What is it that you don’t like about the FP that’s making you consider painting it? To make a good suggestion, the entire room the FP is a part of needs to be seen. Based on the picture of FP as stand alone piece, I wouldn’t touch the stone. I might be thinking about a new mantel using wood close to flooring color

Can you post pics of the room? It's so hard to advise without understanding your design style and the style of the house.

Seeing what I see, I wouldn't paint the stone. Would you consider a new mantel? The one you have doesn't suit the fireplace, and that is what might be making you want to change things up. A wood mantle would be so much better!

It looks pretty nice in the picture. I agree that the mantle is too formal. Is it possible to paint the vents with a heatproof paint that matches the stone?

Thanks. I feel that the stone fireplace is too dark and really darkens the whole room. Here is another photo from a different angle (just put down a new rug, and will be replacing the couch with a light gray couch most likely ) If i do paint the fireplace stone white, I think I would go with a brighter white like SW pure white rather than the same color as the wall which is SW creamy. appreciate any feedback or ideas!

Thank you Beth! These are some great ideas!

jd, I edited the above comment and added a few more pictures and texts if you'd like to reread. thanks (I really like the last picture!

i love this the best (with the Vivienne coffee table!)

and this one

those open wood shelves really make the room. they give that wall dimension

ugg when are we going to move past this impulse to slap paint on stone/brick??! Your fireplace looks so much better in the pics with proper mantle. Beth's first.

Thank you Beth! i love those ideas! Especially the last two. I am operating on a budget because we will be moving iht of this house within the next year pr two, but I probably at the least need to replace the mantle.

If I were moving in the next year or two, I'd leave is as is. How do you know what the next owner will like? Let them spend the money/do the work. You have quite a short term left in the house.

Even though it's already been said, I have to say again there's nothing wrong with the stone. It's the mantel that doesn't fit. Especially since you're moving soon, please don't paint it. Stone fireplaces are very common where I live, so it doesn't look wrong to me. It won't look wrong to someone else who may buy your house either. If I were looking to buy I would find painted or whitewashed stone to be a deterent to purchasing your home. Once painted it would be a major pain to remove the paint.

Thanks for your input everyone! Keeping the stone as is. Will definitely look into re-doing the mantle. But for now, I’m swapping out what’s on top of the mantle for a more modern mirror and I’m feeling much better about the overall look and feel of the room.

The vase with greenery you had there would be a nice add with the mirror. The large mirror does really change the look.

Right now the stone seems bossy because you tried to counteract it by filling the room with light things. It stands out because it is visually heavier than everything in the room.

You can counteract this by adding some decor to your room that echoes the color of the stone. Sofa pillows, coffee table, a subtle print on the curtains. A large plant or two with stone colored pots would help as well.

It's a very nice space, it just needs a few items to finish it off and make it look more cohesive.

you reallly need a coffee table and some other mantel elements.

when you place a mirror as an accent, normally you want something nice reflecting back. Not mandatory but it helps

here.

gave you some contrasting pillows to pick up the grays in the stone. some textured items like the round table and wood mantel for some depth.

vivenne wood table

the mirror is fine, but you need things on the side to balance it.

some other examples

I gave you two off white x ottomans since you seem to like monotone, but not really digging it w/the wood mantle.

gold/marble topped table

and if you go black mantle, I'd do some type of art or something like this

neutral wood table

Thank you so much Beth! I really appreciate your help. I like the idea of the round lighter wood coffee table.

Very easy to paint the vents so they match the stone.