vertical lines (tall windows, shelving) and coherent materials to tie the lower and upper levels visually.

Don’t forget sight-lines from below to above: if there’s a balcony or walkway looking down, your family room styling should connect that upper view (maybe by carrying a material or colour feature upward). If you send me your wall width + ceiling height, I can propose two design frameworks: one cosy and grounded, the other dramatic and expansive.

The room is 20 x22 with 22 foot height