Need Help with our Fireplace Wall!

12 years ago

We recently moved into our new home, which we love! We are having trouble trying to decide the following:

Where can the TV go so that we can hide chords and cable boxes? Do we need some kind of hutch?

Should we extend the mantle all the way across?

And, we'd like to paint the walls, but still keep the room bright. Should we paint the brick?

Thanks for your input!

Featured Answer

PRO

POLKA GIRL DESIGN

12 years ago

I'd absolutely recommend painting the brick in a cream color. This will instantly update that wall. You'd have to have someone come out and look at what, if anything, you can do with the mantle (before you paint). I wouldn't extend it across, more, look to beef it up and have it centered right over the fireplace. There's so much room here that I don't think you need to have your TV over the fireplace and that leaves many options in terms of what to do with cords. Buffet/sideboards/consoles are all great choices for plasma TV's. Make sure you measure the depth, you'll need minimum 20" inside for standard AV equipment. The clock that's mounted is way too high but maybe that's just remaining from previous owners. You'd need to get a fairly large size piece of art for over the mantle, but not larger than the width of the fireplace. I'd put wood in the wood stash and one the left, maybe a collection of three ceramic pots of varying heights on the right I would center a large sectional so that it is facing the left wall to the fireplace with a chaise return. Again, you have so much room. Perhaps it's even big enough to place two wing chairs on each side of the fireplace. Then start your sectional at least four feet from the chairs. Or at the least, put a chair on the left side of the TV with your sectional centered. I'd get a large rug, you'll probably need a 9X12. Consider using a tree in here, it will pick up the height and give you some texture and color. And I'm a huge fan of draperies even if they're not functional. Since the window is so large, make sure the drapes are at least two widths wide (fabric comes 52" wide and allow for hems). They're an investment, but can make a room come alive. Best of luck

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Comments (18)

PRO
McCabe By Design LLC
12 years ago
Extend the mantle and fur out the wall above the mantle effectively creating a wire chase to hide cables and cords and place TV above mantle if not too high. You will likely need to add molding down the sides of the hearth to run the wires down. You can paint the brick or clad over it with tile, depending on your budget.
Elizabeth Fuller thanked McCabe By Design LLC
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Nancy Walton
12 years ago
I would create a built-in cabinet to the right of the firebox to mount your TV. Build it right on top of the hearth to the height of the ceiling where it meets the wall, thus creating a plant ledge to display one of two decorative items. Have the electrician fish a line from the wall into the base of the built in, so all your wires will be hidden. Newer components have remote receptors that will work through the wood, so no need to have components exposed.
PRO
Someone's in the Kitchen, Inc.
12 years ago
Hi Elizabeth! With no disrespect to Polka Girl's perfectly good opinion - I absolutely would not paint this brick. Your room is very nice and large - and it has great natural light. It will be easy to keep it bright and cheery without losing the coziness that the brick adds to the room - and the balance that its color mass offers to the high-ceiling and long space.

I like Polka's ideas for decorating over the mantle - and Nancy's idea of the tall built-in cabinetry at right. Deep-colored cherry perhaps - running through the mantle. ...new black or pewter firebox front.

And I'd explore shifting the through-the-wall AC to a new opening in the upper portion of the new cabinetry - behind some 2-3" up-slanted louvers. You'd have to cut the brick, of course - but it would be nice to be able to stay cool without the unit playing such a center role in the visual at this end of the room.

Hope you have lots of good times in this nice big space! Mark
inpdx
12 years ago
Could the TV go to the left of the windows, rather than on the brick wall? As for painting the brick, please think very very hard before painting: Brick can't be unpainted. Love those floors, the natural light. Enjoy your new home.
PRO
JudyG Designs
12 years ago
Paint the brick…
Pearl · More Info
jjmezzo
12 years ago
Hi. I'd paint the brick also. We are just in similar project right now. if modern is your style..24x24 tiles would look amazing over the brick and there wouldn't be any brick removal. If you paint it, I agree with cream color, make mantle longer and beefier. a thick wood mantle would look great with the cream color. If you keep mantle the same maybe put large plant or large vase with branches/decor bamboo or something.. on the non-mantle side to balance it. tv on mantle because of windows ..otherwise you wont be able to see the screen easily. If you dont paint the brick, maybe a similar/dark color on one of the walls so the fireplace doesnt stand out so much. good luck!
James Doty
12 years ago
I wouldn't paint the brick, because you can never go back to the original brick! The room is large and bright, so the brick is fine as is. I think it would be washed away if painted. You could build something like the attached picture to cover most of the wall - and it would give you a place for your TV so that wires could be hidden. I bet you could even achieve the same look with modular pieces, without having to custom build.
James Doty
12 years ago
These folks created a "custom look" using IKEA Billy bookcases in front of a brick wall. The blog is a little annoying with its pop-up ads, but the project looks pretty cool: http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/decorating/ikea-billy-built-bookshelves-bookcase-styling.html
bellesum
12 years ago
These bricks look like regular bricks to me. They aren't special vintage bricks, are they? If you like exposed bricks, keep them or paint over them. Otherwise, I would even venture to suggest that you plaster over them and decorate as appropriate. Brick walls don't work with all decor styles. They are not really too compelling a feature to be worth cramping your style.
Krysti
12 years ago
if you like the look of brick but don't especially like the color; maybe "whitewashing" the brick would be a good solution.
PRO
FINNE Architects
12 years ago
I would sandblast the brick to clean it up, then introduce cantilevered wood and steel elements in front of the brick. And delete the existing fireplace frame. Brick is a great textural element, you just need to use contrasting materials to make the brick come alive.
Nancy Walton
12 years ago
The trouble with sandblasting brick is all the dust. Then, too, the bricks almost have a pinkish color when that is done. Don't sandblast to clean--use a dilute muriatic acid, it will clean only the smoke film off and leave the brick finish.
PRO
FINNE Architects
12 years ago
Good idea, Nancy!
nmnina
12 years ago
Nice wedding photo. Since you are a young couple, paint the brick in cream and take the mantle all the way across - make it a beefed up mantle in a mahogany stain. A black and white zebra area rug would also update the room.

One of the new styled TV stands would look great on the wall where the track lighting is located - 60 inches wide in a dark stain - check out Ikea.

Another idea, hang a substantial light fixture or chandelier in the center of the room and place the coffee table below the light fixture.
rosecafe
12 years ago
Never ever paint brick. It's a horrible task to undertake, and only ever looks cheap and nasty, and guess what ? You have to keep on painting it, so if your fire smokes at all, it sure will show up the rough surface of the brick. However ... Thats pretty awful looking brick you've got there, it's definitely ruining the lovely big room by its sheer size and dark aboding power. So, the simple solution is to plaster board line over it, then paint. That will give you the light reflection you want, provide uniformity to the surfaces, thereby bringing the whole room into accord. You will not believe how much better it will look. : )
I also liked the idea of building in a T.V. /. Shelving unit to the r.h.s. of the fire. The clock? Lose the clock too.
rosecafe
12 years ago
Elizabeth, sorry, one more thing. I just looked at your room again. Lose the whole mantle. You don't need it, it slices horizontally right through the height of that great wall. It stops the wall from soaring to the ceiling. You'll see when its gone and the wall is plastered and painted, that you have a spectacular room. ...Check out Houzz Traditional interiors pics of similar rooms for inspiration. And.... don't forget to lose the clock !
victorianbungalowranch
12 years ago
The mantel was designed to be asymmetrical and could look great with the proper placement of art and some large scale accessories, and wood in the empty bin to create dynamic balance. The centered clock is throwing it off.

I don't think the brick is horrible at all and would live with it before painting or whatever over it. It is just a little unpopular now, but it will come back eventually. It has a warm cozy quality, wheras more white paint or plaster or tile will be cold and hard, and quite a bit of work to boot.

Definitely never sandblast brick--it is a mess and exposes the soft inner core which can end up deteriorating. Not as much of a problem inside as outside, but not a good idea. There is a brush on product that peels off that might be worth trying--just look in the back of Old House Journal.

The white might be a bit stark, but that depends on what you are putting in the room. With the right pieces it could look terrific.

Need Help with our Fireplace Wall!

POLKA GIRL DESIGN

Comments (18)

McCabe By Design LLC

Related Professionals

Nancy Walton

Someone's in the Kitchen, Inc.

inpdx

JudyG Designs

jjmezzo

James Doty

James Doty

bellesum

Krysti

FINNE Architects

Nancy Walton

FINNE Architects

nmnina

rosecafe

rosecafe

victorianbungalowranch

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