How about dressing it with wood? Make nice, white wood mantel with beautiful crown molding.
This way surroundings will match.

Paint the firebrick white, add a grate in the firebox with a collection of Luminara flicker flame remote control candles (I'm assuming fireplace doesn't work). Add a large scale piece of art above fireplace as focal point. In the 2 recessed spaces, add 2 "window" looking mirrors that fill the space.
Also, add shelves in the books below. Then accessorize with a collection of "one item" on each shelf. One urn, one stack of books, one plate on a stand, etc. it will give you a nice clean uncluttered updated look.

@mramsey.. lol yikes it is ..I do love the idea of removing the mirror and work g off the colors! the built in has shelves,which I will be put n back in and I love the white birch logs idea unilateral I save up for electric fireplace insert
I'll keep you posted!

@inside out I interior design
love the suggestion of painting the b ack wall of fireplace both you and mramsey have suggested the same new art work over fireplace .that will be mission
thank you for the great ideas !!

please do not paint the red brick. a mess when the next person wants to get rid of it. Mramsey is correct and has great ideas. I mirrored the back of the shelves that flanked the FP in an old house of this era. I used a few books but mostly I placed china & glass objects on the shelves, which worked with the mirror. paper book covers can be used on old books to create a uniform attractive look if you use the shelves for book storage/display. Please do not paint the back of the FP. the paint will fry, bubble, stink when you use your electric FP insert. I had an electric FP insert and it was gorgeous and I loved it. very realistic in appearance and threw heat nicely. best luck.

I painted my fireplace in the basement with heat resistant paint. It's white. I have a ventless log set in it. It's been run a lot in the past 2 mos. never have had a problem. Just spent 5 mos. renovating a 103 yr. old house. Got 5 fireplaces up and running. I've run into every problem you could imagine and conquered everyone of them. I'd never suggest it if I didn't think it would work. I've been doing this for 20 years. I'm not a fan of painting brick. But in this application it would update the space and freshen it up.

I would paint it white. I just ran into this photo. Maybe you can add bench/seating to the sides...

You can also add wallpaper to the back of your shelves for some color and pattern.

How wide, deep and high are those recesses on either side (up top?) Definitely put the shelves back in below. Style them with 1/3 books, 1/3 large decor and 1/3 open space. Art above the mantel should be no wider than the firebox opening and should hang 5" above the mantel, which should be used as a "French cleat" to mount a much more substantial mantel over it. The new mantel can come down as far as the center brick trim that sticks out from the FP facade. Use that protruding bit of brick to gauge the thickness of new mantel where it "sits" on that brick (its stopping place.) Search online to learn how to clean the brick as a DIY project.

Clean the bricks with a brush after spraying with a wash of vinegar/water mixture. Can you reinstall the shelves in the cubbies on either side of the FP? I'm for replacing the mirror above with a nice painting. Remove all else & after cleaning post photos again. See what ideas we will give you.

@ inside out .I love your ideas! I'm on a budget so I am a DIY 'er ... painting and refreshing is in my budget I'm working g o. saving for the insert so my goal is to work around that... I love sunsets so want to work around that color palette

thanks Sandra!! yes lol I should have posted the pics after I finished cleaning. .will post pic and place hiw I originally had it

OK here it is with the mirror down , possible art work