apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I'm with Janel, I actually kinda like it! it's never even that noticeable, but then again, I dont live there :)

the thing that really stuck out to me though, was the color of the fireplace. have you considered painting it white? it'd make that whole area seem much more cohesive and really pulled together. it'd be super cheap and easy!

Just take it out. Why "eventually"?

I like it too. I think it gives the fireplace that somethin' extra!
if you really don't like it ... you can just remove it.
we had the scalloping above our kitchen window and the wood is a separate piece,it should come off in one piece!
but I regret taking it off... it was like I said... that somethin' extra.

I think you could probably get some fabric that you like, make it the length of the detail across, and then make the height hit juuuust under the scalloped edge, almost like a box curtain valance. It might be easy to do using a flat sheet as the fabric. If the detail is wood, nice flat gold or silver thumbtacks should be able to hold up the fabric.

I agree with goodnightdean, can you paint the fireplace white? It really will make the whole space match and not fight with each other.

I just looked again... for real. leave it. its cute.
if you want to do something to make it look better why don't you take off that fake gold fireplace cover? and do something with the brick? that would make it all look more cohesive.

I, like AT, like the scalloped detail too!

if what you want is a more modern or streamlined look, then my opinion is certainly to work on that fireplace instead. particularly the doors! And those handles on the cabinet doors...

But as for covering it up? it's already white like the actual bookcase so i don't know how you could make it blend in anymore... And hanging something that would cover it would look god-awful imho.

curious to see if anyone actually does come up with a great way to hide the detailing!

I would attach a fabric valence over it with velcro.

If you like decorating with fabric, you could even have a custom curved curtain rod made for you to close in the shelves. It would probably be pricey , but it could be a way to hide storage.

Hope that's helpful.

-Figs

I'm with Amanda.

The scallop looks awful.

Cut a 1x4 or 1x6 to length, glue and screw over the scallop area, then paint white to match. You now have a clean lined cornice that won't be screaming "Hansel and Gretel" like it is now.

i think it's cute too.. u should def focus on the fireplace, that's where my eyes keep falling. the gawdy gold handles and cover are bad.. sorry. try some new hardware, as suggested earlier, and paint your fireplace to pull it all together.

I like the scallop, but none of the rest of it.

You know it would take about 10 minutes to rip it all out, right? And no skill. Just do that and move on.

Here's what NOT to do: create a mirrored scallop to box it out. Oy. Way too complicated. If you want to box it out, just remove scallop and replace with stock molding.

I vote for painting the fireplace white! Besides, I love the scalloped detailing.

I don't like it either. it'd be cute in a little girl's room. But, I wouldn't be fond of it in the living room either. Get some large molding and just nail over the scallop.

Just rip it out, seriously don't be scared!

Also, yes those cabinets need new hardware, super easy fix.
And, you need a new screen/hardware for the fireplace.

I think "cute" is the part you don't like and that brass agianst white reads precious.

get rid of the gold metal stuff. all of it.

I like the scallop, but I'd remove it if you don't like it. Having fabric up there will only look cheesy.

I don't mean this in a bitchy way, but the shelves are so cluttered I didn't even notice the scallop. I agree with the posters above who suggest that it's not what's causing the problem.

Since it seems like you'd prefer to leave the scallop trim for the time being, have you considered covering it with molding? I'm no DIY master, so just a passing thought.

woops! sorry, just noticed that this has already been suggested.

Thanks for all the thoughts, ideas and perspectives. The fireplace cover and handles are for sure on the list 'o things to change. Painting the brick has been a consideration as well.

Its sincerely large and in the room you see it from an angle (I took this picture when our couch was moved for a party), so when you see our big ass TV nearby it just seems distracting. I just feel like its the top of a carousel and Mary Poppins is going to come calling with a spoon full of sugar.

Thanks ATers!

Well, the big ass TV isn't the only part of the equation, just the one I can't control:)

I agree with a few things that have been said. I think you notice the scalloping so much because your eye lands on the fireplace and immediately wants to look somewhere, anywhere else. It's like talking to someone who has spinach in their teeth--you'd rather look at their unibrow. The better thing to do would be to tell them they have spinach in their teeth!

So, um, your fireplace kinda has spinach in its teeth. Know what I mean?

If you don't want to paint the brick, then please at least do something about the black and gold inset. If for some reason you can't, a fireplace screen just became your best friend. Look for something simple but striking and bold in color. You want to draw the eye downward to the screen. If you can't find a pre-made one, then consider making one yourself.

Another way to distract from the scalloping is to keep the visually weightier objects on lower shelves. You seem to have more items on the top two shelves on both sides. That just keeps drawing the eye upwards. Clear those shelves out. Place only one or two small, simple, white items up on each of those shelves.

Try swapping out those three cute little frames just to the left of the black round clock on your mantle with that set of hot pink books on the second-to-top shelf on the left.

Swap those books on the top outer left shelves down to the bottom shelves on the left. Move the little silver heart on the far left up to one of the top shelves.

On the top right, leave your light pink small horizontal frame, but take away the books behind it. Then take the white books on the shelf below, and swap them with the stack of colorful books on the shelf diagonally up and to the left. Then perhaps one other small item on that shelf and you're done.

Try swapping some of the lighter things to those top shelves and clearing out some of the books (I can't believe I'm telling someone to put books away, but this is really more of a display shelf and you're not happy with how it looks anyway, so....). Play around with it for a while and see if that keeps your eye down away from the scalloping. Remember, ANY splashes of bright color, like a lime green book spine, will automatically draw the eye up.

If all else fails, go to Lowe's or Home Depot and get yourself some of the PVC moulding. It's flexible, and should be able to wrap around the curves of your moulding. I would get something tall enough to hang down past your scalloping by an inch. Is the wood above your scalloping smooth? You might want to get another piece of flexible moulding to go above the piece that covers the scalloping. And since it's flexible moulding, you could use 3M heavy-duty velcro tabs to mount it without destroying the scalloping. There are a few reasons I recommend leaving the scalloping--for one, the next person might love it. For two, you'll never get that curve right unless you've got lots of woodworking experience and know a few tricks to help you. If you try to patch it with something, chances are it'll never look right. I really think the flexi-PVC moulding is the only good way to cover it up. Just be sure it's flexible enough to make that curve.

Good luck!

Ditto on the curtain valance (try white linen or canvas?), the clutter, and brass hardware.

Just pull it off.

It looks like 1X6 that was cut to have the scalloped edge, and face nailed to the rest of the unit. A small pry bar should do it.

Take everything off the shelves, pull off the trim, fill any nails with putty (sand to make them even), then repaint the whole thing, including the brick. It looks like an easy weekend project at worst.

Please consider ripping out the bookcases and the scallop trim and letting the fireplace be the focal point it deserves. It feels like it is being smushed between 2 bus doors. Liberate it and allow it to breathe. It looks like 2 windows flank the fireplace and beautiful drapes could hang in the background. Seriously, you will love how it opens up and declutters your room. Happy demo.

What I wouldn't give for a scalloped edge on built-ins...

get rid of it, its too gingerbread house

Don't paint the fireplace. If you do, some cursed soul down the road is going to spend years of his/her life (and take years off his/her life) trying to strip it off.

The fireplace is hideous. I'd build a bookcase in front of it, and keep the scallops.

clothing starch and wallpaper. you can get it off later if you need to without any paint damage.

I agree with ripping out the bookcase completely and letting the fireplace breathe. I'd love to see that fireplace with marble instead of the current yucky brick. Definitely resurface it.

At this point, it looks like Strawberry Shortcake lives in your house with the pink bookcase and scalloped trim.

I would normally like period details, like a few scallops in a retro kitchen, but this is way overboard and doesn't look original. I wouldn't stop at removing the scallops, I would rip out the entire fireplace surround -- it's hideous and circus-like. Go with your gut!

I like the scallops. It's all that clutter that would drive me bonkers.

I'm with fuzzball. The cheapest and easiest way to deal with the whole area is to remove all that small, dust-catching bric-a-brac on the shelves. Then add back fewer, larger pieces with a scale and interest that draws attention away from the bricks and the scallops. Also, changing the brass door cabinet hardware and fireplace door will help clean up the look immediately.

I'd rip everything out BUT the fireplace -- I like that brick/stone. Definitely get rid of that insert; ugh! (And put it on Craigslist under "free stuff" -- we had the same insert and someone came and got it that day.)

I'm not a big fan of bookshelves and photos and plants and clocks around fireplaces; too much is going on here. I kind of like the Uptown poster though, what I can see of it.

get out the crowbar and go to town. just rip out the scallop trim board and will you are at it take out the bookcases, the fireplace cover and paneling about the fireplace. There is nothing wrong with the brick surround so please don't paint it.

OK, as usual, there are lots of snarky or "not to sound bitchy, but..." comments.... so I will try to be gracious...

My thought is:
Step one: Take everything out of the bookcase.
Step Two: paint everything black (bookcase, brick, moldings, tacky bronze handles)
Step three: carefully curate about 5% of that stuff back onto the shelves. I did a black fireplace for a friend and it looks amazing. Everything you put there looks like it is framed.. So cool. Actually that silver mirror would be perfect... get a second one in a different size and shape to go next to it.. might be very cool.
You could seriously do it on a Saturday afternoon... Good luck!

For a really inexpensive fix. Attach a band of fabric or wallpaper to the top.