It might just be my personal preference, but I dislike faux stacked stone and think it will date and cheapen the room. Would you consider other options?

The one we chose is a travertine split face stone in the photo, I like the texture and variation in color. I just don't know where to put it, whole wall or just to the edges of the mantle and below.

I know I didn't answer your dilemma - sorry. I think there really isn't a logical place to end the stone without doing the whole wall - you could leave the niche, but you really have to love the look of stacked stone walls, because you'll have made this a feature of the room. Another option would be to replace the mantle and extend it across the entire wall. You could then stop the tile at the mantle; however to look balanced, you would want to extend your built in bookcases to both walls as well. If expanding the scope of the project that much is out, I'd leave the tile as it is.

We can't build out the shelves further as yes it would be too big of a project. Thanks for your ideas.

Is the mantle attached to the wall yet? In you first photo it seems to be resting on the fireplace. In the second photo I am seeing about five inches of green wall. Can you just cover the existing fireplace? That is what I would do.

In order to "pull off" the stacked stone look, I think it needs to cover a large area. To use it only where your tile is currently, would probably have little impact. On the other hand, covering the entire wall is a huge project and will dominate the room. If you chose to do that, either a simpler, less traditional mantel or no mantel at all. As others have said, you may want to consider other facing materials before you make the leap. Let us know what you decide and post pics.

I suggest removing the mantle. It is too large. I recommend tiling around the firebox and installing a smaller mantle. The tile could go all the way up into the arched space or stop at the mantle.

The mantle is attached to the wall. The builder originally left about 5 inches without tile below the mantle, I think that looks strange. I do like the mantle as it is more traditional. The size seems to match the room and scale of the kitchen. He's a kitchen photo before renovations which are starting today.

The wall needs to be simplified. Love the split face stone, but this is not the place for it unless you are doing a complete wall.

Here is the wall with black granite or slate around the fireplace surround. Still don't like the white mantle. That should be wood to match the bookcases. Additionally, I would cut back the length of the mantle to accommodate the TV.

I looked up the living rooms you liked and here is one suggestion. To make the room seem lighter with heavy furniture i's easy to use mirrors.

Thanks for the pictures. I do like the idea of cutting down the mantle to the width of the alcove. What about painting the shelves white and leaving the mantle white? Would that be ok?

Also, the carpet is being removed and natural walnut engineered floors are being installed. That's another reason I thought to paint the shelves white so it lightens it up. We will likely do a light cream large throw rug as well.

Keeping the white for the mantel and bookshelves with your current color scheme could be a problem.

I think the easiest thing to do would be to replace the mantle with one stained to match the shelving. Size the new mantle so it does not extend past the niche and bookcases and does extend down to the tile. Like this:

I agree, the dark painted wall which is Benjamin Moore Buckhorn will be changed. I don't like the greenish hue it gives off. New countertops will be windermere in the kitchen see photo below. Cabinets are Kitchencraft Palomino so more yellowy than the photo below, they look more antiqued with some grey streaking in them.

Yikes, the tile is being removed already. I do like the smaller mantle and did not even consider that so I think we can do that. The alcove is too heigh for a TV, we will paint out the cord thing below to match the new paint. What do you think of a grey feature wall with white mantle and shelves? Or keep it all the beige? Maybe just keep the beige in the alcove, and paint the wall a feature color. The common beige throughout the house, its Bittersweet Stem by SW 7536 which is a nice neutral. I do still really like the stacked stone. I love the texture and color but I can also see why you picked the dark as it really anchors the fireplace as a feature. However, with the white its too much contrast I agree.

Tile up close

New kitchen countertops and tile, we still need to install the microwave.

Remove the white mantel. Build out the center of the alcove with stone coming straight up from where the tile is now. Y
If you stone it w/o the mantel it will look taller, more on trend. Also you created two flanking alcoves with half arch tops. You can paint the inset and open shelves below the same color to visually tie them together.

Hello,

This looks very nice. It is just a suggestion, but you might consider putting the tv, up on the wall by the ceiling, or in a long piece of furniture where it comes up from the bottom.

Your fireplace is now unique and different, it is what you wanted and the whole wall is still there, bravo. What about showing off your beautiful arch with Art?

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/products/tv-lift-cabinet-le-bloc-made-in-usa-mahogany-against-wall-360-swivel-prvw-vr~23164511]

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/products/tv-lift-cabinet-le-bloc-made-in-usa-mahogany-against-wall-360-swivel-prvw-vr~23164511]

There are more, in trunks, custom, in different woods, and they all look great.

Just a thought?

Angela Cunningham