What are your plans for the rest of the room?

I wouldn't go from one bossy tile to another. I like the rice paper and the mosaic (both with matching grout) but I'd have to see them in your room and your light.

I like the fireclay tempest.

@BeverlyFLADeziner I was planning to use tile as well for the floor of the fireplace. Do you think all 3 tile choices are considered MCM or contemporary? I am going for an overall transitional style for the house. I will live immediately after remodeling but am planning to rent it out after a year as this is a second home.

@deegw What do you mean when .you say "bossy tile" - like the tile being loud? Other than a coat of white paint for the walls and lightening things up a bit (I don't have dark furniture), not sure that I have a ton of ideas for the space, it's kind of small and narrow.

Bossy meaning attracting all the attention in the room. The fireplace is nice but not architecturally special enough to be the focus of the room. Drawing the eye to it with a dark tile and light walls also emphasizes the narrow rectangular shape of the room. I think you should pick a neutral tile color that adds a nice layer of texture to the room and doesn't make the fireplace a focal point.

I personally don't like the first one. It's boring and dull. I do like the second one. It makes a statement and really pops. I am partial to that one. It really helps make the fireplace the focal point. I would say the last one you have would be a close second for me.

You’re going to live in it a year, then rent it out? Beverly's solution is the best. The simplicity will appeal to most renters. And you can probably get a remnant of stone, cutting down on cost.

I also think Bev's idea of a dark slab would work best. It's the most streamlined and sleek of all, especially if you want to "modernize" the space.

Is it a wood burning fireplace? Are you allowing renters to use it? I would make sure that the tile you choose can tolerate heat. You will need a fire screen and implements. If you choose not to use these, please sell them. There is a market for ones like yours. Because this is a rental, I would make no significant ($$) changes to the facade of the fireplace. Make the space neutral for others to inhabit.

are you going to rent it out as a rental home or as a vacation home? If you're going to do the latter, is it because you plan to continue to use it as a second home. If so then you should go with what you like not what a potential vacationer would like (assuming what you choose will handle the heat). If you were going to use it just as a rental home then I would say don't even touch the fireplace. As a landlord I can tell you probably will not get your money back on that.

I don't see any issue doing the hearth in the same tile. I have tile around my gas fireplace (but no hearth) and I like that look way better than slab which I so commonly see in suburban homes.

Another vote for a slab like @BeverlyFLADeziner suggests

FWIW we have friends who used a trendy tile on their fireplace just a few years ago and they are already thinking about pulling it

I think your tile choices only would look good if they are given a lot of space to make their statement. The thin rectangle tiles look great in the photos because they are used massively on a plane. Using a patch of them inside that heavy mantle won't have the drama or interest. I think they might just look like you were using up leftover tiles. The mosaic-y hexagons aren't really modern and I think they might just look busy. I'd don't think you'll get much bang for your buck replacing the Florentine-ish surround with those tiles if you are reaching for modern.

I agree that maybe you shoud try to downplay the whole unit rather than call attention to it but if I were looking to be contemporary and update, I'd look into the possibility leaving the surround as is but doing the white mantle with a faux snakeskin/crocodile treatment (faux painting? wall covering?) or a leather. I'd also think about maybe an oiled bronze-type finish (very classily done) ?

faux snakeskin

There are always code requirements with fireplaces and for a rental especially you want to be 100% sure you are doing everything 100% safely with whatever materials you use, whether it be for the surround or the mantle, and get a fireplace pro to make it tight and right..

Thanks everyone for all the feedback! The fireplace pics below were actually my inspiration - although I realize my choices and existing fireplace are a ways OFF - haha! I thought my marble mosaic option might give me the closest to this.

@ptreckel - I totally agree no significant changes to the fireplace as this will be a long-term rental for the next 5-10 years! However, it needs to be updated from its current design (for rentability), so that's the puzzle - how to modernize things in a widely appealing style without having to spend excess money. I have to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms anyways, so once those are done, this fireplace will be out of place with the rest of the house.

Great Neighborhood Homes · More Info

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Fireplace Mantel · More Info

@BeverlyFLADeziner - Would something like this be within the realm of what you're referring to? Or is this look going to go out of style? I'm not a huge fan of the darker surrounds you had shown, it makes the room feel smaller to me.

Traditional Modern Beach | Seacrest Avenue · More Info

A granite slab surround will never go out of style. Whichever tile you choose, especially the ones you showed initially, and then the Home pictures, will go out of style. Guaranteed. And I think would make a rental less attractive. How many people want the gray/white starry tile in the previous pictures that likely will not work with their furnishings? Choose a white, classic Barre gray, or black marble or granite slab, whichever you like best, and be done with it.

that's funny because I thought granite was way out of style. Everything goes out of style eventually. And some of it comes back. I that's why I still have clothes from 2005🤣

Depends on the granite. Speckled polished builder's granite was never a good look, and I wouldn't have used it back in the day, and certainly not now. However, Absolute Black granite, Jet Mist granite, or Nero Marquino marble would look awesome and classic as a fireplace surround.

And that amount of black is no way going to make the room look small.