Even cleaned and re-laid, the bricks below the hearth don't match either the stones or brick above.

If budget permits, consider removing all the masonry and starting over.

I wonder if a p.o. wanted a wider fireplace and added brick to either side of an existing fireplace.

Sadly, it looks to have been badly remuddled. The center portion ( original?) could most likely be saved. If you contact a professional mason you should be able to get some viable suggestions.

Looks like a hodge podge effort was done. If budget allows consider a total revamp. If you were to redo just the bottom it would then look better than the upper fireplace and give you regrets.

Waht a mess I agree if you start trying to fix it will look even worse . Is that a gas FP ? If it is why not just remove it all and start over . If wood buning and you need the heat then you might want to wait until spring. What is is in those boxes ?

The brick and stone of the fireplace don't compliment each other. Would suggest you have both removed and have the fireplace surround redo in something more to your liking. If that isn't possible would suggest that you paint both the brick and the stone to give it a more cohesive look.

As mentioned by others, the brick and stone don't compliment each other, I would paint the fireplace if it's not in your budget to redo it completely.

it’s hard to give an opinion as to what to do with the fireplace without knowing the style of your home. I think you‘re really are looking at a redo but which direction to take depends on a lot of factors. Show us more photos of the room and the house for better help

If, as some posters have suggested, you paint the brick, use appropriate heat resistant paint. The paint used depends on whether the firebox is for wood or there's a gas insert.

Peel off all that brick and stone, it’s just a veneer in front of the actual chimney and firebox. At that point design the fireplace you want.

Thank you all. Looks like the consensus is to tear off and start over. Now to decide on a style. The home is a basic 1970s ranch. Nothing real exciting.

I would tear off the brick on the sides, and then see how you like the stone. Like others here, I think, that was an add on to widen the fireplace, and they did a very poor job. Once those sides are off, the stone may look just fine, then you just need to deal with the wider hearth, they managed to mess up. It may have originally had a wood surround, around that stone too. You could always build a new one of those, if that is the case.