Can you just demo the mantle piece? it's too tall anyway. And then just put a wood mantle.

The poured-on cement behind it is the height of that mantle, and we don't have the funds to get it professionally demolished right now. We are currently saving up for a complete new one (e.g., hearth, base, mantle, etc.) Thank you.

Some inexpensive fixes:

--Start by painting the brass black as Mark shows in his photos. Fill the firebox with as many white birch logs or very chunky wood logs as you can fit in there. You need to balance out the glaring white paint with something natural and textured.

--Yes, a wider painting would help.

--Can you widen the shelf/hearth whatever that is to the exact width of your fireplace? If you do that, then get an attractive, tall-ish natural basket and fill it with logs. This would hide some of that glaring white cinderblocks.

Round Seagrass Basket, Large · More Info

Striped Wicker Storage Basket, Small · More Info

--Consider flanking the fireplace with white bookshelves the height of the lower mantel. Carefully edit what you put on the shelves. This photo is only to show how bookcases can pull the eye across the wall. In your case, flanking bookcases would balance out the bulkiness of the current fireplace.

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As others have suggested you can add a panel of fake logs, quite easy to make too. :)

Examples of shelves flanking fireplace:

@MARK - I love that one-piece red artwork. Could you let me know the link to it? I'll definitely look into getting a thicker black trim on the mantle. Very grateful for the ready-photoshopped ideas.

@HOUSEGAL2000 - I've thought about your idea of flanking the fireplace with shelves, and I LOVE it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure it would work because the firebox only protrudes (this photo is from last year...we have laminate flooring now) only so many inches, unlike the photos you posted. It would be very shallow shelves that could probably fit mostly Legos. :-D I will definitely research the artificial logs.

@TEAMALTESE - Those baskets beneath the heart are filled with my kids' books, and it's one of my dilemmas, that when we do renovate the entire fireplace, is how to keep those books there but still make it look 'pretty.' Maybe if I paint the baskets and remove any loose books..hmmm. I appreciate you for calling my attention to that.

Thank you!

I really like the books under the hearth.... Maybe leave them exposed and organised, rather than in baskets? I think colourful books can look really nice if they're neatly organised.

Ooh, exposed is a neat idea. Maybe put them in color order. Or stacked in several rows with spines (horizontal) exposed. Thanks, Kyle.

The red vases look so unnatural. Perhaps go with less formal stuff. The bookcases in the last photo are too short to go all the way to the wall. make them just to the edge of the window and then put a tall plant or lamp to mix up the lines. Pillows on the book case look so out of place.

Thanks NPGIRL! Most likely will skip the red vases as anything breakable at that height is not conducive in our house still with little ones running around. As I've posted the link to HOUSEGAL2000 above, the facade to the fireplace is, sadly, not deep at all so not sure having the bookcases will fit this situation. I've been thinking maybe figure out something to flank the walls on either side of the fireplace - maybe some artwork.

I'd get a few plants in different sizes so it looks asymmetrical. That would draw your eye away from the center of the fireplace while still accenting it. In general stay away from doing the same thing on both sides, that is too boring.

I sense you want a change immediately rather than wait to do everything properly down the road. Temporarily, I'd paint the brass black. BE SURE to use a paint rated for fireplaces. It is readily available and you should be safe. Personally I think painting your walls blue is a welcome update. Consider painting the bright white an off-white, even gray if that fits in your color scheme in the rest of the house. The start white is a bit bright. Arrange the only the 4 matching baskets under your hearth. It will much more pulled together. As for the picture, I wouldn't invest a chunk of your budget into a picture that may not work with the fireplace down the road. Maybe you have something elsewhere in the house that you can put there? I'd also remove all the little decor you have on the top mantle. Less is more.

Thanks NPGIRL and BARBARA ALMANDARZ! You rock!

I haven't yet been able to follow through with most of the great ideas suggested here. I will at least soon remove some of the knick-knacks and donate some of the books that my kids have outgrown. Speaking of kids, with fall sports, volunteering at the schools, and other after-school activities times four, I can't imagine starting to paint anytime soon, though maybe I can squeeze it in on the weekends. Maybe at least spray the brass into black.

Truly appreciate all the recommendations, and I will definitely post pictures when done.

If you are new to this thread and have an idea you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to post. I'd love to 'hear' it. Thanks again everyone!