Decorating Dilemma: 90-Degree Fireplace Mantel
Calling all decorators! I'd love some advice. :)
We just moved to a fabulous new home (well, new to us) and while I love decorating, there are a few things I'm just stuck on. The main thing is the fireplace. If anyone has tips to offer, I'm all ears. :)
UPDATE 1/27: Added more pix with current furniture.
This was before we moved in...I haven't uploaded any post-move pics yet. If that would help, I can update later this evening and add some so you can see the furniture placement.
I have never seen an actual "corner" freestanding fireplace like this before. Usually corner fireplaces cut diagonally across the corner, but since the unit is freestanding, I guess that's why they did it this way. FWIW, the house was built in the early 70s, and it's gas burning. I don't love the look of the unit, but we won't be replacing it anytime soon so I have to work with it for now.
So, the first view is looking at it from the living room, where the sofas are now. It's not an angle anyone sees much, except upon leaving the living room.
The second view is from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms/bathrooms/garage. You do see this angle more, particularly when coming to the kitchen or living room from the beds/baths/garage.
What I don't have pictured is the angle from the front door, which is basically looking directly into the corner at the 45-degree mark, with the fireplace centered in front of you.
Over the holidays I had garland wrapped across the entire mantel, and that looked nice. But now that the Christmas decorations are put away, it look so barren. So, I'm at a loss.
The weird thing about the placement and 90-degree-angle mantel is that you have the smokestack thing that blocks the corner, but it's still visible from the ends...just not from the 45-degree angle. So if you don't put anything back there it looks weirdly empty. But if you do, you can't really see what's back there. :)
I have plenty of framed photos, crystal vases/dishes, candlesticks, and various other decorating knick-knacks. We're really going for a less cluttered look so I don't want to cram it full, but right now it just looks blah. (If it would help, I could also take a photo of some of the unused stuff that's available to use there.)
I did set a basket down beside the fireplace that has blankets in it, so that's something.
So, if you have any ideas or links to ideas you'd recommend, or your own photos, I'd love to see. I spent some time searching online but I've had a hard time trying to translate normal mantel decorations to this angled mantel. It's quite a challenge.
Thanks for looking! :)
Here are the updated pix with furniture. Sorry for the darkness. It didn't look that dim in there, but I guess I needed the flash afterall. :\
Stuff that's sitting on there now is just what I was playing with, but not very fond of.
Also, I still plan to do a little more decorating in the living room. I have some chocolate brown material I want to make drapes out of. And I need some flowers in the vase, between the two chairs. :) (I'm also open to any suggestions for that room. The furniture layout works well, but accessories and accents can always be moved/added to.)
From the front door:
From the hallway:
From the living room:
Living room, just for reference on how the room's decorated.
We just moved to a fabulous new home (well, new to us) and while I love decorating, there are a few things I'm just stuck on. The main thing is the fireplace. If anyone has tips to offer, I'm all ears. :)
UPDATE 1/27: Added more pix with current furniture.
This was before we moved in...I haven't uploaded any post-move pics yet. If that would help, I can update later this evening and add some so you can see the furniture placement.
I have never seen an actual "corner" freestanding fireplace like this before. Usually corner fireplaces cut diagonally across the corner, but since the unit is freestanding, I guess that's why they did it this way. FWIW, the house was built in the early 70s, and it's gas burning. I don't love the look of the unit, but we won't be replacing it anytime soon so I have to work with it for now.
So, the first view is looking at it from the living room, where the sofas are now. It's not an angle anyone sees much, except upon leaving the living room.
The second view is from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms/bathrooms/garage. You do see this angle more, particularly when coming to the kitchen or living room from the beds/baths/garage.
What I don't have pictured is the angle from the front door, which is basically looking directly into the corner at the 45-degree mark, with the fireplace centered in front of you.
Over the holidays I had garland wrapped across the entire mantel, and that looked nice. But now that the Christmas decorations are put away, it look so barren. So, I'm at a loss.
The weird thing about the placement and 90-degree-angle mantel is that you have the smokestack thing that blocks the corner, but it's still visible from the ends...just not from the 45-degree angle. So if you don't put anything back there it looks weirdly empty. But if you do, you can't really see what's back there. :)
I have plenty of framed photos, crystal vases/dishes, candlesticks, and various other decorating knick-knacks. We're really going for a less cluttered look so I don't want to cram it full, but right now it just looks blah. (If it would help, I could also take a photo of some of the unused stuff that's available to use there.)
I did set a basket down beside the fireplace that has blankets in it, so that's something.
So, if you have any ideas or links to ideas you'd recommend, or your own photos, I'd love to see. I spent some time searching online but I've had a hard time trying to translate normal mantel decorations to this angled mantel. It's quite a challenge.
Thanks for looking! :)
Here are the updated pix with furniture. Sorry for the darkness. It didn't look that dim in there, but I guess I needed the flash afterall. :\
Stuff that's sitting on there now is just what I was playing with, but not very fond of.
Also, I still plan to do a little more decorating in the living room. I have some chocolate brown material I want to make drapes out of. And I need some flowers in the vase, between the two chairs. :) (I'm also open to any suggestions for that room. The furniture layout works well, but accessories and accents can always be moved/added to.)
From the front door:
From the hallway:
From the living room:
Living room, just for reference on how the room's decorated.