Clean it good before you do anything. That should brighten it up, and maybe you won't need to do anything. Check youtube for videos on how to do it.

Agree- give it a good cleaning and maybe try a different style/size of mantle.

I like the brick. I think you should have it professionally cleaned, and change the mantel. You could also change the hearth. It's charming!

Yes, I have to agree about leaving it, but cleaning it. Try a basket of birchwood on the hearth and take the small items off the mantle. Find a large piece of art to give color to the area. Maybe the candles would work on the mantle with the art.

Don't paint it. Clean and change walls take inspiration from the brick tones in the grey palate and go a shade lighter. Change mantle it's too thin an inset one would look nice but may cause damage installing it.

I would start by painting the walls and the mantle. I think you will see a huge difference. Good luck!

i agree with the others....clean it up and put a lighter mantle (maybe paint the existing to make sure you like the change)

I would leave it! Paint the walls and change the window treatments and accessories.

I like the brick, different wall color and fire screen, then maybe lighten mantle. Too nice to mess with. I have a similar fireplace but its two stories tall and what do you do with that!!

this is what we did with our fireplace!

My husband and I were in the same predicament. We white washed it!

Paint the walls a grey tone-the brick has pinkish undertone so the yellow doesn't look as good as a gray.

Paint the wall a shade of cream or a shade of grey blue/ robins egg blue http://www.picklee.com/2014/02/10/the-robins-egg-revival-before-after/ and add a large painting or photo over the mantel, clean the brick and paint the mantel itself cream - If the yellow colour on the walls is a favorite - try some art like this: http://www.zatista.com/product/details/19109/Apearantly-So . The candlestick holders and vase could be replaced with something pale gold, cream or silver to add some brightness at the hearth . And finally for more inspiration - here are a variety of treatments. Go with your instinctive fave! https://www.houzz.com/photos/brick-fireplace-surround-phbr0lbl-bl~l_3891

I didn't see the option to blow it up, so I chose to cover it with stone. That way it will still be functional and give the proper ambiance instead of some painted faux piece.

Leave the brick. Put a nice mantle to update the look. Art work. Paint the room, but do not paint the brick. ( I did and regret it ) Brick is timeless,

The brick is a nice colour. I would leave it. We had a similar fireplace in our last home and I really loved it. A fresh coat of paint on the walls is all you need.

Don't paint the brick!!! change wall color, clean the brick and I'd even take the mantle off for a whole new look and some height. how about some accent lighting from above or below, or even a large mirror in place of the mantle. It really is a nice fireplace!

clean it well, save it, maybe change the mantle, but add some color on the mantle to tie things together...it is a beautiful old fireplace that has stood the test of time....just needs a new "bowtie" :-)

As a designer, I suggest to reface the brick with a lighter stone and have your contractor build built-in shelving with accent lighting on the right and left sides of the fireplace. Change the mantle to a complete one and paint it white or dark color. It will pop out and will brighten up the room.

Use a gray glaze, will update the brick color and see have the look of real brick

I dislike the look of painted brick. I like brick fireplaces and would clean it and update mantelpiece and paint.

it looks great! just change your mantle

Leave it! It's beautiful. You'll regret changing it later, I feel. I like the mantel too, but do agree that a more geige wall color would go better.

I was tempted to paint mine also, but covered the top and framed it with bookcases and a mantle instead. I love your brick. Painting it would be a mistake.

Whitewash it and add a new mantle. Much cheaper than covering it with stone. And if you don't like it then cover it with stone.

Looking at the photos, I'm wondering if the bricks are hand-made? If so, I would be more for painting the walls a color that show off the bricks(something a little lighter than the sofa, or to contrast with the sofa). Because the bricks look rustic, I would go for a more rustic mantel. I love what Martha Carlton suggested.

I have actually updated the fireplace like this in the past. I smooth coated all of the brick after removing the mantle and hearth. I then used 12" x 12" mosaictiles and covered it from floor to ceiling. They were white marble with just enough sparkle to make the room gleam with light. I then installed a new hearth. The hearth was a contrasting stone and then the part of the hearth that meets the floor was done in the same mosaic tile. It was fantastic!

I voted for painting -- it will lighten, brighten and freshen the room. You can leave the mantle unpainted and retain the wood or paint the mantle. Either way would work.

Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker

Paint the room and redecorate. It's the rest of the room that's the problem not the fireplace.

change you wall color to a shade of white your furniture color is perfect add a pop of color and your good to go...

I love that rustic look of your fireplace. Do not paint. Clean the brick and change the colour on the wall to compliment the brick.

You can't change a fire place without seeing the room that its in. From what I can see, I'd clean it good, and add some white woodworking mantel and sides.

its lovely . just keep it as it is. and change the wall color adjacent to it.

I would consider focusing on the big dark hole of the fire place pit. Is it possible to clean that up and add some new glass doors or something to give the appearance of lightening it up with out painting the brick? Is there a treatment to clean and brighten the natural brick? I have had houses with both natural brick and painted brick walls and fireplaces. Like them both, but in different ways.

I have to agree with the majority here, leave the brick just deep clean it

I voted for paint it, however, I would give it a deep cleaning w/ a wire brush and see if that helps first, then paint the walls, then update the mantel, and paint the brick as a last resort.

I had the same thing, here's what we did. Mantle surround was made of MDF, as was the overlay above mantle. we had 12 x 12 black granite tiles applied around opening and hearth. ( my raised hearth is squared.

trying photo upload again

i wouldn't paint your fireplace as some have suggested--I actually like it! A different wall colour, beefing up the mantle and changing your accessories would be a big help

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Get rid of the yellow walls, fold sheet metal around a bulky mantle.

Paint it first, and if that's not the look you're going for, then you have to option of resurfacing.

Paint the surrounding wall a grey tone to freshen up/ modernize the space

I would paint it. The brick is beautiful and It would be alot less work to paint.
-Angeline, GKB

Faux it with colors that blend and compliment the wall colors and decor. Its much easier to do that you think. We did it with ours, which was a horrible salamander/coral color, turning it into a modern gray brick.

I say paint.... But PLEASE don't paint the mortar! I use sponges cut to the size of the brick and you can make the bricks mottled and they don't look painted at all.

DON'T PAINT THE BRICKS!!! It's a fine traditional fireplace. Maybe you are just tired of it right now. Build a surround and work on that rather than trying to remove it or paint it. Eventually, such a nice fireplace will be an asset and merely removing a surface surround will bring it back to it's former beauty.

My husband the brick mason said he would paint your fireplace and put life back into it. Changing the wall color will help. The mantle should have a statement piece that draws your eyes to the fireplace when you enter the room. Less is more!

I hate painted brick, and once decided not to purchase a house because they had painted the fireplace. My current neighbors went to great expense (and huge mess!) to sandblast the paint off their brick fireplace. It doesn't look as good as the original fired surface of the brick, but it looks a Whole Lot better than the painted brick! Your brickwork is beautiful, but the wall color seems to clash with it. If you really hate it, perhaps sheath it with a wooden facing? That would give future buyers a chance to go back to it, if that's what they like.

In my opinion, Brick adds charm to a house! so I'd say a fresh coat of paint will do the job!