ummmmmm . . . .I STILL say it would work!! LOL

You can adjust & change things for color, but scale & proportion do not change in stationary architecture. I love the idea of using it in the dinning room & painting the fireplace. Aren't you glad you asked! More projects....

Beautiful painting, but too big and too stark a contrast with fireplace. If you love it, move it to one side of the fireplace and lower it.

Good luck Teresa-loved meeting you and hope you'll let us know with pics how you decided to resolve this

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It's a nice picture, but I'd have to agree with everyone who says it's too big. It overpowers a beautiful fireplace. A general rule of thumb I've heard is that the picture should be approximately the same width as your firebox.

I think it could work. I see the main problem is that the dark color of the painting on top, and the light fireplace, makes it look ":top heavy". Excuse the rudimentary drawing, but I wanted to show that by simply putting somthing large and dark, on each side, and extending something to bring the two together for height, I think it could work. This helps make the grouping work, imo.

I still don't believe it's too big. I imagine the fireplace the color of the picture frame...then adding something on either end of the mantle. It would be the focal point of the livingroom which is what the fireplace is meant to be anyway. The painting is beautiful by the way. Here's one more thought....Can you have the picture re-framed to something that is not so wide? Then I think your problem is solved.

OMG - Leslie I love your drawing!!! I had to laugh - just because it was sooo ingenious to do this on top of Teresa's picture. Never seen this done before!! I am definitely in the minority here but I still maintain it's the stark contrast of picture frame to fireplace (partly) but I think you have a really valid point to add more visual & physical bulk- and it adds interest instead of the whole thing being so perfectly symetrical & vertical!! It'll still be symetrical but the eye will ...»

LOL, I'm not an interior designer, but I am a builder and scale comes into play a lot.when balancing architectural features. I love a large piece over a fireplace, and I honestly think it's a color/balance issue, not size.

I also agree! love you drawing :)

@Leslie - Oh THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! That was exactly my point - color does have visual weight and in this case the picture visually looks heaver over top the white FP!!! I was always taught that we accessorise furniture - we do not decorate walls!! In other words, if accessories are placed over furniture whether it is a grouping or a single large piece - the sides should not extend beyond the edges of the furniture. Ideally, inside the "framework" of what is under the picture ...»

This is a balancing act, but very do-able! I love the idea of a large picture..you just need to balance it with the fireplace. By adding larger objects to the right and left of the fireplace, it appears to expand the size and balance it with a larger piece. You will have to excuse me for "killing" your pretty picture. I would darken the areas of the fireplace as shown just to give weight to it with such a heavy print above it.

a good rule of thumb is to allow 7" between the bottom of a piece of art or a mirror and the top of the mantle

Normally, that would be the case - actually I would say NO MORE than 7" - but, I think in this case the general guideline goes out the window simply because it's over an already high mantle and the picture is large so I think just barely above the mantle, say no more than 2". I'm not even sure she has that much space because of her ceiling moulding. I've seen many situations where a mirror or picture are hung but the frame appears to be resting on the mantle. ...»

Well, if nothing else, you are an excellent student and listen well!! I'll respect whatever your final decision is (begrudgingly lol) The important thing is that YOU have to live with it and be happy at the end of the day!!

Just keep us updated on the Finals, ok???

to bad you are so far away Teresa..I have a6' ficus (artificial..but very real looking) that I would just give you...lol...ps..sorry I killed you beautiful artwork with my sample drawing :)

I thnk it is. It takes away from your beautiful fire place. I am sure there is another place in your home for your new picture. It is also beautiful.

yes!

makes your mantel look like a shelf for the picture

pretty but too big

I agree pretty but too big.

As an interior designer the picture overwhelms the mantle but Sonya is right, it's beautiful

Teresa, you may have already received an answer, but I would say instead of focusing on the central location of the picture (and the fireplace and the small display plate in front), try to balance the room - in other words, look at the entirety of the wall and think of balancing the wall. Sometimes having items too centrally focused can be a bit much, but if you think of balancing it with the room (through the scale of other photos, items) it could work. Good Luck!