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I am lost as to what to do or not to do in this room.

last month

This room feels like a jumbled mess. I want to keep the masculine, whisky, wine, cigar vibe but it’s just not working. I had a cowhide rug but it just added to the chaos. I’d love your input.

Comments (35)

  • last month

    Can you give us a layout of the room? You have nice pieces here.

  • last month

    Can you tell me how to do that?

  • last month

    The clock is on one end, the tv on the other end

  • last month

    Make a drawing adding all openings and anything that does not move (fireplace). Add measurements to every line. Take a picture of it and post it here. Does the space have a rug?

  • last month

    I will make a drawing. I was about to purchase a large area rug, but I’m unsure about that. Here’s a picture from a website that used a photo of my room and allowed me to try different rugs.

  • last month

    I will make a drawing. I was about to purchase a large area rug, but I’m unsure about that. Here’s a picture from a website that used a photo of my room and added various rugs.

  • last month

    I would say no to any more brown in your room (like that rug). It's a pretty room and you have some nice pieces. I'm sure you'll get some good suggestions about how to make improvements.

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    This room size and great, I love your windows and the light. But, your ceiling beams, picture molding, and fireplace are all such different vibes and don't make much sense together. Unless you are interested in remodeling, I'd do something to bring focal points elsewhere:

    1. Remove all of the art on your walls. It fights with the picture molding and brings more attention to it. Others may suggest a different furniture layout. Get that in place and then find where to hang one large focal piece of art. There is bound to be a good space that can be taken up by a tall and large volumed floor plant too. It will help distract from all the lines of the picture molding.

    2. I'm not usually one for painting a fireplace, but I'd do it here. The mortar lines against the white brick are clashing with the whole room. It feels like a relic from decades ago but not in a good way.

    3. Ground the space with a fantastic rug that helps bring your eye down from the ceiling. I love the wood of your ceiling beams, but you need to balance it out. I'd stay dark and masculine with the rug - browns, charcoals, muddy orange/reds.







    4. Get a large coffee table. Again, masculine feeling.

    5. Paint your white table black. Black will help anchor this space.

    6. Your gingham pillows don't work in here. Get your rug first then shop for other chair pillows. I'd go with black and textural.

  • last month

    Thank you so much for your time. I truly appreciate your input and am considering each suggestion. These are things I never thought about. Extremely grateful!

  • last month

    Paint fireplace white?

  • last month

    It feels like your space needs some color - however, I know that you are trying to keep the "masculine" cigar/whisky/wine bar feeling.


    You have a really nice sized room - however, I feel like the light walls is causing it to be less of that cozy wine/whisky/cigar bar feeling/mood.


    I would consider using a darker color on the walls - or even color drenching the room.




    This room is color drenched (except for the wood beams on the ceiling):


    I think adding the color to the ceiling would make the room moodier + cozy (even though it's large). Compare the above photo to this one below:



    Add some mood lighting to the room -



    They've layered a cow hide in the room below - I think that the dark walls makes it appear less "chaotic" -



    You should also add some type of bar area to your room. It can be simple like below where a couple shelves were added + two wine fridges along with a longer cabinet.



    Something like this would be nice - but a built in bar is going to start costing $$$ - and I don't know how much you want to spend on this room.



    There is a side bar over on the left side wall + a nice statement chandelier + the room has been color drenched (walls/ceiling/trim all the same color):



    The room in the below photo has another smaller built-in bar with shelves + darker paint with picture moulding on the walls.





    If you don't want to spend very much $, the bar below is on Wayfair for around $350 or so. It comes in brown:



    Or black:


    Here is a unique looking stand alone bar - it is also on wayfair but is solid wood + metal + costs a bit more than the one above:



    I know that the below bar is too large for the sides of your fireplace (as currently constructed). You could have two narrow ones added - one on each side of your fireplace:



    I had to add this one because it's a pretty cool bar for the type of room you're creating. You wouldn't have to use as many cabinets - but it would be interesting if it wrapped around a corner of the room. Also, you can make mirrors look like the ones behind the glass shelves that would be inexpensive to add to the wall.



    This photo is of the same bar above - it just shows the metal on the cabinet doors better + the shelving:



    The next two bars are similar - they look nice with the added marble/porcelain slabs on the back + the accent (mood) lighting:




    This built in cabinet below has doors to cover the glasses + whisky + also adds a place for wine storage:



    I would definitely change the fireplace - maybe add a painted wood mantel + surround + leave a small amount of brick around the firebox (but paint the brick).

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    okay - I've tried to post this three times - I divided up the number of photos in the post - and it keeps disappearing.

    This post will be short on words - because I'm tired of typing them!

    You have nice furnishings for the room - that makes it easier to finish!

    I think that you need to use a moody color on the wall in order to get the vibe that you're trying to achieve. Your room is large (nice) - however, it doesn't look like a cozy wine/whisky/cigar bar.

    I missed the first couple times I viewed your photos that you have a small cabinet with bottles in it. Depending on how much $$ you want to spent (many of these expensive ones can be done fairly inexpensively if you are able to diy a bit = you could use some IKEA cabinets and paint them to make a nice built-in bar - there are diy hacks on how to do stuff like this all over the internet).

    Here are some examples using moodier paint on the walls:



    This room is color drenched (everything painted = ceiling/walls/trim all one color )- except they left the darker wood beams unpainted:



    Also, notice the built in bar in the above photo.

    This room has a nice color on the wall - however, I think it would have looked better if the room had been color drenched like in the above photo.

    I


    Make sure that you add different types of lighting in order to help create the "mood."


    The cow hide on the floor in the below photo doesn't make the room look/feel

    chaotic."



    Here are some bar ideas:



    This one below is probably pretty expensive - but it looks nice so I'm including it!



    Built in bar over on left side + nice chandelier + the room has been color drenched:









    The bar in the photo below looks really nice - you wouldn't have to make it as big - just borrow elements from it (for example, you can make a mirror that looks like the one behind the shelves pretty inexpensively). Notice that they kept white (light) walls - but used a dark/moody paint on the cabinets.



    This is the same bar as above from a different angle:



    The next two are smaller built-in bars - but I like the use of marble (I assume that it's likely a porcelain marble slab or 24x48 large format tiles that have high definition printing on them). Also, the lighting is another layer to add to create the "mood" in the room.





    This one below has regular doors + ones with metal screening to hide the glasses and bottles. It also adds some nice space to store wine bottles:


    While you have a bar cabinet - something like below would look nice (especially if you had room on both sides of your fireplace):

    This one is from Wayfair (about $350) - it comes in brown:



    Plus, it also comes in black:



    There are many similar ones on Wayfair.

    Here is a more expensive + unique one:



    I agree with Kendrah - you need to address the FP. You could add a wood mantel/surround/over the fireplace + paint it the moody color you select for your walls + leave a small amount of brick (as required by code) uncovered with wood + paint the brick to match the rest of the wood surround.

    This photo shows what I mean - I probably wouldn't have added the trim the way it's been done above the mantel (plus, you'd paint yours the same color as your walls = a moody color):



    Or - you could remove the brick and change the entire look of the fireplace - however, that would be quite a bit more $$ - and I think using wood to cover most of the brick + painting it would provide a nice look for the room.

  • last month

    Great ideas! Love the pictures. You nailed the atmosphere I tried to create. I am going to paint the fireplace first. If that doesn’t work we may box it in. I’ve removed all artwork and brought in a large fiddle leaf fig. I will look for one large piece of art for over couch. I’ve swapped out pillows and brought my cowhide rug back in. I was really stuck and realize now that the fireplace was what I was fighting most! It’s really bad. And the grout lines were fighting with all the other lines. I prefer minimal rooms and couldn’t do it with the fireplace. I really appreciate the time you took to help me. I’ll try to send photos as my room improves.

  • last month

    My bar cabinet needs to be bigger like suggested. Will paint that table black. I had no idea it was that fireplace messing with me! Thank all of you so much!!! I’ll keep working on it.

  • last month

    #2

  • last month

    Lol, I had the same thoughts about painting the fireplace brick but was hesitant to mention it because of some of the reactions I’ve read on here re that subject. :)

  • last month

    It is horrible. We Bought a 1970’s farmhouse that was completely remodeled down to the studs. Everything is nice EXCEPT that fireplace. I had gotten used to looking at it and couldn’t figure out why I couldn’t stand to be in that room and couldn’t fix it no matter what I did. When someone pointed out all the lines, the beams, the wallboard and grout lines I thought. ITS THAT FIREPLACE. We are getting estimates now. 😂

  • last month

    It's a great room. I hope you send pics of the "after".

  • last month

    I’d layer a larger rug under the cowhide one. You want the front legs of all seating on the rug. The tables are too similar in that the are all leggy a variety would help ground the space.

  • last month

    Also the picture above the couch is far too small, should be 2/3 width of couch. Both chairs will look better beside one another opposite the couch with a round side table in between maybe.

  • last month

    Thought about layering rugs with lighter one underneath. I removed all artwork. It was a great improvement. I have to work around a husband who likes that chair and TV setup. lol lol. Decor hits real life! Thanks for your comments.

  • last month

    I see what you mean with the leggy tables. Probably different coffee table would help.

  • last month

    I agree with Meghan; all of those hairpin legs on the tables are annoying to my eyes. Tables with wooden legs would be better.

  • last month

    Something more like this as a side table?

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    If it was my room, i would have dark painted fireplace, i included a picture kind of similar.

    • Fireplace: 100% agree — I would paint it dark. Go for:

      • Charcoal black-brown like Benjamin Moore “Wrought Iron” or Sherwin-Williams “Iron Ore” (less harsh than pure black, still rich and smoky).
    • Accent tone: Consider a deep olive-bronze or espresso gray wall behind the TV or fireplace for warmth without killing the light.

      • Example: Farrow & Ball “Studio Green”
    • Rug: add your rug over a neutral jute rug?

    • Coffee Table Alternative: The round one works, but a rectangular reclaimed-wood or black metal base table would emphasize that club feel.

    • Side Pieces:

      • Replace (or complement) one of the current small tables with a barrel-style side table (wood or hammered metal).
      • Add a narrow console table behind the leather chair or near the window for displaying decanters, cigars, or whiskey bottles.
      • Consider a small brass or matte black bar cart — perfect for the theme.
    • Replace or supplement the current table lamp with:

      • A black metal tripod lamp or antique brass pharmacy lamp.
      • Add warm amber LED bulbs to create a moody glow.
    • Optional: Install a wall sconce pair (either side of the TV or fireplace) in matte black or bronze.

    • Choose 3–5 statement pieces:

      • Abstract art in deep rust, black, and cream tones.
      • Vintage photography (whiskey bottles, cigars, jazz musicians, horses, or industrial subjects).
      • Or a large framed architectural print for a refined edge.
    • Accent décor:

      • Leather-bound books, aged wood trays, glass decanters, and brass candle holders.
      • A few low dark ceramic planters (like you already have) — to keep it balanced.
    • Stick to 3 key materials: leather, wood, metal.
    • Pull in touches of aged brass, iron, and walnut.
    • Layer soft elements — like a wool throw in espresso or camel — over the chair for depth.
    • windows with linen or velvet drapes in taupe, graphite, or deep olive.
    • Keep patterns minimal — rely on texture over print for a masculine tone.
    • Keep accessories minimal for that club-like confidence.




  • last month

    Thanks Kate. You’ve got some great ideas.

  • last month

    I was assuming white for the fireplace. The wood paneling is light grey. Molding is white.

  • last month

    Any thoughts on fireplace color?

  • last month

    Just another thought re a darker rich color, I’m using BM’ s 2026 ”Color of the Year” Silhouette in a den/study, less harsh than black ….. it reminds me of another one ( altho I think darker) of one of my favorite’s, Farrow & Ball ”Mole’s Breath”, my very modern fireplace is painted in it, receives lots of compliments.

  • last month

    I love that Silhouette color!!! I need to rethink this.

  • last month

    The fireplace has been painted, still wet. Mantle is being built. The Antelope mount will return.

  • last month

    Sometimes a room tells you what it wants to be. Thank you for taking the time to coach me and make suggestions for my chaotic room. I’m sure it will evolve further, but I am very happy with the changes I was able to make. Fireplace paint, mantle,rug, plant, pillows, table . . . . . I’m enjoying it very much. Hope you agree. (Still thinking about painting the white table black.)

  • last month

    What a difference that made! You must be so happy.

  • last month

    It looks so great! Huge improvement with the fireplace and layered rug

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