Wow, it is big. Can you post more pictures of the whole space? Do you want to keep the wood stove? If you remove it you'll also have to redo the floors. It may not be worth it monetarily. Maybe you can get some decorating ideas here that will make it more to your liking.

We live in a barn, so the whole space is just one open room. We need a new stove, so I was just thinking maybe we should just remove the hearth behemoth.

Beautiful house. Have to call de-mason guys

May be install a much larger stove.

Looks like a great place. I would guess that heating a barn in upstate New York requires a REALLY big stove!

I would paint the stones white and see how you feel. The stove is actually very pretty. Once painted the entire spot would become a unique visual area. It might do the trick!