What is your plan style wise for the update. IMO the pievce on top does not enhance the FP at all but I also do not like grays with yellowtoned oak. Not sure what you find particualrily attractive about the 90 s oak trim which IMO was never attractive at all. I would do the FP in some large format porcelaon tile not herringbone and do you need a raised hearth it looks like a gas FP . Where I live you do not need a hearth at all and for sure not a raised one. BTW I do not think it will cost 4K to remove that monster top piece and have the wall patched and drywalled

While I love certain natural wood, I do not like any yellowish wood. I painted all of my trim, bannisters, steps, etc. white. For me, it makes decorating much easier.

I would remove the top piece - it's just weird, and detracts from the lower part which looks nice. Why put a bunch of money into it and still not be happy? I don't mind the honey oak and would keep it too, but I love my old red oak floors which others here may call horrible orange floors. I agree I would rethink the white/grey herringbone plan - I think that looks too cool to match with the oak, and too modern/trendy to go with the 90s oak. If you are dead set on the herringbone I would paint the trim. If I were spending money on the fireplace I would prioritize removing the above part before retiling at all.

Agee that removing the top piece is the way to go. It does not flatter the fireplace at all. I also agree that your tile selections don't seem like a good match with the warm tones in your room. I think you can do better.

I would remove the over mantle and keep the current tile surround.

Thank you! The white/off white tones in the herringbone and the hearth are actually much warmer than they look in the model. This is the tile: https://www.bedrosians.com/en/product/detail/makoto-tile/?itemNo=DECMAKSHW2510M

ffpalms, thank you! i definitely hear you and like this idea. it just might not be in the budget... One of my hesitations in removing the top piece and lowering the picture is that then there will be empty space between the windows.

Much larger art would solve the problem of empty wall space between the windows.

The windows are a beautiful feature and that oak thing above the mantel is most definitely detracting from them. I would remove that in a heartbeat. It is much too heavy/overbearing for the space.

True! That looks good in the model, but a big piece of art! Our painting does look a little small in the model with the top removed.

If all that oak stays, then I would not bother changing the marble surround. The green marble works will all that wood. The gray marble doesn't IMO.

I would reconsider keeping all that oak. No one project in your home will make as big a difference as painting out that oak trim.

I agree with BeverlyFLADeziner. The green marble looks great with the wood.

Another vote to keep the green. It seems to work with your furnishings and it visually unites the exterior (greenery) more.

The overmantel is not appropriate and not indicative of any period, and it just looks awkward. And the oak trim per se is not offensive, it's the scale of the trim that's bothersome. It's way too skimpy and out of proportion, so I'd paint it the same color as the wall so it disappears. I'd also paint the balusters and risers on the stairs the same white as the trim/walls, and then do the bannister in a dark stain or black.

All that being said, you really need a cohesive plan for the entire space before you do anything. The fireplace renovation should be but one aspect of the total plan.

Abshrock, I get your dilemma. I live in early 90s house and while I love it still, there are some design elements that conflict with current building trends. To make matters worse for us…the builder convinced us to change roofline to add space to upstairs bedroom but it had the added effect of eliminating angled ceiling in family room…changing 14’ high wall to 17’. We have green marble for fireplace surround and small trim as well…partly because windows are so close to the floor…

I’d absolutely want to get rid of that thing.