PROJECT CONDO: AND NOW FOR THE LIVING ROOM

Now that my dining room is complete, it's time to start making plans for the next room on my list. The living room! We already bought our couch a couple months ago, so now it's time to decorate the rest of the space. I've slowly been building an inspiration board, because initially I wasn't very inspired or had much of a direction. As I've been taking my time, more and more pieces are starting to come together and while my vision isn't completely clear, I feel like I have a good direction.

I wanted to start these living room posts with "before" photos of the current space, but I haven't been able to get home before nighttime to take pictures, so that post will be on hold until next week! For now, I want to begin the process of sharing thoughts for one of the main features in the space, the fireplace.

Jon and I were so excited that our new home had a wood burning fireplace. We've already put it to good use this season and I love how much "warmth" it adds to the space. It is definitely a focal point of the whole room so it's important that it stands out and is a statement visually. To get a little perspective, the living room flows directly into the dining room. While I want the styles to flow, I don't want it to be the exact same. How this will be executed?? I'm not quite sure at this point! BUT let's get back to the fireplace. I have a major dilemma, as you will see in pictures soon, it's currently a fairly simple brick fireplace. I'm not a huge fan of the brick coloring. It's a little too pinkish for my taste. SO, I've considered painting it. That may strike panic in some of your hearts, I know it certainly makes me nervous, but I feel like it would add so much to the room. Our couch is caramel leather and we will probably stick with more neutrals when it comes to the other furniture pieces so I don't want the room to feel too heavy or dark. To see what I mean, here are some of the inspiration pictures I keep looking at as I think, "to paint, or not to paint...?"

1// This is probable my favorite photo of the two. I think it's a more realistic example of my current fireplace, and since I would want to still use it, I like having the panel in front of it. I also love how they leaned one big piece of art on top of the fireplace and decorated around it. We have a lot of home related books that could use a good home. I also have a beautiful vintage mirror from Jon's grandmother that would look great as the focal point. I love how the white brightens up the space and how the other pieces make it feel warm.

2// I like this photo mainly for the intensely cool art collage above the fireplace and collection of items beside it. I don't think I'll go the collage route, because I already have a collage in the dining room and I'm not sure it would work quite right with the space...but I could consider a mixture between the two?

So now I just need to make up my mind. Keep it brick OR paint it white?? If you have or know of a great "paint your fireplace white" tutorial, I would love to read it!

Before pictures of the living room coming soon, promise!