apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I honestly don't think the fireplace is that bad. I would just paint the fireplace wall similarly to the other walls.

I don't think it's that bad, either. I like the darker accent color on the wall because it helps the black surround to fit in. You could mask around the brass and paint it black with heat-proof paint used for painting stoves. An asymmetrical mantel that wraps around the corner would be really cool and simple to make from standard mouldings. It would be worth hiring a carpenter if you can't DIY. Keep the design simple to keep the cost down.

The fireplace gray color doesn't go well with the room color. I actually prefer the fireplace color versus the room color. The picture doesn't really work either. I would just spray paint the gold frame black.

My mom had a fireplace like that with brass accents and had great luck with painting the brass with high heat paint. It looks 100% better w/o the brass.

Ditto on painting the fireplace wall the same as the other walls.

If you don't like the fire place, calling it out with an accent color probably isn't a good thing.

I think painting it the same color as the other walls will minimize the awkwardly shaped feature, which is sadly common in many spaces.

Ignoring it all together, though, isn't a good idea, either. So, I recommend a "wrap around" shelf/mantle that flows from the one wall all the way under the TV to the far wall. Basically, wall to wall. It would help unify the space.

Lastly, I agree about the brass. Try a product that was mentioned on AT, Blue Magic 400 7oz Metal Polish Cream, which would transform your plated brass to a chrome. Of course, you can always just paint it as others have mentioned.

That's my $2!

Tile it.

I've seen that look done before, and they put large gorgeous tiles (big ones not the mini ones) on both sides, with a dark burnished metal mantle on the side above the fire itself (although that burnished metal mantle could go all the way around).

And put a metal frame around the fire section to make the fire a focal area.

Try a large mirror on the mantle after you put one in.

The other option is to put rocks on it but I hate that woodsy cottage look.

Or paint a decal on it. Make it a lighter beige, and a focal foliage kind of decal/sticker/paint across the front.

another vote for painting the brass with high heat paint.

i'm not sure about the blue accent wall... but i think the lighter landscape on that wall isn't helping (nothing against the art, just the art / backdrop color mix).

extending your granite bar top down the wall and across the two sides of the fireplace as a thin ledge might be fun.

If you want a cheap mantel I would suggest going for something a little less traditional, maybe placing some shelves around it at different heights. If you want the mantel to have a wrap-around effect just chose something like the LACK shelves at Ikea and let the shelves overlap the edge of the fireplace the depth of the other shelf.
I also think a row of shadow boxes or cube shelves with some space between them, would make a cool 'mantel' especially if you continue it over onto the other walls.

you guys are good.

I agree - the contrasting color isn't doing you any favors, and neither are the baskets of junk on the floor between it and the TV cabinet and the pet bed.

Paint it the same color as the rest of the walls and clear out the clutter - and when you get more $$$ for a bigger change get some floor-ceiling tile on those walls (use the same tile as your backsplash for continuity) and have a handyman come in to build/install a wrap-around mantel using the same trim as you have in the adjacent kitchen.

Brass needs to go. It stands out way too much, and since there's no other brass in the room, it sticks out like a sore thumb. I think shelving would be great above the fire place, instead of a mantle. Perhaps in black? Or white to match the kitchen cabinets?

I do like the fireplace painted in a different color. However, your blue might be a bit too dark for your room (and too dark for the painting hanging on that wall). I'd lighten it up to a lighter blue. Perhaps the blue in your rug? At least in the photo it looks lighter.

Hope you find something that works for you!

I actually think the fireplace is nice, esp. since you pick up the blue color in other places. Taking down the painting and removing the baskets will de-emphasize it.

If you want to go a step farther, you might try a different color of wall paint. Maybe a neutral with a bluish undertone.

Yes, yes yes to painting the brass. I have painted the brass on my fireplace with black BBQ paint. Cost's five bucks and takes 10 mins..... works great. You do not need to prep it all just wipe it down well, and spray away. If after a few years it has a few nicks just respray. Honestly you will find this will make a big difference.

I also think removing the baskets and the painting would look better, and costs nothing.

Down the road I would vote for the large tiles too, but who knows by then that trend might be over too :-)

Hope this helps.

You need something to tie the black and greenish kitchen together with the navy and peach living room. This space is too small for such a drastic color change.
- Paint the fireplace white to match the kitchen cabinets. Add a large picture with your four signature colors.
? Change the kitchen greenish to match the living room peach.

The accent wall is what makes it stand out. Paint it the same color as the wall, and it'll be a nice feature.

You can also buy antique/vintage fire screens, if you like that look.

Love your kitchen tile, the fireplace blue, and the latte wall color. To me, the black of the fireplace forms a pleasing liaison between the black counter/leather barstools and the black media center. A little fine tuning could pull things together in a way you like.

-- Different art. The sky paining is lovely, but a bit small for the space. Something larger, and positioned lower, would be pleasing. Not necessarily a paining ... Some textured, colorful plates could be quite interesting, picking up on the gorgeus spa blue tile and the glazed pieces in your collection. See the Look! Plates post for an arrestingly colorful and textured plate grouping that might inspire you to design one that fits your space and your taste.

--Ditto on losing the brass trim. Spritz of high heat spray paint. See if the fireplace surround is removable before paining ... that's some strong-smelling paint.

--During the summer months, stow the fireplace tools and bring in a black iron plant stand in the corner and a green plant with a soft and trailing habit.

--When puppy needs a new nest, a basket with a plain, washable cushion could coordinate with your footstools.

Your home looks like a comfortable place. Cute snout on that dog.

Paining? PainTing.

I would paint the fireplace the same color as the rest of the walls, then build a mantel to wrap around (that should be fairly easy). Paint the black brick to match the rest of the wall color, and spray paint the brass with high heat nickel paint. The mantel should be fairly hefty I think, and maybe you could have it made for you with old, reclaimed wood of some sort, so there are noticeable markings and knots, etc. Then just prop up a big mirror and a few small items on the larger side and maybe a stack or two of books on the other.
It will look great...your kitchen looks awesome, btw!

One more thing. Since your place is on the compact side, building out a mantel could get in the way of traffic flow through the room. Consider a shallow picture ledge if you feel you need something mantel-like, and do wrap it around the wall, and do make it out of an authenic, quality material, not something cheap (sorry, Lack-lovers.)

How very very lucky to have a fireplace!

I agree that the peach (tan?) color doesn't quite go. You have been handed a lot of shiny black and some white so you need to go with that. I would google decorating in black and white and look for something that struck your fancy.

If it were me, I would at the very least paint the entire back wall behind the TV and around the fireplace a soft medium gray color. Preferably all the walls in the living space. The suggestions about covering the brass and building a shelf/mantle are also splendid. I would move the little painting to a smaller wall and put a large, framed black-and- white photo over the fireplace -- or a large mirror, as someone suggested. You should probably also have some small colorful accents, of clear green, deep Chinese red, turquoise, or bright yellow, here and there to cheer things up. Fresh flowers would do the trick.

I would also upgrade the rug to an allover-natural tan type berber or else something in black and white.

I like the fireplace. Paint the brass, definitely, and consider how much you want to do with the rest of the room, e.g., new colors, etc. I think changing out that picture for something either round (one larger item) or a collection of pictures would help a lot.

If you can afford it, I've seen horizontal rectangular glass tiles used on fireplaces to beautiful effect.

I saw someone use floor laminate blocks in a nice, dark wood color as a wall-sized headboard for a bed somewhere. Those were easy to install and size to requirement, and they'd be very easy to maintain on a wall. Maybe you could create a 'chimney treatment' of sorts out of that?

One more vote for painting the brass with heat resistant paint. You simply won't believe how much difference it makes untilyou do it. We painted our fireplace screen when we staged our old house for sale, and it kind of boggled my mind how much so small a thing does to change the look of the whole room.

Another look you could go for would be large slate tiles. Home Depot had some not long ago for about $3 per 12" tile, as I recall. They come in assorted earthy shades and add both color and texture to a space. If you don't like slate, you could get ceramic or just repaint.

I'd love to see a boxy wooden mantle wrapping around the corner -- think railroad ties only clean varnished wood... It would need to be mitered though, so professional help might be required to do that.

i agree with some of the following ideas..
-paint the bronze to black
-maybe use tiles if you like
-or paint the wall whatever color makes you happy...
as for mantle like things maybe you could put a bunch of floating shelves all up the larger wall asymetrically and put pictures on them or whatever you like...

if it were my wall i would paint it with black chalkboard paint and put white floating shelves that look like the trim. the put vases and photos and art with lots of color to stand our against the black color and if you feel the need to change the look you can always draw on the blackboard and erase when you want a change...

i mean... if that was my room..

btw i love the kitchen backsplash tiles!

I love the idea of tiling this with large-scale, natural looking tiles.

I definitely would get rid of that navy color, and paint the walls and fireplace the same color. Painting the brass black is a great idea, too, because brass is definitely dating.

do stone to ceiling like in picture on left, and spay paint gold frme black

http://www.tileshop.com/accents/arch_facings.aspx

please just replace the artwork above the fireplace with a larger black/white picture in a black frame with a big white matte. this will do the trick.

My parents had the same kind of fireplace that wrapped like yours. Instead of ugly black, it was ugly white marble tile.

They put in a wrapped mantle (like many are suggesting). Just something simple, I think they used Cedar and had it stained and sealed a medium brown like your floor. And then they layered limestone from top to bottom and built a hearth. It looks wonderful. They found pewter moulding to replace the brass. The limestone would definitely accent the brown wood floor.

But limestone is hard to come by in some states. Texas has an over abundance of it.

Can you remove the brass-and-glass frame thing altogether? My partner and I did that (and painted the fireplace wall black) and it looked gorgeous.

I like the accented fireplace walls and the asymmetrical fireplace. I don't like the blue and feel that it is too contrasty. Maybe just a tan, a little darker and grayer (almost a medium warm gray) than the wall color could be nice. Or maybe a brighter/lighter color like sage or mossy green. Either way, I can imagine smallish artwork placed asymmetrically to the left above the fireplace--perhaps a circular mirror or three 10 inch squares placed vertically. I would not center anything on that wall, though. Check out this site for asymmetrical fireplace inspiration. http://www.ideaspacedesign.com/

Maybe you can use some of these decal
http://desiretoinspire.blogspot.com/2008/11/wallter.html

Of course, my ideas are very clean lines/modern. Your house looks very traditional.

I agree about the high heat black paint. I have the same ugly brass framing on my fireplace and I am happy to hear that I can paint it.

Hope that helps:
http://oldglutton.blogspot.com/