I’d leave blank as well. Eye already goes to several other spots in the room & Art there may be too busy.

Why would you even consider putting anything there? That fireplace makes its own statement. That's enough.

Not every open surface has to be covered with something.

The fireplace is artful on its own. I think adding something to it would detract from it.

Would you be open to adjusting your art arrangement? Typically, art is best enjoyed at eye level. You might consider placing the colorful piece that's atop the case where the mirror currently is. Doing so would allow it to be comfortably enjoyed while seated and would also balance the color in the room. As it appears now, color is placed middle and right with none on the left.

I'd allow the fireplace to be the sculpture it is. No adornment. Moving the art to replace the mirror would add color on that side of the room and make you see the piece anew. I move art from time to time for just that reason.

Have you ever thought to shop at a vintage consignment shop for a fun sculpture that can be professionally installed ?. Better yet, The artist, Joel Shapiro is a sculptor. My clients and I hung their piece in a column in their modern condo.

If you just don’t like the bland stripes, you could repaint it as an accent with strong contrasting tones. Another option would be to add some crowning to the top for an additional texture. Agree with everyone else that the fireplace is more of a sculptural element and doesn’t need set on it.

I think the fireplace should stand on its own. It feels like it needs something because it’s lost focus. It is long and vertical, but flanked by that mirror (elegant but squat and horizontal) and a large dark wall unit to its right (dark wood, light wall, demanding attention, like a black hole in space). This leaves the fireplace as an afterthought shoved in the corner of the room.

As tired as I am of the over-exuberant use of MCM presently, unless this fireplace is redone, this room really calls for that style. To me that means lightening up that wall unit and de-Hollywood-izing the glamour elements in the room. My suspicion is you’re not up for that (you chose that furniture and those accessories for a reason, being that you liked them) so the easiest thing would be to re-do the fireplace.

@jpp221
you're right, not into "de-hollywooding" my style. I prefer to think of it as "girlie glam"... I do it just for me, not the pompous or judgemental:)

Personally, I love this room. I would most definitely not touch the fireplace. I would actually add more art above your mirror to balance out the art above your console (that spot is begging for a piece of art). Then, I would add some more art above the console (such as a metal scroll) to balance out the art above the mirror and windows. It would be beautiful with the fireplace serving as a resting place for your eyes.

@debra walling: and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! I’d therefore (a) smooth over the fireplace chimney (fill in those grooves) (b) replace the mirror to the left with something similar but tall and narrow, not horizontal (b) put something above the wall unit to heighten it (Maybe that very mirror that is presently to the left—but as always with mirrors, this depends on what it would reflect; another option is as cultural piece of some sort).

Autocorrect had\s a special place I he77. SCULPTURE is what I meant above.

Because the fireplace opening is so small and low to the ground, it is out of scale with the massive cabinetry adjacent to it. While painted art would not hang correctly on the curved wall, maybe a piece of sculptured wood or metal art might work there.