Do you need the corbels ? If so then at lerast change them to something less fancy with that nice mantel. Please no fake greenery ever. From what you show it looks like this FP is not used is that correct? Could you post at least one pic showing the room and decor.

I have an brick fireplace surround that I’ve been annoyed with for years. Considered paining it but finally decided I don’t like painted brick. So, I just deep cleaned all the brick. It made a huge difference!
For yours, I agree with removing the corbels if at all possible.

I would lime wash it.

Agree with @Celery.Visualization, Rendering images - use a white limewash or schmear to get good coverage. Paint won’t do it for the long haul.

Yes Patricia we do use the fp.  I agree the corbels need to go. Im just using them to hold the mantel for now. These are my inspiration pics. Im caught between full coverage and lime wash..maybe a heavy limewash with just a little distress?

I’m not a designer however, I see some really nice chinker bricks that I personally would hate to see painted. Maybe have the brick all cleaned well and then decide. That probably needs to happen before painting anyway should you decide to go that route. Agree on the corbel removal.

Please post a picture with all the accessories removed.

Paint it white and remove corbels. Also remove all the stuff you have piled on it. It looks like a staged craft store right now, and I doubt that’s what you intend. Less is more.

I'm sorry to be harsh, but it is all the fussy added decor that is outdated. Remove all of that, clean the bricks well (you will need to do that anyway) then see if you still feel the need to limewash or paint.

Think about whether doing so will add too much blandness to the room.

I personally dislike the partial limewash look, it just seems like trying too hard and not authentic to any style.

Also, does the rustic mantle echo the rest of the house? Or would a more refined wooden piece be more in tune?

I just wanted to say, I love the brick. There are so many other ways to update it.

When I look at your inspiration pictures, I see different flooring and wall colors. If you paint the fireplace, be prepared to do these other things as well or you will end up with a half-baked look. Right now, your floor is warm-tone and your wall color is cool-tone --that may be causing you more discomfort than the fireplace itself. If it were me, I would do the fireplace last. If you can't replace the floors, look for inspiration pictures with your floors ....find one you like and go forth and conquer!

Too much stuff. All the white things make the fireplace seem a bit dingy. Remove the bathroom rug…a more rustic rug or a muted-color oriental rug may work better, depending upon the rest of the room’s furnishings. A simple mantel should have simpler corbels. With protruding bricks, you need to dust more frequently. I would consider staining the mantel to go better with the floor…maybe a bit more brown, definitely less orange than the floor. The only advantage of artificial greenery is you can swish it slightly soapy water to clean it and then towel-dry it.

I Would Paint The Fireplace White And I Can’t Tell If Walls Are Gray If So Please Paint Those Walls A Coffee Cream Color ( Light) ! White On The Fireplace Would Look Wonderful Against Cream Walls And Also Look Better With Your Wood Floors !

I painted my fireplace brick white about five years ago and have never regretted. Mantle and decor are as important a decision and think your inspiration pictures don’t reflect modern farmhouse; they lean towards quaint rustic. Without seeing your room/ furniture, hard to be more helpful, but if you want modern farmhouse, go with a fresher feel.

I prefer the white painted bricks but much less decor on the fireplace...

We have 2 fireplaces painted white, one gas, one natural. Both were painted white before we moved in 27 years ago. We use both frequently in the winter. They still look great. The walls surrounding them are also white, which we painted after moving in.

Like many have suggested, get them cleaned first. If you still don't like it, then make your decision. Of your inspiration pictures, I prefer the distressed instead of fully painting it white. I think it would go with your preferred style best.

I agree with cleaning the brick first. You can always go back and limewash or paint. My reclaimed brick FP mortar was stained and didn't showcase the interesting bricks. Thought about limewashing the entire thing. I painted the mortar with craft store paint and it really popped the gorgeous aged hues of the brick. Pull off the screen remove the corbels, clean everything off the mantel and stain it. Live with it a while, and if you still don't like it, take the next step.

It doesn’t have to white , how about a mossey green , that would look great for a modern farm house!

There's basic, cheap Home Depot brick, and there's interesting, textured brick that adds character to a room. Yours looks like the latter, to my eye. It could be the primary feature in the room and certainly works with the "farmhouse" look you're going for. Clean it up as others advise, then focus your decorating energies on the rest of the space. When it's all done, revisit the fireplace. I really hope you don't paint it. Embrace it!

Some of your bricks, above the fireplace opening, look like clinker bricks. I think painting over them would destroy a very special feature. https://www.oldhouseonline.com/gardens-and-exteriors/guide-to-clinker-bricks/

Trends come and go, but clinker brick is priceless. Please don't paint it. Get rid of all the fussy white decor. Maybe stain the mantel. Replace the corbels. Clean the bricks. Figure out if your house has an architectural style and if it does please don't destroy that for trendy looks that change every 10-15 years. The next owners of your house will thank you.

no one in 15 years is going to want that brick. it's nothing special.

Paint it. clean it well first, prime and use a masonry paint like Romabio.

If you think you like the limewash, get a small sample jar of it and try.

you could also do a mortar wash. lots of tutorials.

remove the corbel and just add a nice reclaimed wood beam.

here...you could fir out the top portion and add this wood panel trim if you like.

put a mantel surround if you like. don't over decorate

you could also DIY it w/a stucco coat or cement overlay. it's cheap and not difficult. paint when dry. add cabinets and wood shelves on the sides

you could also fir out the entire thing, cover w/cement board, and retile w/anything you like. the brick will be presevered for those 'future owners'.

Paint white with some distressing. Very simple supports. Or fur it out and use drywall. Add an electric fireplace, Heat loss is a big thing now that fuel costs are so high. Would be good to know what it costs to keep your fireplace.

Paint is forever. I'd try cleaning and removing corbels, or even removing the mantel! A plain brick facade goes with any style. White paint adds nothing here.

I will agree with most:

The wall color is unfortunate.

Move the rug to the bathroom.

Take away half the decor.

Have the bricks cleaned.

Then see what you think,

A picture from further away may help…it looks like a very low ceiling?..is this a basement?…is there any natural light?…when/how…. will you be using this spot?…all these things play into the decision…

The examples where the bricks are painted white show bricks which are flat and uniform. I don't think painted clinker bricks will look good. The rustic uneven character of the bricks is enhanced by patina and the natural color variations of the brick. White paint will make those characters look like flaws. I am not a pro :)

This is such a nice fireplace once you clear off all the stuff. Other than making the mantel all one finish, and cleaning, I wouldn't do a thing. Maybe a painting over the mantel.

Have you considered leaving the existing brick color and lightening up the things around it? Replace the dark fireplace screen with a white one and the mantle with a floating mantle painted to match the new fireplace screen.

Can you please post an image of the entire room?

Finally a photo update! Used Lime wash technique..addded a distressed look but decided I didn’t like the contrast of the very dark brick against the white so I lime do we the distress and here is the finished look! So thrilled with the outcome.