I think the current color doesn't flow with the rest of the items in the room and also makes the fireplace look bulky, I would paint it white.

dont paint it......

Is that a marble surround under the wood mantel? I don't know, they don't seem to work together. And the mantel, though beautiful, seems out of proportion with the large black TV looming over it. Perhaps if the fireplace wall was painted a rich color everyone would get along better.

it is marble under it. I am really struggling because i love the mantel but I don't think it works like it is. My builder suggested a floating mantel just below the tv in white. The lights and the tv will remain but I feel like it doesn't fit either.

But then you remove all the nice character. Paint is cheap. Choose a rich, saturated color that you love and paint that wall. Put different shades on the sconces (think warmer or more interesting). Good luck!

the builder has the best and same idea as mean, tho I would do charcoal or some sort of gray to pull the large black tv back to earth.

Have you considered removing the mantel altogether and creating a ceramic tile surround with built-ins, freshening up the walls with a bolder colour? The walls seem to blend together, when you have a unique space you can turn it into a neat art piece! Take a look at one of our projects - hard to believe the fireplace surround is made completely of ceramic tile! http://www.houzz.com/projects/643179/dalhousie-kitchen-and-living-room-renovation

Dalhousie Kitchen & Living Room Renovation · More Info

Dalhousie Kitchen & Living Room Renovation · More Info

I love your room and the fireplace. It's not a cookie cutter look. With a warm color paint on the walIs it would be fabulous.

Please do not paint the FP surround. It is beautiful. Your TV looks as though it is hung too high. Do you have neck pains while watching it? You really do not need the sconces on each side either. If anything I would lower the TV as much as possible after painting this section of the wall to the ceiling a charcoal to visually make the TV disappear & to show off the beautiful FP surround more. You will love it again.

Glamorous Boudoir · More Info

Only do not paint the surround!!!!!!

So agree with sandraclark about TV and mantel. TV too high and do not paint surround. Move TV and paint walls.

What about cutting the mantel height down a little and lowering the tv?

This is a beach house bdon't want dark walls

http://www.homedit.com/pros-cons-tv-over-the-fireplace/

this has some great ideas, check out the first picture.

thank you!!!! I really think we need to lower the television. It is a bit high. Still not real sure what to do about the beautiful mantel. I love some of the ideas on that link.

As this is a beach house, I would keep it as is but distress a bit and accessorize to increase it's importance and create a lovely focal point. Can you move the tv to one of the side benches and swivel if you need to for better viewing...easier to watch and now tv won't be the focal point in the room.

Massachusetts Farm House · More Info

NO!! Don't remove it. The detail is lovely and works with your antique pieces. But, the wood tone isn't just right and the bench/cubbies flanking the FP is contemporary looking. Easy fix is to paint the FP surround white...like the bench. Ta da! Works with your antique pieces and complements the bench(s) and other pieces.

Your idea to paint it white totally works.

Have you ever considered marbleized spray painting the mantel? That's where you paint it so that it looks just like marble. I have done it on doors, trim and mantles for a few clients homes in different colorings over the years and they absolutely loved the look of it, and also it helps a plain old wood mantle look a bit more modern, or at least fit into a more modern room better, and it would be a much cheaper option than ripping anything out..

You CAN use any mix of any colors that you'd like to fit your room. but, I'd probably prime it with a light grey first, and than spray it with a coat of a deep brown, much deeper than the shade of brown it is now, but that would only be as a mostly unseen base coat, than I'd cover most, to almost all of that with a high gloss black while the deep brown is still a bit wet/moist so that the black can cover and also blend into the brown which helps start the marble look, than I'd fine line in some white or off white jagged lines white using either a small brush, or even a clean cotton swab, and than randomly spray some more black over parts of the white so that the lines look as if they go in and out of the marble. You can also speckle in some gold and/or silver. Use a 2000 grit sand paper to smooth it all out than spray it with a high temp clear coat since fireplaces do throw off heat, and I'd be giving it at least 5-7 coats of the clear for durability and wash-ability. It was just an idea though..

Whatever you should decide to do with your room, Good Luck!

DO NOT paint the mantle. Sometimes I think people watch too many of these quick design shows where you can't really see the close up end result.

It isn't my style but it appears to have a lot of craftsmanship to build. If you don't like it I bet someone would easily pay $500 for it as it would be $3500-$5000 to reproduce.

In all honesty there is a lot going on with that wall. Mismatched pieces, TV too high, sconces of again different style and too high, etc.

Start fresh, recoup some money by selling mantle and move on. TV is way too high and should be on side bookcase. Some great ideas from people with a way better design sense then myself. Bit the bullet and start over it will be better product in the end,

the tv is definitely too high and that will be remedied in the near future. The side are not bookcases they are windows and i cannot put a tv in front of those windows. So tv will have to stay in the middle over the fireplace. So funny to get all the different opinions on this room. Most everyone that comes in loves the look even if they aren't crazy about the color of the mantel. Such a difficult decision for me. I love an eclectic look especially in a beach house. This house has just undergone a tremendous remodel. Went from an A frame to a cottage look. Trying really hard to get the inside right for us. I really appreciate all of the comments and suggestions even though I am still conflicted.