Thanks everyone! Palimpsest - I agree, the styles are so different. The overall style of the house is not rustic, but I think if done correctly we could possibly pull off either one. Photo 2 is probably closest to the overall style of the whole house, with the warmer colors of photo 3. But the rustic mantel is really going to lean us a lot more in that direction overall since it is such a focal point. I don't disagree the mantel in the first one is too formal for the stacked stone, just trying to find something that compromises the two I can live with. nini804 - I think the photo 3 shows a "dressier" stone that I could live with. I've seen something very similar in a parade home in our area that I liked ok. I agree - part of it is I'm totally over this look because it is so ubiquitous and I am not really into trendy at all. Although many of our choices are going to scream 2015 I'm sure, I'm trying to channel timeless as much as I can. Beams - original plan was to have two simple stained beams, although again to have a more polished look, not rough and rustic. Not sure yet if we are going to do them now, add them later, or wait and see how it comes together. mshahmd - thanks so much, great pic! I'd love to see photos of what you ended up doing if you have them! glad to know we aren't the only ones : ) zorro - have you already posted pics of your place on the build thread? I'll check it out if so. This room has our best views and also has a lot of windows, including 2 large ones flanking fireplace similar to what you describe

Drywall or plaster is required first as a fire preventative measure. Start there. Plaster is much preferred. It’s a superior choice. The house doesn’t need the informality or wood overload of a tongue and groove ceiling. That’s a low grade utility space choice. Plaster was THE choice for public spaces. For many reasons. But only do this after the HVAC ducting is run, and any plumbing updates are done. Or you’ll be backtracking to do it again.

It looks to me like that space could be incorporated into the closet. May I comment on the mudroom? I assume that is the entrance from the garage? I would move the door to the left - where you show the closet now. Mud rooms work best when you go through them, without having to detour. Depending on how many are in your family, I see the mudroom door to the garage as a bit of a bottleneck. Put the closet on the inside wall (where I think you have a bench), and put the bench in the corner, where the door is now. Since I suspect the door from mud room to laundry room will be open most of the time, I'd out a pocket door there.

I have Simply White uppers, and my ceiling and trim are also that color. They still look a little different because one is a flat ceiling paint, one a satin trim, and one a conversion varnish. Looks great together, and not like I spilled the same paint everywhere ;)