What do I do with this wall
by
Nancy
+49
Not sure if you can see in these pictures I have super tall ceilings... so in this respect this huge entertainment center fits well... but I am not sure the room looks balanced. Hopefully you can see how close the entertainment center is to the fireplace, I can not move it further away... so,... a few thoughts I have are, to paint the fireplace surround, maybe add tile or brick (this is to visually hide the closeness of the center, because of the wood match) possibly remove the large piece, paint the large piece? Thank you for all of your help.
From the kitchen looking into the family room
kitchen window in the back of picture
entertainment center-- only useable wall in family room
hopefully will give you the closeness of the fireplace
Not the best pics but wanted to show the after.... reminder I couldn't get rid of the big tv unit... so I worked with what I had, got a new couch, to better streamline the room....
33 answers
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My first thought was your fireplace and entertainment center are competing and the entertainment center is winning as it crowds a lot of the room. Creating a built in to be flush and one with the fireplace is one option and crowning out the other niche so it is all cohesive and flows. Another is moving the tv above the fireplace getting rid of the entertainment center and rearranging the furniture adding shelves to climb all the way up the wall, freeing up space. Another quick option is get rid of the entertainment center, make use of those built in builder shelves above the tv and fireplace and add more shelves if you wish, place your TV on the console that rest at the back of the couch now in the same area as the removed entertainment center. That is a make do for now solution. You appear to have classic tastes, crown molding and more of a built in look seems to be a stronger option, no matter if you stay dark or go light, either would be workable...if you aren't committed to the fireplace and its possible I'd consider getting rid of the hearth surround that is a little bulky as well and maybe going for a traditional yet sleeker fireplace. I'm no design expert by any stretch so please take this all with carefully measured grains of salt.
Mona
on Oct 22, 2015
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Nancy, I feel you already have the best idea of painting the fireplace surround and changing the current black tiles to a lighter. Go for it. I bet you'll be happy you did.
Z
on Oct 22, 2015
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I would place that tv above the fireplace, add shelves to the wall where the entertainment center is now and re-use that ent center in another room. it could be reused as extra storage, in a pantry, in a bedroom..but it is far too large for all the other furniture in the room.
Susan Hartline
on Oct 22, 2015
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First I would remove all of the 'backing' from all of the shelves. That will make the room seem larger, more airy & open! Then you might not have to do anything else to the room right now. Leave it like that for awhile & see how you like it. They can always be put back on. And it didn't cost anything! It is hard to tell just by looking at these pictures, but would the shelf section of the entertainment center fit on the fireplace mantle? If not, you could cut part of the back side of it off, to make it fit. Then your furniture could be arranged all around your fireplace & TV. I don't understand why builders have to put the fireplaces in corners!? They need to be put in the middle of a large wall! Not crammed in a corner! I'm done venting now, thank you. No offense, but I would remove everything on top of the shelf & just display the clock on top of the entertainment center. It just looks a little bit too busy, all the way up there. :) Please post pictures to let us see what you decided to do. By the way, your entertainment center & other shelf unit is beautiful! Good luck!
Laurie Powell
on Oct 22, 2015
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Personally I would like to see the fireplace and wall unit all in one,and of course being able to incorporate the tv.Mona has a great idea and it would totally open up your room with those great high ceilings.
Janet Pizaro
on Oct 22, 2015
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Thank you all for your input... still would love to hear more ideas, these ideas, sure are within my way of thinking... of course, I have to deal with the husband.... haha.... I too do NOT like corner fireplaces, I lived with one in another house for 30 years, very hard to decorate around.
Nancy
on Oct 22, 2015
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Is it possible to separate the middle section of your entertainment center from the side sections? If it is that immediately makes more space between it and the fireplace. then pare down the items on top and just use one good size item like the clock or something else.
Ellie
on Oct 22, 2015
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Yes, I can... the one thing I was wondering if I did that, would it look odd to have only this tall piece on the one wall, or would I hang pics or???? if I take the sides off, I will have to do some wood repair because they are held together with biscuit type joiners, but I think I can do.. Okay, so that is at least two if not three who thinks the top of the cabinet is too cluttered, so... maybe it is.
Nancy
on Oct 22, 2015
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You have 2 pieces fighting for the "money shot". Get rid of the eye sore...(entertainment center) & make your fireplace the focal point. I like your idea of the half brick behind the fireplace. For interest, play with 2 shades of paint on those walls. Clean up some of the clutter. (Which is my problem as well). Maybe a chandelier to center it all. I envy you, you have structure to work with.
Mickey Baron
on Oct 22, 2015
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Mickey & Boo Boo, thank you. I agree, the entertainment center needs to go, wish me luck with my husband in getting him to agree.
Nancy
on Oct 23, 2015
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Here's another thought, If I get rid of the huge unit, should I put the TV above the fireplace and put some shelf units in above the TV so I can put all the components? Or put a smaller shorter piece of furniture, such as what was suggested maybe the console table, which is currently behind the couch on the entertainment wall?
Nancy
on Oct 23, 2015
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It's a small room and should have smaller scale furniture, i.e. smaller recliner.
Elaine Shoyren Morris
on Oct 23, 2015
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Yep either Get rid of the Entertainment unit or move it closer to the light Switches by the Hallway.. its not centered on the Wall. Wonder if you could take it apart - Take the whole top off and leave just the bottom where the Doors are...? or get a smaller and Lower cabinet that would be that height.. its competing with the Fireplace... I hate TV's above the Fireplace.. it cheapens The Beautiful Wood Work around it..
Jean Thompson
on Oct 23, 2015
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Will the tv fit in the built in behind the recliner? If so, you can eliminate some tables and rearrange the furniture to view the tv and enjoy the fireplace.
Margarite
on Oct 23, 2015
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Rearrange the furniture to face the window and put the TV in the unit in the alcove. Remove the shelves. Get rid of the huge entertainment unit. Smaller scale will make the room look bigger. Maybe angle a smaller chair where the unit is .
Sandy T
on Oct 23, 2015
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You could lose some of the furniture, the scale seems a bit big, and you'll enjoy the increased space and air circulation. The Palladian-style alcove is lovely, lots of potential with some strategically placed lighting. I'd also go for at least one large mirror; this will also open the room up. I really like your accent art!
Nora Dolan
on Oct 23, 2015
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The unit is too large for the room and overpowers the space (my opinion). That being said, I love it..... I suggest removing the entertainment center and moving the buffet from behind the sofa to the center of that wall. Place the TV on the buffet and the components in the drawers or tucked away behind the door. If you must put the components on the buffet, make them part of your decorating scheme by using them to elevate books or knick-nacks. Hang that beautiful clock above the TV. Fill in with your initial and various size old picture frames and pictures up to the ledge. Consider sanding the top of the buffet and staining the same color as the mantle. Lighten up the black hole on the left end by painting the interior white to match the outside of the buffet. Unify decorations on and above the mantle, on the buffet and the wall behind by using items similar in color, texture, and style. Have fun! Please post follow-up photos no matter what you do.
Maggie Kimble-Bernard
on Oct 23, 2015
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I would extend the wood of the fireplace up to the ceiling to balance it with the tall piece. Right now the entertainment center overpowers the fireplace, but a frame stained to match the fireplace and extending perhaps to the ceiling would balance the two.
Samantha Jackson
on Oct 23, 2015
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For those who hate the idea of painting wood....please don't read any further ;-) This is a small budget friendly suggestion: I would paint the entertainment center the color of the wall. It's distracting from the fireplace 'as is' because it's so large and 'bossy' in its current wood tone. If you can't move it any other place, then disguise it a little......You'll still have its storage capacity there but it'll blend in better and make the room look larger and less cluttered too, IMHO. Additionally, I would try to pare down some of the furniture/lamps/accessories. There's a lot going on in this room making it pretty "visually loud".
CK
on Oct 23, 2015
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Well--1st I would remove the side pieces to the entertainment center if they are not absolutely necessary and see how you like that because it would look more spacious or at least remove the one side piece close to the fireplace. If it is not built together it is always usable elsewhere. You have a considerable amount of dark furniture w/the white trim through out the house and it is lovely. I noticed there were 3 lamp tables and a coffee table--if you don't really need all of them that would add to the feeling of spaciousness, also. You might want to try a floor lamp for one of the lamp tables. Sometimes one can do a little and it makes a world of difference. Hope that helps.
Sarah A. Victory
on Oct 23, 2015
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If it were up to me I would take the items off the top of the entertainment center, and incorporate them up onto the ledge above, I think that would give the piece less of an overpowering look compared to the wall, or the fireplace, and you have a good bit of space that you could use up on that ledge which is doing nothing right now. If you have special pieces that you want to display but dont want to chance getting them broken That Ledge is Awesome... It would decorate It and the upstairs level as well,while lowering the height of the entertainment center, by giving more space between the center and the ledge. I think its mor of an optical illusion that makes it seem "overpowering". I would leave the fireplace as is it matches the ent. center well . Hope this makes sense. try and see if you like it.. If not you can always change it back.
Buster Evans
on Oct 23, 2015
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Above the fireplace, next to the window. Really nice space, you'll have loads of fun changing things. It's never finished, keeps life interesting...
Nora Dolan
on Oct 23, 2015
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Sorry, I meant surrounding it in crown molding the large niche behind the couches. Two of the pictures in the picture demonstrate what I mean in the fourth and last pic. The cohesiveness is going along the lines with the moldings and columns already in your room and classic traditional style, just kind of rounding out the whole style.
Mona
on Oct 23, 2015
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I sell furniture for a living and there are plenty of comfortable recliners out there that aren't as big in scale. You could also simplify the tv by just putting in on a console so that the fireplace would stand out. :)
Elaine Shoyren Morris
on Oct 24, 2015
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I would remove the items from the top of the entertainment center and if possible remove the two smaller sections of the entertainment center, and paint the remaining piece(s) the same color as your buffet. This would help the fireplace become more of a focal point. I also think using smaller scale end tables/coffee table and/or a floor lamp are all ideas that would help open up the space. Best of luck to you!
Brenda P
on Oct 24, 2015
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I agree the large piece should be painted so it fades back and let's the fireplace be the focus point.
Penny
on Oct 25, 2015
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What a great space- love those high ceilings!! You really need to decide which item you want to be the focal point of the room. Right now, that giant entertainment center is hogging all of the attention! Ideally, removing it would be the way to go to allow the fireplace to stand alone. But realistically, you need a spot for your TV and components, right? You can paint it the same color as the wall to make it blend into the wall, remove the stuff on top to clean it up a bit. Also, since you can see inside those glass doors, I would definitely stage them by removing the baskets and electronic components if you can. I would cheat it over a little bit more away from the fireplace wall as well. Then, I would paint or tile or plank or do something to the fireplace niche to give it a different color and texture, adding some larger artwork or that large black round clock or even a mural and lighting to the arched opening to draw your eye there. Good luck!
Country Design Home
on Oct 25, 2015
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Do those side pieces come off of the entertainment center? If so, that would help the proximity issue. Or, paint those side pieces the same color as the wall. That would make it blend into the wall and make it look like there is more space between the entertainment center and the fireplace.
Jennifer Crompton
on Oct 25, 2015
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The fireplace is small I would keep the attention on the entertainment piece just remove the pieces from the top you know and I don't give it a cleaner look I like the idea that people had of pain and get the same color as the wall it would still be a focal piece but it it would blend better and Won't look as large
Sandy Hartnett
on Oct 25, 2015
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yes..Is that a possibility?
Sandy T
on Oct 28, 2015
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Thank you to everyone who gave me input on what to do... now, to go talk to the husband :-)
Nancy
on Oct 28, 2015
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Here's my 2 cents...You might want to change the big wall piece to something smaller to hold just the TV and electronic equipment. Then above it on each side floating shelves make sure the trim work & stain matches the rest of the woodwork in the room. This will give you the illusion of more space & you can customize the shelving to whatever you want to put on them - artwork, books or decorative pieces.
Kayo Frazier
on Nov 02, 2015
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Alot of the problem is the depth of the tv cabinet. The easiest solution would be to just put the tv on a console that is not as deep (17") and won't block the fireplace because of the angle of the wall.
Elaine Shoyren Morris
on Nov 03, 2015
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