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Carolyn C Hi Susan. Here is a rendering with some changes. I think you need a larger piece above the fireplace, or get three more pieces that work with or compliment those and drop them down a tiny bit so when they are all up they line up with the romans. Then consider mounding the romans above the windows, just below the bulk head on the right hand side. If they are too narrow you may be able to have a band of the background colour added on the side. See what you think.

Carolyn C Also, I've added a crown moulding. Here it is without one.

Carolyn C Here it is with the crown less white

Carolyn C Here's your room with a larger picture

Carolyn C Larger picture no crown

Carolyn C Just larger romans

Carolyn C Just larger art.

These should help you see which you like the best. Hope they help :-)

Susan Mladenovich Wow Carolyn. You are so quick. I will look into outside/above mounting by adding additional material. We eventually want to install another window above the fireplace when we can afford it. We have a great view of the woods. I love that sample painting you used. Where is that from?

Carolyn C Personally I think the art is too small - you could consider three longer pieces as well,

Carolyn C It's from a local gallery and that piece is sold. I'm in Brampton.

Susan Mladenovich Oh is it original art? I was hoping it was a print. My doctors office showcases art from a local Artist (I'm in Whitby) that looks similar in style and colour. I'll have to check it out.

Carolyn C Here are two different window styles for you to see

Carolyn C Straight transom

Carolyn C The artist is Aleksandra and it's probably a print. I'm not sure to tell you the truth. I downloaded it from the internet, jus to show you how a larger piece would look but noticed it said "sold". There is lots of that type of art out there. I use a local supplier who prints them on canvas for my clients. They have the rights to certain artists and then they print them for me on canvas in the size we want. Like the ones attached. These were done for a seniors residence and they were about 150.00 each. You should be able to find them out in your neck of the woods :-)

Susan Mladenovich We would fill the whole space with a window. Right down to just above the mantel. Kind of like the single piece of art you showed. The view is beautiful.

Carolyn C Kind of like this?

Carolyn C It will be lovely and are very luck to have such a beautiful view. :-)

Carolyn C Since you just posted this tonight you may get a ton more suggestions. Then you can choose what you like best :-) Have fun.

Tres McKinney Design I would not add a window over the fireplace because it is not authentic (a chimney should be there). If you prefer the view than eliminate the fireplace and add another window. Carolyn's recommendation of changing the inside mount roman shades to out side is a good idea but you could also add curtain panels along with the inside mount roman shades. Mount the rod as high as you can go under the beam. You will loose some window view because the windows are so close to the fireplace mantel.

All 4 Show, LLC What about adding some softer shapes to that wall? I think a round or oval (laid horizontally) mirror might help break up all those rectangular shapes...just a thought!! Good luck....

Debra Kling Colour Consultant Hey, Carolyn-- Wold you mind if I asked what program you used to illustrate your changes? Many thanks, Debra.

Susan Mladenovich Thanks Tres, the problem with window panels is the chair is also there. I have done that in other rooms. And I disagree about the window. There are other houses on our street that have them and even houses on Houzz and I think it looks great. Unfortunately when we bought our house, we had the option to have a partial cathedral ceiling in this space. I don't like those (the ceiling is flat for 2/3 of the room and then there is a straight up edge where the cathedral starts) but had I known what our view was, I would have done it since we would have had full height windows there. Kicking myself!

Susan Mladenovich If I can't make the actual romans wider, what do you think about adding a valance. As I mentioned, I do have the same fabric left. I am sure I could have a "faux roman" made that would be wider and non-operational but would match the existing so shouldn't be too jarring in the two pieces. Has anyone done a soft valance like that?

Kitchen Tuneup My experience with mirrors over fireplace that you get to look at the ceiiling. A large picture that measures about 4" from the mantle on each side would solve the problem.

Susan Mladenovich here is an idea of what we want to do eventually with a window.

Jean Tuck JDL interiors design is the one I like most of the groupings

JMittman Designs I wouldn't put a faux roman over another roman. How about a cornice? Just wrap it around the top and side of the window frame. It would take the least amount of fabric. Having grown up in a traditional home, and living in one now, the window over the fireplace look is definitely a different look. Not my favorite, but I better than a TV there!

Based on your picture above, you plan to knock out that right ceiling portion at some time? The panel idea is nice. Good luck!

chrisroh I love the ideas Carolyn C provided. I thought the crown molding was a great idea and then perhaps raise the pictures up on the wall.

Carolyn C Not at all Deborah. I use DreamDraper which was about 1600.00 and Cheif Archtiect which was about 4,000.00 Hope this helps. The Chief Architect has lesser versions as well. Good luck. If you have any questions just get my email from my page and I'll be happy to help you out however I can. There's another one they have been showing at our CDECA meetings and I think it's Cloud Design or something like that. You pay by the month and I think it's around 40.00 a month or less.

Carolyn C Susan, the windows are nice. If you love them then you should go for it.

kl123 I hope you don't mind if I ask , but what color is the paint in your living room - It's so cozy.

Carolyn C Shannon here are two options for a cornice that JMittman suggested for you to see. I can't put the fabric you have on it unless I have a Jpeg of it so I just did it a complimentary colour. This would also look very nice. I like the arched one as it makes the windows seem tallker, the key there is to make sure you cover the top of the blinds with the arch and the sides are filled in as shown.

Debra Kling Colour Consultant Thank you, Carolyn. Seems so user-friendly :)

Susan Mladenovich Kl123 it's a Ralph Lauren colour from years ago. Funny you say that because I have always liked it but the mothers-in-law are always saying its so dark.

Carolyn C Debra, it's a bit of a learning curve, but sure helps my clients visualize.

Patricia Oh I had so much fun reading your posts. Carolyn, I love all your suggestions and being such a visual person, what you are able to do for the client is fantastic! It is amazing how much of a difference a few tweaks make!

Wendy Hummingbird Designs I like what Carolyn C did with the window on the right. I think it would look nice with a large mirror above the fire place and just a few things on the mantle in the accent colour and I think a solid colour throw in the scent colour.

christinegolf my set up is very much like yours and i have a hard time with window treatments! I have a valence now but not very crazy about it!

Carolyn C For christinegolf I would recommend nice taylored roman valances above your windows, mounted over the frame and at the ceiling. I think you may find that looks better. If I have time later I'll try to do it for you, but I'm swamped and tired :-)

christinegolf thank you so much for all your help & time!!!

Tres McKinney Design I think you should do what ever makes you happy. But with all due respect anyone can post images on Houzz whether good design or not and your neighbors ideas might be beside the point. You need to be discerning. One of the goals of Houzz is to educate and elivate awareness of design possibilities. I take seriously my obligation and my time as a designer to to use this forum to educate, mentor and help homeowners navigate all the choices they have to make. There is a need to consider when it comes to fireplces versus window views versus TVs. Pick one focal point and make it speciial. If the view is the focal point then make it so.

Lynda Meyers Carolyn, will you help me with my living room! :-)

Ramona @Tres Design. Yes it is important to educate here and there are a lot of ugly design trends which get perpetuated down through the ages, so that is a constant struggle. However, as our lifestyles change and fireplaces are no longer the real thing, I think adjusting is just fine if the proportions are good. Maybe someone will invent a real fireplace flue that goes down in the ground for all we know. If we all get solar or some other technology, fireplaces may be out of the questions for ecological reasons. What then will we do with the ancient human desire to huddle over a fire? The first time I saw windows over a fireplace, I was disoriented in the extreme, now I am loving the open feeling it gives.

Ramona I think a valance in a contrasting fabric with lots of texture would help, and I agree, the art is too small.

Tres McKinney Design Huddeling around a fire is a primal desire which I share. When I am designing a house the first thing that comes to mind is a fireplace and windows, everything else is secondary. A contemporary fireplace that is obviously a gas jet of flames can still meet our primal desires for fire but it is not trying to be something that it is not so if there is an expansive window above it, it can work. But a very traditional fireplace and mantel in a traditionally decorated home with a window above it feels false to me just as shutters on a too wide window to be functional or a library with empty shelves for a client who does not read books or a kindle. Of cousrse we are constantly rethinking iconic ideas of what makes a house a home and how to use the rooms in our houses in ways that make since with how we live today.