I think the problem with the fireplace is the glaring white mantel. Love what you did and the style of the mantel but the color has too much contrast with the brick and color of your walls.

Repaint you mantel with a warm, off white and then see how you feel about your fireplace.

As far as mantel décor, all your decorative items are all the same scale. Lamps, S and bottles fill the same visual space. Leave mirror and experiment with arrangements of big, medium and small objects.

Good luck.

Yes, I agree with painting the mirror black to match the firebox. Can you antique the mantle to get it more the color of the brick? Or paint it light grey? Then take everything off the mantle and the hearth. Are your walls yellow? Then I would paint the S yellow and put it on one side of the mantle. I would put the two yellow vases on the other side. Along with the mirror, that is enough. On the hearth, you have too many small things....pick one or two of your favorite things and put them on one side of the hearth and on the other side a basket with a nice bushy plant in it..

Maureen, I've seen and admired the photo you posted. I've also tried to determine the wall color with no luck. So nicely done!

Wynama, I agree with erinsean's suggestions regarding the mantel and hearth decor. Less is always so much more. It will look great!

I don't have a choice as far as the size of the supports. I have wide white baseboards and am going to add crown molding aw well. Underneath the mantel is rough cedar. I was trying I give it more if a classic style with the white I agree it's too much silver. I also painted the mirror. Haha. Guess I'll paint it again.

I loved this mantel on houzZ, that's why I painted it white

Yes walls are yellow and the fireplace takes up a huge corner in my den

You could make your mantle look more like your inspiration picture by adding some molding to it. That's what I did and it gave it a whole different look

Wynama, you're not alone when it comes to repainting something. I have sooooo been there!

It looks like the room in your inspiration photo has walls the same soft white as the mantel. That probably helps everything work together.

I love color! I am certainly not a neutral girl. That's probably my problem! I don't have enough color to suit myself But u don't even like the pieces I have on the mantel and hearth. It's just so huge! I'm thinking of typing over the brick. Thoughts?

Yes Chloe, I paint and repainted all the time! Lol

Tiling not typing!

I think the problem with trying to get the look you want, is that the FP is very small and the mantle and brick are huge and overbearing in comparison. One way to bring down the scale is simple. Add painted, white wood paneling to the sizes of the brick (see photo idea attached) As long as you keep the wood at least 12 inches away from the edge of the FP, you should not have a problem with fire safety. Another thing you should do is eliminate color. To get the look you want you use only, white, black and grey decorative items. Neutral colors. The shiny lamps are still okay. Paint the walls a lighter similar color or even better, a light warm grey.

Hope you share a photo when you make your changes, whatever you choose to do.

I would've added a 2nd color to whitewash the brick, such as a taupe plus an off- white to give it more depth. Two different applications (not mixing the paint together). I hope I'm making myself clear. A softer white on the mantle may help as well.

Do you need both lamps? Just pare domwn just a bit. Remove all , then add one thing at a time til it's right to your eye.

maybe color washing or glazing the white mantel with a shade from the brick or the wall. you might could cover some of the brick wall above mantel with sheet rock and paint to match walls.

Paint the mantel a medium gray. Remove all if the things on the hearth. Remove everything from the mantel except one lamp....put it on the left. Put 2 or 3 yellow items by the lamp...shorter than the lamp.

Use black/gray, silver , or yellow accessories.

Just saw the part about tiling over the brick.That's what I did for a client. We kept the original firebox and tiled over the brick. I also designed a new wood mantle. Also added color to the walls. The ends of the mantle are bookcases.

The choices for tiling are unlimited. I recommend going to your local tile store for ideas.

So many ideas. Thank you! I agree that the fp opening seems small. I certainly wish this fp was less grand in size. I do like color so I don't really think I would like accessories in only grey white and black. Now to take it all in and decide what to do. Thanks once again!

No photos on hearth. Too many pieces, pare down. Off white or med. gray mantle. Love the job you did!

What I immediately see is a fireplace that is too small for the mantle and surrounding brick. How to make the black fireplace look larger? Remove all the big stuff from the mantle, especially the large mirror. Mantle looks large, how to make it look smaller, paint it a colour closer to the brick so it doesn't stand out as much.

Wynama, if you love colour, add a piece of art instead of the mirror. That's all you need, remove the rest of the decor. Less is more.

I agree with sandraclark, add another colour to your paint treatment on the brick and change the mantel to blend in. If you still don't like it, you can always tile and drywall.

Still boring. I stubbed the mirror black and the mantel I used a wash if gray. :/

Stained not stubbed. I also added some gray to the brick

Mirror does not look black. Paint it with high gloss black paint

My house came with pre-painted fireplace.. Walls, trim, brick, mantle all the same color which looks like BM linen white. I don't know what they did to prep it but I've lived here 8 years and build many real fires with no issues. If you want it to disappear, paint it the same color as you wall in semigloss (after proper prep of course). I would post a photo if I could figure out how in a comment. ..

kgoodson1, add another comment. As you type, look below, the icon to add a photo appears right below, you have to add the photo before you hit the submit button.

Wynama, did you try leaning a bit piece of bright art to see if you like it better than a mirror?

Thanks - button wasn't working on my phone... Here are the pics of my current fireplace (BM Linen White I think), an inspiration piece to match drapes...

I love the second one!

Bette, I did try a piece I have there but I think it was too large. I'll have to look around and see what I like

Hang mirror 4 inches or 6, above mantle. Mirror needs to be black. Something large on sides of mirror. I really feel mirror is too little. Your brick is beautiful.

The mirror just doesn't work on this fireplace. Put the big piece of art back on the mantle, and put the big red vase of long stems on the hearth, next to the cross, then snap a pic and please post.

saw this and thought of you... I like the way they blended the wall colors with the brick.

and another