I would paint the entire wall dark this is an example of how the TV would look.

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You might as well get real marble tile instead of a marble look. It is so much better and you don’t need very much. I was able to find really nice 12x24 marble tiles and cut them down with a wet tile saw.

You could build a wood mantel and surround that covers up the lower drywall. That would only leave the top drywall for the TV insert. Do some real-life mockups with boxes or wood scraps to see if you like it first.

You might even be able to panel over the drywall columns with thin 1/8” plywood mitered or trimmed and give it all a wood tone that would look like giant wood columns. Or caulk and paint, which would be more forgiving. You’d have to work out the design in detail to determine if the proportions would work.

Then afterward you could replace the side shelves with super thick wood floating shelves, maybe with a colored background if you want to get really creative. Or any kind of background you like.

You can google images for chunky fireplace surrounds. Here is one that is a bit more modern. You may be able to do something like this with the thin plywood trick. You would need a carpenter, or a table saw, miter saw, nail gun and some hand tools. It’s totally worth it if you are going to the trouble of changing the tile.

Paint the whole fire protrusion and return sides to charcoal match to the surround stone,

Change those skimpy white shelves to oak mantel match.

I'd lose the sconces. I think the fireplace and shelves are great as is.

We might suggest removing the shelves, if possible, and the sconces. Neither seem to be doing anything amazing for the space. If you're able to remove the shelves just try some consoles with art over it, or a small bench on either side with art over it. Here is what we are talking about:

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