Please help me out! I am redesigning my entire home and as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!!! My corner fireplace was the original brick, painted white, which was fine, except the wood mantel was painted white too. So I wanted to sand and stain it back to wood, my contractor told me that by the time I did that, the cost would be as much to redo the whole fireplace- and pandora box opens.
So I put a vein cut limestone on the whole wall, but that didn't work- it was too dark for the space.
So here are my 3 options please vote which you think works best, or make your own suggestion.

Straight Carrera marble tiles around the whole fireplace with the thin marble frame/border around, marble step. No mantel.


light thin stone rows with rustic wood mantel, and slate step.

Back to the white painted brick with rustic wood mantel. White brick step.