A few questions first:

1. What are the room dimensions? Length X Width X Height

2. What is the room used for?

3. What are the architectural (floors, walls, ceiling) major finishes in the room?

4. Are there any other windows other than those flanking the fireplace?

5. Is the fireplace the only focal point? Large flat panel screens often become a

major focal point.

6. How much are you willing to invest? (As little as possible is not a budget, it's a wish)
7. How would you characterize the look you wish to create? Pictures of the furnishings and window coverings would help determine the design path to take.

8. Is the fireplace mostly decorative or is it used relatively frequently (more than 3-4 times/year)

You might try painting it before you go to the trouble of demo.

Allspace design -

I do not know the dimensions of the room.

It will be a living room/family room.

There is one other window in the room.

1935 tutor home. Wood floors. The dining room and sunroom has picture moulding however the living room does not.

We plan in using the fireplace, hopefully on winter weekends.

We want the fireplace to be traditional with a modern update to it.

There is something cool about the fireplace. I like the shapes of the bricks and their pattern. Yes, it is oversize but fireplaces are always a focal point anyway.

I am imagining your fireplace with the individual bricks painted a different color. On my screen the colors are quite bright. Imagine the red bricks painted a medium gray, the dark bricks painted a dark gray, and the white bricks painted light gray. Don't paint the grout. It would be a bit of a fussy job but less than tearing it down.

Or even just paint it a quieter brick color, but leave the grout unpainted to emphasize the interesting brick pattern.

Longmont · More Info

The more I look at your fireplace, the more I like it. If you house is a 1935 Tudor, the taller fireplace and elaborate brick pattern are very much in keeping with the house. If the colors are a bit too high contrast for you, try painting to reduce that aspect. But don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

What if you painted the individual bricks a medium brownish tone as in my photo above, then whitewashed the whole thing. You'd retain the character of the fireplace and the charm of the brick pattern, but soften the overall look. I wouldn't want to see you turn this into a bland fireplace that you'd see in any contemporary house. I think you have something special here.

I think this fireplace is a bad example of Tudor Fireplace. If I bought the house I would change it; it has not historical relevance nor is it on the Historical Register of Houses......suit yourself I say!

The fireplace is suited to the home. Leave it alone and work with it. It has great character that doesn't need to be obliterated with a remuddle ''update''. Obliterating a home's character should be the absolute last thing anyone new to the home should do. It destroys part of the value of the home.

I think this fireplace is a bad example of Tudor Fireplace. If I bought the house I would change it; it has not historical relevance nor is it on the Historical Register of Houses......suit yourself I say!

PS Standard mantle height is 5 feet from floor in a room with an eight foot ceiling.

LOL this is starting to sound like a poll!