I’ve got another decorating dilemma for all of you today, so help Laurie out. She’s got a vaulted ceiling living room that is giving her some problems and let’s see how we can help her get this room under control. Here’s what Laurie says about her room:
“We have lived in this space for 13 years. Little by little I have redone big fixes. New windows, doors , floors and I love my new marble fireplace. But this fireplace wall is my problem. I just think it’s not in proportion and I need storage. However, the wall is flat, no indents for built in bookcases. As you can see I am a neutral palette person. Just scared of which wall to accent with color. I love blues, and turquoise. Projects I intend to complete this year are reupholster the 3 chairs, paint the TV stand, find new lamps.
I am also stumped about the window treatments. With so much space above the transom, I don’t know where I should hang them, or if I should forget them.
I know what I like when I see photos but I rarely find rooms with the vaulted ceiling on the fireplace wall.”
OK, so let’s get some ideas going for Laurie!
First, on the window wall, I would definitely hang some drapes and hang them above the transoms. Hanging drapes high will give that wall more presence too. I would hang a panel to the left of the left window and to the right of the window right of the French doors. At least 2 panels up there to soften and fabric will always soften a room. She could do what I did in my living room and not try to hang 4 panels, but only 2. I’m happy with how mine turned out and since there is so little space on either side of the French doors, and she probably doesn’t want to cover the light switches, she could just do 2 panels above the transom. Four would work as well, if she doesn’t mind covering the light switch. Four would definitely soften up the window wall a lot more.
Another idea is to use bamboo shades and hang them high above the windows and just have them come down and cover the transoms. That would give some nice texture to the window wall. Example below on using drapes and bamboo shades, hanging the bamboo shades just under the rod. You could easily take the rod up high and also hang bamboo shades with drapes at least on windows on each side. Also, see the long rod across the French doors, with drapes on either end. This would warm up the room considerably!
via Adorable Home (I think this is a Candace Olsen room)
Now, on the fireplace wall I do think some built-in bookcases would still work. So many in blogland are doing built-ins on either side of the fireplace and you don’t have to have a recessed wall for this to work. She could easily do Billy bookcases from Ikea and trim them out with crown molding on the top and bottom for a built-in look.
via Houzz.com
Here’s a pic that I think is from Houzz (via Pinterest) that shows bookcases added that project out past the fireplace, they aren’t recessed. You could take these up high and add an over mantel to the fireplace to tie it all in, adding crown molding to finish it all off and I would bring it up to the window height on the vaulted ceiling. A good carpenter could to this for you! It might be tricky on the right side because it looks like there’s not a lot of room by that far window to add something, so that might get in the way of this plan, but it might be doable if you didn’t take the built-ins all the way to the window wall.
Here’s another one from Houzz that shows built-ins that are not recessed. There’s even a gap allowing for the mantel to stay put and it looks great.
I definitely think recovering the chairs and adding some fun fabrics would liven up your room considerably. You are swimming in a sea of neutrals and that can get boring! You need color, texture and interest with pillows, rugs and accessories. Some fun new lamps would add a lot of life too!
Here’s my Olioboard with a few ideas on how adding some of that turquoise would liven up your space. Add a painted side table, new lamps, rug, pillows and accessories, along with some drapes and possibly blinds on the windows and your room will definitely wake up!
I’ve seen vaulted focal walls painted in three very wide horizontal stripes of different colors which brings the eye downward. I.e., paint bottom 4′ dark color, the middle 4′ a lighter shade, and the top 4′ an even lighter shade within the same color family.
The book-shelving around the fireplace seems to have taken NC by storm. It seems every “spec” home in the various developed neighborhoods have these as a cookie cutter theme. It is just so important to not go overboard on decorating them – they can get tacky quickly! Love all your ideas, I can get lost in the pictures for hours. Beautiful!
Those vaulted ceilings are tough. Here is one idea, though I would paint the bookcases white instead of this dark stain: http://www.douglasandwood.com/images/mantles/tuscan1large.jpg Add some decorative molding above the fireplace (all the way to the ceiling) to tie everything together, and maybe think about putting the tv over the fireplace.
I like your ideas, Rhoda. I would definitely add something tall above the fireplace due to the vaulted ceiling. A beautiful tall mirror would be ideal and would reflect light around the room. Second choice would be a tall, very colorful, modern, abstract-type or floral painting. A few items on the mantle and definitely the built-ins on either side of the fireplace would make a world of difference. I would not do an accent wall. I think that is a trend you’d get tired of. Look for a warmer neutral for the walls. Don’t forget to carry your accent colors – such as turquoise- around the room for the eye to travel. Good luck!
thanks sharon, i will keep that tip
I’m no decorator, but the black square of the television is taking away the negative space of the fireplace – with the feeling that you need another black square on the other side of the fireplace. BUT I am not for televisions over the fireplace – particularly as high as this one – a stiff neck is highly likely. The neutral pallet is fine, but maybe a warmer beige would be good to bring out the white of the molding. I’m with Rhoda – just adding some drapery panels, some larger artwork over the fireplace and some color will help alot. If that is a table and chair in front of the door going out to the deck – how is that working for you?
becky, you made me laugh. The table and lamp in front of the door is something my mother (lives with us) had to have. She has to have lamp when she reads there. I agree its not ideal and i just slide it if we use that door. The TV will be going on the built in cabinets, over the fireplace is too much of an angle. I have also been looking at some of the new neutrals in paint stores. Thanks so much for your comments, much appreciated
I would definitely put the tv above the fireplace to consolidate the focal points. I would also bring the chairs closer to the sofa to make the room look a bit cozier. I just did this in my great room and was astounded at the difference it made!
A lot of good ideas here, including Rhoda’s. Placing a TV over the fireplace is a no go for me. It looks like Laurie’s TV would fit on one of the bookcases.
I think the lovely wood chairs on the right would really pop with turquoise cushions. Something to draw your eye down from the ceiling?
This room is big enough for a darker neutral. Those striped curtains that Rhonda picked have a lovely coffee colour in them, so think about that for the wall colour if you want to stick to neutrals. I would certainly add bookshelves each side of the fireplace… not necessarily built in, either. Perhaps a carpenter could build you some and fix them to the wall – say up to 6 feet high, but not filling the whole space each side…. leave perhaps 1 foot each side of each bookcase. Bring those chairs in from the garden doors, and park them together, straight, and facing the couch. Find some small side tables and put one each side of the pair of chairs, and that middle table can be put to use somewhere else. Choose a fabric that has a pattern for upholstering the chairs, but as you are not a “busy” person, perhaps 2 colours, one a neutral, the other a “pop” colour – teal, raspberry, rust….one you can live with but that is entirely different from the rest of your room, and add some pillows on the couch 2-3 with the chair fabric, and some plain but textured with one of the colours. TV? move that to another part of the room altogether, then your eye will not be drawn to it everytime you look at the fireplace. Rhoda hangs her drapes high, and I like that idea (cannot do it in my home as ceilings are low – but you could!) Try yard sales for cheap lamps, and paint the bases in your “pop” colour – if you like how they turn out, you can paint your own. Good luck!
All of your ideas, Rhoda are on trend & great suggestions, as are many of the previous readers’ comments.
A couple more things I would consider, if Laurie decides to go with bookcases flanking the fireplace: 1) there’s still the vaulted triangle above that will beg for something, even if she bridges the two with an overmantle. Her style seems to traditional looking, so perhaps a window frame or two (architectural salvage). 2) Depending on how filled out the mantle storage wall turns out, Laurie may want to opt for scarf detailing to soften the windows such as the 4th or 5th photos shown here: http://wvpanoply.blogspot.com/2013/07/window-treatments-not-so-plain-but.html and 3) Lastly, Laurie may want to consider painting her existing lamps as you did, Rhoda, on your porch, and maybe update the shades with either ribbon edge trim, paper (modge-podge) or some combo.
Great post!
Rita
My first thought: architectural detail for that fireplace. Take it to the ceiling, baby!!!! That room screams ‘drama’ from the fireplace – a diamond in the rough. I would have some type of stone facade taking that fireplace to the ceiling. Or use the pallet wall idea and create a fireplace facade that goes to the ceiling. Here is a good room for reference:http://pinterest.com/pin/335236765983048717/
The first thing I find my eye drawn to is the contrast between the wall and ceiling. All the furniture, fireplace, pictures and windows all end at the same height on the wall. I get the feeling of “stuff” and “space” when looking at the picture and find that I focus on the “space” part of the picture, which is the top of the room. Maybe breaking the line of where the stuff is and isn’t would help or adding details up high. Things like hanging the curtains up high, or maybe hanging lights. I believe there was a post done here a while back about fake wood beams. Something like that would add detail to the ceiling.
Maybe considering adding faux wood beams to the faulted ceiling in a natural wood look. It would draw the eye up and add some much needed drama to the ceiling.
I like your ideas Rhoda. I think there is definitely room on the fireplace wall for bookcases on either side. And I’d put a larger/taller mirror or piece of art over the fireplace. I don’t like TV’s put above the fireplace; just looks too utilitarian to me. Color would definitely change the feel of the room and would be so easy to add with accessories. Window treatments would make a huge difference and could be an inexpensive change. Nice room to work with.
[houzz=http://www.houzz.com/photos/352012/Family-Room-traditional-family-room-minneapolis]
The attached reference from Houzz echos the top heavy feel, but the room is weighted with wrap around moldings.
I agree with all your ideas: curtains/blinds hang above transoms; beef up the fireplace with cabinetry on each side and also above the fireplace to give some weight to the room and then I think the top heavy appearance of the vaulted ceiling will disappear. I would keep the fireplace wall neutral to avoid the top heavy feeling, but a band of accent color above the doors and carry around the room (under molding on the fireplace wall once built up) could be a nice accent and bring attention “down” to the room.
I recently redid a “builders grade” fireplace just like yours. I used faux stone and took it all the way to the ceiling, and added a very heavy mantle with corbels. I think it would look great in your room. It was a lot of bang for the buck. Finished in one day. I also think bookcase/shelves beside fireplace and put TV there. Good luck!
A recessed fireplace with bookshelves on both sides would be nice. Also dummy panels hung high between the windows to soften the window wall as blinds are already in place.
When I saw her huge wall above the fireplace I immediately thought of this awesome project: http://jonesdesigncompany.com/decorate/our-living-room-with-the-finished-shingled-fireplace/
The only glaring thing in this room is the enormous space above the fireplace. White built in cabinets would be great if you need the storage but I think you are going to still face challenges. The fact that they will protrude isn’t necessarily a problem, as Rhoda pointed out with her examples. But how high do they go? The logical choice is to build them as high as the top of the windows, but then you will still have a large unused area above. In addition, it looks like you won’t be able to get any depth to the cabinets because they will cover part of the window on the right and the door on the left. You could maybe have them designed so that they curve back to the walls on the ends, or you could shorten the width so that they don’t extend to the side walls. The best option I see is to extend the fireplace all the way to the ceiling, using molding that matches the current mantle and build it out at least 6-8” (more if possible). That way the fireplace won’t recede too much when surrounded by bookcases that extend into the room more. I would not make any other big changes in the room until you do something with this wall because I think other problems will disappear or at least be reduced. I would hang a very large clock or sculpture above the fireplace and, if it still feels bare, hang sizeable tapestries on brass rods above each bookcase to fill the space without cluttering it. I would try to fit the television into the storage so that you can eliminate the TV stand which will make the room a little less utilitarian looking. Here is a great image that may help you visualize this wall. http://www.designmanifest.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/millwork+fireplace+cathedral+ceiling.jpg
I would not use curtains at the windows, especially if you go with built in cabinets – there just isn’t enough room in that corner. If you need window coverings for privacy or to keep the sun out, I would do woven shades or just leave the blinds. Whatever treatments you use, I would treat the door and two windows as one unit (i.e. whatever you do to the windows, do the same thing to the door). My first choice would be to a shade above each window and one long shade over the doors (including the transoms) but it looks like your doors open to the inside which means that the shades would be in the way, so you would have to do inside mounts for each door.
One thing you can do right away is to float the furniture in the middle of the room on the area rug for a tighter seating arrangement, eliminate the lamp on the side table, and hang a lantern or large pendant above the seating area. Then move the console table that is to the left of the fireplace to the back of the sofa. If you have floor outlets you could use smaller lamps on each end of the table. Otherwise you will have to rely on the overhead light.
A monochromatic room can be very comforting but if you feel the need to add color, I would do it with the chairs which can be easily switched. In fact, you could have two sets of cushion covers – one for when you are feeling bold and want color and one in a neutral color. I have found some great fabrics at Calico Corners that are fresh looking without being too trendy, like a chevron or ikat, and that would keep with the more traditional look of your room. You could also order some coordinating fabric for pillows on the couch. Even a lacquer tray on the coffee table in turquoise or blue is sometimes enough color to make a difference.
Good luck.
Patty, thank you so much. I appreciate your comments and as soon as we get back home I am going to work on your list and Rhoda’s ideas. Thank you for your time and thoughts.
Having a terrible time trying to post a comment to you!!! (Ads keep coming up where I am trying to type!!!) As it is August 1, the thing I do is check out The Old Painted Cottage, Cottage of the Month….and there you are!!!! OMG!!! What a delight!!! Your new home is sooooo beautiful! I love the touches of turquoise everywhere. So beachy and happy!!! Enjoy all the compliments to come, as I am sure you will be making everyones day!!! Take care….
Sorry about the pop ups, Donna, but thanks so much! I’m excited to be featured over there this month.