My home is a ranch, set in the woods. I have a great room with vaulted ceiling. My walls are teal green, carpet is rose, and woodwork, windows and banister is creamy white. The focal point of the room is the wall with the wood burning stove, nice brick mantle and hearth. Large windows on both sides of the fire place that over look a yard and acres of woods. My dilemma is how to accessorize the mantle and the wall above. The pipe to the stove is in the middle, going straight up and out the ceiling. My other issue is to update my teal painted walls to a new color and still keep the rose colored carpet. My room us 24 X 24 and the room gets a lot of natural lighting. This great room joins to my eat in kitchen so what ever I do in one room has to compliment the other. Thank you for your advice. Diann
Dear Diann,
Wow! Your house in the woods sounds enchanting! A home nestled in the serene setting of nature. Who could ask for more? I am willing to venture that there is even a little stream meandering through your property.
To address your design dilemma, let's begin with a new paint color. You currently have dark teal green walls, rose carpeting and creamy white woodwork trim. Without seeing the room, I must only assume your furnishings follow the same color palette. Taupe is a wall paint color that would be a compliment to the rose carpeting you wish to keep as is. It is also a lighter, neutral color that will add a sense of airiness to the space and work well with your current furnishings and woodwork trim.
Since the focal point in the room is the wood burning stove and brick fireplace surround, flanked by two large windows, I suggest we paint this entire wall a different color than the rest of the room. Because your current furnishings are most likely in teal green and rose, maintaining the dark green teal on this wall will add a striking contrast while at the same time pulling your existing furnishings together.
As for accessorizing the mantle area and wall above, there is a simple solution. Even though there is a pipe from the stove that bisects the wall, employing a symmetrical design for this space will enhance the focal point. I suggest you purchase two pieces of framed art to place on either side of the stove pipe. Perhaps a pair of florals that would incorporate the colors of the room and add to the feeling of nature outside the windows. The dark green teal wall will again give contrast to the lighter taupe walls and colors of the art. A container of silk ivy will add softnes to the brick and keep the design symmetrical.
Hopefully your existing kitchen is in the same color palette as the current great room and it will therefore not have to be changed. Keeping the focal wall in dark teal green allows you to use most of your current furnishings.
I hope my suggestions have settled your design dilemma. Remember it is always a good idea to consult a professional interior designer when you need solutions to your decorating problems. They have the knowledge & experience to save you time & money.
Good luck with your project Diann!
Tom Manche - A.S.I.D. - Allied Member
Tom Manche Interiors
