Leave it dark.

After seeing @lisedv 's rendering I vote a hard no on painting it. Yes, it would be helpful to see your whole room to get context. But just from this little bit here is what I see. A more contemporary brick fireplace with a salvaged mantle from another era added to it. The wood stain makes it pretty clear that this is what we are dealing with and the contrast it nice. As all one color it seems like you are trying to make the brick and wood look like one piece that belongs together. And it fails. Plus, much of the great detail will be lost as well.

Nice mantle. Don't mess with success.

Black

Thank you all so much! I plan to cover the brick with wood panels and paint that the same as the wall color and I am thinking of painting the mantle that color as well. Do you still feel that I should leave it dark?

Yes, leave it dark. Lisedv shows white but even if the agreeable gray it will become bland rather that interesting.

Yes! Leave it dark!

Would usually advise leaving the mantel as is but painting it a light color might actually bring out more of the detail.

HGTV example

Your post should read after I completely change the context of the picture I posted, should I paint the mantle or not. Covering the brick with wood panels still leaves a vintage mantle on a hearth that it would never have been placed on. So you still have a mash up look. No problem with that. But, mash up is mash up. This is never going to be a seamless look even if you unify it with color. Keep it wood and eclectic, which is what it really is.

"Thank you all so much! I plan to cover the brick with wood panels and paint that the same as the wall color"

As Kendrah pointed out above that is very important context. I would do none of it and leave all as is.

Please don't paint it. If it is not a functional fireplace, then I agree. If you don't want it in its original beautiful state, then remove it, sell it to someone who will appreciate it, remove the hearth and then put your own modern ideas to work on that wall.

Have you considered placing it in another part of this room or in another room altogether so it is not sitting on this hearth? It is clearly a lovely, decorative piece that has nothing to do with this fireplace. Why keep them together?

Thank you for your input. I’m not crazy about the hearth either but I don’t have the funds to remove it and all the other work that goes with it.. Looks like everyone feels it should not be painted so I will keave it as it is. 😊

With the new information just given about installing wood panels (and no other pictures of the room for context) I would leave the mantel as is.

My general impression is that if you accessorized your home correctly the mantle would work as currently finished.

Your Easter decorations are more suited for table top decor, not for accessorizing a house. There's a big difference. Don't confuse them.

Your vintage mantel is intricately detailed.
Paint applied over it may obscure some of the exquisite designs. That would be a shame.
Do you know the type of wood and whether it had been varnished over?
We rescued a lovely sideboard that had been varnished ...we removed the dark varnish and found absolutely beautifully preserved solid black walnut .Keeping it in the family for over 50 years now.

My mantel is almost identical to yours (came out of the old house my father was born in). I would not paint mine! I love your Easter decor.

To BeverlyFLAdeziner: Thank you for the photos of possible designs I love them. I am not sure its possible to put sconces on the brick. can you and I communicate privately about decor? And to everyone else thank you so much for your input. i will not paint the mantle thanks to your advise 😊

FYI I took this last ohoto as i was changing out possible decor and this is not how it will look when cimplete.

The right artwork will do wonders for your lovely mantle. As for sconces, look for battery powered ones that can go up without piercing the brick.

^Agree with artwork.👍🏻 Keep decor simple.

Interesting article I received today about wood making a comeback in home design.

https://town-n-country-living.com/wood-furniture-makes-a-resounding-comeback-in-home-design.html

These sconces have a 'keyhole' on the back for hanging the sconces. They weigh less than 2 lbs.

You don't want to damage the brick to hang the sconce. Drill a hole and insert a screw into the mortar line instead of the face of the brick and hang the sconce off the screw.

Link for mirror

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00505BFF4?ref=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_QVT9QR3P0WAAWBAYG9J2&ref_=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_QVT9QR3P0WAAWBAYG9J2&social_share=cm_sw_r_ud_dp_QVT9QR3P0WAAWBAYG9J2&language=en-US&previewDoh=1

FWIW, I have the same mantel painted in SW Navajo White, 20 yrs ago! You could paint it the same white as your brick but do a different sheen, it will look different but still same color! I learned this trick from Rivers Spencer in NOLA. Could also strip it and go with lighter stain. Ill send my mantel in pic if i can figure how to upload it.. Best wishes with the project!

I just want to update the final design of our fireplace mantle with a photo - it shows we did not paint it and put a slab of granite on the hearth and covered all the brick with wood