Comments | ideas_for_home: Decorating Dilemma: 90-Degree Fireplace Mantel

valanice in ideas_for_home

Decorating Dilemma: 90-Degree Fireplace Mantel

Jan 26, 2009 13:27

Calling all decorators! I'd love some advice. :)

We just moved to a fabulous new home (well, new to us) and while I love decorating, there are a few things I'm just stuck on. The main thing is the fireplace. If anyone has tips to offer, I'm all ears. :)

UPDATE 1/27: Added more pix with current furniture.

( Pics and Description Under Here )

decorating

Comments 10

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valanice January 26 2009, 22:03:23 UTC

Ooh, I hadn't even thought of books. I have a bazillion of those (and acutally, the bookcase is a few feet to the left of the fireplace, so that would tie together well.)

Thanks!

valanice January 26 2009, 22:05:23 UTC

Oh, and yeah...I thought about maybe painting the fireplace. The only reason it doesn't look too horrible right now is that there's a rusty color in our furniture, so it's not totally out of place, but it could draw a little less attention to itself, for sure. :)

valanice January 26 2009, 22:47:24 UTC

Link for future reference:

Black Krylon Barbeque Paint.aspx

I'll update if I find white, as well.

Thread 5

okp January 26 2009, 22:02:57 UTC

I would love to see pictures with the furniture in it - I think I remember the style of the furniture, but I would like to see the fireplace and mantel in the context of the rest of the current room.

Okay, initial brainstorming... I wonder if you can paint the fireplace with a high heat paint, maybe black. Then, I'm wondering if you could run molding up the wall from the mantel to the ceiling to section that part off. Then you could paint that wall an accent color...kind of camoflaging (sp) the fireplace chimney.

Another idea is to use the chimney part as the high point of a triangle, working accessories downward towards the outer corners of the mantel. Does that make sense? Looking straight at the fireplace, the top of the chimney at the ceiling would be the tip of the triangle. The outer corners of the mantel would be other two points on the triangle. I would keep very simple accessories, and I would probably have symmetry to avoid calling too much attention to either side. I'm thinking a round mirror hung on the wall on ( ... )

okp January 26 2009, 22:03:51 UTC

Oh, and a friend just removed a fireplace like that...not sure if it was gas or electric, but it looked exactly the same. Not sure if you're interested in me finding out how she did it, but let me know.

leucotheasveil January 27 2009, 01:36:06 UTC

I would think about putting some statues or stone containers on the mantel, using some of the colors in the stone on the stone floor. Alternately, maybe fill clear containers with decorative stones in colors that ties in your room and the tiles in the floor.

What are the mantel and bricks made out of? Can you paint them something less stark and more earthy? That white seems a little austere compared to the rest of the room and the fireplace. I think that's making it stand out more. If the bricks and mantel were painted something darker, it's go together.

your corner fireplace anonymous January 11 2010, 17:11:58 UTC

I have a very similar fireplace in my circa 1958 home. It is painted black (high temp. paint) and does not have brick or a mantel behind it, which actually makes it less obvious. Maybe yours is closer to the wall, in which case the brick is a fire code requirement, then I'd paint the brick to match the wall and trim it out with wood trim and get rid of the mantel. I also have very traditional furnishings and some wroght iron accents, so the black fireplace, though it is a contemporary design, fits in well enough.