Try to whitewash it. If you have any left over wall color use a color palette or board in order to have access to some white paint color and some of the yellow/gold paint color. Using a wet sponge (keep the sponge wet with water but not dripping wet) as to keep the paint diluted (and not apply heavily). Sponge the entire wall with white paint and dabbing the yellow on the darker tiles. I guess you can whitewash the mantle. I've never tried whitewashing wood. Attached is our fireplace which was once gray and black. I've stonewashed it a lighter yellow when our room was lighter. It eventually fades overtime. This time I added a burnt orange with yellow and gold tones. My husband built the mantel.

I would remove the mantle it is too high and does nothing for the fireplace .

I forgot to say that it just flat out doesn't match the rest of the room with our furniture. The trim was painted white a couple of years ago when the house flooded. It used to be just the same unfinished wood color and texture as the mantle. We planned on changing out the mantle then but never were inspired by anything and then life got in the way... I'm really thinking a whitewash would be the cheapest and best looking route then my husband can just build a new mantle to hang. We can't just remove it because then there would be holes where it's hanging (so sayeth the husband). Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Agee the mantle is too high. I would just paint the fireplace white and lower the mantle.

Since your house is going on the market, you will need to depersonalize it. Remove the wedding picture. Don't whitewash the stone. That is a personal choice and many folks (myself included) would prefer the natural look of the stone. Put the crosses on the mantel. Many people like to sit on the hearth, and the crosses take up seating room that would otherwise help to sell your house.

We will definitely remove things and make the house less 'ours' when we do list. Thanks for the reminder though.

Please don't whitewash the stone. Clean up the screen with black paint. Put some logs in there and remove personal items. Maybe put a glaze on the white trim to tone it down. Let the new owners do what they want with their taste.

I like the mantel.
It is a bit high, but I would leave it alone.
I also would not paint the stone.

Those white stripes on each side of the stone need toning down.
I think that would look better painted to blend with the gray color of the stone.
Do you have a rectangular strong colored picture with a dark frame to hang above the mantel and balance with the fire box?

All of our trim in the house is white including the window and door that are right next to the fireplace so would it look odd to have that trim a different color?

What did your real estate agent suggest? I'd be following their staging suggestions.

I wouldn't paint the fireplace, but would remove the white trim and lower the mantel, if possible. You're probably going to sale and not have to worry about the FP. new owners may love it.

I don't think it would look odd to paint those stripes to blend with the stonework. You want to paint those boards out so that they are not noticed.

Monica, I think you have to think of the trim beside the FP as more of filler pieces, rather than trim. FP's usually are not trimmed on the side and the white colour draws attention to that.
You made the comment above that the FP doesn't go with your furnishings. Try not to think of it going with your furnishings if you are selling. Since rustic furnishings are popular with many right now, I think many might like your FP.

Ps. I hope your next home has the FP of your dreams. :)

Painting and white washing are not the same. White washing can bring life into some colors or can wash out colors you don't want. Another example: while my neighbors are apoxying or concrete stamping with dyes their front stoop, I whitewashed mine mixing paint from the trim of our home with water and it cost nothing but it offers a better curb appeal by tieing it into the front entrance and making it brighter. I do it in layers so I can add as much as I want. Because stone has pores, the whitewashing fades overtime.

My thought with whitewashing was to mute the colors down some. I don't feel that painting the whole thing will look good.

I'd paint the trim boards to blend in and not worry about it. The mantle looks high, but not bad. I've seen far, far worse.

If you are depersonalising the look for sale, I would take away the wedding picture and the crosses. Lower the mantel to about 10" above the fireplace, sand and stain the white side boards the same color as the mantel,(or replace with stained boards stained to match the mantel). Add some large and tall art work (can be a beautiful poster) ,substantial candlesticks on each side or urns .That's all. simple and neat.

pain the white trim the same color as the walls, take away crosses and painting. and put an asemetrical floral arraignment on one side. don't spend another dime!!!!!