I would keep the granite and paint the mantle and sides the lightest color you can to match the stone. That would be easiest to see if you can live with the granite because it is a big, messy undertaking. Plus you said it's easy clean up.

If you have to do it, a slab would look better (and might actually be cheaper unless you're DIYing the tile). But--I'm not even a fan of granite and usually go for marble--your granite looks really good. What don't you like about it?

I guess I just don't like the colors. I prefer light gray and white. I feel like it's dated, so 90s. It's from 1999. You don't think so?

My fireplace is from 1956 and has a brass spark curtain. I guess dated doesn't bother me. :)

But I understand not liking the color! Iowa's suggestion to paint the woodwork first and see how the look changes from that is darn sensible.

Your fireplace is traditional and classic. It doesn't scream 1999 especially. The ones you're looking at are very pretty and fresh...and will be dated shortly. But I think you can capture the feel in a more timeless manner.

I think that if you go with marble slab, it will have more staying power because a big hunk of marble is quite a bit more traditional than the tile. And no grout worries. Carrara doesn't really stain so you're probably okay there. Whatever stone you pick, get a sample and test it for staining before hand.

Are you going to paint the walls and the mantel/other FP woodwork? Your room's colors seem very warm but your inspirations don't. So some painting is gonna have to happen.

Fori you are 100% right and this is what is causing me to hesitate. My house is traditional, warm colors -- and this is so not me. I am thinking of painting the walls a pale gray but I need to make sure it works with my kitchen (cherry cabinets, the same granite that you see on the fireplace, the walls have that 90s feathered paint effect) bc it's a fairly open concept. One change leads to another and another and you end up re-doing your whole house and spending so much more money than you wanted to (I know bc this exact thing happened to me in my old house.) We definitely don't want to re-do the kitchen bc it's all in good condition and quite large so would be very $$$ to change. The granite actually has some gray in it so I think it can work if I paint pale gray, but I'm trying to consider everything that may need replacement (like the fireplace) if I move ahead with the painting. But I'd like to just freshen up the fireplace and try to make the great room more my taste, while not going so crazy that it doesn't work at all with the kitchen.