Dear Danica: Rapid Fire Q+A (Fireplace Dilemmas, Color Concerns, & Wood Tone Troubles)

Dear danica,

Fireplace built ins or no? I love a curated feel and more built in cabinets seem like a boring decision. Any ideas on filling the spaces on either side?

– Kasey

My vote is no for built-ins. I like the shape of the fireplace and adding built-ins (whether low or high) could distract from that. I would add artwork below the picture lights and either a pair of chairs or two antique wood chests/cabinets on either side of the fireplace. (Like these Chippendale cabinets or these pine cabinets – although I’m sure you could find something more affordable locally.) Those additions will fill out the space nicely! The curated aesthetic you’re hoping for can be achieved by using original artwork and either vintage furniture or custom upholstery on the chairs.

Dear danica,

The built ins and ceiling beams are “orange” and clash with my white oak floors. Not quite the look I am loving. Open to ANY suggestions.

– Jen

I personally don’t think the two wood tones clash because they both have warm undertones. That being said, I understand your desire to reduce the orange wood color. If it were up to me, I would attempt to refinish the ceiling beams to either match your flooring or go several shades darker. As for the built in cubbies, you could either paint them the same color as your walls or go for a slight contrast – like a cream or a pale color. Keep in mind that painting the cubbies (and beams if you were to go that route) will modernize the room. You may find that you need to add more wood in other ways to bring that warmth back into the space.

Dear danica,

We have black and white checkerboard tile on floor; BM Nantucket grey cabinets and SW alabaster on bead board backsplash.

What style countertop top; quartz (marble look) or a warm wood top? Fixtures are gold and sink is white undermount. Thank you!!!

– Maria

The answer depends on the level of maintenance you’re willing to work with. I’d recommend reading about the pros and cons of quartz countertops here. Quartz can’t handle heat and lighter stones can stain, but it’s generally low maintenance and doesn’t require annual sealing. I personally like the look of Calacatta Ocellio Quartz from MSI. It has a close resemblance to marble.

Wood countertops on the other hand are a more affordable option, but I would consider them higher maintenance than quartz. Over time, the top coat becomes visibly worn and hot objects melt the finish. A full sand and re-seal is needed every couple of years. You can refinish the countertops yourself very inexpensively, however it is an extremely dusty process.

In terms of aesthetics, both would look good. Wood countertops on every surface can look more “budget friendly.” Generally, I reserve wood countertops for kitchen islands, laundry rooms, and mudrooms. Quartz would also look great and have a more polished look. Between the two, I’d opt for quartz!

Dear danica,

I have a large open plan that connects the kitchen, dining room and living room. I really want to add some color to the wall. All the walls are connected, so I don’t know where to start with the color, and where to stop!

– Brittany

The general rule of thumb is that if there’s no natural stopping point for paint, then it’s best to continue with the same color. In your case, I would recommend using the same paint color for the whole space. I personally would use a warm white or cream for the walls, and incorporate color in other ways. Consider painting the kitchen cabinets blue or green. Large area rugs with color, furniture in coordinating colors, and artwork will create layers of color.

The best advice I can offer for incorporating color (when you have neutral walls) is “the more color, the better.” One or two pops of color will look out of place. But 2-5 colors dispersed throughout every zone in the room will fulfill your itch for color. Consider the living room in this article by Reath Design a guide for incorporating color through objects rather than paint.

Dear danica,

We have a corner fireplace. Since it takes up a portion of the focal point wall, we can’t center our media center on the wall, making the right side of the wall feel super big and empty. I just have no idea what to do with the space overall to make it feel more symmetrical but also not so bare.

– Amanda

The best advice I heard when dealing with a corner fireplace was from Julia Marcum. She essentially said, don’t make the fireplace the focal point and don’t position your furniture at an angle. Instead, pretend the fireplace isn’t there and arrange your furniture in line with the shape of the room.

Your living room layout is very similar to this living room re-designed by Julia, so you can use that as inspiration for layout and creating symmetry. In terms of filling out the wall to create better balance, I would recommend a longer media console like this one or this one. I know they’re soo pricey….it’s an investment unless you’re able to find something antique or secondhand. I would also suggest hanging your tv on the wall. If it still feels unbalanced, a collage of artwork surrounding your tv would be beautiful! Similar to this.