That's not a very big budget, and I don't care for any of the 5 choices you've listed.! I think the room looks like a charming English cottage, but changing the furniture and arrangement would improve things. You appear to have a lot of electronic clutter and too many pieces of everything; two sofas, two cabinets. How many do you need to seat here? Is this your main TV room? What's to the left and behind you in the photo? You seem to be crowded in here, but you say it is a big room, so how is the rest of it functioning? I think more pix would yield some answers that might help sort out the FP. How far to the right does the hearth go? Perhaps just lowering the mantel so it isn't so high would make a huge difference. I like the white color. Maybe just a new coat of white once the mantel is lowered would do the trick.

I like your fireplace and believe it is the least of your problems. You seem to have WAY too much going on here style-wise. Peruse Houzz pictures and find a look you like and start from there. You have several different woods & styles of tables, keyboard, shelves, etc. The stuffed chair & rug clash, and the sheets on the sofas must go. Take down the frilly valance and eliminate excess clutter. The whole room needs to be streamlined and have a pleasing color and style palate. Again peruse House pics and start an idea book to decide on a look you want. Good luck! I would kill to have a rom that size to work with!

ag

I think the fireplace is beautiful the way it is. However, I would showcase it by painting the wall above the fireplace the delicate blue you have as an accent color in the sofa throw, the area rug, and the curtains. You then could use this soft blue sparingly as an accent color in a few small accessories throughout the room.

IMO you should try and recreate the photo that celerygirl posted. You have an almost identical fireplace. It would only require you to remove everything and place some framed prints on the mantel.

That fireplace would be low on my priorities list. (Honestly see little wrong with it and Celery Girl's pic is perfect.) Did you just move into this house? Are these your furnishings? Your mention of tearing out a wet bar made me smile. I'm seeing posts around here of people installing wet bars...

The fireplace is the least of the issues. It's a keeper. Not much else is.

Yeah, what's making the fireplace seem "heavy" is the brown cabinetry and the pile of stuff on the mantel. The fireplace itself mostly already looks like part of the wall. Agree with removing the mantel and putting a piece or two of art lower over firebox -- skip the gallery row. Might also consider painting the interior of the wood niche a light color, so it's not a second black hole. Done. Simplify the room overall.

The previous owner already reduced the bulk of the fireplace by painting the brick white so that it visually blends with the walls. It looks modern, not '70s at all. Reverting back to red or multi-coloured brick would make it look '70s again.

I'd paint the walls a creamier white to better match the brick. Hard to suggest layout options without knowing the flow of the surrounding rooms, but getting rid of some of the furniture and the decor on the mantel will surely lighten the look of the room and give you a more airy cottage vibe.

I like the fireplace. The only thing I would do is paint the brick in a lower sheen, not glossy.

what about sanding some of the paint off to do the German smear look with a nice wood mantle?

Maybe we should all hold off until OP is ready to buy new furniture, and then chime in with suggestions. We obviously didn't get enough information this time.

Gloss white is not the right paint sheen for the FP. Do satin finish.

Love the fireplace!