Tile would be too busy. I would clad it in marble, granite or other slab stone. If it's the MCM you dislike the tile that's there, painted or not has to go.

I know you probably don't like these suggestions but that wall paper is the only thing that seems off here

I think you should lean into it and not fight the midcentury modern

You can mix in other decor pieces in your style placed on the concrete

Maybe a concrete stain? As long as the color wouldn’t transfer onto clothing or cushions.

I like the concrete and wood. Not the wallpaper and tile so much. But you know what you like and which direction you want to go in.

Think about cushions, pillows and decor items before you commit to additional permanent changes.

I am hoping that wallpaper is going to start . If you want thta concrete to stay then it needs to be covered in a material that works in the space . The rug sure isn't Tudor so I need to see the whole room too. Post pics here in comments DO NOT start another post . Do you like the wood part ? Post pics so we can figure out what your style is I happen to love what the did but I need to see the whole space .

Even just replacing the patterned textured tile around the fireplace opening, using a slab stone with a simple or solid pattern, would make the other patterns work better, including the wallpaper and rug. You may be able to find some large format tiles that look similar to a slab if you want to do it more economically.

I don't know how appropriate it is to the house, but the massiveness of the design is not inconsistent with Tudor Revival style. And it's a decent example of what it is--kind of a deco moderne/mid century fireplace.

Short of removing this and replacing it with a period-appropriate Tudor Revival fireplace (what that means may vary depending on whether the house was built in 1920 or 1950) I think trying to turn this fireplace into something that it's just not, is not is working.

I'm sorry but I think it looked better before you put up the paper or painted the tile. The wall paper is a nice pattern but really it's doing nothing to "soften" the look of the fireplace, it's just fighting with it. There's no softening something as dominant as this, you either accept it for what it is, or remove it, but covering it up with bits and pieces of finishes from 2024 isn't going to help.

That's also Heath Tile, which is a significant mid century tile made by a pottery founded in 1948, and while you may not have actually ruined it by painting it, you will if you just cover it up with something else adhered to it, or take a sledge hammer to it. You should probably try to salvage it if you get rid of it. They make this pattern again so if this fireplace is relatively recent, the lost of the tile is not as big a deal, I guess.

I don’t understand the second picture. Did you put a tv in the fireplace?

I think the TV is inside the cabinet to the left of the fireplace. The cabinet doors are open in the second pic.

The TV is in the built in to the left of the firebox behind the wood paneling.

Gently, your wallpaper is awkward with the dominant style of the room. I understand you don’t like the style (fwiw the style is broadly popular now and this appears to be a well done example) but I would advise you to lean into this space as being mcm. Alternatively if you had 100k you could have everything rebuilt in the style of the main house.

so the second picture with your child and the TV shows the blue painted tile? any chance you can remove the blue paint?

I get that the blue paint coordinates with your wall paper, but neither goes with the builtins and they are both really making the builtin features you dont like standout even more

I agree with some lf the other comments the original tile color was beautiful honestly Its nicer than the blue that is clashing imo

The wall paper just doesn't go there it visual looks like you wrapped it in gift paper like a present

Showing the other side of the room and home could help ppl advise you

I don't see how any blue patterned wallpaper works in this room, or blue pattered anything for that matter. Maybe if we were inspired by details from the house, but in the meantime, I'd minimize the number of finishes used on this wall.

beverly - that paint color and rug options looks great with the original tile, but in their second picture, OP shows they painted the tile blue

At $95 a square foot, that's about $2500 in tile. At that price, it might be worth trying to strip again with something like Peel Away.

There appears to be no end to the atrocities visited on this poor house.

Oh, I don't know, it's just wallpaper and some paint, and the wood looks nice whatever the OP did to it. Atrocities do get committed in here, but I don't think this qualifies as one of them, not yet anyway.

@ beverly I feel you I didn't want to be rude to op but I'm dieing a little seeing that she made a permanent change and painted beautiful tile that has depth and variety and texture to it with a generic blue shiny paint that has surely not captured any of the beautiful details of the original tile

I hope she can strip it like others are suggesting.

Its hard to tell from the second picture but she described changing the tone of the wood which I really hope she had a professional do it looks a little diy in that small piece the original looks well done and I have yet to see a diyer get staining wood done correctly it always looks a bit homemade to me

I'd leave the cement. It's a floor level on a wall with a lot going on. It's fine.

I like the wallpaper. So, it's not MCM, there's no rule saying you need to stick to authentic MCM if the fireplace is, particularly not in a Tudor revival. I don't get why people have to criticize posters' taste, particularly on questions they haven't asked.

Well, she asked what to do about the terrible and "unbearable" cement bench. I don't think anyone thinks it's terrible but her, so there's the first conflict. If she's trying to play the whole structure down, I think she's done the opposite and highlighted it with wallpaper. I think we need to see the current state it's in once the plastic comes off.

OP, if you haven't abandoned the thread because of all the reading comprehension issues and rude comments will you post some pictures of the entire room?

Sigrid free advice is going to come with judgements lol. Technically she had made a judgment about a design that others not only appreciate but desire so that will elicit a reaction.

I dont think people are critiquing her taste. Its not the wall paper design that is disliked its the application of it. Its not helping accomplish what she seems to be trying to do and it goes against a lot of the basic rule of design that help a place look cohesive it lacks flow its just to random and distracting.

Of course she can do what she wants its her home and ignore us if she wants. Just like everyone is free to share their opinions

Just noticed that OP is a realtor in Wisconsin. Perhaps she's asking for a client and using "we" in a generic way. If so, the market seems to be saying it isn't horrible but quite nice so all will be well if it's a listing. If it's OP personal home, I suggest leaning into one of the greatest American Architects of all time and someone from Wisconsin, Frank Lloyd Wright who introduced Prairie style, a great combination of English Tudor and low, horizontal lines of the Prairie. Don't block the blessings, go with it!

The OP came here asking about further steps she could take to disguise this fireplace. I don't think it is rude to tell an OP to rethink what they are doing, or that we disagree with what they are doing. There is one comment in here that I think could be taken as rude and I also don't think that it's particularly accurate, because I don't think anybody has seen the rest of the house to see what else has been done, we've seen one thing, and I don't think it quite qualifies as an atrocity. But the consensus is that what's happening so far is a mistake.

For deegw who mentions all the rude comments, and Sigrid who likes the wallpaper and doesn't think you need to do something that is MCM . . . is your honest impression that the patterned blue wall paper and the blue paint look great and are an improvement over what was there originally? Do you think going along these lines is going to make it look better and better? Do you think the forum should just be a place where people post a picture and no matter what it is you just say "Looks great!" just so nobody is offended? I am not trying to be a jerk, I really want to know, how would you answer this question both without any hint of disagreement and constructively?

If this had shown up as a done deal with the wallpaper and the tile removed or covered and hearth with paint or something else and I didn't like it, I would just skip the thread and I think a lot of other people would too, and some would say "good job" because it would be too late to say anything about it. If you think these comments are rude, I don't think you've seen posts with any of the real trolls. They haven't found this thread.

its the wallpaper that makes this look domineeringly MCM and “off,” not the concrete bench.

I would leave the bench but add pillows and baskets with blankets to soften it.

Pal, my comment never stated that one should never express the opinion that one thing or another doesn't work in a space. One can be rude about it or diplomatic and thoughtful. My comment wasn't directed toward the people who posted thoughtfully and diplomatically about the things they think don't work in the space.

Let's figure out how to help massage this Serena and Lily meets 1930s modernist look! Please post pics of all walls in the room without the toddler in the way.

First thought, leave the concrete and add other concrete accents and colors to the room to make it look intentional. Concrete grey pillows, throws, other textiles. Concrete drink tables or coffee table. Concrete vase or other doo-dad on the shelf above the TV/fireplace. Floor plant in concrete stand.

Oh my, I want to cry when I see that painted Heath tile. I hope it can be restored, the wallpaper removed, and it all put back the way it was. It would really be helpful to see more photos of the rest of the house.

Here is a pic of a similar fireplace with the heath tile in a more neutral color:

Heath tile fireplace

It looks like they covered the bench in some sort of limestone or similar stone with minimal pattern.

Thanks for the additional pics. I see you like blue which is fine, it's your house so go with what you love. So in answer to your original question, What should I do to change the look of the concrete bench? Don't change it. There are a lot of stars commanding attention in the room already. The bench needs to just sit quietly IMO.

A lighting upgrade might warm up the entire space enough to where the concrete isn't as noticeable to you. Right now all I see is overhead, which usually casts odd shadows and can give a space a retail vibe. Try adding some floor lamps and some lamps on the sofa table to see if that helps.

I also like the idea of softening the hearth with some natural items around it. A big basket filled with fluffy throws and a plant or two.

Thanks to those who offered helpful suggestions. The idea of adding plants and cushions or more "soft" items is really helpful, and I also liked the idea of leaning into the concrete by maybe adding some other elements that include concrete. I'm interested in possibly staining it, or maybe trying to clad it in a neutral marble/stone as well, and I really appreciate the ideas and mockups people have posted.

The wood was professionally stained but I think the way the light is coming through in the photos makes it look uneven - it looks great in real life.

As for the tile, I tried to have it removed so I could give it to a friend, in whose house it would look amazing, but there was no way to do it without destroying it. I get that people lust after this brand, but it's not antique -- it's just expensive. Anyone can go buy that tile right now; they make plenty and I agree it's beautiful in the right setting, but I don't like the color and not here. So my options were to live with it, cover it, take a sledgehammer to it, or paint it. I chose paint (which, by the way, the can be removed with some effort if a future owner wants to - we tested that). One of the most freeing things I learned from an interior designer friend is this: "Just because someone else spent an ocean of money on something doesn't obligate you to keep it."

Kendrah and Paul thank you for your great ideas!

Kendrah, the white table is kind of a placeholder, so this is the nudge I need to find something perfect for the space. Thank you for the pics and link to R&B and CB2.

Paul, I also really love the white/gray marble clad rendering you made.

Deegw, you're absolutely right about the lighting. I'd love to add some floor and table lamps but I fear my kids are too rambunctious right now to trust them with tippable lights.

We have a basket with blankets that I've been hiding behind the couch but I'm going to put it on the shelf along with some plants and see how I like it for a few weeks.

That blue couch is midcentury modern btw lol

But I understand what you mean the muntins on the window clash a bit with the sleeker look of the mcm fireplace

The room doesnt look Tudor to me it looks like regular transitional

kitchen has a modern transitional feel too

Glad to hear the paint can be removed from tile if you change your mind

Does the rest of the home have more Tudor elements? Maybe you can incorporate them more in this area

maybe change out fan for an ornate chandelier and paint the trim windows and baseboards a color

Openhomes, we had table lamps and floor lamps when my kids were young, I can't remember any mishaps. If you want to take baby steps, tuck an inexpensive floor lamp in an out-of-the-way space and see how that goes.

I think Paul's rendition of some kind of wood top on the concrete might get OP closer to what she's comfortable with. I personally like the concrete but totally get it--don't be afraid to change up what doesn't resonate with you.