I think the stone is pretty. Maybe a different paint color on the walls to compliment it better. And definitely get rid of the old glass and brass and replace with something more contemporary.

I agree with Lynne that the stone is pretty-nice color movement. Can you have the soot cleaned from the stone? Agree with a new paint color that can better complement the stone colors.

I, too, like the stone, but have the chimney inspected and cleaned.

I would get a black screen instead of the brass.

Great pottery pieces.

How about this...

I cleaned up your stone, installed a narrow framed Fireplace Glass Door and added an intriguing Windswept Tree Gas Burning Sculpture with Caribbean Blue Glass Crystals.

Mockup provided by: Hansen Wholesale FREE Fireplace Door Design Service

Can you please give us a bigger photo of the entire wall and the entire room ?

Perhaps you should wait to decide the fate of your fireplace stone until after you’ve set up and painted the surrounding areas. Without that brass cover, it could be an interesting element. If you really hate it, save your money for a complete redo of that wall. Hopefully @Beth H will show you some photos of what you can do, but other than replacing the brass, most ideas will be $$$. Move in, set up the rooms, paint the walls as needed, then reassess. Post photos of your furniture as well.

Thanks to all for the very helpful suggestions! I agree that cleaning the stone and removing the brass insert will help a lot. I so appreciate people sharing ideas. Here’s a photo of the whole wall which a few people wanted.

If it were me I would paint the lower cabinet doors a dark earthy color, or remove them entirely, unless they are very useful for storing things out of sight. I think I might also paint the area above the fireplace a dark color, especially if you are going to keep the green mat and heavy black frame of the artwork. But another option is to re-frame the art with a more neutral mat and frame to harmonize with the light tones of the upper cabinetry, and size it to come closer to the size of the firebox. Lower the art slightly and rearrange the objects on the mantle so none of them are actually interfering with seeing the whole artwork. (Personally I would move your great bear to your groovy coffee table, and maybe elevate your little yellow squash to the mantle rather than have it sitting on the hearth.)

Seeing the whole room makes me now think that whole wall works. Including the fireplace. There is a soft color to everything there, so before you yank out the whole fireplace or slap paint on it, think about what @ital mover said. The decor around the fireplace should be complementary. I’m not sure painting a dark color on the lower cabinets would help, but I now see how that stone works with the other elements.

I agree the fireplace could look very nice if you are going to be leaving the cabinetry...something else to think about is the placement of the TV. It should be integrated into the cabinetry it possible or above the fireplace. Looks like that area is the only option for tv placement, but maybe not?

Keep it wood burning and go for the glass stones.

So a few updates - the house is not owned by us yet so all the art and furniture is not ours! We do not like the current built ins so plan to remove those and put in new updated built ins (including for the TV on the right). Would still love any advice!

Cathy, first, get your chimney and flue checked to make sure they're working properly. have it cleaned professionally.

Then,

remove the gold insert. if you want to keep it, get this high heat spray and paint it

This is basically what your pink brick would look like painted white

I'd also get a nice reclaimed wood beam and do the mantle w/it.

use a good brick/masonry 'paint' such as Romabio Masonry Flat. has a more opaque finish as compared to the LimeWash Classico.

make sure you scrub off all of that black soot w/a good stone cleaner first, let dry, and then do the Romabio

you could also do it in black, flanked by your new built ins.

or, you can just remove it, or fir it out,

and do something different

you could even do something like this above ^ fir and retile,

or below, fir it, skim coat and paint it.

I've seen nice looking pink limestone vintage fireplaces in mcm style homes, but yours isn't anything like these, so don't feel too bad about painting it or covering it

Your fireplace is very attractive and not ” run of the mill”. I agree with the others who have suggested a more appropriate wall color and improved firebox covering. In my opinion the examples of painted fireplaces are excellent examples of what NOT to do.

@Cathy Sanderson Are you moving your existing furniture into the house? What style is it? Is this room solely a TV-watching family room or is it also essentially your only living room, where you will also entertain guests?

Have you saved any inspiration pictures of what you would like to see this room become?

I love your stone fireplace! I had a house with a flagstone fireplace similar in color and I hated it. the walls were buttercup yellow and once I repainted and added a more substantial mantle it looked waaayy better. I would paint that beam though the color of the ceiling. It hits the fireplace in an awkard place. Looks like a wall was taken down so it’s necessary but doesnt work as an architural feature in my opinion.

Keep the stone, clean it up and get a new ceiling fan. Something very low profile

Thanks for the update on furniture and built in situation. Agree need more info about your style and what you have that will be going in. Lots of options for sure.

You all are so, so helpful! I really had no idea where to start and all of these ideas are super helpful (I have NO idea board - I'm frankly a bit lost in terms of the magnitude of what to do - fireplace, built-ins, paint, etc.)l. In terms of the assorted questions - yes, there was an addition put on above so hence the beam is the reality, and isn't ideal. I like the idea of a new fan VERY much (as well as the one that was suggested), and we have already hired a chimney person to come in and do that work (check flue, etc.). We are buying new furniture - this is a second home/investment property. I was hoping to start with what to do with the fireplace/built-ins, since that is going to take more lead time than buying furniture. I am going to start a new post now that uses this whole wall/fireplace, since clearly I need to think about those things all together (instead of piece by piece, as I'd wrongly started). Interior decorating - not my forte (hence I love Houzz)!

That update was helpful. Now we know this furniture isn’t yours, you plan to remove the existing bookcases, the beam probably was the leftover of a wall removal and it’s a second home/investment property. Got it.

It is always best to keep the same post.

Thanks to all for the advice - you've given me so much to think about! And in terms of personal responses, @shirlpp, I just deleted the new post - didn't know that was the best practice. And @RedRyder, I'm sorry if I didn't provide adequate info up front - didn't know that specifying why the beam was added or that it wasn't our primary residence would be important for getting advice - and I was trying to focus on one issue at a time (e.g., starting with the fireplace, before dealing with built-ins, etc.). Thanks to all who provided such helpful ideas - from how to remove/paint the brass insert to suggestions for an updated fan. I really, really appreciate all the great ideas and things for me to think about, and the kind words about my new fireplace has also given me hope!

Whatever you do I’m sure it will be awesome! but keep us updated …I’m curious what you end up doing.