Does it actually work ? Have you had it checked to make sure ? If you are not going to use it why not take the doors off add some fake logs and do a trim that works in the space and if all metal just piant it if the FP is not used.

Thank you so much for taking your time to comment. I had no idea it was wood burning. I appreciate you.

Your FP looks like a very common 90s prefab wood burning FP w/ a gas starter.

First, if you are planning on using it as a functional FP, the first step I would take is to have a safety inspection done in order to confirm that the structural integrity has not been compromised in some fashion (it looks like there is a crack between two faux firebricks the top row + the right side appears to have shifted a bit - leaving an opening along that corner).

If an ember made its way through one of those openings, there is a serious risk of a fire starting inside the walls. My mom owned a condo/townhouse in a development where someone had added a wood burning FP at some point (the development was constructed in the 70s). Several years ago, I received a phone call one night at around 2 a.m. - it was my mom - the building where her townhouse was located was ON FIRE! The people who lived in one of the middle units had used the FP a few hours earlier - thought the fire was completely out - and went to bed.

Unfortunately, an ember had made it's way through a very small crack - and smoldered inside one of the walls for a bit- and eventually caused the paper on the face of the drywall to start burning.

I lived less than five minutes away - and as we pulled up to the stoplight at an intersection, I could see some flames over the rooftops of other houses - and we were still several blocks away. The fire completely destroyed the two inner units - while the flames barely breached the top part of the wall of her second story loft (she had an end unit), the damage from the smoke and water was SEVERE. It took a LONG time to have renovations completed -it was only four days before Christmas - my mom was DEVASTATED (even though she was lucky - it could have been much worse).

FYI - this answers your Q re: covering the black frame with drywall (while drywall is flame resistant - the paper face is flammable - and re: the townhouse in my mom's building, it provided enough kindling for the wood wall studs to start burning). Of course, the manufacturer of your FP will have specifications that need to be adhered to re: combustible materials and required clearances.

Also, there could be a build up of creosote (black tar-like substance) inside the chimney - has the potential to cause a chimney fire - which then turns into a house fire. Many people fail to have their chimneys inspected/cleaned.

IF you decide that you wanted a gas FP at some point, your current wood burning FP can be converted into a gas burning one fairly easily (by a professional) since you have a gas starter. I have four FP - all were originally wood burning except for a gas one in my bedroom. I had a wood burning one in my living room converted into a gas FP a couple years ago. It didn't take very long to have the project completed.

Non combustable hearths are required on wood burning fireplaces so are your plans to not use it until you change it for an electric one? If so you can remove the doors, and drywall up to the opening to make it look more like an electric. Just be sure no one uses it and if you were to sell the house before replacing it you must disclose that its not a working fireplace.

There are fireplace doors made specifically for the purpose of covering the black metal, particularly when there are vents involved. They mount with magnets. These are well over your $300 budget, but others looking at this forum may find this useful.

See more here: Fireplace Doors with Vents

I'd just use a high heat paint and repaint the black. I don't think you want drywall right next to the fireplace, and it would be more expensive. Removing the doors/chain curtain would help. I have never removed fireplace doors, but I am sure there are Youtube videos on it (here's one link I found: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-YotRITLHg). If you don't use it, just put some candles or decorative aspen branches inside as decor. If you do use it, I would purchase a standing fireplace screen. The right type of screen can also cover a lot of the fireplace. Or you could try painting the gold trim/handles on the doors in the same high heat black paint - but if you do that you would probably want to remove the doors to do this anyway.

One thought is a open fireplace removing the doors. If I did this is the black front around the fireplace what holds the doors and how does this come off? Then, if this is possible, drywall to the edge of the opening?

As others have commented, this is a woodburning fireplace with a gas starter.

If you have winter where you are, I would not remove the doors. You will create a draft (even with the damper closed) and lose a good deal of heat out of the chimney. (If you do remove the doors, then the chimney should be capped.)

The 'black front' is not coming off. That is integral to the construction and will be welded. No, you cannot drywall to the edge of the opening. No combustibles allowed within six inches of the opening. Drywall has combustible paper facings/ not allowed. As is, it looks like there is already drywall too close to the sides of the firebox.

This fireplace cannot/ should not be used as it currently is. (Drywall too close/ no hearth.)

What to do? Paint the metal surround and decorate the firebox. Or paint the metal and ignore it.

Place a television in front of it. Or remove the handles & move a tall piece of furniture to hide it.