Yes is I would paint or whitewash. Not a particularly pretty brick as is.

I would white wash the wall and leave the floor alone.

Is your home historic? Are you using antique furniture? If you are whitewashing it just please make sure its done well. Please.

I don't think white necessarily but the medium tones - idk mushroom, coffee, etc... taupe, khaki.

HI -- Oh yes , it needs to be painted ! Perhaps a creamy tan color or a very warm white and maybe better yet ... black/charcoal . Or have it clad in a stacked stone or a full slab or full piece cold rolled steal . Even covering with pressed ceiling tin tiles . The base area is too big ... it does not need to be that big . If you reduce that , then put a dark slate or granite tile down or a natural flat stone ( flag ) .

Yes I would!

Definitely lighten it in some way. I think whitewash would look really nice.

it's definitely not historic. I would love it if it were like reclaimed brick but this is horrible brick! It's just been how much it's on the floor that stumps me. I would just like it to look clean and bright maybe I can start with the wall and see how it looks without doing the floor and then go from there. I would love to reduce the entire thing but until we can afford that I want some cheaper fix.

Does anyone know if you can put stone over the brick? I can't do much on the floor without ripping out the brick because it would make that area raised. The whole thing was an epic fail by whoever did it because it's not original to the house and is smack in the middle of the living room

I'd paint all of the brick white and embrace a Scandinavian look for the room, I think it would look very cheerful and the floor won't look as overwhelming. :)

that's an interesting idea since we don't walk the close to it anyway. I just wonder how close you can get to a wood stove with something like that. ideally we would love to do an insert one day but for now it's really practical to have the wood stove

White wash as opposed to white paint (no to that) would look really nice. Do the floor too. Built-ins are a great idea, check in local clearance codes. There is a certain distance from the stove you must keep flammable materials.

One of the houzzers, Fred S, could maybe let you know what the normal clearance would be. He's very knowledgable when it comes to codes. :)

Sometimes just mentioning his name will bring him to the dilemma.

I'm no designer but I would paint it white and leave that pretty wood floor beneath it. It would look like a Scandinavian inspired design. You can bring in other elements in your decor to tie it all together. But that's if you like the clean white look of Scandinavian decor.


Ashley

Whitewash: http://houzz.com/photos/5043653

I would paint it.

love that look you just showed by the grout around the brick on the wall isn't flush with the brick and I hate it! I wish it was more flush :(

A slate floor would sure help. And it would get rid of the lip. http://houzz.com/photos/2654558

Not sure what you mean by grout not being flush with brick? Wood stoves are wonderful and with a little help you can spiff this up. I feel your pain though.

Also, I'm sure this would be messy and might require some power tools, but I would look in to aging the brick by grinding/chipping a bit at the perfectly square edges: http://houzz.com/photos/46378

Also, use up some of that space. Fill up the niches with round logs or logs you plan to use. In the warm months put a real, tall plant near one of the front corners and some smaller potted plants arranged at different heights on the other side. A basket or iron bucket for kindling, newspaper, etc, a cool metal box for matches, fire starters. Bring the tools out from hiding. http://houzz.com/photos/3038435

http://houzz.com/photos/139771

http://houzz.com/photos/3414033

http://houzz.com/photos/15779429

http://houzz.com/photos/3561323

Yes, you can put stone over brick. The brick needs to be repaired/cleaned/treated. I'd get a mason in to do the work, it would be worth it. And you can remove the hearth and replace with something smaller. It really does take up square footage in the room! A mason will also know about local codes for the size of the back wall and hearth, and can help you decide which materials would be best to clad the wall with. Do you use the stove or is it just for decor? (left by previous owner, but you don't use it?) If you live in a warmer climate, and don't use the stove, you have the option of removing it totally.

Newer stoves should have a nameplate on the back for required clearances. This stove looks like it has no integral heat shielding, so it falls under the requirement listed by the NFPA 211 (link).

36" to combustibles on the wall for the stove, and 18" for the flue. 18" for the pad/ hearth.

Thanks for the info, Fred :)

In other words, no mantel, or shelving within the red area ;). ......If I scaled this right.

Better safe than sorry :)

Perhaps consider staining, I think it looks less gloppy.

Fred S., you are a credit to the human race. How kind to just simply help.

Paint the brick the same color as walls -it will disappear! I did the same thing on a prior house, and was sorry I had waited so long.

honestly, I'd take it all out and get rid of the stove. It's a hazard to pets and little kid if it's operating. takes up too much space in a room, and really isn't that efficient for heating any more then the room it's in.

If the stove is staying then I would definitely paint all of the brick , including the floor. I would then stack wood in the openings in an attractive way to avoid a big black hole syndrome, add a colorful, small persian or animal skin rug (depending on your personal style) in front of the stove to soften all that brick and hang some shelving above the alcoves to display small artwork, photographs and colorful glass objects, for example.

I would restain the mortar light grey by using a small brush. Then I would see how it looks after that for white wash. I see a few white washed factory bricks used and I think it is mostly the mortar that makes it look dated. So just changing the mortar color might make a difference.

Tear it out!! There's no function for those weird little 'bread ovens' ?? What are those? put up some concrete board, and side with your choice manufactured stone. Modernize! This look is timeless-do the backdrop with that-and offset a inset for wood.

I would put a white, light skim coat over it.

S. Lo firewood is meant to go in those cubbies.

Perhaps a rough white wash [https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/modern-minimalist-painted-brick-wall-with-button-back-sofa-and-lacquered-coffee-contemporary-living-room-cheshire-phvw-vp~17626992[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/modern-minimalist-painted-brick-wall-with-button-back-sofa-and-lacquered-coffee-contemporary-living-room-cheshire-phvw-vp~17626992)

Paint gloss black

I think it might look good painted, color depending on the room color and furnishings, but if you use the stove I would recommend not using white--ashes and coals would make a mess of white or very light colors.

We do use the stove every day throughout the winter our house is a saltbox colonial and just even making a small fire will get the whole house really warm so it's a good point about the ash. I would love to have it stone but just looking for a cheaper solution for the moment