Hmmm, what an arch. It doesn’t look like solid stone work, but stone faces placed / attached to the wall? Do you want to retain the stone? Because removing it and going with a lighter paint would make the area more attractive and leave the stone as a feature in the other areas. If removal is not an option, how about painting the dark to a light color identified in front from the stone..

Lighter grout would make it look more like the fireplace…

I am usually a fan of leaving stone alone but I would want to lighten that up as part of a whole room plan - here are some options from Romanbio, but would be good to figure out the whole room plan first and then decide treatment

https://romabio.com/3-ways-to-paint-outdated-stone/

I will suggest a German smear technique. This consists of apply mortar to the stonework - both the stone and the existing grout joints. Depending on the color of grout it will alter the look and lighten the stonework if you use a white or near white color.

Normally I say leave stone alone as well. This is just a little too heavy for anything. I would either remove it all ( could be a huge job ) or go ahead and paint or do the German Smear . Either would definitely help a lot.

It would not hurt to get some more lighting as well - that room with the fan has light colored walls/floors and a white ceiling and it still looks dark.

Good luck!

thanks everyone!

IIt's basement that's why so dark there are other artificial

lights that are not

I can't type full comments for some reason

100% agree^^. Demo. The stone is so obviously fake and the installation was poor. Doomed from the get-go.

it's unfortunateunfortunately not drywall it's a metal

Breaker hammer! It is hideous.

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones... Demo that metal and stone wall.

Bummer you can't remove it. As @HALLETT and @Norwood suggested, lightening it up will improve it. If you go the grout lightening route, check this thread. She gives good tips on how she did it. One of these days I'll get to it for my fireplace.

Time to get out the hammers and Sawzall. It's a framework that will detach from your walls. Don't let the metal scare you!!!

The only concern with a total demo is that this may be a supporting wall. The faux stone can certainly be removed in any case; it is just a veneer and can safely be removed. Once you determine whether or not this is a bearing wall, then plan accordingly.

ETA that the flooring is another factor. Likely that removing the stone will expose the raw floor. I.e, no tile beneath. If there is no tile, then you could pad the framing enough to cover the exposed floor if you are not planning to replace flooring at this time.

it's a supporting wall unfortunately. as another commenter mention- that could be a huge job. im trying to weigh the suggestions given on here- i do agree that it also looks like flintstones- terrible!

what do u mean by pad the framing? thicken up the baseboard to cover the exposed floor?

and before others comment- i know the tile is ugly too lol but the entire basement is that tile so that would be much too big of a project to take on right now

You don't need to demo the entire wall, just the archway part of the wall to square it off into a rectangular opening. Certainly don't demo the header.

Then paint is the budget friendly option. Need a couple of coats of a quality stain blocking primer--concern being that the black mortar could bleed thru. That needs to be locked down before paint. If budget is a concern, that is what I would do for now, kicking the can down the road. Assuming DIY, the cost should be under $200, would be an improvement & help neutralize somewhat the conflict between the faux stone and what looks like real stone back there in the corner. (What is that stone thing in the corner? Doesn't look like a fireplace...)

what do u mean by pad the framing?

Erect non load bearing walls on either side of the existing wall, spaced out enough to cover the footprint of the removed stone. Once drywalled, it will look like a thick wall and hide where the tile is missing on the floor.

ETA: If you take this approach, then you can narrow the passageway and square up the opening somewhat. I don't think you can square the top (not enough headroom) but you can square up the sides and have a doorway with straight sides and an arched top.

The white strip might be a flexible painted metal, but I'm guessing that is being used to cover up something not so pretty.

If you use an electric chisel, the stone will be down in an hour. See the YouTube videos that demonstrate how to take down the stone.

It's a bit messy but doable.

Oh Dear! No! to Demo, it’s a 1950s Amazing Happening! lol Wow it is utterly fantastic! Agree with above suggestions to lighten/brighten, or give it your best shot duplicating the other stone! Don’t worry about the floor tile, it won’t look off if your 50s archway is limed and chalked. Medieval theme for the arch inset? Rome? Let your inner artist loose with mosaic tile perhaps? This could be a random scattering and a great party to boot, then have the Great Arch Unveiling! ! Thanks for sharing!