You could hang a TV above the fireplace, and disguise it in a mirror with a frame like in the picture attached

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Otherwise, I think I would paint the fireplace the same color as the walls, and I would leave the brass, but maybe add a patina (gunmetal finish).

Thanks Aggie! Would you lighten or darken the original colour by a smidge or just go with the exact same? we thought about the tv above, but it is a tough angle from the couch for watching and there aren't a lot of options for furniture arrangement, so eventually we may mount in corner.

I would go with exact same color as walls, it will really make the room look bigger and it will make the TV look less odd mounted in the corner, as the fireplace shape and vertical lines will fade.

Don't mount in corner. TVs are getting bigger and corner mounts are awkward. Mount over fireplace but as LOW as possible, especially if you are painting since you will need to add wiring. You can turn your couch to face the fireplace or add 2 comfy chairs. I have TVs over both fireplaces and can't begin to tell you how much I love having them there. Btw, I used to have my TV corner mounted and ripped out the entire built-ins.

You have a dark corner created by the fireplace: you could either paint it sage green like your couch to tie the two together and also create less contrast with the fireplace; or go the other way shabby chic and paint the wall and brick a cream colour (to work with your couch).

I certainly do not advise hanging a tv above a fireplace. It will cause you neckache in the long run. Could you create two low cabinet units either side of the fireplace in wood, to place the TV on one side and then some lighting on the other?

More artwork on the walls would also help add more of your personality to the room.
All the best

I would suggest painting the fireplace the same color as the walls and mounting the TV above the fireplace. Congrats on the new home!

Thank you all so much for your ideas.
Re: the fireplace above the fireplace. Although I love it from an aesthetics point of view, there are many factors going against it that I have not found solutions to. This fireplace does smoke out a bit (not great for tv ... it is because of the arch in the fireplace), and really the size of the room makes putting the tv up there really! hard on the neck. This is our primary tv watching zone so ideally it would be really comfortable (and not painful!) to watch a show. I can't put the couch in front of tv as that is the entrance to the kitchen. I totally understand where everyone's coming from though as far as it not being great where it is now. Seems like most people are in favour of painting fireplace same colour as walls or very similar. THANKS!!

First, get a chimney man over to check out your fireplace. It shouldn't smoke. You have a beautiful and unique fireplace. For the nantucket-style, paint it with one coat of "mayonnaise" by Benjamin Moore. I would immediately dab off some paint along the beautiful trim of the rounded-front part of the fireplace and a few grout lines throughout. Get rid of the gold screen and lookf or a 1/2 black screen (low), Paint the inside with Orkell's black paint (home Depot). Your fireplace utensils should be black. Install a thick white wood mantel, but if you can afford it, install a bare thick reclaimed mantel. Install beadboard painted white on both sides of the fireplace. Put a seaside painting above the fireplace in a white frame or a family picture. The TV is what it is but put it on a tv mount that pulls in and out. The whole project is very inexpensive.

Hi and congratulations on your new home!

Not sure if you've done your project, but white-washing the brick might be a subtle solution. You have a nice fireplace; the arch is a lovely feature and a free-standing screen that echos the profile might be a good choice.

I'm not a huge fan of the TV over the mantle...this may be a radical idea, and I'm not being facetious at all, perhaps a smaller television that fits the space you have and that can be hung at a comfortable viewing height might work for you. I like the mounts that allow the TV to swivel some and be pulled from the wall for watching, then pushed out of the way so as not to be an unwanted focal point.

If you haven't found an item or piece of artwork for the mantle, post and I'd be happy to make some suggestions, especially if you have new pictures : )

I hope your project is coming along smoothly and that you are having really big fun with your new home!