First, whitewash it. If that isn't satisfactory, paint it to match the woodwork on the right. Beef up the mantel and paint it to match your trim too. All the wall decor at the end of your room is hung too high. Groupings that do not tie into furniture to make a visual unit, should have the center point 5' above the floor. I think a nice large piece of art would do more justice to your room than the skinny shelves and small decor items.

Whitewashing with your white cabinets seems like it might be too much. You should consider covering it with a stone veneer- you can easily update the brick that way, without too much trouble/expense. This gives you the option to choose the color and style of the stone to match your tastes and decor. You have so many options with a wall that size- and the white cabinets you have would go beautifully with some of the stone veneer colors. Here's some similar styles to give you an idea of what it could look like.

Why would you cover nice brick with fake brick? Why would you paint brick? Fake rock look alike fake rock to everyone except the person that put it up. You will always have edges that disclose them as being fake.

I think people see all these craft shows and just think white paint answers everything. The brick you have has nice detail and is also a vintage looking brick that is very popular even in thin brick veneer. The issues you have aren't the brick wall but the pieces that appear to have been just thrown on it. Have a real carpenter come out and give you some mantel ideas. You could easily cover say the fireplace half with a nice paint mantel that would cut down on the brick wall look if that bothers you.

I am a carpenter not decorator but you need some heavy down molding and an off white or blue? for your cabinets. Fix what you have with some quality craftsmanship not the quick coverup of the moment. Remember when everyone wanted tile ceilings and paneling?

I too like the brick but there is too much of that color on that wall and when you add the color the chair, it just looks like all the same color. You need some contrast. I would see about a white or colored mantle or a complete surround. Move the chair away. The art work is too small for the space. Change this for something larger and in contrasting color. I would also update the fire screen

No brainwave for the fireplace, I'm afraid -- mainly because I really like it -- but I do think that two square botanic prints, a bigger and more graceful lamp, and one or two discreetly patterned cushions to add variety to the plain ones might be a good idea for the seating area.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We also get tired of the same thing in our homes. If nobody remodeled, there wouldn't be a need for carpenters or even Houzz. So updates are personal. For 11 years we have made a nice living manufacturing and installing stone veneer over ugly or dated fireplaces and other projects. So I strongly disagree that fake stone always looks fake.

As in your craft of carpentry, there are great craftsman and not so good craftsman. We pride ourselves on our stone and installation. A manufactured stone has it's place. If you look at our profile you will see we have 46 fie star reviews. So I want to encourage Houzz viewers to keep an open mind. If you like stone, don't be afraid of manufactured stone.

Attached are some pictures of projects where we worked with some carpenters and our man made stone we installed. I know, I might be a bit sensitive, but our customers have been happy with our stone and installation.

Hi there - wow you have lots of strong opinions so far.

Given the traditional style of your windows, doors and casework, I also vote for washing the brick but not with white . . that often comes off pink instead of antique to me. Look at this image to get a sense of what it will do for you though - https://www.houzz.com/discussions/fireplace-remodel-dsvw-vd~263914
I want to recommend a great green / greige undertone neutral that will leave your wall of brick feeling naturally antique. It unifies everything in the room since the brick now reads as texture . . fully painted brick is too modern for this room in my opinion.
I can't vote for stone since your room is so narrow -and traditional - the brick is perfect. Stone would feel overwhelming to me to have a wall of it. Also, it is going to be applied like tile on top of the brick, so you will lose another 1/2" - 1" in the room on the narrow side . . next to your casework that is a tough transition.

I love the slate hearth and find it classic rather than dated. I love the way you have repeated the rose tone in art and pillows - some rose will remain, but it will feel like a bigger room because the brick area won't be so dark. I lwant to suggest that we take the casework / built ins in the direction of the brick antiquing tone so that it reads as a continuous color story with different textures. Your green walls, white trim and neutral sectional will go great with this approach ..

These neutrals read greige, but have a green undertone that makes them warm. For your casework - http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/senoragray

Here is a photo / and a link to see what senora gray looks like with white trim - this is what I propose for your built in casework adjacent to the brick. http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/04/seven-speedy-nursery-updates/

To wash over the brick, we want to go one shade lighter, then water it down by 1/3 - use bm inner balance . . http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/innerbalance

When you use a warmer neutral, you get a real antique feeling. If you are nervous about washing too much of the color out, water your paint down more . test on the bricks closest to the floor under the hearth . .and wait 15 minutes - the brick soaks up some of the paint into its porous "body" and it looks more natural after that process is finished. However, if you want the red to wash out more, two coats of wash will do that too.

There are some things you could try to see if they help diminish the feeling of the brick overpowering your room. Your ceilings are low, I would paint both the walls and ceiling an off white, James White 2010 by Farrell and Ball. Painting both the same colour will give it more height because there will be no division between the wall and ceiling.
Take a look at modern farmhouse style, it's not country sweet, it's fresher and organic. Is there celery green in your rug? A pair of solid colour pillows & a pair of print, 20-24 inch square. No itty bitty pillows.
A simple shallow beam mantel would be more in keeping. A new fireplace screen, just something simple, your brick is busy enough. I would try to hang a barnboard framed mirror on the right side of the fireplace. Basically, to cover some of the brick. The right piece of art would also work. Tape a big piece of paper up first to choose the right size. It should start where you have the two small prints and come down low behind the chair.
Clean up the storage below the hearth, if you only stuff it with logs it would look great, nothing else. Same with the side storage, stuff it with nice logs, add some birch! Clean the bluestone.
I agree with Rina, the small art is not doing your room justice. Go big, 2 or 3 large pieces above your sofa end, 2/3 the length of the end of your sectional for proper scale and hung starting 4 to 5 inches above.

The 2nd photo above is to show the beam mantel, not the painted brick.

If you are going to keep the brick a distressed beam might look better than a crown molding shelf. I sympathize with your husband....been battling my wife for years to keep my lazy boy.

Libradesigneye I love your suggestions! I really like the color of the washed brick you showed. It looks very antique but I don't see green in it. I couldn't link to the benj Moore colors you suggested. If I so go with whitewashing the brick what mantel would you put up and where would you hang. Current height makes it too low from the ceiling and wasn't sure how low to hang bc of the curve of the brick on opening. What if anythin would you put on the brick to far right? I like Patons ideA of painting ceiling and walls same color to add illusion of height. Anyone's thought on the rug? It looks better in person- it's main background color is a dark sage green and then brick colors cream and dark mushroom. Personally I think it drags the room down ESP with the bohemith sofa. Any suggestions in new rug wo breaking the bank? I'm nota modern decor person. So no modern print rugs. Sorry! As for hearth I've thought of "boxing in the hearth with cabinets sort of mimicking the other built in. Wood storage would be in the little alcove and underneath would have cabinet doors hiding away whatever- blankets etc. I figured the top of hearth could have almost like a Formica top on both ends (kind you would have on a bench) and then have just the bluestone in front of the opening. Not sure I'm describing it as I see it. Thoughts? Any suggestions on where to get artwork would be helpful as well.

back with more this weekend jo - glad we are getting on track for you . . sent photo of cabinets painted senora gray because you can see it isn't green at all . . or really gray . . .very neutral and great with green

I don't see any pictures? Where did you send them?

Sorry - the link in the post sends you to a website with images of senora gray cabinets. They may have some here on houzz too . . . back soon http://www.younghouselove.com/2014/04/seven-speedy-nursery-updates/

rugwise - what about going to a light muted blue green to echo the hearth - it is great with olive, and maybe take the walls to a tad more olive undertone green . . look at overstock regularly and go for the more classic tones - here's a version
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Safavieh-Handmade-Kerman-Light-Blue-Ivory-Gold-Wool-Rug-96-x-136/7724705/product.html?refccid=74FW4LCEUNG2NL2D6K5M35IONA&searchidx=103
you can tell by looking at the blue that it is muted with green, and the mushroom tone in the accents is good, but the third shade is pretty gray . . i like better
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hand-tufted-Misty-Traditional-Wool-Rug-10-x-14/9679869/product.html?refccid=PLYKATIYODTLNASKBOOOPBJ3SE&searchidx=165
the blue is even more perfect and has olive in it http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hand-tufted-Misty-Traditional-Wool-Rug-10-x-14/9679869/product.html?refccid=PLYKATIYODTLNASKBOOOPBJ3SE&searchidx=165
along with the smallest peach tone which would pick up on the brick and rose elements without matching - love the sort of kilim echo you can see in the weave - traditional but more casual too

you'll find the perfect thing, but there are some ideas
wall tone would just need one coat of something like spanish olive or test bm april showers . . close to your tone but a tad more muted http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/aprilshowers

Added some things to my earlier comment - it would pick up the bluegreengray of the slate hearth and make your room feel new . keep the pink accents, paint the casework but not the trim - the white trim will be great - you can go to a new mantel if you want - love the options above . . painted like the casework in senora or left wood stain like the floor