Help decorating an open niche/mantel.
Meghan Ramos
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
I have an arched niche above my fireplace that I continuously struggle to decorate. I’m getting ready to do some spring refreshing and this is just one area I can never figure out what to do with. I have a lantern with candles and temporarily have some pillar candles but I think this space needs something more. It’s nearly impossible to find any inspiration on Pinterest or Houzz for an open type of pass-through niche + mantel.
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decoenthusiaste
2 years agoMeghan Ramos
2 years agoRelated Discussions
6 rooms all open to each other-how do I decorate them all?!!HELP!
Comments (9)I agree with jerseygirl and live with the space for awhile before committing major changes and you can do an accent wall if there's not a good place for change of paint color. I'm in the process of picking colors with 5 rooms connecting and another 2 thru doors/doorways. I love saturated color. I have 4 reds on my DR wall and will pick one when I pick the copper in the sitting room (3 choices on wall) and greens (4 choices) in the office. The kitchen is already Hawthorne yellow and the half bath is Blue Lapis. The music room will be the 2 lilac colors that got rejected from the sitting room. I'm tying all the rooms together with the same color trim - white dove. My 185 year old fire places are all different marbles - gotta try to strip one that was painted. The main rooms have natural oak floors and the minor rooms fir (over 100 years old). I'm not too worried about the other woods in the rooms - I just make it work for that room. I have cherry in my kitchen, mahogany in the DR, and black walnut doors. I've been living with 3' x 4' paint swatches for weeks until something speaks to me. The 1st time I threw up lilac in the sitting room I knew it was wrong. I had some friends who are good with color help me pick another scheme (copper). I have a dark purple couch and chair for that room. Even though one color might work great in one room with the furniture, they all need to play "nice" together when viewed from room to room. I picked a red I love but I don't know how it will play with the green and copper so I'm holding off until i figure out the other rooms. I did start with a designer to help me narrow down my choices so I can get painting sooner. (I could have probably done it but it would have taken me a year!) She kept saying "This is so much fun, I should be paying you." What she suggested is have one tying feature - for me it's the same color trim from room to room....See MoreMantel above stove - need help decorating!!
Comments (12)I see barnaclebob's concern that the enclosure could lengthen the carry path, moving things from the stove to other areas but where would one typically go with a hot dish? Either to a cold burner to cool a bit or directly to the table I suspect. In either case the sides shouldn't get in the way. I personally like the look and the walls should help direct flow of air from the cook and up the vent. As a bonus, wouldn't it now free up the side counter space for things that normally couldn't be kept close to the stove side...spices, paper goods, anything that would be difficult to clean food spatters from? I tend to agree the mantel looks good empty. You could add a seasonal decoration special occasions or maybe a sleeping cat that would be appropriate for a warm spot....See MoreFireplace mantel decor - help!
Comments (7)A rectangular interesting and colorful painting and just the candlesticks, with nothing else on the mantel, will look very nice, with perhaps a plant or foliage or flowers in a vase added. No word signs, that trend is over and it really never looked good. If you don't use the fireplace tools I would remove those too....See MoreProject decorate-the-mantel
Comments (92)I am feeling the way with this inexpensive pottery/ ceramics that MTR does about mirrors, I can tell they're inexpensive. Yes, but, I think that matters more if you are really highlighting the vase. These vases will be seen from a distance, overshadowed by showy bossy peonies, and more important for their shape and color IMHO. So I think you can "get away with" more in that case. I really like the shape of the first Haeger ones Jojo. PS I do agree that local is the way to go....See More
PROCelery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years agoI would not cover this opening with decor.
But if you insist, here is some shelving option
- PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
2 years agolast modified: 2 years ago 
acm
2 years agoI would look for a sculpture that you really like, or a piece of driftwood. Something with a nice shape that can mostly claim the space. A bunch of smaller things will never look other than busy.
A&B Home Wood Look Horse Sculpture 19"X3"X19.5" · More Info
Luxe Oversize MidCentury Modern Ginger Jar Fat Orange Rust Finial Decorative · More Info
Toro XL Abstract Bull Sculpture · More Info
Lamera Aluminum Lead and Bronze Statue · More Info
Uttermost Cierra Aluminum Vases Set Of 2 20187 · More InfoMeghan Ramos thanked acm
Cecilia
2 years agoMeghan Ramos
2 years ago
grapefruit1_ar
2 years agoWhile we do not have a stained glass piece hung in our pass-thru, this is the view as you look through it. It is a very sunny day, but the picture is dark?
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