Explore the construction of the fireplace. A beach house? I would tear the entire thing out. Remove the “bump out” and drywall the entire wall flush. Install new flooring. And then place the tv above a console or shelf at a reasonable level. Done.

Tear it out and make use of the space with built ins for storage. Looks a lovely house!

Given it is a rental, I’d opt for an economical solution, beefing up mantle, removing the screen and the metal bar across if possible. (New owners down the road may see fireplace as s nice feature and want to repair.)

Take a look at ideas/how to’s on Pintetest. If TV can be moved, add art or a mirror and fireplace will be transformed even more.

Stencil/new mantle

Overall of mantle, peel and stick tiles.

Paint and no matter what you chose, mantle needs replacing.

With money saved, you could add inexpensive matching Ikea pieces on either side and consider enhancing them. Add art and that wall will be a lovely focal wall.

It really comes down to your budget, so if you haven’t already got quotes to remove it (or have fireplace repaired), I’d do that asap. Since you are redoing the flooring, now is the time make the decision.

Would getting the fireplace repaired and in usable condition be a cheaper option for you that tearing it out? Is the house in a part of the country that experiences cooler temps? If so, that might be a plus in a rental property.

Thank you for all of the great suggestions!! I love the idea of removing the bump-out altogether and making the wall flush. We will get a quote for that, and I agree now would be the time, since we will be replacing floors and repainting anyway. We are not interested in repairing the fireplace, for a few reasons...it would be just another thing for the renters to have an issue with (e.g. pilot light out, propane out), and it never really gets cool enough during the rental season to even need it (it is in NC), plus the propane companies that service the area are super slow (took them a year to pick up the old rusted out tank...being oceanfront it took a beating). If removing the bump-out is too costly, I do like your suggestions, Maureen. Would you paint over the existing tile surround (if tile can even be painted)?? Or remove that white tile and replace with the peel and stick tile? I'll take a look at pinterest as well. Thanks again!!

You can easily paint, just check with a paint pro for a paint that will adhere. You can add peel and stick over what you have.https://www.lanternlanedesigns.com/fireplace-makeover-using-peel-and-stick-tile/

If you have no interest in using it as a fireplace for the heat and ambiance or the focal point, explore its construction, like soffets in a ceiling, sometimes they are there for a reason, and the reason for this could be there are plumbing that required a bump out that they thought would look better by building it out further, to add more room so an errant nail or tv mount would not bust a waterline or something or they may have made it bigger for the sake of giving it more of a visual impact. Like many ceiling soffets, that hide mechanicals, wall bumpouts are often bigger than they need to be, if you find it is totally hollow you can remove it altogether and patch the drywall. If there is something like ductwork or plumbing in it and it has to be that big, consider framing it out with built in shelving and cabinetry.

As a vacation rental property manager for 19 years, I can tell you that a non-functioning fireplace is a bigger disappointment (i.e. poor reviews for the property) to renters than no fireplace at all. Don't raise their expectations only to let them down when they discover it won't enhance their stay with you. Remove it if you can't make it work. Even if you had it wired for electric logs, it would add ambiance and might be cheaper than repairing to fully function as a gas fireplace, or tearing it out and repairing. Check out your options.