Fireplace with cathedral ceiling dilemma
Hi everyone,
We are building new home, style is farm/folk victorian inspired (but not rustic). Our living room will have 9' ceilings with cathedral. Roof pitch is 10/12 so fairly steep there. The fireplace is at the end of one of the high walls, so it will be a main focal point. I very strongly prefer no TV above the fireplace, instead having artwork or meaningful decorative objects.
Husband and I are divided on the aesthetics of the fireplace, almost our only design disagreement for the whole house. We will have a vent free unit.
His ideal is stone to the ceiling with a rustic beam mantel. I don't really object to the stone to the ceiling, but that the only mantel that seems to work with this style is the very rustic beam type of mantel. I'd really prefer something a little more refined and substantial.
My ideal is more traditional, white with either stone or brick surround (but not to ceiling). I'd prefer just to paint above mantel or have some additional white paneling to define the space. Husband objects bc most of the styles like this are not used in cathedral ceiling spaces, and isn't sure if it will look right.
Anyone have ideas on how to successfully marry these two or other options I haven't considered yet? Thanks for any thoughts!
My preference:
Husband's preference:
Comments (10)
mshahmd
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoAmazing! my wife and I had the same discussion. We have a vault keeping room with stained tongue and groove ceiling. Typically our builder uses a solid wood mantle very similar to your husbands choices. We compromised and built a mantle with more molding but keeping it stain grade. Here is another idea but probably more expensive:
you could do the wood beam mantle then this extra panels above it.
farmdrmer thanked mshahmdRelated Discussions
cathedral ceilings
Comments (18)thanks again to all who had input. As far as the built ins I'm still unsure about what to change other than centering them along the wall and perhaps the height to align with windows/doors/room openings. (although I thought I read on this forum that windows and doors do not have to be aligned in height) After looking at many many houzz photos there is not much difference in what I'm seeing there compared to what's in my photos. TV opening on one side, open shelving of the same size on the other side. TV watching. Yes, I think at times the glare may be an issue, at certain times of year. Mainly the tv isn't on during the day except on weekends, and then most of our tv watching would be in the basement family room. So for the most part I think it won't be an issue. Obviously we plan to put some kind of blinds/shades on at least the lower windows. Fading.....well, there's only so much I can worry about in my life and faded fabrics isn't on the list. We live a casual lifestyle with casual furniture that the kids will likely damage way more than the sunshine. I would still say that I'm still most concerned about acoustics. We generally wanted area rugs rather than carpet, mainly again because of my special needs child and his constant messes and the easy cleanup that hardwood provides....See Morecathedral ceiling. beautiful dark wood diagonal all the way to ceiling
Comments (7)Without knowing the style of the home or where it is located, it's tough to say with just that picture. So depending on those answers, I would go for a rustic look and either leave the dark wood wall as is, OR I would paint all of that diagonal paneling a lighter color, and in either case would update the fireplace. If rustic isn't the look, then I would remove the paneling and drywall and then update the fireplace....See MoreNeed help decorating fireplace mantel with cathedral ceiling and brick
Comments (14)Thank you Beverly! We have considered white washing the fireplace. That's so neat how you gave me a visual. Thank you! The whole black-trim-on-one-wall-thing came about when we had someone come out for a consultation on widow treatments/blinds (which we haven't figured out yet either). We also needed blinds in the master bedroom and newly renovated master bath, which both have black trim, and the look is really great in those areas. She suggessted we carry that out into the living area by doing the fireplace wall trim black, plus the ceiling beam and staircase rails. It doesn't have to stay, but looks a bit better in person with the whole house in perspective. I'm so grateful for the suggesstions!!! I'm an accountant, not an interior decorator!!...See Moredesign dilemma floor to ceiling stone fireplace
Comments (15)The built-in entertainment center is beautiful, but seems to be competing for the eye with the fireplace and stone. Which one do you consider your focal point? If you want the fireplace to be the focal point again, a mantel and some decor can make the fireplace the focus again while adding a personal touch of your family's style. Then you could paint the entertainment center to compliment it. We suggest a non-combustible mantel with a wood look that's easy to install and safe (especially for a family home). If you want the entertainment center as the focal point, then working with that stone, as others have suggested, may be the answer for blending it in more....See Morefarmdrmer
8 years agomommytoc
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoI think stone to the ceiling looks nice with a less rustic mantel, too:
Our mantel "echoes" the crown molding on our built-ins.
We elected to place our fireplace on a "short", rather than vaulted, wall in our great room, but would have done a similar mantel either way.
farmdrmer thanked mommytoc
pwanna1
8 years agowe took our mantel up to the lowest wall height (9') and I am really happy with it...I think you could do stone instead of the travertine that we did...You definitely need some height when working with a taller ceiling. I originally intended to do something like Mommytoc with the hearth. (sorry...I can't make my pictures go upright for the life of me!!!!)
farmdrmer thanked pwanna1farmdrmer
8 years ago
Rachel (Zone 7A + wind)
8 years agoHere are a couple of not to the ceiling photos in high ceiling rooms
The first one could be a nice compromise for you. Website is on screen shot for larger pics. Choose "interiors" menu.
palimpsest