Is this potentially a working wood-burning fireplace?

Have you considered a fireplace insert?

I would remove the two vertical wood pieces. While it was a good try, they just look pasted on over the expanse of brick. Get a larger floating mantle, and maybe hang it a bit lower. Also, a fireplace insert is a great idea; we installed one several years ago, and still love it. Depending on the design and installation, you may need to enlarge the hearth, but that will be easy once the verticals are removed.

Good luck, you have a wonderful room to work with!

It does not appear to be a working FP, does it even have a chimney and flue? IMO the side pieces are not good and as for depth I am not sure what you mean by that.A deeper mantel will allow you to decorate it or you could install an electric one right in front of this one .

Perhaps you could try a mantel that is a bit deeper that what you currently have. This might allow you the ability to decorate it easier, if that is what you are trying to do.

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Honestly this looks like what would go behind a mantel - it is raw wood pieces fastened (securely you would hope) to the brick and it appears to be something onto which you could fasten a standard fireplace surround.

I would keep the wood pieces and use them as a frame for a beautiful tile surround. You could try something with a deeper color and a handmade look. Also make the mantle deeper, as others have suggested. You could also paint the inside of the fireplace black to add visual depth. Then fill the fireplace with some candles in different heights.

I agree- lose the side wood. I would do a live edge mantel or a driftwood mantel.... which can be made by combining a number of pieces together.

Either choice should be deep enough to use as a shelf.

The natural flow will go a long way in adding the look of depth and will be a cool and unique focal point.

Make sure the mantel extends a bit wider than the hearth so as not to look stubby.

I would add a dark tile around the new electric fireplace. Then take the wood up to the ceiling,add two wall lamps, paint the brick on floor to match the tile colour.
Add a tv above the fireplace.
Ps make sure the lamps reflect the decor of room. (Distress the wood .)

I like the ideas from Beth Parks and Hansen Wholesale (option 2). Hansen Wholesale suggests adding another piece of wood below the existing mantle to visually "beef up" the look, which is a great way of working with what's already there. The built in fireplace doors might be a bit expensive, as your fireplace opening appears to be smaller than standard. You could do a nice freestanding screen if you like that look. Beth Parks suggested painting the interior of the fireplace a darker color, which is also a good way to bring some definition to the space and would be inexpensive and easy to do. I, personally, would prefer a patterned tile over the dark slate, but a lighter slate or quartzite would also be pretty. If you don't want to commit to tiling the entire area, just tiling around the firebox would be lovely. Here are a few idea photos. The second shows a patterned tile around the fireplace and a slate hearth, which is the best of both worlds. In both photos, the fireplaces are pretty flat in a flat white wall, but the surrounds make them the focal point.

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Great idea!

Install a more substancial mantel. Then decorate. The room is otherwise very beautiful as it is.

Am thinking just a plain wood beam mantle would be enough for your fireplace. As others have said the two vertical legs don't do much to enhance the firebox. Don't know that I would bother with a surround either. In order to look right a surround should have some depth to it instead of just being pasted on the wall.

If you wish to see some of these other ideas in mockups, please move the table and chairs out of the way and take a picture from across the room straight in front of the fireplace so the fireplace is as square as possible floor to ceiling. Make sure your camera is horizontal to get most of the brick wall in view. Also, move everything else out of the way of the fireplace such as the shop-vac and other misc items that are laying around on the hearth or inside. I'm sure the shop-vac is no longer there, but I think you get my point.

The picture should look something like this.

These are similar to the instructions posted on our website for using our FREE Fireplace Design Service.