In today’s Retro Design Dilemma, Peter asks for our ideas and advice on how to decorate the beautiful fireplace in his 1957 ranch house. He loves the variegated stone work. How should he show it off best? No mood boards or google hangouts from Kate and me today — but tomorrow, we’ll activate the uploader, so you can share your fireplace decor. We might even make some mood boards — based on your ideas. Meanwhile — what are your ideas for Peter? Read on for his question — and more photos. Oh, and P. to the S..: Another pink bathroom saved, cha-ching!
Peter writes:
Hi,
We have a 1957 ranch with a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace with a wood mantel running the length of it above the hearth. We’ve considered things like a Jeré starburst or a mirror to go above the mantel, but we love the rust, salmon and brick red stone that makes up the fireplace so much we can’t bear to cover it up. I would love to see what some of your other readers have done with their mantels (it is after all the focal point of the living room). Wall art, vases, lamps, pictures? There must be things we can put up there other than our phone chargers…?
Thanks,
Peter
Beautiful room, Peter. Those windows are just like the ones in my house — Anderson Windowalls. I need to do a story on them sometime.
In follow up emails, Peter sent me some more photos of his house, which had just one owner before he and his wife moved in. He wrote:
… Here is a shot of the kitchen and pink bathroom with its banjoesque built in, which you can take full credit for saving. My wife wanted white subway tile until she saw your website.
Golly, I’m sure glad that this pink bathroom was saved — it’s a really beauty. That pink and black liner tile is delicious!
MikeD says
I don’t know if the fireplace itself particularly needs much of anything. A classy starburst or mid century clock would probably look good as long as it is something simple that does not over take the stone.
But I think a big thing that would make the first place look 10x better, without even needing to touch it, would simply be having the furniture placed different. I have to assume that how you have the furniture arranged in the picture is how you normally keep it. If so, having a couch and coffee table pushed up against it really takes away from it being the focus of the room. Maybe consider the couch in front of the first place facing it, and two matching side chairs on either side?
-MikeD
Patty says
How about some nice pottery? I could see some nice blues, tans/browns, and/or greens.Something to complement the stone, not compete. Bringing more of the outdoors in with the colors. I would take my time and buy only what you love.
Beautiful home. Love it.
Sarah g (roundhouse) says
I wouldn’t be afraid that a starburst or a jere would cover the beautiful stone, in fact something big and interesting like that will draw your attention to the fireplace and make guests notice and appreciate the stone work even more.
As far as what exactly should go up there, thats really up to you guys. It should definitely be something you love love love. I’d recommend not forcing it, if you are regular Junkers/garage ‘sailors’, it will find you.
JKM says
That’s beautiful stone. Whatever you do needs to be bold and simple to show up since the stone pattern is also bold. Maybe a vase or two (staggered heights) on either end of the mantle, or candle holders? If you don’t want to hang something on the stone, which might be difficult, you might consider a large diameter charger on a stand in the center of the mantle. It would be bold and simple. Is the mantle original? If it’s not and could be removed without damaging the stone, I’d take it down completely and let the stone speak for itself.
As a side note, I’m liking the rug and furnishings but all looks shoved up against the fireplace, which could be a result of the camera angle, shape of the room and/or available wall space. Could the furniture somehow float in the middle of the room?
Annie B. says
Please don’t hate me for saying this, but I’d remove the mantel and use (my favorite and standard response to this question) a starburst clock over the fireplace.
Rachel Hobson says
I agree!
We have a giant floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace in our 1961 ranch home. It’s not nearly as beautiful as your stone fireplace, but I’ve struggled with what to do with it as well. The difference is that we do not have a mantel. I’ve actually wished we did for a long time, but after reading this post and considering the options, I’m kind of glad we don’t now. I think you could open it up if the mantel was gone, and then either do one large simple starburst (they are open and airy enough that the stone would not be completely covered) or a collection of smaller starbursts (which is something we’ve discussed doing on ours). Regardless, if the mantel is easy to remove, I think it could help by way of not breaking that beautiful fireplace right in half.
Your home is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Denise says
I agree. Remove the mantel to be authentic 50’s. My OH my, your bathroom is gorgeous! Is that a laminate countertop? The solid surface w/the tile and the liners is magnificent!
Devon says
That is what i have over my fireplace. There is no mantel.
Amy says
That stone is beautiful. The room reminds me of Frank Lloyd Wright’s style. You could look up some images of his homes for inspiration. My ideas would be to go simple and natural, a vase of flowers, sticks, berries, greenery, whatever is in season. Alternatively, there’s no law against leaving it perfectly bare is there? You could put some focal point on the coffee table instead and let the stonework speak its own beauty.
wendy in st louis says
I would have some floating shelves made, the kind that slide on to a cleat so you don’t need visible supports. Many mcm fireplaces had random small shelves above the mantle. Usually they were made of the same stone as the fireplace, but wood to match your mantle will work well too. You’d have to anchor them into the grout between the stones. Then add some fabulous retro treasures!
Here are some mock ups…I purposely made the ‘shelves’ bright so you could see them. The shelves could be arranged many ways. My favorite is the last one, asymmetrical with a starburst clock to one side and 2 small shelves.
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/148669235
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/148669240
http://www.pbase.com/weed30/image/148669282
Dana @ Cooking at Cafe D says
Oooh, I like what Wendy did in #3.
(It would kill me to drill the floating wall supports into the brick though…)
wendy in st louis says
You would drill into the mortar *between* the stone, not the stone itself. Mortar is repairable if you change your mind down the road.
char says
i like that
Kat says
I really like #3, and might even remove the mantel to avoid clutter. The two little shelves with a starburst clock or mirror would look wonderful.
linda h says
I love when mantels are decorated with a large metal sculpture on the wall above and maybe just a pair of candle holders on the mantle. My own mantle is probably way too busy.
lynda says
Well everyone knows the big screen goes above the fireplace! No, for real, how about one of the airier Curtis Jere sculptures like bandstand or bus stop? The brass and copper tones of the metal would look nice. Colorful Blenko vases or a retro globe collection might look nice too. Do Google image searches for mantle decorating for lots of ideas. Changing the mantel decor for the seasons is always fun.
Jack says
Ooh get a wagon wheel!
pam kueber says
Jack, you’re back! You’re over 14 now? !!!! Hello!