We are traveling to visit a source for reclaimed barn wood today to look for pieces to frame this out to hopefully give it a more substantial appearance. Anyone have any thoughts? I’m not sure how to handle the diagonals on the corners. Should we attempt to fill that in with black, barnwood, or more stone?

Our style in this home is modern rustic lodge, if that’s a “thing”.

I'd want to square off those corners with more stone, if this was my house.

Is the reclaimed barn wood going to be the same color as what is there? I can't picture adding different wood to the fireplace/wall, and I'd want a beefier mantel, as that one looks like a single board.

I agree with the wood comment. It won’t be the same color. I don’t love the idea of throwing more wood at the problem either, but not sure what else to do? Agreed, Mantle is also a problem and we’d like to beef it up but not sure how wide or how long.

Would entertain any other suggestions at all if anyone has them. Should we paint the gold and wood trim inside the firebox matte black to match the grout?

You said there is another wall that is all stone...Do you have long term plans for this room?

What would you like to see this room look like?

Do you like the diagonal boards on that wall now?

Would you prefer sheetrock so you could paint the wall?

Are the other walls in the room diagonal wood, with the exception of the stone one?

Do you want quick budget fixes for now, or work toward a long term plan?

I know what I'd want to do, but it may not be your taste. What is the budget now for any updates? Are you handy, and plan to do some or all of the work yourselves?

Great questions.

We are new owners of this house, been in for about a month, so we are still evaluating what we like/dislike. Our long term desired “style” if you will, would be a modern rustic look. We love the wood but let me tell ya, there is a TON of wood. I never considered sheetrocking and/or painting the diagonal wood wall. Interesting idea.

That is the only wall with diagonal pine.

It is our family room and will remain that way long term.

Would probably enjoy a small update now and possibly something “bigger” down the road (example, replacing octagon windows)

Here are more photos if they help.

Also, we DONT like the mish mash of patterns on the wall between diagonal planks, Stone, striped wallpaper. (We do love the stone)

We are hoping along with the fireplace update to also address the walls and somehow tie it all together.

We do consider ourselves handy and capable of a lot of different remodeling/renovating tasks.

Good for you! I love to do my own updates to my home whenever possible.

Is that a gas fireplace or electric? Mine is gas, and had to have the firebox several inches above my wooden floor.

This is just what I would do if this was my home. Since you do have quite a lot going on in this room, I (may not be your taste) would remove all of the diagonal pine. I would also remove the horizontal pine, and leave just the stone wall if you love it.

I'd sheetrock those wall instead and paint them a color you like. I would also replace the octagonal windows, but I'd try to do it at the same time I'm updating the walls, if at all possible. I'd use the stone that I took off the wall to probably make the fireplace stone go up to the ceiling. See some examples HERE.

Your ceiling is lower than most shown, but I would still do it and definitely get rid of the 'angled shoulders' on the fireplace. I'd then put a nice heavier beam/mantle up on it. and NOT have any wooden trim at the sides as yours has.

According to our owners manual, the gas firebox is installed within its particular specs. We also questioned this as our last fireplace had a hearth, so it wasn’t an issue

You brought some great ideas to the table. Fun things to ponder.

Its overwhelming, trying to incorporating ones own tastes into redecorating a new home.

I hear you, Barb, I bought my sweet 1937 Cape 32 years ago this coming December, and I'm still thinking of things to do to it.

I don't know how thick your stone is, but I might want to make a hearth from it, if it's relatively thin, but you may not have room for it. I say that as the wood in front of the FP adds yet another 'look' in wood. :-)