"The white made the ivory look dirty and the ivory made the white look bled out."

-- Raymond Chandler

These are very specific fireplaces so before doing anything find someone who understands how these work. All the stucco in the world will not make it look like the inspirations sometimes best left alone

I would leave the fireplace alone and work on the rest of the room.

Paint the walls and ceiling and create a decor style.

Start by replacing the ceiling fan.

Right off the bat, the ceiling fan and that chair are the worst things in that room. and whatever those climbing monkey people things are.

can't see the rest of the room or furnishings, but merely stuccoing over that stone isn't going to do a darn thing.

i like the schmear idea. this would look best. (plenty of DIYS on how to do it for a few hundred)

The real issue is making a cohesive room look good w/any type of stone fireplace.

another look at the schmear technique

Beehive fireplace design:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https%3A%2F%2Fjenniferjsullins.com%2F2020%2F07%2F22%2Fdesign-beehive-fireplace%2F&ved=0CBkQjhxqFwoTCJiztqmUw5EDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAi&opi=89978449

Replace the ceiling fan w/an actual fixture

diff style chair and table work better

maybe you'd like to remove the sides of the fireplace and just stucco the center portion

Tell us more. Did you buy the house with this fireplace or did you do it? It looks like a comb over.

The fire box, for wood ? If you stand outside your house and look up, is there a chimney?

Then, take it all down and start over.

Please show all four sides of the entire space. Frequently, an expensive-to-fix problem is best solved by directing the eye elsewhere. Use your $10,000 to get a large fantastic textured rug, interesting art, and light furnishings with wood accents, cream/ivory walls--the palette of your inspiration photos.

Note: natural basket on heart; cream patterned rug; wood coffee table that echoes the stone; cream armchairs; warm darker cream wall paint and drapes.

West Elm rugs in creams:

Art from society6.com

Do you use it? Why not rip it out? The shape of it is rustic and primitive. So even if you could get a smooth as a baby's behind kind of finish on it, I don't think it would complement the shape.

If you don't want to rip it out, I'd find ways to decorate around it so it looks better with its surroundings.

None of us can see how that wall looks on the other side. The OP really need to provide much more visual information of the entire space and a view of the space where the windows are. (Those dark walls make the fireplace stand out even more.)

I love "climbing monkey people."

If you really want your fireplace in the configuration (or close to it) of the photos you posted IMO it will take demolishing your existing fireplace and starting over. You should be able to cover up the stone with stucco but the shape won't be changed significantly.

Can you remove just the stone "walls" and just keep the rounded forms?

It took me a while to figure out the stone is a room divider from the foyer on the one side. Could you eliminate that half wall as well?

Does the fireplace suit the style and design of your house?

The fireplace is not attractive imo. Consider completely replacing it.

I can't get past the "FACE". Literally!

If that doesn't summon this, I'm in need of a brain /eye transplant, or I've already h ad way too much coffee.......

Apologies, I'd have to bomb it......please nobody yell

Maybe take the climbers down?

UH oh.......basket miss on the hearth...the tongue effect....okay I will go now.

hahahaah I didn't see the face--now will never unsee it and I did not focus in on what the 'climbers' were!!! I know there are people here who have the fireplace the OP seeks so was wondering if they would weigh in...is there a way to remove the brick wings and just have the Kiva for a smaller sleeker presence in the room?

Wow! Thank you for the opinions! My house was built in 73 and came with the fire place.
WWhen I bought

It was here when I bought the house. I always wanted to change it. I like the stucco my house but agree it may be too much stucco. I like the southwest vibe of stucco. Here is the whole thing. The climbers was kind of a joke..didn’t know what else to put up there. Yes I know my furniture needs updating I was waiting to figure out the fireplace situation first. Ideas welcome!

Oh you can’t post video it goes all the way around the wall

Yeah........ no videos , but limitless pictures!!!

Like Jan, I can't get past seeing the face. I think removing the rock climbers will do a lot to improving the room immediately. Maybe then post a fresh pic?

Show all the areas around it. What is the purpose of the pony wall?. Show the room behind. In fact, Show a drawing with the entire room, the entire room behind the pony wall.

Measure every wall, every opening every window, and give each a dimension. Graph paper is fine.

Upload the drawing bold and legible.....feet and inches ALL of it.

You want something that "doesn't cost 10K"

You might have to save for the far better solution, buy you won't know and we won't unless we see more. and more CONTEXT: )

if it were me, I’d remove the climbers and clean it - then use my budget for a gorgeous rug and furniture and lamps (post a measured layout will help folks advise on scale and type of funriture) I’d add a large live loose tree on the left side so it breaks up the height of the FP a bit and perhaps a large fern in a basket on the right side of the hearth - I think the FP could be pretty neat in a room that is pulled together and curated

I like la_la Girl's suggestion, especially if you aren't planning on staying in this house long-term. Invest your money in things that you love and can take with you.

Second with la_la Girl. What is your plan with the house? If not long term, put your money towards furniture, accessorizing, etc.

I think it's a cool fireplace, it's the massive size that's the problem. You might try stuccoing over everything except the central cone. Put some birch logs or candles in the fireplace. Maybe with shiny brass andirons or candlestcks.

I would try painting the walls the color of the stone so it blends in. I think a large area rug off-white in the same color family would be a big improvement, too.

We moved in with a huge 70's fake lava rock fireplace and wanted to do something but never did. Five years later we just learned to live with it and it's just not an issue anymore. Furnishings and decor is what you focus on.

Here are more pics

More pics

If it were me, I’d warm up the walls a bit and get a bit more lighting in there via lamps - is the coffee table glass? i’d likely want a wood one or maybe a chunky textured square ottoman

I love your baskets. I would first try a creamy/ivory masonry paint for just the gray mortar...lighten things up. That and fresh wall paint mentioned. Neutral furnishings.

I described your room to AI and came up with some images for you. The furnishings are the focal point even with a bold stone fireplace...

Love this thank you!!

That‘s nice @tracefloyd - it seems like when the the room has more texture and weight, the fireplace does not feel so out of place

Mount a large screen television above the firebox. That'll do 'er.

I'm with @tracefloyed to paint the entire space, including hallway and inner side of your front doors, the same color as the stone. This will help it disappear. If you have the budget for a demo, put it instead towards lighter furnishings, beautiful patterened rug (to divert the eye), and art. Don't put anything on that stone since you want it to recede into the background.