I like your red brick very much....classic! You can make changes in accessories....that will give you a fresh look. Depending on what woods you have nearby, you could possibly paint the wooden parts of the fireplace.

I think that I would remove the wrought iron railings that I see. Wooden rails would give a richer/warmer feel to your home.

Thank you, as far as the wood, darker or lighter? I would love a new mantle....yes we do hate the railings, lol!

Can you post pics of the rest of the room? I am sure that you will get some great advice from the folks on here.

The red brick is nice. I do not like all the ledges. Can you change it, so that you have only one mantel, and remove the 2 smaller mantels.

I actually like your red brick better than many others I've seen. I'd declutter the top of the mantel piece that's under the clock. If you are looking for a color change, though, you could try painting the brick. I had never done that before but when we moved into our new house our fireplace was painted a glowing white and needed softening up. I painted over the white with Lancaster whitewash and then cut a sponge to the size of the brick and stamped each one with Edgecomb Gray (both benjamin moore colors). It looks much softer now. I don't have any pictures but there is a tutorial on Lowes' website that I found.

I'll have to look that up, we want to paint walls etc. I'm just scared to make a decision, so I really want advice. I don't have that act for decorating like many do!

After looking at your pictures again I think that the stark contrast between the white (?) hallway and the red brick is what throws this off. I like your current living room color. I would keep something similar and use that same color for the entry hallway. Your living room looks warm and pretty while the entry is cold and harsh.

Thanks, yes that is the entry way. This is a split level home, so the entry way is stairs going to the loft and the lower level.

Haha, there us actually a railing that doesn't show up well in the picture!

I love those looks, I like the lake house one. That would be a resurface project correct?

Will, that was interesting -- I actually deleted my comment because the photo wouldn't attach, but you seem to have seen it anyway. Not worth a fortune, just a random idea -- so let's see if it will attach now.

Oh, it did. Not so brilliant, hey? But it might spark other ideas off so I'll leave it.

Okay, yes, now I can see the railing as a railing. (To anyone else here, I had feared the dizzy drop to the left, thinking that black stripe was something hanging on the wall in the entry area.)

Yes, I can see how that might look! Haha!