i agree...some things just cannot be updated. in this case i believe it is a facade, not stone. best to just redo it.

Thank you for your comments, yes it is a facade (built in 1982). Any ideas for an update?

you have unlimited options if you are going to redo the whole thing. depending on the style of your home, that would dictate the direction...traditional, contemporary, eclectic, transitional. this is key since a fireplace this large will be the focal point of the room that you build the furniture grouping around. i like the unique pitch which you can incorporate into the design. once you have the the style decision, you can explore the options.

I'm thinking the house is a contemporary-type, guessing based on ceiling, window angles and year built. An updated stone fireplace would still fit with that style. I suggest replacing that stone facade with a stacked stone veneer (still man-made but looks more realistic and natural) on 1 ft each side of fireplace all the way up to ceiling. Rest of wall to the left go back to sheetrock including removing the extra hearth. Keep the hearth only in front of fireplace, use the stacked stone veneer on rise of hearth and use a slab of bluestone or similar for hearth itself. You'll have to get new hardwood floors feathered in where the extra hearth was to the left. Beef it up with a thick natural wood mantel. Could probably (spray) paint the brass to a matt black finish to update that as well without the super-pricey option of replacing the insert. As a different option you may (*possibly*) be able to sheetrock over all the stone and trim it out up to ceiling, depends on the look and the feeling you want out of the room. Good luck with it, it is a great space.

I agree, depends on which way you're leaning and/or budget. Option 1: demo all the rock and install a new more modern rock that fits your style. Definitely update the fireplace doors, either by replacing or sanding down and painting black. Option #2: Demo the rock from mantle up to ceiling and sheetrock and paint. From mantle down redo with a more modern rock that compliments your color/style/decor...and update firelace doors.
Here's a couple stone varieties for some ideas....contacting a local mason in your area can give you direction on stone choices (cultured and natural) available in your area.

if you are looking for a contemporary look, i would do away with all of the stone and go with travertine and a white or black mantel with clean lines.

travertine on the fact of the fireplace and drywall the rest of it. a contrasting wall color would make the new mantel and travertine pop

Hi Tracy! I have that same stone façade on my fireplace and I hate it, too. I found this picture and love how the homeowner treated their fireplace. Just an idea.

You'll be happier with it gone!

I looked at this a couple of different ways, but I think it's just too busy with the stone facing, better to remove it and keep the wall smooth above the hearth (as below).

I agree with sstarr93, cover MOST of it with sheetrock. We had fireplace brick all the way up to our vaulted ceiling, but it was centered in the middle of a large wall. We sheetrocked the top 2/3rds and covered the rest with granite tile under a decorative mantel. We also covered the harth with a slab of granite. I regret I do not have a picture to share but the result was amazing, updating was the best choce. Since your whole corner is stone...I would cover the stone except around the fireplace screen area leaving room to add a stack stone or tile under a much shorter mantle...replace the fireplace screen with your choice of nickle, copper, black to update and cover your harth with tile or slab ...

All of the stone fireplaces are dated for the new "modern look" the first one is a 70's look and is just ugly...

It's hard to say without seeing more of the room and whats going on elsewhere in the house. Getting rid of the bright brass/glass doors would go a long way. If its an actual wood burning fire place (not an insert) you could just have a simple spark arrestor on the hearth.
I don't mind the stone, (considering the expense of demo and what you're left with) you could get rid of the clunky white mantle and replace with something less so, and/or a darker color would help. I've seen painted stone and it can be ok but I think you'd just be creating a maintenance issue lateron down the road.
Again I can't see whats happening to the left but I do see wine on the hearth, not a great storage place next to the heat but some millwork to the left of the fireplace could help break up the stone and add storage...

Here's a potential outcome with opaque stain.... though I think I still would go with total removal.

Reface it with a more smaller horizontal pattern, like old moss, instead of that ugly mosaic crap

I don't know what it looks like up close, but it looks great in the picture. Just redo the outdated mantle, mantle decor, and the actual insert/ fireplace cover.

lady von's photo will give you a quick fix…which ever way you go get a new fireplace door, no brass :

Chrome it. All of it.

I kid of course. Drywall is definitely the cheapest and cleanest. If it's in the budget, you could do some nice tile or clean cut slab stone. That could still work with the stark angularity that probably exists throughout the project. Is this the south wall or is that just a little over-exposure? If so, you might consider taking the whole thing out, going with a nice little stove, and popping a couple more windows in there. Just a thought.

I agree that it's a dated look, and would opt for drywall with a minimal surround of marble or glass tile. Remove or replace the dated fireplace screen with a matte black of a more modern design. You'll also have to deal with the hearth. If it were me, I'd remove it altogether, so you'd have a "hearthless" look with the firebox floating above the floor. It's a very modern look that would work well with the architecture. It will also give you some more floor space, but you'll have to replace the flooring there to match the existing. If you don't want to go that route, then remove the stone and replace it with a simple marble or travertine wrap. The offset hearth is a very modern look so unless you remove the whole thing, don't remove only a portion of it, as was suggested above. Do NOT add a rustic mantle. Keep it sleek and in character with the architecture, which appears to have minimal architectural moldings. I would reduce the width of it however...it should only be a few inches on either side of the fireplace box. I only needs to be deep enough to prop up a larger piece of art on it. What you have there now is a little disproportionate. A taller piece would emphasize the volume of the space. Additionally, add a flat woven rug with a bold graphic linear pattern. I hope this helps. It looks like a great house!

- If you want something more modern to break up that wall, change it to a more vertical orientation and to intersect nicely with the sloped ceiling, you could do something like this (drywall and paint are cheap!):

I would have a professional company come in an do a partial removal of the stone, unless you want to go a totally different style than stone.... and get a new mantel. You could have drywall or a built-in shelf to the left.

Keep the stone, replace mantel and fireplace face, replace painting with a larger, taller, more modern, colorful one. Organize the hearth clutter, better with a low credenza cabinet. Also replace that awful light fixture.

I LUV LUV LUV COASTROAD Hearth & Patio's pic. Not luvin the pink for myself, but I just may consider that option for my own place.

- It's not pink, it's coral. ;-)

Here are my before and almost finished 4 day fireplace makeover. I initially thought to go to my slanted vault with the stone but stopped at the architectual detail as I am afraid of heights. In your case, I'd remove the old facade, and put a ledger stone balanced equidistant on either side of the fireplace and then to the ceiling to keep the visual interest with a more balanced view. Too many tchockies on the mantle for my taste... The scale is too much, maybe a reclaimed rustic beam for the mantle? Similar to what Brown Bros Masonry shows. The hearth I would scale back as well. Mine is plywood, yours may be too. Coordinate a nice ceramic tile to transition from floor to stone. You should be able to match your flooring where you remove the hearth.

I've also got a stone fireplace, it's fake stone, but looks real. It's from the 80's. and I have a cathedral ceiling (which I hate--love the fireplace, hate the ceiling). I really like the drywall. But the price of glass tiles is prohibitive

Different views. Please ignore the mess around fireplace . I'm having my bathroom redone and my dear hubby leaves his 1957 parts around the fireplace. The '57 is a work in progress but so is the house. Can anyone suggest type of drape--for the Fireplace room, not for the bath or '57 ;-))

- I should have posted a "before" to bring some context. This big pink wall is not the point, the point is to change the feel of the fireplace from the horizontal look that dominates that wall to a more vertical look that makes the most of your ceiling height. Here's the "before":
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- I happen to really like stone, but both natural AND synthetic flagstones tend to look dated. Another approach on the same wall might work like this, using a stacked stone:

@Tracy, your wall might look something like this, modernized, but still stone.

Keep it clean. Remove existing "stone". Drywall with lower 1/3 in travertine as mentioned. keep the mantel to just above fireplace area. Use the wall for colorful art.

All the comments are very much appreciated. The sample visuals give great ideas to plan the budget for this makeover. I agree that the existing "stone" facade should be removed entirely. Looking forward to an updated more modern contemporary look!! Thanks again everyone!.

white lotus us right.least expensive is drywall.love the shape.removing brass insert go a long way to change.paint solves many woes.but if fake stone, not worth saving. I just bought midcentury and all about preserving but don't think ur stone is real.mine has brick and room on other side wall is all brick.i can't wait to add a gas fireplace in other room too