Fireplace flanking dilemma.....sides are not equal.
5 years ago
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Fireplace as focal point. Why?
Comments (29)pamghatten, what do you see as you enter? Which wall faces the entry? You've got, and are lucky to have, multiple focal points. On a scale of importance, the primary, dominant one is the long wall of bookcases and fireplace. That's a pretty massive unit and makes a big statement in the room. Wouldn't it be a lot less interesting without it? Would you want to, or could you, de-emphasize it in relation to the other elements? And so that they were all equal? You could paint it all out the color of the wall and it would be less obvious or toned down but would still be a dominant feature given its relative mass and scale, as well as textural quality. Often that wall is placed directly across from the main entry where it's on full display. A greeter, so to speak. That's the focal point for your room and you'd be hard pressed to have something else take visual precedence. As the dominant architectural feature, you likely plan your main seating area around it and facing it because its function is handy, it's structurally beautiful to look at, and it contains a warm fire if you use the fireplace. (Personally, a fireplace is a beautiful view for me whether it's lit or not.) It also provides storage for the tv, ever so important in today's world. Wouldn't it be odd to turn your back on it? Or not pay much attention to adorning it? Being prominent, you'd want to put some effort into making sure it looks good 'cause it's going to be standing out whether you like it or not. (A lot of people really don't care about what things actually look like, but those people probably wouldn't be reading a decor board.) Something like that is also a backdrop for your seating area. The French doors with a view to a pond sounds like your secondary focal point having more visual dominance than the bay window. You might accent it with beautiful drapes (or not for some). Capitalizing on its view from the seating area would also be a high priority for me. Then there's the bay area, likely less dominant overall than the French doors. In terms of not paying attention to focal points, color, for example, is often used around a focal point to highlight it. You wouldn't, however, do something dramatic like paint the French door wall (your secondary focal point) in an accent color. It would compete strongly with the main wall and wouldn't feel or look right. Why is that wall red? And it keeps grabbing your attention in an uncomfortable way. Not much flow. You could, of course, but it doesn't really make visual sense or feel right, does it. Color choices can be scaled to the focal areas, also, as some colors are more predominant than others. If you used red heavily to highlight all your focal points because you love them, it might be a bit overwhelming and confusing. Scaling the use of color, thinking about where you want some emphasis and its overall effect, would work better. For the overall space, scaling the focus throughout feels/flows better, looks better, and is more balanced, orderly, and interesting to look at and to experience. Whether you're aware of it or not, you're probably doing it or seeing it, and it probably affects whether you like or don't like a room or something in a room. All attention being proportioned equally would be pretty flat and confusing. Don't you try for that sort of variety on a small scale, when creating a mantel or tablescape? Focal points and emphasis really do make a lot of effective sense....See MoreStumped on fireplace wall! Ideas that aren't built-ins?
Comments (73)Penny - I typically love some of the more outspoken opinions here. I'll see a post and be like "Ohh, wait til Sophie sees this!" usually because I agree with her opinions! I'm sure I would be really sensitive to hear it about my own room, but that wouldn't make it untrue. :) I was reading and considering everyone's input, but I've realized it can be difficult to reply to suggestions from multiple people at once! I really, really, appreciate all of your input. I definitely think you're right about no more furniture with drawers. It makes a lot of sense in many cases (and in the pics that people posted). Unfortunately, with 73" on each side of the fireplace, a standard chest would look miniscule, and that would leave me with putting a full-sized dresser there. With three dressers (counting the Hemnes my TV is on), it would just look like I had an elaborately furnished closet and not a family room! I actually had both chairs and the round table at the entrance for years. Since they both swivel, the table kept getting knocked down, and I grew tired of having to shimmy between the chair and the endtable all the time. Maybe I'll go back to that arrangement, but I'm liking them flanking the FP for now. cawaps - Ikea is definitely where my budget is currently - but I get the feeling I probably need to de-Ikea this room as I'm able to. :) I'll be on the lookout for consignment and thrifting bargains that might work. Anglophilia - You're so right, flat fireplace walls ARE a PITA! My last home had a diagnoal FP, and boy, I hated that, but this is still a pain! I think you're right, the ottoman has to go when we can replace it. We don't mind having a few toys here, since the bedrooms are upstairs. We hang out here frequently (and it's off the kitchen). He's a bit too big for a playpen at this point, so we choose which toys to keep in here, and we have a place to put them away, and we keep the rest in the playroom. It's a balancing act! Suezbell - Thank you for all the ideas! I will definitely be finding a home for the owl. Storage and a desk would be useful additions, I will consider those. The bookshelf is up for sale, since the height and color don't really work in here. I'll likely be replacing the TV dresser when I can to something with more interest or color. The Hemnes dresser was really only meant to be temporary - and here we are 5 years later!...See MoreWhat should I do to update this fireplace if anything?
Comments (16)Love the hide the TV art piece idea. And the chunky mantle would be wonderful. The sectional is about 4 feet away from slider. The room isn’t very wide. There is a step down into the living area from dining and main hall so if swapped sectional it would close off access to the room. Off of main hall. I am attaching other photos. There is a weird sink cabinet area in living (house was built in the 80s). I need to figure that out eventually. The end table is too big by the fireplace. I totally agree. We do need a small table there since it has our modem, cable box, security system and cordless phone on it and they can’t be moved due to wiring. As far as the pendant light goes. That was my original thought but instead choice a more practical idea with very large ceiling fan. Although the pendant light would look better design wise. This space had popcorn ceilings and no recessed lights And was bright yellow when we bought it. The kitchen and dining had track lighting. So we made quite a few changes but most of the changes went to our bathrooms....See MoreBuilt-ins or furniture pieces on sides of Stone Fireplace?
Comments (29)Does anyone have a pic with stone wrapped on the sides and built-ins? Because I see that as contradictory the way I see built-ins usually done. The built-ins need to attach to something and while they could be designed to attach to stone, that would be a fairly custom thing to do. Now if they are just shelves like the inspiration photo, then obviously stone on the sides is straightforward and easy. But to me- that is not a built-in. I just realized that we have window seats next to (and attached to) brick. There is basically a caulk line. It is painted brick so I think that is a little easier to have it look right - but I could see it with a flat cultured stone also. Not sure I would like it but I could see it. Don't really love it with the brick but it is only 18 inches off the ground. We purposely designed the fireplace with windows on either side to make sure that no one put built-ins in this house for the eternity of its existence. Because of what chocolatesnap said. There also happens to be an ad next to this thread with a pic of white subway tile in a kitchen. Ugh....See More- 5 years ago
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