I agree. You just need to decorate. Bring in your furniture, style your bookshelf and add a console table and art on the other side. Use plenty of lamps. You won't care anymore after that!

You don't have to place the TV over the fireplace, especially if you want a screen that is a bit larger.

I would paint the walls to get rid of the yellow. Replace the fan.

I love this visual! What app do you use to add in these items?

What are your design thoughts on stoning in the fireplace to the ceiling or somehow drawing the eye up and adding a mantle? more

Something kind of like this concept…

Totally a me thing but I am over all the stone veneer being added everywhere, I would spend budget on rug, furniture, lovely art, lamps etc

Adding stone veneer to the existing fireplace rather depends on the architecture of your home. It might be a good addition, but it might not be. We have only seen one image of a single room & the details appear rather Colonial in nature.

Any changes to your photos I accomplish using Microsoft Paint. It's on any Windows computer.

Rugs are added to a room using a visualizer on the Rugs-Direct.com website. You can try out your own selections on the site.

Sheetrock over it. You don't really need the shelves and cupboard.