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by Amy Smolowitz_Ross
4 months ago in Design Dilemma
Help my mantle!!!
Any ideas? Please help! The other picture is the color scheme of the room.
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pettstar I would lift the mirror up some. The pieces on the mantle look too small. But I love the color!
4 months ago · ·
lefty47 HI -- The mirror is fine where it is , I would just have a larger sqwatty artsy looking vase with a long twisty bare branch in it , set just left or right of center. Or a larger vase with a orchid . Or if you like things more even then add large matching objects or vases on each side . I see from your other picture ,you tend towards symetrey. Most of your decor items are small ,so best not to use too many. So use bigger items and less of.Try not to do much left ,right and middle displays and setting items in rows etc. More interesting to have things off set . Adding drapes is also going to add to the look of the fireplace.
4 months ago · ·
groveraxle There are several ideabooks on styling a mantel. Here is one:

4 months ago ·
groveraxle A single tallish vase with your mirror, a couple of tall candlesticks, a figure. Simplify. Go with one or two pieces with drama. Get rid of the stuff on the hearth.
4 months ago · ·
sluggodog I concur with a clear/glass vase with some sort of branch/twigg. Then on the other side perhaps two matching vases or leave empty. I love the mirror and the rest of you decor. I would also remove the two smaller plants on the floor, along with the clock thingy..but leave the Buddha (love!) For the suggestion picture I included, I would leave out the framed photes and candles (just wanted to show a twig/vase idea.
4 months ago · ·
decoenthusiaste I like the mirror but find that is is overwhelming. Would rather see it with a sofa, but you're already overloaded on round mirrors and they overhang the piece of furniture they're with. .Any one piece of FP decor that is larger than the fireplace opening itself is too big (IMO.) Hanging items should only be about 75% of the width of the piece they hang above. I think you should try the two round mirrors hung vertically above the mantel and the mirror from the FP above the table with the three tallest cream candles and the gold tone vase on the other side. Move the two green and gray square pieces to one side of the mantel, bust on the other.
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross Thank you for the suggestions. Very helpful! I came up with this arrangement after reading the replies and a trip to Homegoods.
4 months ago · ·
michigammemom Hi Amy, I would nix the red vase as it doesn't relate to the other items. I also suggest you remove all of the decor from the hearth and floor.
4 months ago · ·
patriciarhall looks better, but try removing the red vase and position the light colored vase with the candlesticks, leaving the taller vase with sticks on the right side.
4 months ago · ·
pollyannagal I like the new arrangement and think the red vase lifts it. I would move all the vases in a little so that they align with the vertical edge of the fireplace - items sitting on the overhang look like they are about to topple off the sides or as if they are trying to get as far away from each other as possible! This would make the whole arrangement more cohesive and connected to the mirror.
4 months ago · ·
sluggodog I totally get why your adding the red vase, because of the cushions etc on your couch, so it's hard to get a feel of it all just by looking at this picture and not the whole room at a glance. I think I would prefer without, but if you put it up there and thought you loved it.. then keep it., but if part of you looks at it and think it's not quite right.. then go with that. I would suggest moving the vases on the right over to the left a bit.. it looks like they are just hanging on the edge -- the gold vase can be just ever so slightly in front of the mirror, but still keeping those two vases close/touching. If you keep the red vase, move that over to the right a bit too. I know arranging shelves, mantels etc.. should not be so hard, but it really is a work of art to get the right balance. :-)
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross View of the entire room from upstairs...
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross Another
4 months ago ·
sluggodog Ok.. I still think I like without the red vase as you have many 'spots' of red int the room (which I love red!) but it starts to get almost busy. - When I look at your picture and I put my finger over the red vase.. I like it without. - I prefer the neutrals on the mantel.. but you know it's such a personal preference and if you like it - go with it. I love all the beautiful cushions on your couch, that in itself is hard to arrange!
4 months ago ·
Jayme Hobbs After seeing how tall that wall behind the FP is, it seems like the mirror is hanging a tad too low maybe? I love your room and colors!
4 months ago ·
j | design I'd either add more color to the mantel or remove the red altogether. I like this arrangement without the red, but adding more color would also tie into the rest of the room. Also, based on the picture taken from above, I would HIGHLY recommend getting a larger coffee table in there, the one you have currently looks a little lost in such a big room.
4 months ago ·
tinalo i would also lift the mirror and your area needs more color change color of fireplace may help if you can or change grey color
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross LOL, the coffee table is from my outdoor set. We just moved to our new house and it's a work in progress... I would love one of those large tufted ottomans in there. Haven't found the right one... YET!
4 months ago ·
tinalo The color of the room is very grey looking I think color higher up the wall area would help
4 months ago ·
michigammemom Take your time Amy, and be mindful that your vaulted ceiling and open space will require larger accessories and furnishings. Anything too small scaled will look dwarfed. I would suggest a more decorative rod for your tab topped curtains...perhaps something matching the finish of your round mirror and ideally, the curtain panels should go to the floor.
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross Oh, and I hate the wall color... I will be painting soon. Right now it's BM Iced Marble, which might be nice in a bedroom setting, but all over the house.... not so much! I'm thinking one of the BM HC colors.

And michagammemom, I agree totally with your curtain advice. I want to get lovely rods and lush curtains that go to the floor. These are just temporaries from my old house...
4 months ago ·
kmislick You're doing a great job so far and I love the color of the walls and furniture. Here are some other suggestions in order of importance (in my humble opinion). I would try to find an area rug that ties in all of these colors and helps the couch/pillows "pop". It would also cozy up the room which seems to be a challenge in rooms with such high ceilings. Finally, consider putting some sconces beside the mirror. These could be electrical or candle with remote control switch. I imagine that at night, though you have the ceiling fan, that the room could look dark. The sconce light flickering against the wall would be really pretty. Some plant life would be beautiful too. Regarding your couch pillows, I think that although they definitely add some interesting colors to the room, and your style says "sophisticated", the ruffle pillow does not fit. I imagine that pillow in a room decorated by a young person. Consistency with the styling seems to be so important to make it all work. I always remind myself of that when I'm decorating my home or helping someone else. Good luck.
4 months ago ·
Maureen Fuller My thoughts: You have a tall ceiling and the mirror brings the eye down, not up to the space and light. Lift it. Next, does the mirror reflect something pleasing as you look at it? If not, the mirror might be replaced by artwork that brings your colors together. Perhaps complimenting in a grouping, as you have plenty of room. I've found some fun artwork that's not too pricey at both Homegoods and Bed, Bath and Beyond, or Kirklands, if you are patient and wait for what works. Or a fun art project with your child(ren) would be to paint your own. Frame the area with white moulding. Consider retiling the fireplace. The residual beige could be replaced with complimenting blue/grey/black/white tones that might make it pop rather than fight the new wall shade. Final thought: pull your couch and chairs away from the walls and make a conversation area around an area rug with some punch of design or color you love.
4 months ago ·
decoenthusiaste I omitted part of a key sentence in my comment yesterday so have edited my advice today if you care to re-read it. The vertical mirrors will suit the double height windows. Curtains need to be hung above the window frame - a least halfway between the upper and lower windows, and you need full sets - pairs hung stationary on each side. I know the inner ones will be close to the FP but they don't have to be really full - just a hint of softness and color and pattern, which you really need.
4 months ago ·
Amy Smolowitz_Ross Okay, lifted the mirror about 7 inches, took away the red vase. I would have loved a cozier feel by the fireplace, but we have a huge piece in the room that the previous owners left that we use for the tv.
4 months ago · ·
Maureen Fuller Paint that entertainment center white! Punch the inside with a good accent color. Redos on those pieces are getting to be the rage, as they're so inexpensive to buy 2nd hand. If you can't beat it, join it!
4 months ago ·
lscanlon22 I liked the red vase! You need something colorful up there.
4 months ago · ·
pollyannagal Another vote for the return of the red vase. Fireplace looks cold without it - you say you want cozier feel so bring in the red. The chair in the corner looks a bit lost in the space. A lidded basket between it and the fireplace would bring them together and make it cozier. I'm not keen on the tall vase on the floor beside the fireplace as it's too much the same as the objects on the mantle and just emphasises the height of the room. I think you need something more squat beside the fireplace - perhaps bring the cubes in a bit closer?
4 months ago ·
Karen Williams the red aspect is fine as this is the accent colour, why not replace the mirror from above the mantel and replace it with a large red botanical painting, to me the current mirror just looks rather odd. the tow smaller vase are fine but they too look rather odd and out of whack to my eye, also what about a lage oriental style rug in front of the mantel.
4 months ago ·
Karen Williams why not go oriental for your overall room theme
4 months ago ·
decoenthusiaste Snug your accent chair close to the FP and use your favorite color from that upholstery for your accent color and a second one for draperies. Just realized the curtains are tab tops - that's a dated look these days. Big beefy decorative rods will help. If you'll hang the two other mirrors vertically and get rods in that go with them you'll start to see a "look" instead of a "mix up."
4 months ago ·
Sara Parker I don't think you need anything on the mantle or beside the fireplace. The mirror is plenty. Neutralize the pillows then add colour with a FEW accessories.
4 months ago ·
janiehburton I would definitely move the beautiful mirror so that the bottom of the mirror is at least 10" to 12" from the top of the mantel - maybe even higher. This would give you more wall space to place larger simple decorative items on mantle. Spray the mirror Red. I think it would look great against the serene wall color you have chosen. Instead of painting the armoire white, think about repeating the Red. I would stay away from placing more than one item on the hearth. I would use the Asian figurine or statue. I would use roman shades on windows. There are many different types with light filtering that still give you privacy. If possible, change the fireplace doors - just plain black. Sometimes it is worth hiring a designer to bring fabrics into your home so you can see how they look in your lighting and with your carpet and wall color. I think you have a lot to work with and the room will be personal to your taste and beautiful!
4 months ago · ·
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