Love this! We just bought that same coffee table…I’m loving it SO much. I really like the stone option.

barnwood, fo sho’

Love the fresh new facelift. Dumb question I am sure, but how did you hide the tv cords? And while I love chair arrangements that create conversation, my family would totally re-do it so they could see the almighty television. I am outnumbered with 3 men ( my husband, and two teenage boys). I like the simple clean lines of your mantle as it is, but if you must change, I vote for the stone!
Love your postings, and remember to tell me your cord secret!
Delia Garrett

it looks fabulous! i love the re-do. fantastical, completely!
the cord disappeared! yay!
the books are ever so cool all backwards.
the mantel, i have no idea. i’m usually all over the barnwood look but i sorta like the stone look the best. but what do i know?

barwood or chevron!! ! LOVE IT!

Very beautiful living space! I vote for stone! I love mixing rustic with clean lines and chic!

Could you mention the paint colors for wall and ceiling, please? Thanks!

The barnwood would be my first choice/or something with that coloring and texture. It works very nicely with all of the white and clean paint look. My second choice would be the chevron for it’s smooth texture and color. What is nice about the fireplace area is that you could easily change it out (like pillows) when you wanted to “freshen up the living room”. The more I think about it the more I like the barn wood idea.

Emily, this is fabulous! I saw the ones you posted a month ago & I can see a definite change. I thought it was gorgeous before but now it is awesome. The bookshelves are styled so clean & pretty. Less busy now, too. I turn my books around, too. If the colors aren’t working for you, why does anyone care? Covers for them?? Ugh, more work. I love that you turned them around and added the pretty creamware. The chairs look amazing turned into the new coffee table. My vote for the fireplace is white or barn wood. I think you have enough other wood tones that the barn wood would tie into. Love it! Would love to have you guys check my FB page, Gracious Spaces, where I share decorating inspiration for the home. Emily, I’d like to feature your living room soon on one of my posts. Hope you will come by! Thanks, Jennifer

Love the stone!

i like the fireplace as is. the others look busy to me…but your taste is beautiful so whatever you choose will be pretty.
but my question is…..is the airplane still there? i cant see the top of the curtains.

Either the wood or nothing at all. Wouldn’t choose the chevron, though I love that pattern choice…a lot.

Let’s name the big pink elephant in the room. That tv is ruining the beautiful décore! You’d never see something like that in ANY design or house magazine- and for good reason. It’s bad design!

I really like the fireplace the way it is, and I think the barnwood and the stone would overpower the rest of the room. I like the chevron a lot, but it definitely makes a strong statement! To keep the vibe of simplicity going, I would leave it alone or do the white paneling. Love how everything looks. The throw pillows are my fav. I hope to try that ruffle pillow soon. Thanks for all the inspiration and beauty you supply me with at each post. Each day I see a new post makes my day a little happier.

Definately the barnwood
and lovin’ the coffee table !

Where did you get your coffee table. I really love the polished wood grain look.

shelves look great! and I LOOOVE the books turned around (I did it myself. hee hee). You being a girl that likes to ask the ‘uncomfortable’ questions, I think this does the same thing (seeing the comments above). Jackets would look nice but really…how is covering the book cover different than turning the books around?!

As for the fireplace, I love the idea of doing SOMETHING to make your house unique. Barnwood: too messy and I worry about the smell. yeiks. White Paneling: like! It adds texture, a natural element yet balances the white wood in your kitchen on the other side. Stone: no. It’ll be so dated in 5 years. and Chevron: AMAZING! so current, yet based on classic design. My only concern is getting sick of it in 5 years… But WOW! Fun to think about. Cant wait to see what you and Ryan decide!

Your house is all kinds of amazing!!! I think it looks great as-is. =)

I actually think the chevron is the best by far!!!

I think the rustic wood would add some depth and warmth to the space. Give it a more worn and aged authenticity. I also am digging the chevron tile but I would go too glossy with it. The chevron pattern would really make the fireplace pop!

I LOVE your living room! We just moved into a house that has a similar paint color and we haven’t been able to find anything that we could use for ideas that we both like until now; thank you! Leave your fireplace the way it is; its perfect!

Definitely the marble chevron.

Your refreshed space looks gorgeous, Emily! My vote is for barnwood boards. It would give a nod to the lovely wood tone of the pew, and I love the juxtaposition of the modern (TV) placed over the natural (wood planks). I’d say we’re on the tale end of the chevron trend now, and because of that you may not want to commit to such a *permanent* example of this pattern. Just my thought. Can’t wait to see what you choose!

I love the chevron marble tile. It looks awesome in your space. A little bold but it would definitley be a statement piece.

I love the barnwood but it does get very dirty and is hard to clean. The chevron is amazing!!! It really pulls the room together! They all really look nice.

Love the old church pew! I think the barnwood option above the fireplace would tie in great with the wood of the church pew. Stunning room, great job!

It looks great! I love the old church pew.

You make a house a home! That room is so inviting and warm. I think the white panels would be my favorite but you have a gift to make any ideas work. It’s cool of your husband to be involved in the process, too. I thought the before was beautiful but you’re right, the small changes really opened it up. You’re good at looking at your space objectively. Keep it up! Thanks for sharing!

My vote is for the stone, I just love the stone!

white panelling, timeless, you’ll never tire of it.

I like the brick fireplace

I love your living room, before and after. I think my favorite part is the division between the gray and white, LOVE it.

I would vote for the white paneling or the stone.

My vote is for glass mosaic tile to add a drop of sophistication that mixes well with the rest of the room and reflects some of that natural lighting. Circular glass tiles are beautiful, too.

To be completely honest, I love your fireplace the way it is most. When you said you wanted to change it in the original living room post, I wondered why. The cut-out style you have now counteracts the horizontal television and elongates the room. I think in panelling the fireplace, it will make it look smaller. Your home is so beautiful!

beautiful! yes.. taking a picture of the space really helps with seeing the “less is more” theory!
i’ve fallen to that same situation many times! i try to keep it “less”…. but its not always so easy!
your spaces look beautiful & relaxed, and yet like a very thoughtful personal space!

The changes definitely make sense. But I don’t think you should add anything above the fireplace. Those options seem to compete with the tile and mantle of the fireplace and draw the eye away from your pretty vignette? Good luck, it’s never easy, especially when your kitchen vantage point is directly across to that area!

I like the fireplace the way it is…maybe just add some texture in the same color. I also love the chevron, but I think you might get tired of it after a while.(would look great in a guest bath or powder room. Re: Julie’s comment about using the word “cringe” as being rude and insulting, I have to totally disagree. Its an honest comment and I did not interpret it at all, as mean spirited. If a blogger has a comment section, she/he should expect there to be some disagreement, otherwise its just fishing for compliments.

I vote stone!

Gorgeous! Your mantle and room size is very similar to mine. I have avoided mounting a television over the fireplace because I thought the viewing angle would be too high. How is it for you? If we get a bigger TV, that is our only option as the cabinets to the side of the fireplace only accomodate a 32″. Thank you!

Maybe consider some textured wall paper like grass cloth…. or maybe actually a fun pattern?. I love the chevron, but it would be a big investment that you may tire of quickly. If you could do barnwood inexpensively I think that would be great too. What about replacing the grayish spec. tile that is in the mantel with something a little more interesting. That might make a bigger difference than you’d think.

Thanks for sharing your room. Always, inspiring!

i love the white paneling! it would really brighten the room! And it is amazing how the turned around books really lighten up the bookcases….. I think it is much improved!!

I love the fireplace as it is very lovely. If you do change a wall paper or grass cloth if my vote but with your great taste I am sure that what every you do will look wonderful.
I enjoy your sight so much, I have tried lots of your ideas, but my never look as good as yours.

Came through Pinterest. Barnwood, hands down. And oh my heavens, when can I move in? The living room is gorgeous!

I love the chevron…I just saw a picture of a mantle like that on Pinterest.

Oops … Those ones are potterybarn

So many great options . . . but I’m loving barnwood these days. Rustic will not go out of style . . . at least I think it won’t.

I love the changes. Jalap like the chevron tile the best, it’s different yet flows with the rest of the design.

I like the way the fireplace is now and LOVE all the family room changes!! The church pew is absolutely awesomeness!

I like the white paneling the best -crisp and clean. But I think you should do the marble chevron tile surrounding the fireplace below the mantle. It would be a nice pop and surprise.

I love the chevron tile! The brick is also great. Fun looking at these pictures.