I would take off the brick over the mantel portion if possible and paint the brick a light color. It would brighten and modernize the space.

A German smear or limewash on the brick has the potential to brighten up the room a bit. I believe I spy a slider to the left? Is this your primary family/tv room?

And ditto to loving the brick! Especially with your trim style and coloring. It’s so traditional.

Do you hate the brick color or the whole style?

The upper half could easily be drywalled over, if the amount of brick is what’s bothering you. Thats what I had done with mine.

The mantel is the killjoy on your fireplace. I'd replace it with something else, like reclaimed wood.

One designer told me to always take a picture. Whatever is not right with the room just calls out, in a picture. Here, while the brick isn’t ideal, you can see two other things that REALLY call out much more: the broadloom and the high volume of black leather matchy matchy furniture. Get hardwood floors, and most of your problem goes away (the brick contrasts with the pale flooring, too much, now). Break up the colour palette with some other furniture (and get some sheepskin in there, as throws). The brick “problem” will mostly disappear, but if you still want to do something, paint it. You have a beautiful ski chalet there.

Light walls. All woodwork, furniture, and the fireplace very dark. No color, no window treatments, no art, no pizazz.

Okay, one piece of art. Still, no pizazz.

I'm certainly no expert, but visually I'm struggling with the dark trim around the ceiling parameter. Hate to say it, but should it be painted white? I'm loving the beautiful Windows.

Not a Pro.

As a poster has pointed out, your fireplace is not the problem in the room. The dark furniture throws this room off.

Keeping the furniture. I would paint out the dark trim molding. Add white or cream accessories to the fireplace. Add a white or cream throw.

Here is some inspiration: Showing the trim and windows painted.

There a few different ways to approach - each depends on the budget. If the fireplace is where you can invest now I would either update it with a light stacked stone and chunky wood mantle and light colored tile hearth and if that is not possible - white wash the brick (or German smear as others have suggested).
If you let me know where you are budget wise I am happy to provide some additional thoughts!

For a quick and inexpensive fix, I'd paint the brick above the mantle the same color as the walls.

For a traditional living room, the fireplace is doing its job nicely; however, if you wanted a more contemporary look, the other ideas for painting or drywalling (we plastered ours), or redoing in stone, would help for sure. In my opinion, though, this room just needs a little variety, color, soul. Instead of replacing the mantel, you might just switch out the drab brown candlesticks??? (hard to see) for a lively decorative vase, or replace the darker, traditional painting above with one that is colorful and modern. I wonder if you even need a painting there? Seems to be competing with both TV and fireplace, which I presume are gas logs. If not, you could try a decorative screen for interest. Instead of the painting, perhaps a collection of big seashells, vases, framed pictures, or other items would add interest. While many designers like an uncluttered mantel, this room seems to be crying out for more personal touches and less staging.

I think the fireplace is a wonderful architectural focal point and I would hate to see it painted over. But there is too much dark Furniture as someone pointed out. Perhaps there are few small non-invasive things that could be done. For example, paint the ceiling molding to match the wall, add a wide but short craftsman style or similar mirror above the mantle--a large one. Do you really need the leather recliner in the corner by the window near the fireplace? Perhaps a large Plant there would help. if you must cover the fireplace portion above the mantle, then I would go with someone's recommendation of drywall rather than paint. At least that could be reversed in the future if desired. It looks like you could place a larger colorful painting above the sofa on the right then what is there now. That might help balance off the large windows on the left.

Everything in the room is so heavy. A lot needs to be rethought.

I think the room looks very nice! I don’t know why people don’t like matching furniture but I think it looks good. It looks like a place where lots of people can gather and it looks social and cozy. I think that the fireplace is the focal point in the room and yes it is big and dark. I think changing out the mantel and/or putting a piece of art above the it would make it look better. If not whitewashing it a bit to make it look a little brighter. Even making the Devore lighter and brighter would change it up.

I think it looks nice and I don't know if you want to go as far as taking the brick off above the mantle, but I went ahead and made a mock up for you to see. A little color and some accessories is really all you need. I love the coziness of the room.

it's nice, but also very dark and kind of dreary. too much brown for me. I'd paint all the wood trim white, and white wash the fireplace.

replace the mantel with a nice reclaimed wood beam.

similar set up w/FB and windows and trim. look at how light and bright everything is.

painting the window trim white, crown white, and perhaps moving the sofa so the tv can be mounted to the opposite wall, might make a nice change. If you don't move things around, consider getting a larger, longer art for the back of the sofa. something w/some color.