A :blah: two-story Family Room Wall!!
#1
06-08-05, 06:04 AM
A :blah: two-story Family Room Wall!!
I just moved into a brand new home w/ a two-story family room wall. I have a fireplace on this wall, but it's a mantled fireplace with no bells or whistles. There are no windows on this wall either (although the adjacent wall is a wall of windows that I will not be treating).
Any suggestions? Paint?? Artwork??? Mirrors?? I haven't a clue!! The wall is about 20' tall, and probably close to the same wide!!!
Thanks!
Any suggestions? Paint?? Artwork??? Mirrors?? I haven't a clue!! The wall is about 20' tall, and probably close to the same wide!!!
Thanks!
#2
06-08-05, 08:15 AM
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ideally, you should build up the fireplace surround to be more in proportion with the room/wall, but that's the expensive fix (and something the builder should've done in the first place).
without seeing the space & all your furnishings, my generic advice would be to definitely paint the walls with some color, hang either a large mirror or artwork, or a grouping of either 2 or 4 or 9 smaller pieces (ie a grouping), over the mantle, and if there's room, place an object or 2 on the mantle itself. then depending on what you've done over the mantle, you can hang something lower on the walls on each side of the fireplace - for example, if you went with the grouping over the mantle, then do a large item on each side, or vice versa.
alot of what you do with this wall will depend on how your furniture is arranged & the pieces you've got to work with.
whatever you do, do not hang pictures super high on the wall (like 8' up!) - it'll look strange and like you've tried too hard to fill in all the space (don't laugh - i've seen it!). just use pieces that are in proportion to the space - as in, larger than what you'd use in a smaller more average space with 8' ceilings. you do want to play up the great space & height that you have, but don't feel compelled to fill up the entire wall with stuff. accentuate it, but let it "be."
without seeing the space & all your furnishings, my generic advice would be to definitely paint the walls with some color, hang either a large mirror or artwork, or a grouping of either 2 or 4 or 9 smaller pieces (ie a grouping), over the mantle, and if there's room, place an object or 2 on the mantle itself. then depending on what you've done over the mantle, you can hang something lower on the walls on each side of the fireplace - for example, if you went with the grouping over the mantle, then do a large item on each side, or vice versa.
alot of what you do with this wall will depend on how your furniture is arranged & the pieces you've got to work with.
whatever you do, do not hang pictures super high on the wall (like 8' up!) - it'll look strange and like you've tried too hard to fill in all the space (don't laugh - i've seen it!). just use pieces that are in proportion to the space - as in, larger than what you'd use in a smaller more average space with 8' ceilings. you do want to play up the great space & height that you have, but don't feel compelled to fill up the entire wall with stuff. accentuate it, but let it "be."
#3
06-19-05, 08:00 PM
Give the fireplace center stage
You said you just moved in to a brand new home. Are you renting or buying? If you're renting, painting that wall a different color than the rest of the room would be as far as you want to go.
If you're buying, thank goodness the builder left the wall as a blank slate for you, as you were left a great place to make your home unique from all the others in your neighborhood. That wall is designed to become a major focal point. My suggestion is to utilize architectural trimwork on the wall, incorporating the fireplace mantel. I'm picturing "wall frames" as the statement that makes your new home truly yours.
For ideas, look at books on trimwork, available at book stores and the book section of your local home improvement store.
Have fun with it!!!
-Deb
If you're buying, thank goodness the builder left the wall as a blank slate for you, as you were left a great place to make your home unique from all the others in your neighborhood. That wall is designed to become a major focal point. My suggestion is to utilize architectural trimwork on the wall, incorporating the fireplace mantel. I'm picturing "wall frames" as the statement that makes your new home truly yours.
For ideas, look at books on trimwork, available at book stores and the book section of your local home improvement store.
Have fun with it!!!
-Deb
#4
06-20-05, 10:20 AM
As the others have said, it's difficult to give specific suggestions without knowing your style, your taste & the other items (furniture, accessories) in the room.
But, generally speaking, I'd give you 3 suggestions to start with (#1 already mentioned by Annette & Deb):
1. A large framed mirror centered above the mantle. Make it a grand one! Could be framed with wood, or with metal, etc. Depends upon your existing decorating style.
2. Consider painting that one wall in an accent color that goes with your existing scheme.
3. On the mantle, place some tall items. Such as? One or two tall vases (pottery, wood, or metal...again, what goes w/ your decor?) with very tall dried arrangements in them. They'll provide you height, and a simple but striking arrangement.
But, generally speaking, I'd give you 3 suggestions to start with (#1 already mentioned by Annette & Deb):
1. A large framed mirror centered above the mantle. Make it a grand one! Could be framed with wood, or with metal, etc. Depends upon your existing decorating style.
2. Consider painting that one wall in an accent color that goes with your existing scheme.
3. On the mantle, place some tall items. Such as? One or two tall vases (pottery, wood, or metal...again, what goes w/ your decor?) with very tall dried arrangements in them. They'll provide you height, and a simple but striking arrangement.
