If it were mine, I would look into putting glass mosaic tile on the columns and the base (hearth?). I see that you have green in one room and beige in another, perhaps you could find a tile that incorporates both colors. And then I would pick one of the colors to paint the top portion.

Watch a few HGTV and DIY shows--they've done some great epsiodes on hearths. (I think the TV should be slightly above eye level so you are not letting head drop to watch tv)
Do what Bobbi P sez! I agree!

Thank you Debbie!

Thanks a lot...

Also, I will be changing colors to possibly orange in the coming months... More of maybe white(shade of white) and orange.

Well, If it were mine, keeping in mind the modern look you desire. The columns, mantel and hearth have to go cause there not modern. Use a tile on both walls so it starts on the extreme left and continues to the outer edge of the wall on the right. Hearth should extend over to the wall on the right at the corner. You can play with tile color to give it a more linear design, I'd go large tile 24x36" and the brass trim pieces and be changed to black ones.

I'd remove all the wood surround and put a single or double row of black slate tiles around the opening.

Use high heat black spray paint on the brass ascents. The mantel/surround is traditional in style, if modern is the look you're going for, replace it with something with more simple, clean straight lines. I love the juxtaposition of modern and rustic. If you go with a bold wall color like orange, a thick piece of reclaimed wood could look very nice.

Check out the genuine handmade thin brick at www.handmadebrick.com.

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Search this site for "orange fireplace wall" for some knock out ideas

Thanks

Have you considered using concrete? That will give you the modern/contemporary look you are going for. I would get rid of the wood surround as suggested and keep it clean and simple. Check out www.2stone.ca and look in the photo gallery under fireplaces for some great ideas ( I attached a couple). Board form tiles (available at 2Stone Designer Concrete) is another option, you could even wrap the wall. Good luck! changing the fireplace will give the space a whole new feel!

Before you place new LED TV over your fireplace, how much heat can your LED TV tolerant. If it is gas or wood vented fireplace you need to look at your TV instruction or call your gas company to understand how much heat TV can handle. I see from your last picture that you have mantle to try to kept the heat from the TV --good planning

If you are looking for modern/contemporary, consider a slate gray. Orange may work better as an accent color. The photo below represents what I'm talking about. Warm and sophisticated, yet cool and contemporary. Good luck!

I will definitely consider your recommendation. Thanks.

Your fireplace surround is made of a faux stone product. They come white and are usually faux finished after that to resemble stone. If you want a quick fix, just get an artist over to your house to paint it to look like whatever color stone you want.

The one below may be too traditional, but I want you to look at the stone tile that is inside the fireplace surround. If you could paint your fireplace to resemble that stone and install that tile on the rest of the wall where your fireplace is, you'd have a much better look. You could update it further by painting the walls around the fireplace the same dark grey as the stone. A local tile company should have tile that you'd like to copy for your fireplace faux finish. Be sure to do it with a matte finish.

I think I will go with this style... Thanks for all your comments.

Great look! What color will you use?

Deep orange. Any suggestion? Paint brand also.

The storage on the left... I like it, very modern! See that part that's about the same place as your current mantle? I'd suggest joining it to a mantle in the same style (certainly the same thickness), and continue it onto the right side wall.

I like what you're thinking above, maybe continuing the storage wouldn't work with that. It's an odd little corner, really, but I think it would be nice to join all three areas a little.

I hope to see the end result.