CHI Good Questions: Ideas for Decorating this Fireplace?

Marie Gael sent in a good question: "I'm downsizing from a large apt to a teeny, but great studio. DOWNsize, but UPgrade! Anywho, I'm looking for some ideas for this fireplace. my style is MOLD. I've considered going w/ a mirror & some candles, but has that been done to death yet? i did it several years ago & people loved it. My other thought was putting in a terrarium or one of those oldish glass green houses...

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...I really like that idea, but as you can see from the picture, there is a gas line in the way. The other issue is that the space is fairly tally & most terrariums I've seen aren't. I love the idea, but how can i implement it?

Ideas? i don't want something kitche or anything that screams FIREPLACE! i want to use the space in a creative way. PS-books are out as I'm already using them elsewhere.

Please, please help. I'm moving back to my hometown & wanna get this place together so i can have company."

Congrats on the new place, Marie Gael! AT designers, please share your decor ideas and suggestions with Marie in the comments below...

Comments (9)

Do you own or rent?
If you own.. I would rip out the tiles, and get a custom tile mural.. you could also do a few floating shelves.. ikea lack? and use the ikea galvanized planters.. plant rows of herbs, boxwood or something interesting...Just a few ideas...also don't worry about the gas line.. make whatever you want to sit on feet frame and it will be underneath..I got my custom tile mural off an ebay vendor..do a search you will find them

posted by parrishnut on May 6th 2008 at 8:15am
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How about plants? You could either have them in planters on the floor, hanging [somehow?] from the inside, or install shelving and stack them that way. The green would complement the color of the tile, too.

posted by ae.woodford on May 6th 2008 at 8:52am
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i think this fireplace is beautiful, although i might experiment with another color inside the firebox. and i love the terrarium idea. it is not difficult to make one yourself, if you mean the kind that is basically a big glass planter--not the ones that are closed and self sustaining.
i would go with a round or curvy container, and set it on a small pedestal painted or covered with cloth so that it blends with the background. maybe set a light behind it to light the terrarium.

posted by mrs yow on May 6th 2008 at 11:09am
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I'm sorry, I can't help. I'd dead from how much I want this fireplace in my own studio.

(I'll just second mrs yow on the tall, curvy terrarium and lie back down, dead.)

posted by chellebird on May 6th 2008 at 11:17am
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you could maybe prop a piece of artwork up in there

posted by kathyh on May 6th 2008 at 12:09pm
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I would make it more of a visual dealio. Paint the whole mantle a charcoal gray, paint the inside part a vibrant orange, then attach brand new silvery window screening over the opening with a light of some sort behind the screen so it looks like it's glowing with warmth.

posted by twolibrans1969 on May 6th 2008 at 12:45pm
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Victorian bird cage, all wire or wicker, with bird, or fern?

Mirror on the back wall, glass shelves and bar stuff, a shrine to the martini or the single malt or whatever?

Mirror on the back wall, and use the chimney as a haven for an aquarium--tropical fish and a gurgling filter would be even more restful and hypnotic to watch than a fireplace.

Again with the mirror, and a jewelry box, or your three most fabulous pairs of shoes, or one big grouchy stone lion, or your buddha, or a large perfect rock.

Commission a stained glass "fire screen" from a creative friend, and backlight.

A house of cards?

posted by lccarson on May 6th 2008 at 5:11pm
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what does 'my style is MOLD' mean?

posted by cericericeri on May 7th 2008 at 12:51pm
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sorry it took so long to reply, but i haven't been able to comment in a month!

yes, i rent.

mold= modern old meaning i love modern simple stuff, but i have a fondess for mixing in vintage things.

so, after spending a couple weeks in the new place, i've found that my sace for books doesn't function like i wished. so, i think i will use that space for books. also, i'm giving many of them to the library, but i need some for research. my mom found a huge mantle mirror for $9. so, i put it above the fireplace. it reflects an ugly ceiling fan (not allowed to remove). so, being inspired by the deco features of the apt, i'm going to tape off & etch thin stripes on the mirror & place some of my grandmother's vintage blue & green glass.

thanks for all the suggestions! glad to be back!

posted by mariegael on May 23rd 2008 at 2:49pm
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