A. No

B. And not white.

White won't go with the black granite; you'll end up with a black rectangle in a white frame.

What about that hulking black thing on the left of the second photo? Eye of the beholder, eh?

Is the mantel really walnut or walnut-stained something else? It doesn't look like real walnut (looks like stained pine in the photo, but can't really tell exactly).

Nice baby grand btw. I would have a pro strip and stain the mantle a lighter color!?!

Yes. Paint the raised wall over the fireplace black. Replace mirror with an oil painting. Remove tiny clock and put the cranes together.

Sorry, I was on my ipad last night and couldn't down load a picture....if you paint that raised section of wall over the fireplace a dark color to match the surround, it will make that area more cohesive. Right now the fireplace looks wide and squat. Bring it up to the ceiling and there will be a completely different effect.

Thanks for the great ideas! Will post picture once I've made changes.

JudyG: If you have the time, could you please let me know your thoughts, if any, on a color to paint the rest of the room if I go with black or dark gray in this area as suggested? I was thinking of a White Dove or Simply White for the rest of the room but I don't want it to be too harsh/stark. I don't like the current color because I've always thought it reads too yellow for my taste.

Also, shall I paint that portion of the molding above the area black, too, and/or the area along the sides between the raised area and the rest of the wall?

Thank you! :)

I like honed black granite for surrounds as they blend into the metal firebox so that disappears. I would start by painting the mantle white, though from the photos (which are a little hard to see) it looks the the fireplace is a bit...unusual. I might paint it white as a stop gap, then see how I feel about the mantle, Stone, and wall color. Frankly I think you need a slightly taller narrower surround, but I could be wrong.

Yes, white will painted over the wood will diminish the heavy intense feel the fireplace has now.

I would paint the mantle white and even add molding above the fireplace for a custom look. Would also think about adding a lovely grate and re-accessorize your mantle so it has more weight. By lightening the mantle, your piano and other lovely pieces will be more appreciated and will take less visual space.

Should I paint my red bricks white or black or gray or midnight / navy blue

I am at home on mat leave and can't bear to look at my fireplace any longer! I can manage a DIY while I'm home so any help would be great. I have a traditional home that I am looking to modernize with colour

It looks like you have posted on someone's else's dilemma.

Sorry about that! My first time using this app!

Thanks for all of the ideas! Much appreciated!

I've attached a few more pictures, including a close-up of the behemoth since there may be some uncertainty about the materials used because it photographs as one big black mass --- facing is polished black granite and mantel is some kind of walnut-stained wood. Since I actually like honed black granite, I've explored having mine honed after the fact on-site, but none of the professionals I've contacted is willing to take that one on ...

Leave it alone it looks beautiful!
If it was mine I would put the metal crane accents together on one side for a more dramatic display.

I like it dark as well, I think it balances the piano... but, if you're not happy with it, then that by all means lighten it up! Here's how it may look painted white.

(2nd rough photoshop is a bit ashy, I was trying not to blow out all of the texture)

I love it. I wouldn't change anything.

The piano provides enough bulky black. Paint the FP to match your white trim, let the black marble provide the counter balancing black to the piano, and hang a chandelier in place of the recessed can above the piano. That way you'll have two focal points that you'll love.

this picture reminded me of your lovely room, I wonder if painting the fire surround lighter and the area above it darker might help the overall look? The crown molding would remain the same colour as the molding in the rest if the room.

lcm...I do have lots of ideas,,,email me.

The fireplace has all sorts of trim and interest that disappear because it's stained black. I would have the stain lightened. You would need to use varnish remover before restaining - most likely. There isn't that much wood on this fireplace so that wouldn't take a pro that much time. Then restain it in something lighter and that differentiates the wood from the granite. It will lighten up as a whole and be more beautiful with the quirks of the wood visible.

Off whites have become really popular and look super fresh. I like BM's Simply White. The rest of this room would "pop" painted off white.

I'd like to see something on the mantle that has more visual weight. As everything in your photos is very "done" and I'm not seeing any rustic elements, this could be an opportunity to display something that's different from the tone of the space. Restoration Hardware has a great sampling of unique pieces.

Best of all would be to put something in that place that has meaning for you, could be a conversational piece, and that would personalizes this space.

Yeah, that's definitely not walnut. It looks like pine in the photo, so there is no reason to try to remove the stain and lighten it up; it's still just pine and will always look like it.

I dislike the design itself, but that's my opinion. I had kitchen cabinets much like that in this house when I bought it, but they were real oak and stained like that. Yuck So I stripped the frames down to bare wood, bought new oak Shaker doors and drawer fronts and applied the finish myself. Looks great.

Can you get rid of those clunky end posts with a bit of surgery?

Given that they aren't valuable wood, paint may be an option, but not white. And it may not look much better, given the weird design of the whole unit.

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the responses - I've got a lot to think about. The pictures were especially helpful, especially the photoshopped one which depicted my mantel painted white. Wow! What a great forum!

Have a beautiful piece of white/gray marble cut and mounted. Take down the gilded mirror and add a large framed canvas painting that you love...( to scale).