Lime wash is sort of an off white color but you can add an alkali- resistant pigment in browns , taupes and grays ….ask your professionals in your region . And Remember that lime wash is about 10 times darker when it’s wet , test the colors before applying ..so test all and inform yourself of all options …

Yes, that’s more of the look I’m going for. So no limewash was used here, just German schmear? I’ve thought about doing that, but having a hard time finding someone who is skilled in that application where it doesn’t look messy

Why not just remove it and replace it with a fireplace that you like? Or encase it/plaster over it entirely? I agree with you that the stone is not the prettiest and it certainly doesn't make sense with a light, coastal vibe. A German schmear might look okay, but it's still not really going to be the vibe you want, and it's likely to be difficult to find someone who can do it and costly when/if you do. The only stone fireplaces that I've seen work in coastal settings are actual beach stones, which you don't have.

I have a huge stone FP and honestly I had at the beginning wanted to do something with it , Now it is my fave of the house. If you have never done German schmear DO NOT practice on this stone. IMO if the wall was a darker colr the stone would not be so in your face .So amybe forget the coastal vibe and go in anoter direction style wise. I need to see alot more of what you have going on in the whole living space . You do not even have the flooring in , IMO leave the FP for now Really a darker wall would make a huge difference IMO and since beige is what you think anyway try that on the wall and see what happens. FYI beige to me is not at all coastal.

A German schmear will feel rustic/heavier

A lime wash may feel more coastal.

https://athoughtfulplaceblog.com/how-to-limewash-a-stacked-stone-fireplace/

If interested, since you are redoing the floors, could remove the hearth and shiplap.

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/diy-shiplap-fireplace-43421625

I can’t edit my original post but everyone seems stuck on the coastal comment and I should say we have more of a transitional organic vibe going on, rather than coastal, but some of the natural elements in our design could be interpreted as partially coastal. Everything in our house is very organic feeling and our flooring is going in last (it is a white oak floor).

My comment wouldn't really change even if you take coastal out of the equation. This particular style of stone fireplace combined with material that is not an attractive color is going to be hard to work around unless you were going for a MCM vibe, which you're not.

Save your money, research fireplace ideas, ask around for good contractors and plan to change this. If you don’t love it, you never will. If the German Schmear doesn’t appeal to you, a complete overhaul is the answer.

It will absolutely limit what you can do with this room. Think of the design/function of the space and make the fireplace move to your idea instead of the reverse.

Thanks for the responses. Trying to get this done before we move in, as we are not looking for a project once living in the house. Think German Schmear is more the look we are going for, so going to explore that route.

For an organic feel, maybe look into Venetian plastering.

I live on the beach/water in New England. Many of the houses around here have stone fireplaces such as yours. It is fieldstone, most times dug from the property when the house was being built. The so called coastal style seen today is a formulaic style created by designers. True coastal style is organic and many or the thrifty builders used what was readily available, rocks, driftwood, shiplap etc. Do what pleases you. I like the German Schmear myself. But honestly anything goes. Believe me true beach houses was not made by designers. BTW my house is from the 1930s - 1940s and I have two brick fireplaces with rough beam mantels.

This is not a New England fieldstone fireplace nor does it look anything like one. If it did, I'd recommend keeping it.

There is nothing more organic or natural than rock. Choose a way to embrace it, If you're going with a sorta kinda coastal vibe the fireplace is the colour of sand in all it's variations so think of it as sand that hasn't yet been eroded down to it's finer particles. As suggested pick a paint colour that complements it. When you move in get a tall green or blue vase (both coastal colours of nature) and fill it with the grasses reminiscent of sand dunes.

The current trend seems to be instantly dismissive of rock fireplaces.

Thanks everyone! We are trying to preserve the stone and make it work with our style. My husband doesn’t want to remove or tile over it, so we think this is the best option. I hadn’t planned on painting the wall a different color, but wondering if one of other colors (evergreen fog) might work with this wall and the German schmear. Definitely not planning on doing a DIY here.

Hi Ashley, would you mind letting me know how to the German Schmear went? Considering doing this in my parent's house, and would love any advice you could provide!