First when I saw this fireplace it come to me that it will look so good in steel plate with patina from bottom to top. On that can be fixed mount for plasma tv. But when I saw the rest of the room, maybe stone will be better. There is imitation of stone which can look very real and it will be a nice contrast to a massive table. Fireplaces are designed to dominate the space. :)

Rebecca Heane did a whole ideabook on contemporary coastal, maybe you could get some inspiration here: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/elements-of-contemporary-coastal-style-stsetivw-vs~3363644

Repaint wall the same as the rest of your walls.

My thoughts are to leave the fireplace mantle, and suggested in another post re-paint the "pop outs". I think you have the contemporary look already with the fireplace mantle design. Your colours should represent the beach look you are after..Contemporary is simple styling without the clutter..Add a few pieces of artwork, accesories etc. to capture living seaside..
Hang a flat screen TV on the wall next to the fireplace, that way you can remove the stand your TV currently sits on and open the space up..

Thank you everyone! I will immediately get rid of the green to start & go with the wall color. You all have fantastic ideas & I appreciate every one of them. Planning to continuw down all paths, thnx again for your experise,

The green has a really beachy feel and maybe paint the whole room. Definately mount the tv on the wall.

Thank you so much! I would never have guessed that paint was such an important element to this. Lesson learned & very thankful! And will definitely move forward with the tv.