with yellow - ish curtains? or soft red if you like.

http://www.wayfair.com/Safavieh-Soho-Grey-Yellow-Rug-SOH705A-FV34984.html?piid%5B0%5D=10494019

Teal ombre curtains to side of fireplace at eye level -- could look good with Natalie's rug and 'wild' pillows, just for example:
http://www.jcpenney.com/for-the-home/furniture/studio/studio-dylan-ombre-grommet-top-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5003590771&searchTerm=ombre+curtains&catId=SearchResults&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0109201418353612C.tif

http://www.jcpenney.com/window/jcpenney-home/jcpenney-home-ripple-grommet-top-ombre-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5003590824&catId=cat100260226&deptId=dept20022800026&pageSize=96&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0114201418345097C.tif

5 star ratings for bamboo
http://www.jcpenney.com/window/jcpenney-home/jcpenney-home-naples-grommet-top-bamboo-panel/prod.jump?ppId=1a09b3e&catId=cat100260226&deptId=dept20022800026&pageSize=96&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=0900631B81AAFFD8M.tif

http://www.jcpenney.com/everyday-prices/colordrift-seismic-stripe-grommet-top-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002120621&catId=cat100260226&deptId=dept20022800026&Nao=192&pageSize=96&pN=3&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP1113201218501458M.tif

http://www.jcpenney.com/everyday-prices/elrene-imperial-back-tab-curtain-panel/prod.jump?ppId=pp5002780317&catId=cat100260226&deptId=dept20022800026&Nao=192&pageSize=96&pN=3&_dyncharset=UTF-8&colorizedImg=DP0424201317004872M.tif

Boy, every example posted so far just seem to emphasize the masculine aspect of this room. All but the Safavieh rug with the flowers. What is your very favorite color? Do you have color in the adjacent rooms already, or are you waiting to see what colors you end up within the LR? Can you post pics of the adjacent rooms, please? That will give us a better idea of the context of your space. Since it is an open concept, you will want a cohesive look for the entire space, not just the LR.

bld, is your flooring a bit reddish-cherry? something to consider, that reddish and golden yellows are cheerful and could compensate for the black......

Would rust/ earth tones [which I also like] make the space more serious, somber, conservative ??

chair can be a color of soft red, light camel, a moderate yellow, or a fun Home Goods thing.
I so picture a good-sized throw on the sofa, depending, but a yellow, chartreuse, almost any bright..... I didn't see your rug idea closely enough, so is it Rose, burgundy colors? Buy one of those for accent chair, or curtains....... mix and match.

Hello bld6719, the most important issue is what colours & feel you like to live with!
If you enjoy dark tones in your living look day in & day out, then love the direction suggested by groveraxle.
If you like to be in a space with vibrant energetic/ more soothing colours you could rethink the direction.
First decide on the mood you want to set in your living!
Also the mood will depend on when you will most use the space..day/ night..
the natural lighting of the room!
Don't overthink follow ur gut & get going :)

The tv is going above the fireplace, but it doesn't have to be a 70 inch. I did not want that large of a tv ( of course hubby does) but I figured that maybe a 70 inch would help to hide the black wall! We would love a mantel but now it's too late since the stone is all up!

The floors are hardwood brown, not exactly cherry so there is not lots of red like our old floors which were a beautiful Brazilian cherry!

Leave the fireplace. You may like it. Choose a printed fabric with pale grey, cream, a lilies black and yellow. Pick up the brighter colors in accent
S.

I would add white throughout with artwork, rug, accent pieces like vases whether the tv is mounted on the fireplace or not. I found this picture and thought the white hearth and stainless steel fireplace border and white/neutral artwork would really help the stark vibe the fireplace gives off and the overall dark tone from the fireplace and walls combined. I would do natural light wood/light furniture pieces instead of the dark furniture pieces in this picture and also add focal lighting from the ceiling onto the fireplace also.

@bld6719, a new rug with fresher colors is going to do so much to transform the look. You have terrific neutrals already going with the fireplace, sofa, and walls. If you pick a large rug in a color that makes you really happy, most likely it will give you fresh inspiration for drapes and other accessories. Here are some examples of potential rug colors.

Here are a couple more ideas for ways to accessorize the room. (second photo is from this Houzz article: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/rooms-of-the-day-bringing-the-happy-into-formal-spaces-stsetivw-vs~25356755)

I'm not a fan of the fireplace but I can see it's not an option to paint/take it down/move the TV. I liked lots of the picture suggestions that everyone had but they all look very formal to me because the tones are all so grey and black. The pictures are very sophisticated and pretty but I wouldn't want to spend much time in the rooms - they don't really look comfy to me. They look like where I would entertain company not sit and enjoy a movie or a book. So if it were me I would invest in a large cozy looking rug to soften the base of the room first. Literally think sweater on the floor. I see that you have nice flooring but I would recommend an area rug large enough that all of the legs of your furniture will sit on it (not just the front legs) and use lots of natural textures in the room. I would go with a thick nubby wool rug in a natural color with no grey in it or maybe the roadside attraction carpet tiles by FLOR. The black will go very nicely with natural tones. I would also bring in a large rope type ottoman for a coffee table (or maybe a large tree trunk cut flat top and bottom) for more texture. Then bring in more texture with accessories - maybe some copper accessories as well. I would also consider re-painting the room with a warmer tone unless it throws off the rest of your open floor plan. Even if you stick with grey and choose a warmer grey (check out Silver Grey by Sherwin Williams as an example) for the walls you might find that the fabric that you originally chose for the windows works. It may have just been too dark because you have the cool blue grey walls with the grey sofa and black fireplace.

give it a chance the room isn't done.

How about a wide white mantle? Very small fireplace opening....it worth the try. Other suggestion is take it down and look for a designer and tell your husband to let you decorate.

I mentioned curtains cause they're at eye level and seen from all over, and would offset/ complement black [floor rug might not so much].

Black& blue velvet so beautiful! Let the houzzers know what colours you like, it may help :)

The fp is the focal point & I would put a mirror on it & mantle. No tv's hard on neck.

I think a drapery with organic lines will help to "soften" the feel in your room.

The third photo would go good with your gray walls, and bring in some yellow as an accent color.

I like 2,3,4.

I "played" with it:

With the third drapery pictured

You're place is nice. I see nothing that's ugly. : )

and that if you use a light translucent paint (thin layer) to keep the texture and natural appeal of stone and add the veil ..

I'm late to the party. Don't cry and don't paint it. I see a lot of photos demonstrating what I would have said which is that this can ground/anchor the room. If you add color you can really change this to be whatever you want. Hang in there!

I actually like it too! I will go with the other suggestions of a very nice rug in lighter/natual colors could do wonders to help soften the look. You have an abundance of suggestions here, but if you truly hate it - take it down. Question - is that gas or wood burning?

Just a thought, you could also put led strip lights to shine behind your tv. Ikea has them fairly inexpensive. Easier and less expensive and not as messy as adding pot lights. (cans) The strip from Ikea allows you to change the color also. Only thing is you would have to turn it off from behind the tv. My solution for that is a plug in outlet on a remote. I use them for some lights. It's great at Christmas too, no plugging and unplugging. Just a few clicks and everything is on or off. Good luck and don't cry. I know your pain, you're not alone. : ) lol Maybe I'll attach a picture later to show you what it looks like.

I love it! Don't replace it. I think it is a good departure point for your decor. Decorate around it. A room needs black to ground it and give it interest.

aha someone else put a color to the side of fireplace! With an imposing presence of black all the way up, I think you need that to look at. Not necessarily red.... though I posted a soft red curtain. I wonder if someday you might want to safely professionally sponge a medium gray on corners of half the bricks....wait you say!! husband will notice, well by then maybe not?? and on top maybe a lesser amount of tan paint, all to look more natural ....

The problem is there is a window to the right of the fireplace.

I like the sponge effect!

my idea is for the window to have a colored curtain... if one side has solid, maybe other side something softer/ patterned? or in last photo a nice warming wooden item.

As with any architectural element that you don't like but won't be going away, there's no point in trying to minimize it, it'll always be there leering at you.
So the best wtg is defy back, show it who's the boss.
In my last apartment i had the about same structure but clad in a horrific stained knotty pine, so it went very dark charcoal and i hung a lovely small patchwork kilim rug on it, which shut it up for good.

So, i was going to suggest a big print or glassed poster, maybe something like that Klee, to hang on it but then again, your rug may not agree.
I think that groveraxle has found the right direction and anyhow i think thats about the best thing to do with such a massive TV as well. I don't think any kind of trim on it would help at all.
It's the kind of feature you either love or hate but personally i really like it.

All neutrals, fireplace being the contrast element with a nice wall art...

i'm a female and I love it! Very modern. You need to finish the room and add accent colours and once the room is all done you won't notice the fireplace.

Don't cry this can be absolutely beautiful! You can add fireplace mantle with columns in an ivory creme color that will become contrasting. Bringing the creme will soften the black very nicely.

Thank you all for all of the advice. We now have drapes which have helped a lot. In addition, the finish that was put on the stone had dried and you can see texture of the stone and it doesn't look as dark. We have not yet replaced the area rug and are looking for one. Thanks again all! Here is a photo with the drapes.

It looks nice. Mostly, I'm glad you are feeling good about your space. That's great. Good luck with your rug hunt. :)

whatttt.........this looks amazing, way to stick it out!!!! i just dont like the console table. you dont need it and if you did i should be longer and behind the long part of the sofa with some taller things. try moving it there just to see if it works. awesome job!

Looks really good, bld. Thank you so much for coming back with an update.

I like it, but would center the sofa table to the sofa.

Black & white & grey.
Love the green touch with plants.
Nice.

What stone is that? We have been searching and searching for something like it for a project!

The brand is called Realstone!

Soooo fantastic! So many people don't wait until everything is done and all elements are added...this room is a winner and I love the dark dramatic fireplace.