Here's the rest of the room.

Would you be willing to try a new wall color or paint the wooden mantle?

Great suggestions, thank you :). I can definitely remove the wood mantel. Eventually I'd like a simple, timber shelf over the hearth. Paint: I'm thinking Sherwin Williams Heron Plume.

The heron plume will certainly help soften the brightness in the room and serve as a better backdrop for your furnishings.

I think you could go at it a couple of ways. If you want the room to be bright and cheery you could paint the walls something like cliffside gray from benjamin Moore. It is a beautiful light shade of gray with blue undertones. If you matched that to some taller flat baseboards in white and painted the fireplace a creamy white I think it would offer a nice backdrop to the amazing red rug and danish furniture pieces. I will attach a photo of a room we have this color.

Another angle would be to paint the walls the color you suggested and maybe the mantle white with the fireplace an earthy mushroom color. All of it would look best against a medium wood floor but I know that is a lot of money and I don't know your feelings on wood vs carpet etc.

The first photo is cliffside gray in our formal and the second is Rockport gray which is nice because it changes from gray to almost green depending on the light while remaining very neutral.

I forgot to add that a single curtain rod from target with one panel curtain in a cool modern geometric pattern would add a splash of color.

Also, remove the glass on the fireplace, paint the surround black as well as interior to give it a clean look.

Your furniture is awesome!

Your rug, sofa, and chair are great! Make sure your rug goes under at least the front two legs of your sofa. I would recommend painting the walls and fireplace bricks all white dove or decorator's white. This will leave you with clean, crisp walls that make your furniture, pop. I would add a very large rectangular piece of modern art above your sofa. Next, if budget allows, purchase a chest of drawers (storage) for each side of your fireplace with a lamp on each and a decorative mirror. Another thought would be to place your tv on your mantel. Hope this helps.

www.KimNielsenInteriors.com

Just change the color of the fire place ...

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions. I think I'll start with removing the mantel and painting the walls in one of the greige colors. Will look for some new side tables, and TV bench and hang some curtains. I'm reluctant to paint the brick...but once the walls are done I can make rthe call. The fireplace doors are awful, but the chimney is super drafty, so we need some kind of door. Maybe I can paint the brass matte? other questions: what about bookshelves? Maybe I should do built ins? Or floating shelves on either side? And maybe also next to the chaise.black? Anyone done this?

Weird phone typo! the question was--maybe I can paint the fireplace door matte black? Anyone done this?

I think the gregge sounds like a great idea...I also would wait and think about painting the brick or trim until after the walls are painted and the fireplace door problem is addressed.

Is it possible to measure those fireplace doors and order replacements? I am just wary of a non-baked-on finish, on a fireplace surround. Not sure it's safe or healthy. Perhaps one the contractors here, can give better advice on that...

Talk about phone typos..."greige" not gregge....%#*€#! Apple

I would put a large timber plank mantle on the fireplace and remove or replace the brass portion with a nice bronzed or iron frame. A nice fireplace screen could also fix the dated look. Add a tall colored vase with branches & mini lights for evening ambiance. The picture on the mantle is too large for the space. Maybe consider putting more rectangular style mirror with some bright deco/floral/bowls/platters etc. on the mantle. The rug is pretty but looks like a tripping hazard and should be secured with a coffee table and maybe a chair. Replace the white cube-shelf next to the fireplace with a piece of darker wood furniture that is multi-purpose & remove the all white lamp & add a larger lamp with more height and color.

You could use a technique on your fireplace I just did on my house called dry brushing. The stones contained too much black and we wanted a lighter feel. Using a very dry brush with a bit of color, you can paint in new tones and it actually looks much better than I thought it would. I think I'll do the hearth in a gray to pick up the grout color next. Good luck!

Lose the mantel and the sofa. (Keep the kid.) Paint the fireplace surround black with high-heat paint. Lower the art. Find a statement lamp for the corner. Pull the rug under the front legs of the couch. That's all you need.

Loads of great suggestions--can't wait to get started. Will keep you all posted! Thanks!

Also, your sofa and chaise are from Ikea right? the Karlstad. You could get new covers in a dark grey or white.

The sofa is walnut brown from crate and barrel, the chaise is the grey ikea karlstad!

Already sooooo much better :)

Anchored rug under sofa, lowered art, removed that hideous mantel, and bought a jazzy clock (which needs to be hung about 18 inches lower, but have to get a masonry bit) . Moved the cushions to the seating. Can't wait to paint and do cushions. I also found an amazing industrial bench that I'm going to purchase to replace my current TV bench. It's 7 feet long, and a grey/beige, and will fit right between the windows. Any curtain suggestions? So thankful for all of your tips!

Removing that mantel made a huge difference!

T'would be nice if your new TV bench raises the tube just a tad. Maybe Pier 1 for curtains. Or you could make your own.

Hello. This room looks spacious and bright. I appreciate he fire lace, however the bricks around it just make it look too busy. I recommend painting the brick white and leaving the wood feature of the fire place. Also placing picture lights on the frames of the art work will really make the art work stand out on its own.

Picture Lights

Paint a dove gray. Get samples and try on wall. Whitewash fireplace Google for instructions. But use a darker gray mix with waster. New fire screen, no gold. Whitewash entire fireplace I cl hearth. Paint mantel a black. And remove all items. Add 3 tall silver candle sticks to one end only. Add a 24" sunburst mirror in silver.TJMax carry. I would get a new area rug. With a light gray background and a pattern with some yellow and black.take those colors from rug and mix up with pillows on sofa. Add 2 small garden stool in black or white in front of sofa. Chair and picture are fine on right side on other side, add a big Palm in a ceramic pot. Nothing on wall. Add end table round to other end of sofa. Add tall silver base lamp with white shade. Check IKEA, IKEA also has a London black and white picture it's very big 40" hang over sofa 7"'from top,of sofa. You may find rug there too. What is sofa looking at? More pictures.

Removing mantel is a good idea use a big mirror instead. But, you must do something with fireplace that is your problem. Yes you can paint out the brass.

If your budget doesn't permit a new TV cabinet now, can you add feet to the exisiting one? Most hardware stores sell them.

Your white shelves could benefit from some styling. One third books, one third decor items, one blank space. You can use the photos on top of the shelf as your decor items, interspersed with books. Try leaving the top of the shelf bare. Maybe purchase more basket inserts, and intersperse them rather than lining them up on the bottom. Or move the basket insert from the shelf beside the fireplace to the larger shelving unit, putting all 4 across the bottom to make it more deliberate looking. You may need to do a bit of purging first, or make more space by lining up your books two deep, or stacking them on their side. I like books lined up so the front of the book is aligned to the front of the shelf. I'm no shelf-decor guru some maybe some other people will have suggestions too, especially if you take a stab at it and re-post.

You've made a good improvement already to the room. FYI, lots of people have had success painting the brass with high-heat paint. No need to remove the screen, just tape off what doesn't need to be painted.

I see other pics now. Add Ronan or bamboo shades to windows. Can you get another chair like you have then place on either side if TV. Add a interesting floor lamp. Remove storage bookcase. Floor mirrors from IKEA could work on that wall. 6ft just lean on wall. Take measurement of windows. IKEA may have roman shade that would fit. Go the gray tones. Darker than walls.

the mini piano. how sweet! i love the lines if the chair.

Thanks Grover. I am going to go for a colorblock look on the curtains with a neutral color. The new TV bench is about 6 inches higher (and we are thinking we need a bigger TV ;)

Definty will consider whitewashing the brick after I paint the walls. I'm already so much happier in this room!

And the fireplace door: we are going to upgrade the whole gas unit soon, so for now I might get the high heat paint in an antique bronze and paint it myself. Yes: need to style the bookcase--we threw everything in there when we moved and need to get cracking!

if flat black is the look you are after the paint is no problem. High heat barbecue paint will work.

jbelcore, I think you are well on your way to a stellar room. Your bookcase doesn't look bad--a bit too much on top, I think--but you've done such a good job with the art, and your bravery with ripping off the wood fireplace surround makes me confident you will have this room working in no time.

Updating the fireplace will make a big impact on the room. Natural stone veneers are great for this as it does not require a mason or demolition, it can go over the existing structure. Also, you can consider cabinetry or shelving on either side of the fireplace to complete the room. Here are some examples of fireplace re-facings with ErthCOVERINGS (with and without shelving).

More progress, next step paint and windo treatments. I am thinking SW Wool Skein. And maybe just roller shades in linen.