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Flooring Design Dilemma Fireplaces

Fireplace in Tahoe Ski Condo (and Wood Floor color too!)

valcondoremodel

6 years ago

Hi All, We're doing a modest remodel for a condo in Tahoe. My husband loves the fireplace so we are keeping it. I don't love the original wood above it though. Too saturated red. Should we take it down? Stain it a more neutral color? or try to work with it? Thoughts?

Also, here is the new kitchen. We're also trying to decide on floor color. Light or medium hardwood??

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PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

6 years ago

You are going at this a bit backwards , the floor should have been chosen and layed before the new kitchen was installed as for the floor I like the one on the right leaning on the mantel. Please take that clock and put it in the trash, hang an awesome piece of art on the fireplace wall and those drapes are a fire hazard that close to the fireplace. Sand and astain the wood on the fireplace a color close to the floor

Comments (6)

User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
The fireplace is great. Don’t touch it.

That cold and unfriendly kitchen is like an ice knife though. It needs to be warmed up to match the great vibe of the fireplace. Maybe butcher block counters, a new backsplash, and a new wall color. But I don’t think that will be enough with those dark grey black cabinets. They may need to be changed to a warm wood. It’s cold and depressing. Just what you don’t want for a cold winter sport.
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Pictures are so helpful. You have lots of gray in the stone on your fireplace so adding slate floor tiles to the kitchen, especially if they have some of the copper/brow streaks, would be a nice tie-in. I'm still a little hesitant about the glass accent tiles in any color. I think they look trendy and modern while your condo seems to lean more toward a rustic look. Perhaps you could find some tumbled slate accent tiles that would fit better with your overall design. I did a quick Internet search and have linked a page below for inspiration. I don't know anything about the specific site. Choose the counter top color after you decide on the backsplash. However, it's not a large space, so I would keep the counter color lighter. They don't have to be white, but maybe they could be sand, a lighter caramel than the carpet, or a light grey. That way they would provide some contrast to the white cabinets, but wouldn't weigh down the room. Here is a link that might be useful: Backsplash Inspiration
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I would paint the walls a pale but warm blue, whitewash the fireplace, put up cream-colored, thicker curtains with a white or cream pole, have blue and soft red pillows and do what you think is best with the bookcase. I would leave that for last. Right now the contrast between the lower and upper half of your room is too great, and the white looks boring. You could paint the walls a warm cream if you're against the blue wall color. I wouldn't put anything on top of the mantel or the bookcase and hang the snowshoes elsewhere. Also remove the two items off the base of the fireplace. In a smaller space you don't want clutter, and whatever is there should be meaningful and beautiful.
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maria,,nice space you have. Is it an optical illusion or is that art piece over the white console too far to the right? I keep wanting to center it. maybe it's just the picture. I think you could do something w/a wall in your bedroom if you like. I did a black wall behind mine. Instead of the three small pieces over the bed, find a larger single art piece to use., and lower it considerably. consider doing a more vibrant rug. if you did the art and the rug, I would leave the walls white. if you want to do a bold color behind your bed, say, Galapagos Turquoise then I'd go simple on the artwork over the bed w/something like this, and keep everything else in the room in the whites and soft aqua. maybe do a few pillows in the coral or orange. I don't know about the oranges. yes it's nice w/the turquoise, but in your main room I just don't see it w/your living space. Plus, I don't think it would play well w/your flooring. Look at VanDeusen blue for that dining wall. Or, to better mix w/your fireplace and rug, try painting it Kendal Charcoal. I think you'll like that shade in the living space
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from what I am seeing in the photos you posted you currently have a more modern dining set and an industrial light fixture- my concern is adding a chocolate brown reclining set to the mix. I know I have not seen a photo, but I have never seen a reclining sofa that does not look traditional and a bit chunky in style, which I do not think flows with the rest of the space. I do recommend you go with an area rug to anchor the new sofa and coffee and end tables. I cannot tell you if you should get glass or wood because I would need to see the sofa and furniture first, but purchase an area rug that is large enough to put under the front feet of all of the furniture in the family room.
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deegw
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Nice condo! Are those the floor samples on the fireplace? If so, put them on the floor near the kitchen and the fireplace to see how they look. The tone of the fireplace wall is going to skew how they look.

It looks like if you stain the fireplace you have some beams to stain as well. I do agree that the reddish tones don't work with the rest of the space. I would stain it just enough to minimized the red.

Post some pics of the floor choices in/near the kitchen.
PRO
Randy Trainor
6 years ago
The fireplace is great, however the clock doesn't work. For the floors, the one on the right is a lot better.
Alpine Ski Home · More Info
Jennifer
6 years ago
I didn't read closely at first and thought you wanted to re-panel above the mantel! Wouldn't the lighter flooring look great up there? Or barnwood? I like the darker flooring. I think the reddish mantel could still work. I agree about the clock, a great piece of colorful art would add a lot to your room. Kitchen looks great. Food and wine on the counter will make it very inviting.
SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
If the wood paneling above the fireplace serves NO PURPOSE then take it down. Right now it is the odd man out. If you want to keep wood above, I would replace it with the flooring product (order a few more boxes)...but I'm not a huge fan of that look. The clock will look better against a clean painted surface.

I would stain the mantle deeper (it is clashing with your choices) and see if you can use the same stain on the beam that is visible from the kitchen (clashing just as much as all other reds in the space).

As for flooring, I would like a little bit more gold/brown to give warmth to the space. Right now all of your choices are COLD browns and COLD grays. And in a winter playground the COLD tones will always feel STERILE.

The first photo shows a floor that is almost there...but not quite. One step warmer (a snick more gold) and you should be there. Don't forget to stain/paint anything that is red wood (that is staying put).

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