Do not paint over that marble. If I'm honest I don't think it looks bad at all. Remove that gold strip and it looks very nice. Smart tile will cheapen it, you have a beautiful material already, and it looks like it works well.

What style are are looking for? I agree with the comments already posted. It would be a crime to do anything to that marble. If you gave us an idea of what you hoped to achieve, we might be able to help you that way? If all else fails you could remove it and add soapstone.

Wow. Thanks for the feedback. Yes I already painted the brass strip on the living room one, was planning on doing same for DR. In DR I had had that rug already and put it in there to go with the black/white/gold since chandelier and sconces which are gold aren't going anywhere. I love the rug in living room ans want to keep but but worried the surround clashed with that.

Hi, Laura--

Really love your LR rug choice shown here. I think the textures compliment each other well, actually. By comparison, the DR rug could actually look a little stark against the filagree of your lighting fixtures and the warm patina of that beautiful table!

Cover whatever you want, just make sure your work is easily reversible, please. If it doesn't go out of style after a century, it isn't going.

I vote to keep the marble as is.

Many thanks everyone! Will keep as is and either remove or look for different DR rug--hadn't though about that one being too stark but that's an excellent point. Maybe that's why I'm not feeling the room come together yet