apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would paint the fireplace the same color as the trim or millwork in the apartment. I would do the trim in white, with a soft color on the walls.

This was already posted here:

http://la.apartmenttherapy.com/la/good-questions/good-question-what-to-do-with-this-fireplace-028798

I know this sounds obnoxious, but I feel bad for the client who is paying a professional who is then asking the audience of a blog to make the design decisions.

I would either paint it a different color, and/or add some embellishments to the three tiered mantel so it really stands out as a fireplace (and a lovely one at that!).

I'm not sure what the style you're looking for is, but maybe you could use stones, or a mosaic look, or maybe a painted color with a gloss on the mantel? And if they're not budget conscious, an entirely stone or mosaic covered fireplace would be beautiful in that shape!

I agree with Maxwell and NCB. I have to say this: is the client going to be taught how to make his bed?

I had the same thought. A shade darker than whatever the walls end up would be nice. I do agree with NCB though. Do we all get a cut of the commission?

I'm curious why the question was posted twice.

Do y'all complain this much about free/paying professional/amateur when *you* are getting professional advice for free?

I'd go two shades down on the paint-chip card from the wall color. And I'd probably edge the lower rim of each of the curving tiered mantel with something like silver leaf. Not the whole mantle. Just a suggestion of Art Deco to contrast with the clubby leather look.

But I don't know, I'm not a designer.

P2 are there a lot of design professional getting advice for their clients here? In my own profession, I quietly ask one of my colleagues for advice. Usually dont post it on a blog. Generally, I dont think it inspires confidence. Maybe if it was a difficult design problem people would be more sympathetic. But as an amateur I would have tried a shade a bit darker then the wall color to start.

Well, if you read the replies to the AT:LA post, it surely does look like folks are a lot less catty on the west coast...though I did have the same thought at NCB. Heck, I'm in Philly. I've got snark built right in.

I think you shouldn't paint it a contrasting color because the fireplace is monolithic with the surrounding walls and doesn't appear to be made of a different/contrasting material. It would just end up looking like you are trying too hard to play up an architectural element that was never intended to be played up in the first place.

I would paint it something bright and add a few accent pieces to the ledge - make it the focal point of the room.

Patrick, I think NCB's point is that when you're paying a professional, you shouldn't be soliciting advice from amateurs. Your training should give you the expertise to work through a problem. I never think it's wrong to ask a question, but why mention that it's for a client in the first place? What if the client recognizes that very distinctive fireplace posted randomly online? Why isn't this person conferring with other professionals?

Just my two cents.

i would paint above the mantle the same as the walls.

paint the mantle white or something contrasting, and paint below the mantle a little darker than the walls.

I can see it now...in an AT post near you:

"So...I've got this "friend" who wants to know if such-and-such is a good design idea."

I think I'd paint all but those tiers the same color as the wall. Depending on the color you choose, I think I'd leave them white. That way, the element that was meant to stand out, does.

I think I'd paint it white and the walls a pale coral color. I would line very simple votives along the the ledge. You don't want to put anything too ornamental on the ledge, because the fireplace itself is enough decoration.

Very interesting fireplace. Good luck!

Not sure how soliciting the advice of a creative community to jumpstart an idea is that different from thumbing through a magazine when stumped. It happens to the best.

Blogs are just a new resource.Why not tap 'em?

And I still maintain that people here are far more forgiving when they are *getting* the free advice... and anne gives it frequently, btw. Much more than she asks for it.

Where should she send the bills for that?

I IMPLORE YOU!!

No, no, no!!!! Please don't do anything to ruin your fireplace!
It's gorgeous as it is. To make it even more fabulous:

1. Put the golf clubs elsewhere.

2. Take everything off the mantel and place a tallish and narrowish (and very beautiful) object on either the right or left side of the mantel. Less is more on the mantel. Please refrain from putting more than one object on the mantel and avoid centering or symmetry.

3. Fold the sides of the grate behind the middle.

4. If you wish, place votives or other candles in the fire box.

I implore you: try this first. If you don't like it, you can always go with the other suggestions. Yet I believe you will love my suggestion.

You know, I was going to post earlier "I hope no one picks apart what is admittedly a 'before' photo, by saying 'Put away the golf clubs and get a bigger houseplant' " but I didn't really think anyone would say it!!

I have no real suggestions to add but my gosh... what is wrong with asking for advice from a board full of people who have such excellent ideas?!?! I'm a design professional and YES, sometimes I need help coming up with ideas and YES I always ask others because asking and getting better ideas is better than not asking and coming up with something boring (because maybe it just isn't your style, or you're just stuck on that one problem). I would hope that someone I pay to do work for me would exhaust every option available. The people who post here always have such great ideas...why NOT ask!?!

OK. The way P2 and Lizann reframed the issue makes it seem better. Its a curbside consult where many minds are better than one.

I would paint the entire fireplace a couple shades darker than whatever color you go with on the walls, then bring the wall color in on the inside rim of the fireplace (the surround appears to be a wide painted rim). Additionally, I would accent the top "tier" with a row of small (max 2"x2") decorative tiles or mirror - set on diamond maybe six or so inches apart. Grout or caulk the side edges of the mirror or tile so the part that doesn't sit flush on the rounded wall won't stand out. Agree with the above posts that a row of votives or tealights across the top of the mantel would look fab as well.

I've seen people put up mosaic tile that offset the wall color--choose the wall color then ask them if they are cool with tile..

Did y'all notice it was the designer, not the client, asking for opinions in the post?

Personally, I find the design of the fireplace kind of cool, but sadly, it's rather lost in a sea of white that's the room now.

I'm in agreement, do a tad darker (or lighter) of whatever the wall color is, so if you go with a darker color on the wall, lighten the same color by a shade or two for the fireplace, the exact opposite if using a lighter shade for the walls and then figure out the focal point of the room. I notice that there is a flat screen TV on one side of the door, the fireplace in the corner on the other side and then figure out the furniture layout to hopefully accomodate both as focal points.

And if you want a touch of sparkle, accent the rings with a color that perhaps stands out a bit more than the fireplace to play them off a bit and use votive candles along the top.

another suggestion is to divide the top and bottom sections different shades, say a medium shade of a color for the walls, a darker shade for the bottom and a lighter shade for the upper part with perhaps an accent color (such as black) for the rings and again, place votives along the top.

The idea is to allow the fireplace's style show some in the room while not being in your face.

please leave good enough or fantastic alone. i'm with terry on this one...

I like the idea of keeping the fireplace the same *color*, but go with a different material -- I see the walls painted a warm brown, a rectangular mosaic tile in pearly brown finish on the tiered part, and the lower part painted a few shades darker - but both paint colors pulled from the tile.

Additionally, one of the things I love about AT is the diversity in the different design skill/education levels of the people here and the varying complexity of the questions posed. I am an interior design student and, I would love to see even more professional designers' projects featured here (or if they are already, have them identified as such).

Also, I really hope that Anne lets us know what she decides and posts some "after" pictures!

I kind of want to see it stay white, and to see a huge white curved-cornered sectional facing it so that it seems to have radiated out from it.

Other than that, I think I'd like to see that semi-conical shape repeated elsewhere in the room somehow, even possibly inverted somewhere.

For the fireplace, I think it would be great if there could be a custom-made screen that actually curves out, and made in something like an alumninum color or something.

I love how Art Deco-ish the shape of that fireplace is, so I'd rather not see it too adobe-ish; perhaps if it could be some kind of fairly light warm grey that would be a good contrast with darker warm grey walls? That's all I can think of for now.

casa3, terry, did you notice there is a plan to paint the surrounding walls another color? That's where the question is coming from. "Well enough alone" isn't an option.

i think that it depends on how much you want to make the fireplace blend into the fabric of the house or really embellish it.

my initial thoughts on seeing the photo were that the proportions of width to height seem a bit imbalanced and i would attempt to bring it wider across. add a quarter circle mantle piece onto the top most tier that overhangs by a couple inches or so will give him a nice ledge to put things on (right now it seems TINY) and make it take up more width on the corner. i'd suggest perhaps a nice stone, a good rough reclaimed wood or even a taut leather. the whole tile thing just doesn't seem to fit the gentleman's idea.

now that you've got a significant division between the top and bottom, i'd be tempted to paint the bottom a much darker tone and keep the top half the same as the wall colour. this would, i think, in the end make it seem more like a "regular" fire place but still celebrates its interesting shape.

I would paint "out" the door trim and the door. In other words, match it to the walls so that it disappears. It looks too flimsy for a "gentlemen's" place. The firebox and chimney would be the same color, but different from the walls and the mantle (all three rings) a lighter color. I suggest earth tones if it is to be clubby. Or, what about that deep red leather sort of color by Ralph Lauren paints? Whatever the case, can that mod TV and that light colored stand be removed? One more comment. Fantastic fireplace.

i work in the interior design field and i see nothing wrong with asking others for opinions... you never know where your next inspiration will come from. why not from a sampling of people who obviously love design? if someone is paying a professional it just means they are too busy or lacking in confidence to make their own decisions so why would that person care where the final product came from? as long as it comes and the result is good why should it matter? if you fail to get inspiration from around you then you run the risk of ending up with a look that screams the individual designer rather than a home that feels right for the client and that is really what interior design is about.

i forgot to mentionthat i think you should paint it a wild color like a deep reddy-orange... then pick up that color in small ways around the room.

If rethinking the plan to paint the surrounding walls *could* be added as an option, I'd like that as I really do like it as it is.
I suppose then t'would be especially nice to see an "after" in this case so that Anne could prove me wrong. (And an after pic with a fire in the grate would be perfect, ta).
If painted, everything a "stone" colour, to make this gentleman's home his castle, perhaps? There is something slightly medieval about the fireplace. (I'm not a designer, can you tell?)

I'm sure this will give away the fact that I'm not a professional designer....but depending on what color the rest of the room will be, I think gold-leafing the entire mantel would be nice. The light from the fire place would dance off of the gold. There were some small gold/ Grecian andirons featured in either Domino or Blue Print recently that could be added, too.

I agree with NCB, what is the point of paying a designer if they are just going to go ask a bunch of amateurs? There is a big difference between browsing for inspiration and asking for advice. Us mid-westerners must be snarky and obnoxious too.

LaDonna--

You make the mistake of assuming all of "us" are "a bunch of amateurs."

Mistake number two is that you assume professionals have the market on good ideas totally cornered.

Wow, I'm amazed at how rude some of these remarks are. I'm not asking this blog to design the apt. for me. I'm quite capable of handling this job myself. I've been a designer for many years But when there's a design challenge I don't feel above it all as if I know all there is to know about design. The fireplace is a bit of a challenge. I could come up with something myself but it's nice to hear what others might do. I told my client that I put feelers out to see what others come up with and he was totally fine with it. Why wouldn't he be?!

As far as it being posted twice - I asked another section of AT to post it but when they didn't do it I sent it in to Maxwell. Then the other section finally posted it. Is this a crime!?

I appreciate all the ideas! It's given me something to think about.

Oh, thanks for telling me to put the golf clubs someplace else. I wouldn't have thought of that myself.

Curtis really put his finger on the right issue here for me: "I love how Art Deco-ish the shape of that fireplace is, so I'd rather not see it too adobe-ish."

Whatever changes you're thinking of making, I'd keep that advice foremost in mind. That means, keep the lines simple here, don't try to widen it or change the proportions much, don't try to warm it up too much, do use some silver, sophisticated glitz somewhere, and so forth.

anne - Just saw your post appear above mine. Of course it's fine to get advice from anywhere. But whoa! Then you go and actually make fun of someone's suggestion to move the golf clubs? Go read that post again - it was totally sincere, and there were a lot of other suggestions there that all go together. It's fine to ask a blog for advice, but why then put us down when you get it, as if everyone should "know" what a designer obviously considers too obvious to mention? (P(too) also put down Terry's comment. I don't get it; can't we just freely say what we think might be helpful, without being afraid of offending the designers who think we should know better than to give "worthless" (to them) advice?)

Anyway, I stand by my endorsement of Curtis' art deco advice, even if you might find it naive, and therefore offensive.

Dear Anne:

I apologize for stating the obvious about the golf clubs. Nonetheless, I meant no bitchiness.

Also, as was pointed out, there is a plan to paint the room. So here goes: I respectfully suggest you paint the fireplace the same color as the rest of the room. Please leave things simple and use only one object on the mantel.

With best wishes for your project,

Terry

Dear P2:

Wow! The comment above is so unlike you; you are invariably so considerate and respectful. Hope things are OK with you.

Still your fan,

Terry

Terry, I'm sorry if I lashed out. I shouldn't have said that. I guess I just got annoyed at all the rude comments labeling me as unprofessional that I jumped on you and I shouldn't have done that. Please accept my apology. And yes, I'll post the "after" when the project is done.

Terry--

I just get annoyed some time when people ask a very specific question and then people post without (it seems) taking the time to read what the challenge actually is. Same thing happened recently on the "What color my sectional should be" post and people jumped all over the decision about the sectional.

Sorry, but I stand by the comment. I don't think it inconsiderate, either, but yes, every now and then I am allowed to be annoyed, and express it.

Perhaps it is because I know Anne, and consider her a friend, that I felt defensive. She is VERY talented, and has given soooo much free advice to this site over several years. She's totally entitled to some brain-picking of her own.

I'd say use a different, probably darker, shade of the color you are planning for to use on the walls just on the mantle to emphasize depth. I'd also use that same darker shade on the frame of the door. And, if it was me, I'd go completely without screen, but that's just me.

Please show an "after" photo. It sure is an interesting, a little complicated project.

Well, why NOT bring out that shrinking violet of a fireplace? It seems like a nice architectural piece to me. I believe you should downplay the narrowness of it, and painting the ledge is the most obvious. However, I propose painting the top a different color from the bottom, which would also break up the horizontal line. Have you seen the technique with the brown paper bags torn up and applied? The dark texture would compliment a leather club chair atmosphere. Finally, be careful not to emphasize the ledge too much, especially by matching the trim color. It should compliment the fireplace yet be unique.

Oops, in the post above I should have said break up the vertical line, not horizontal.

I'd paint the whole thing gold or silver, depending on the other metals in the room.

Just to clarify, I think questions are great and should be asked often. I was just trying to illuminate a point. And I am sure Anne posts very valuable advice - I wasn't trying to attack anyone. Anne, I'm sorry. I am an amateur so I tend to assume everyone here is too.

Dear Anne:

Thanks for being so gracious. It made my day.

And again, I apologize for stating the obvious -- and in a most dictatorial manner to boot.

As I re-read my post, I realized I that when I originally wrote it, I was thinking of steps in my own mind as if I were to carry them out and did not consider I was writing for someone else.

My message to you should have been composed more as a suggestion than a series of orders and should certainly have been more polite and considerate.

I truly appreciate your graciousness.

Terry

Dear Anne:

I hope you see the above comment; I truly want you to know I offered an apology.

Best of luck with the project; I'm sure you'll do a superb job.

Terry

As the poster who set off the flurry of snarkitude, I apologize for any hurt feelings. I did not realize that Anne was a respected contributor to this blog. I was just posting my gut reaction on how I would feel if that client was me, and frankly, felt justified when I saw others expressing more clearly what I had been trying to (like nycflatcats.)

If it is possible to take away the hurt feelings, I do feel like an interesting debate is taking place as to what differentiates a "professional" from an "amateur" when it comes to design.

In any case--Anne, I do apologize and was victim to saying something in a semi-anonymous internet post that I certainly would not say in person, without thinking of how it would make you feel.

Terry, I appreciate your post above. Very sweet!

NCB, my feelings aren't hurt. I feel confident in my talent as a designer and as a long time contributor to this blog. As I said before - I am not above it all and don't think that I have all powerful and total knowledge. Design inspiration comes from all around. I would think that's it's more of a testament to the creative minds on this blog that I would ask for input here. So, rude comments aside, I got some good ideas to contemplate.

Oh and don't think that there's a designer on earth that doesn't look around for the best solution, no matter where it might be found. A designer who feels they don't have to do that is a designer that's closed off from a multitude of ideas.

Well said!

Dear Anne:

Thanks so much. I feel so much better knowing you accepted my apology. You truly are generous and gracious. I truly don't know that I would have been as big a person as you under the same circumstances.

Terry