What features do you dislike about it? Budget $100, $500, other?

Do you like the idea of some type of stone all the way tot he ceiling? That’s certainly a more updated look.

Remove the surround and tile up to the ceiling but honestly what I see of yourdecor is not really "now" so maybe a bit more info. Have you thoght about just painting the surround the same as the walls and removing 90% of the stuff on the mantel and some nice art on either wall insted of the black iron pieces . BTW chair rails are not really "now" either

Hi. Good idea to give some help to this fireplace! In order to help, I would need

1) An idea of what the architectural feel of your house is

2) A photo of what you consider "now" for a fireplace.

3) Photos of the rest of your space.

Example, here is a photo I took from your ideabook. I think this is an updated look. Is this what your are looking to do?

By the way, the chair rail doesn't seem to work in this space and feels really tiny in comparison to the hefty fireplace surround. Chair rails fit in very traditional homes.

Thanks!

Transitional Living Room · More Info

this home was built in 1990. i have removed chair rails everywhere and this is the last place for it to go—problem is the previous homeowner did ventian plaster on the top half of the room. The only way to remove it is to go down to the studs. i cant do that. so i was jist going to paint the whole room the same color and remove chair rail.

here is the photo of the rest of the room. the furnitire in here is all new but planned for our next house we are building which is a timberbuilt home.

i love rustic with modern weaved in.

i do love a mantel as i change it up every single month

Older photo- as crate is gone

Thanks for photo and clarification. if you want all of the dark art and wrought iron on the walls, a more updated fireplace is not going to work.

could you please post a photo if a room you like? you say you like modern. there is o modern in this room. sometimes terms get confusing so a photo is better.

are the drapes staying? thanks!

This is the house im building. very similar the railings will be more modern and my mantel is a big live edge piece of vintage lumber from old barn. i will be living in the mountains. so for this house im just trying to update it to sell in a few years. its not my style by any means.

The shape of the screen clashes with the shape of the surround and mantel. A simpler arched or rectangular screen may work better. The fireplace as shown is over-accessorized. A nice painting in a size which is large enough for the surround would be more attractive.

If you are budget constricted and want a short term fix, consider taking out the center arch piece and painting the rest a darker, matte color; I’m thinking black, but dark grey/green or navy also works. You’d be surprised how a little change (…loosing the dated arch) can reset the entire look. Don’t be afraid to take a jig saw to the arch.

Consider the architecture of the current home. Can you show more photos?

No drapes, and again i mix stuff up all the time in the spring all i had was a large painting on the mantel.

I understand. Most people look at the photos and the photos show a lot of heavy decor.

My concern is resale. Can you show me what the architecture of the rest of the house looks like? Thanks.

I would consider painting it black. You will like it better, keep the mantle to dress up every month and not spend a lot of money on a house you want to sell in the foreseeable future. Too bad the walls are a plaster that is hard to remove. Paint the room a light, soft ivory to reduce the “bumpy” look of the walls. The current color is kind of dreary.

Paint the oak & the brick.

I would leave the mantel. Paint the walls and the chair rail. Maybe change out the tile to a matte black.

Totally leave the existing wood surround and brick. The wood echoes the wood in your TV console and floor. That's not what dates your room. It's all the bitsy decor items, window valence, and lamp.

Natural Linen or maybe even slightly lighter is a great paint choice. Once the walls are repainted then think about doing a great gallery TV wall and have one horizontal bold original painting over the fireplace. Put away your plaid sofa pillow sand throw for the next house. Fine more graphic pillows/throw to echo whatever art work you pick.

This palette of golds and browns for over the fireplace. Get a piece that's very painterly with thick brush strokes or water color strokes.

Pathway Art · More Info

"Gold Leaves." Original Artwork By Kanayo Ede · More Info

"White Forest I Gallery" by Lisa Audit, 40x26x1.5" · More Info

Textured pillows in palette from whatever art work you hang:

Off-White Wool Blend Lumbar Pillow With Blue and Brown Pattern · More Info

Linen Feather Throw Pillow · More Info

TV gallery wall:

Every step you take right now, should be with resale in mind. So, paint the walls and chair rail SW Alabaster in a flat finish, the ceiling too flat finish. It will look beautiful. Paint the oak surround in same color in a satin finish. First, remove window treatments and patch wall so it is ready for resale. This is really not your home. So understand that. It a temporary residence. The ceilings are low compared to new builds so one color on walls and ceiling will lift the look tremendously. When staging remove all large furniture. Move TV out if possible. Make this room inviting sitting room. Your style is traditional with eclectic mix of accents.

Since you are selling in five years, just paint for now. An updated look in five years will be much different from an updated look now. Trendy decor has a lifetime of a few years at most.

There is nothing a buyer would find offensive about the fireplace.

“i love rustic with modern weaved in.”

I don’t see a hint of modern anywhere - not in the furnishings nor your decor. So I actually don’t think you really do love modern weaved in. I am saying this because I think you’ll save yourself aggravation and expense and perhaps costly mistakes by just leaving the fireplace surround as is. Definitely paint the walls which is an easy improvement. Remove every item that is black iron and instead get some colorful art on the walls with a more airy feeling.

OP, thank you for the zoomed out pic. it makes a huge difference. Now its clear that the fp is out of scale with the room and does, in fact, need work.

1. remove the mantle and sell it.

2. I would probably get a rustic 4x6 beam mantle installed that way you don’t have to try to match that existing brick which appears to be in good condition and a contemporary tone.

3. paint the walls and those registers a color that complements the brick, allowing the rustic wall texture to work with the rustic mantle.

I could be wrong, but I worry that when that surround comes down, that the fp itself will barely be just the right size for the room so the last thing you want to do is make it bigger with floor-to-ceiling unless it includes built ins across the entire wall.

Looking more closely at how the brickwork appears to have been done, here's what I think you might see if you remove the mantel surround and just keep the top:

Shown with brick left alone and a custom single panel fireplace screen with andirons

Shown with bricks in a charcoal color with the same screen and andirons. Wall decor removed with 3 pieces of art over the fireplace.

Shown with bricks whitewashed with custom bowed fireplace screen and andirons. Wall decor removed with 3 pieces of art over the fireplace.

My thoughts too Hanson....Remove the wood mantle front DONE. The brick is very neutral and can stay as is. DO NOT PAINT. Painting brick should only be done by people who plan to DIE in the home and even then if they are very very young. Why leave that "can't fix TRENDY" decor choice to the next owner!! You may need a new wood top across the bricks. Why can't you sand down the "venetian plaster" affect??? A sander could do wonders and no you do not have to take it down to the studs!! That decor choice alone should convince you to TRED lightly with what's HOT right now. Think of the re-do when it's passé!!! Fixed elements need to be timeless leave the trendy for what is easily disposed of i.e pillows/wall hangings, chachis!!

When the entire mantle is removed, it is quite possible the color of the stones underneath will have a cleaner look that outlines the shape of the mantle. That color difference will require either some kind of cleaning or paint.

Agree with arcy, the Venetian plaster can be sanded down and if not smooth enough a plaster guy can skim coat it. Since you're taking down the chair rail, you might as well go the extra step. The Venetian plaster is poorly done and getting rid of it would certainly help when you go to sell. All of the wall hangings and decor (runner on coffee table) date the house more than the fireplace.

If it were my own home, I would paint the wood on the fireplace and the wall below the chair railing (lower 1/2 of wall) white. it would lighten it up and tie together.