Are you refinishing your floors or tearing them out?

I know it's frowned upon but I'll be tearing them out just because of pets scratching the floor and I want the same flooring throughout the house. I'll be going with vinyl plank.

I understand your decision. Your current floors could look very modern if stained a different color or just poly’ed again (natural) after refinishing. Again, not criticizing. I asked because I was going to suggest removing the fireplace and surround completely and installing new tile and a new fireplace, which can get very expensive if that’s a gas fireplace. Do you plan to put your TV above the fireplace? If you do or don’t, I would bring that inset area out closer to the fireplace — possibly match with the side cabinets (reframe the area) because that inset dates the home to tube/plasma TV days.

I appreciate the feed back! Oh I don't think I want to remove the fireplace as it is gas. My tv will be above the firplace. Yes maybe that is what I'll do bring out the space. Do you think I should leave it back slightly like the shelves or just make the fireplace and build out flush? I was thinking of closing the top shelves aswell and  maybe putting 2 or 3 floating shelves on either side. But what do you suggest I do with the bottom cabinets?

The only reason the gas fireplace is pushed out that much is to accommodate the inset. I hate to sound like a broken record but I would look into getting a new one while you are redoing your floors. Otherwise you are stuck with the bump out forever.

I have decided to just keep the fireplace, I'm in the middle of the reno now I'll post a finished product when I'm done. But currently looks like this.