Hi - I was hoping to get some advice. I just purchased my first home. However, I hate the current fireplace color. I am hesitant to paint or stain it though because the house was built in 1920, and the fireplace is original.

The photos below are from the previous owners. To make the contrast worse, I'm painting the walls Gray Screen by Sherman Williams which has a blue undertone. The cool blue on the wall is contrasting with the yellowish brown of the fireplace. Does anyone have experience with staining a fireplace? I'd love to retain the brick texture but really dislike the current color. Could I perhaps add an accent wall to integrate the fireplace? I added a Photoshop of a darker color as a visual.

Any ideas are welcome. I'm just so hesitant to touch such an old fireplace, but the yellow/brown isn't my style at all.

Thanks!!