skip to main content

Home Decorating Design Dilemma Fireplaces

fireplace mantle - what would suit?

6 years ago

Hi. I want to decorate my mantle. What do you think would suit this space? A vase? Ceramic? Flowers? Thankyou in advance.

Featured Answer

PRO

Dr Retro House Calls

6 years ago

Your chimney is a substantial architectural feature, and your mantlepiece looks very narrow by comparison. Unless you want to widen your mantle piece by fixing a wider, matching timber board to the top of the existing mantle piece, then the size of anything that will fit on your mantlepiece is very limited, and will seem incongruous and out of scale with the chimney.

I would forget putting anything on the mantlepiece (unless you can increase the width) and consider wall sconces that shine light up and down over the beautiful stonework. Or depending on what is opposite the fireplace a very large, tall mirror that will reflect your beautiful timber rafters, or a combination of mirror, and lighting.

Whatever you do go large and bold so it is in keeping with the scale of the architecture.

Alta Modern Chalet · More Info

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

annb1997
6 years ago
Hi Kel. What about a framed piece of art, some candles in candlesticks of various heights, a potted trailing indoor plant? If you have any collectables, you could draw from them to get you started. You mentioned ceramics. Perhaps pottery?
annb1997
6 years ago
BTW, lovely rooms!
Related Discussions
What to do with this fireplace?
Q
Comments (18)
Hi 2Find! Thanks for your cohesive little selection of images. I will replace the lights for sure (though I have a pet peeve re those lights where the bulb is visible as am quite light-sensitive, preferring diffuse light). There is no furniture in the room, we aren't living there till the reno-extension is done as it won't have a kitchen. I would like to keep a muted pastel colour scheme throughout the entire house. Kind of a nod to the 30's. Sorry, but I can't do brown tile, it's a visceral thing! Cheers for the lovely photos siriuskey (lovely star system). Very nice and I probably will go for a pretty simple 30's weatherboard cape cod type theme. The house is a raw looking 'ranch' style from the US, lucky we have so much lovely British weatherboard culture to draw from. I adore that hallway!
...See More
Fireplace - What would you do with this one?
Q
Comments (14)
Here is a photo of our distinctly unstyled fireplace. I move the plant and flowers off the mantel when we light the fire. It’s a different style to yours but all painted white. When I redo it, now the kids have stopped drawing on it, I’ll take the mantel back to wood. It did lighten the mood of the room but in the same white paint it lacks something. It you can afford it, do it. I’d recommend a closed wood box of you can get one to fit. Ours came with the house. It’s about 15 years old. No troubles at all (except the weekend a magpie fell down and gave child heart attack when it tap tap tapped to ask to get out) We have the chimney swept once a year. . It is amazing in winter. Or on a cold Mother’s Day.
...See More
New look for Dining Suite
Q
Comments (7)
From your photos it looks like you have a renovated 1960's home, with a modernist-inspired slate fireplace, and a contemporary kitchen. Your very traditional styled dining room suite in an open plan living space may look better in a more formal dining room setting, and is a bit at odds with the surrounds. It is possibly a reproduction piece using timber veneers, so my first question is that if you are spending good money on a professional to restore it, which won't be cheap, would you be better off buying something with a more contemporary and informal style that complements the rest of your open plan space? If you are definitely keeping the suite (mabe for sentimental reasons) then I would never paint it, and lose that timber grain. Perhaps a compromise may be a light grey lime wash finish to echo the colours of the slate stone in the fireplace. It won't change the formal style of the setiing, but at least the colours will work. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls
...See More
advice on changing floorplan to open space and in suit
Q
Comments (48)
When it comes to considering ideas for any kind of building project, the impact of budget to what you're trying to achieve is critical and the first thing to get a proper handle on. The various floor plan ideas are only valid if they align with budget. Budget limits should not be sidelined until down the track. In fact they can be utilised as a great way of guiding, filtering and focusing various ideas and plans towards the most appropriate outcome. We should always design with a conscience and consciousness for the budget involved.
...See More
julie herbert
6 years ago
Hi Kel,
Adding above feature lighting would look great, a fab piece of pottery in charcoal/black would add drama keep it simple and stylish
PRO
Quadrant Design Architects
6 years ago
Hi, Kel I would suggest a contrasting piece of art with warm colours.
PRO
Michael Bell Architects Pty Ltd
6 years ago
I think the timber mantle (not sure if it is timber) is too high. Could be lowered about 300mm. Also would seem more complete with a hearth. The photo provided by Dr Retro House Calls above has a hearth and there are other ways you build a hearth. You could make a new matching hearth and mantle out of heavy stone. All the best, Michael
Kim
6 years ago
Chimney feature looks amazing. Yes, as commented, a beautiful stone hearth that is perhaps wider than the width of the stone would ground it nicely, floated off the floor. Remove the mantel altogether and put a whooping large piece of artwork on it. What a feature for that room!
Kim
6 years ago
I like the last photo. The thickness of the hearth really grounds the stone.
PRO
Bluethumb Online Art Gallery
6 years ago
Hi Kel,

Megan from Bluethumb online art gallery here. I agree with Ann and Quadrant Design that a feature artwork would look great on the mantelpiece. The dark grey stone would be the perfect background to offset a bright piece. With the scale of the room and fireplace, the piece needs to be large or else risk getting lost in the room.

I've compiled a few suggestions around a couple of different themes for you to look at.
If you're after a bold pop of colour, then these pieces from some of our most popular artists could be great:
https://bluethumb.com.au/helenhelenjoynsonco/Artwork/moonlighting
https://bluethumb.com.au/sacha-beverley/Artwork/i-wish-for-acceptance
https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/martine-perret/artwork/la-reverie-turquoise
https://bluethumb.com.au/brewman/Artwork/forest-of-colours-ron-brown

Or you could harmonise with the timber beams with some earthy tones:
https://bluethumb.com.au/dinah-wakefield/Artwork/moonlight-on-the-ocean
I've mocked this one up for you:

https://bluethumb.com.au/photography/pennyp/artwork/thalassophile-3
https://bluethumb.com.au/patricia-walsh-studio/Artwork/the-dawn-sees-a-mist
https://bluethumb.com.au/martinesart/Artwork/ocean-at-midnight

Let me know if you'd like any more suggestions, or any more of these works mocked up.

Hope this helps!

Megan

Sponsored

More Discussions

Better/roomier bathroom floor plan

36

Floor Plan for Queen Anne Villa

20

Styling Ideas for Spotted Gum Floorboards

2

Help Designing a Cozy Writing Space in a Small Apartment

14

Floor plan help

8