I love the built ins that I have around my fireplace in the living room. I painted them white, which looks great against the Classic Silver paint that I used in the living room. Are you planning on painting the room? If not, I do suggest painting your built ins a lighter color than they are now, either white or cream.

unless you like the style I say take them out. You can add nicer looking storage and showcase the fireplace (if that is what you want to do) without them.

They look like they're good quality. I'd hate to remove them. Paint them and the wall white. Maybe reface the fireplace to the ceiling. Relocate that outlet in the bookcase.

your photo is stretched a fair bit which isnt helping. how tall are the built ins? art over the fireplace will help a lot.

The room already looks huge.

Once you get furniture and decor in the room I think the bookcases and fireplace will look just fine as is.

Oh, well, I am one of those people who dislikes built-ins in general and especially by fireplaces (exceptions for me are in an old craftsman or “smoking” room :) ). Your room looks quite large but the built-ins do make their presence known and may affect your furniture placement.

Painting them will help reduce the heavier look of the wood, but if you wanted to remove them altogether just note now you will have too large blank wall spaces to deal with instead (which you may prefer, that is just personal).

NOOOOOO!!!!

Don't paint them...Don't remove them. They're fantastic.

ymmv and my opinion only. :)

eta: feel free to get rid of the lights... :( Or change them to ones that point down...

I would remove them. And the sconces too. There is too much of a horizontal line dissecting the wall.

Use the built ins to house the TV instead of hanging it over the fireplace. And yes, paint them.

remove the horrid sconces and paint the builtins. bring in some hardware for the doors, and decorate the shelving. will look much better. replace ceiling fan w/a nice light.

That stone is easy enough to find. you could take the stone all the way to ceiling like they've done here:

these types of sconces directly over the top of the shelving will visually look better and add interest.

if you remove them, you'll have to giant spaces that will need to be filled. do you have that type of furniture? consoles, art, etc?

I like the idea of putting your tv on once of the shelving units. YOu'll have to have a carpenter modify it for you, but it will look better than hanging it high above the mantel.

Have you ever watched a tv placed above a fireplace? Try it before you commit.

A TV should be placed so that the top of the screen is at eye level when watching. If you mount it high, you will feel it in your neck after a while.

I think it depends on the size of the room...this fireplace is low....so you may be okay with the tv. I would hate to think of the cost of mounting and running electric through the stone, though..

Without more info, can't say more...

I might paint the fireplace stone as well as the bookcases: