Living room and mantle, help please

Marcia Thompson
by Marcia Thompson
We like farmhouse style and light coloring. The cabinets have to go, but the tv will remain in that area . The room has very tall vaulted ceilings and we want to add beams to it. Our kitchen faces out to this area and we have white cabinets and granite.
Suggestions needed
  15 answers
  • Julie Julie on Mar 08, 2015
    What a fantastic room! Regarding the cabinets...most people would kill for additional storage like that. As opposed to getting rid of them consider painting them with the wall color allowing them to just blend into the room which will also balance the room. Room is slightly off balance on the left. For the mantle - consider mimicking the beams you're planning for the ceiling to tie the 2 together. Your fireplace is the focal point of the room but with all the large screen TVs in our lives now, installing the TV above the fireplace would bring additional balance to the room. Or - consider a large vertical piece of art or décor for above the fireplace. Good luck!
    • Marcia Thompson Marcia Thompson on Mar 08, 2015
      @Julie Thank you.....yes, the cabinets are a big question. Hate to lose the storage. We will see what happens after the fp is done. Like your idea of the mantle, and we may do wainscoting above the fp and add art to that. Thanks again!
  • Denise Hardy Denise Hardy on Mar 08, 2015
    Hi - I think I would definitely keep the units and paint them black - I know it probably sounds a bit dramatic - but 'dramatic' would be good :) I noticed behind your sofa that you have like a 'buffet' sideboard - that looks as though it is painted black - so I thought paint it to match that and also your TV would actually blend in with the unit - I also note that your fire is black - so I think it would look really nice - and.... storage space is 'premium' really isn't it - rather than getting rid of it. As Julie says I would also definitely add something above your fire, but..... I would be tempted to go for a beautiful mirror instead of a picture :) Just another thought - is if your 'buffet' is brown and I notice you have brown, taupe and cream sofas - then I think the unit would look nice painted in cream, but have the whole of that wall and the fireplace wall painted in Teal and also pick the teal colour up in cushions on your sofas. That would then give your room some 'pop' - or, you could go with a taupe colour paint for that wall and still have some teal in your cushions or whatever and then perhaps you could use a picture above the fire - something with the taupe, brown and teal in it. Just a few thoughts for you :) Let us know what you decide and post another picture :) Have a look at this link to see how teal goes with browns, creams etc. https://www.google.ie/search?q=brown+and+teal+living+room+designs&espv=2&biw=1366&bih=600&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=jTv8VN28HOaw7Abd34CwCQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ
    • Marcia Thompson Marcia Thompson on Mar 08, 2015
      @Denise Hardy Thank you for your comments. I actually am going to be lightening up the fabrics in the room, with the exception of the leather couch. Probably going to do slip cover sofa and comfy light colored chairs. On the cabinets, we thought about just removing the shelves and painting the lower cabinets, but I think we'll fix the fireplace area first and then see what happens. I will post a couple of pictures that I photo shopped (very unprofessionally, I might add) to get a poll on which looks best. Thanks again!
  • Marcia Thompson Marcia Thompson on Mar 08, 2015
    Plan A is a reclaimed beam with aged brick and wainscoting above. Please vote.... Please excuse the poor photo shopping :)
  • Barbara Barbara on Mar 08, 2015
    Large accessories, ie, baskets, vases etc would balance out the space above the shelves. Could be very interesting. Along with mantle and decor to balance it out the room.
  • Denise Hardy Denise Hardy on Mar 08, 2015
    Hi Marcia - I like the idea of the reclaimed beam and aged brick - but not so sure about the wainscoting :) - I'm sure it will look beautiful whatever you decide :)
  • Michelle Michelle on Mar 08, 2015
    beautiful space! The beamed ceiling is a great idea. To give it a more rustic feel in the rest of the room, I would remove the carpeting and install wide plank flooring or hardwood, whitewash the brick on the fireplace, add a beam for the mantle and spray paint the gold trim black, move the tv over the fireplace for balance, paint the walls a warmer color and paint the cabinets the same new color as the walls. They will then blend in and the fireplace will become the focal point of the room and balance it out. i would add some rugs, baskets and plants. Just my thoughts. Good luck on your project and have fun doing it!
  • 117135 117135 on Mar 08, 2015
    If your doing beams on the vaulted ceiling, I would also use one of them for over the fireplace to serve as your mantle.
  • Mellie Mellie on Mar 08, 2015
    Love the idea of the beams. I would NOT get rid of the shelving. Most people would love to have those. What else would you put there if you removed them besides the TV? Looking at your room, I would move the TV to over the fireplace and make that your focal point in the room. While I personally do not like TV's over the fireplace, it does make your focal point all in one place. I love the picture of the rustic mantle, but then again you still have the issue of two focal points. The shelves definitely could use an update (color). Go on Pinterest and get some ideas there that appeal to you. Then go to Lowes and get some sample paints to test next to the fireplace. I like your idea of bringing some color into your furnishings. I saw a green and white plaid couch in either Southern Living or Country Living magazine this past month and fell in love with it. Pop some reds in with it. Love it! Good luck! Can't wait to see the finished project.
  • Julies1949 Julies1949 on Mar 08, 2015
    If it's possible to move the TV over the fireplace and still have it a good viewing height, I would do that. If not, leave the TV where it is. In either case, I would paint all the shelving the same color as the walls. I would also remove some of the shelves so you had larger spaces- not all those small ones.Also very important, edit what you put on those shelves. All those small items are giving the shelves a very busy look.
  • Christine Christine on Mar 08, 2015
    I love the idea of the beams! It will add much need interest in the room. I would keep the built in and paint it black. Your room is off center and I would create two seating spaces one for the t.v. area and one for the fireplace area. From the look of your pictures your sofa's are too big for the space and it looks a bit heavy, and they are off center from the t.v. I would swap out the two sofas by the t.v. area to a sectional and center it on the t.v. area. Place a daybed in between the area of the t.v. and fireplace, and two lounge chairs by the window. I would hang a large piece of art above the fireplace to balance the wall out, and would add a mantel above the fireplace. You have a fantastic space and you can do so much with it! Good Luck! If you would like to get more thoughts and ideas I offer a free 30 min. session. Please feel free to email me at Christine@Christinetse.com http://christinetse.com http://christinetse.com/landing/10-minute-makeover
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 09, 2015
    Wow! What an amazing room! I love the board and batten look you photoshopped into the second pic. That could be your starting point. When you are attempting to achieve a country farmhouse style, the simple stained oak trim just doesn't work. You would need to paint that out or perhaps replace it with something that complements the board and batten wall. As far as the built ins go, I would leave them, just paint and distress them and add some more "country style" handles. And whatever you do to those, I would also do to that sideboard you have sitting behind the sofa (facing the photo). Since your rug and furniture are brown and beige, you might want to add another color to the walls to brighten up the space as well. Have fun!
    • Marcia Thompson Marcia Thompson on Mar 09, 2015
      @Sue@CountryDesignHome The furniture is all going to be replaced with light colored slip covered pieces, and the carpet is going to a darker, short loop. Yes, the oak is just not right, and the curved features are an eyesore (to us) but I may try painting them first. Where would YOU put the tv? Over the fp or keep it where it is? Thanks for your comments and insight!
  • Country Design Home Country Design Home on Mar 09, 2015
    Hi Marcia- I personally do not like TV's mounted over mantels, because I feel as if a TV shouldn't be the focal point of the room. But that's just me. Many people like that look so that is just a personal preference. If you could replace the oak face trim on the side windows, then I would change it to a straight flat trim that matches the board and batten and then paint it all to match the fireplace wall. There are so many angles and squares on that far wall and adding beams to it will create yet another sharp angle. Somehow you need to create the illusion of one cohesive space. So perhaps extending the board and batten treatment to that entire wall, encasing the two large windows on the right and framing out the recessed bookcase on the left would help. I like where you are going with the slipcovered sofas, adding to the country feel. Also, if this were my room,(and boy, do I wish I had a room that big!) I would opt for wood flooring vs. wall to wall carpet and add some area rugs for color and to define the space.
  • Sandra_mason15656 Sandra_mason15656 on Mar 10, 2015
    I hand painted above a old fireplace with fake sand stones using the one step paint technique and a sponge to make the stones look like real stones.
  • Barbara Butters Barbara Butters on Mar 11, 2015
    I think,I would keep the cabinets where tv is , but paint job , oatmeal colour perhaps , depending on what the room is open to. Add architectural details like crown mouldings up top and some detailing on doors, new pulls , add some built doors on some of the open shelving to change it up, cubby cupboards here and there and lighting added , sme natural baskets that fit in open spaces , maybe a beadboard backing? Some of the new doors could be beadboard ?
  • Marcia Thompson Marcia Thompson on Mar 15, 2015
    So, what about bead board or planking the walls? What would be best, vertical or horizontal, and all the way up, or partial?? Please help...