This is the part of the room I like

Hang a piece or art that you like over the fireplace. That alone will take the emphasis away from the features that trouble you. Then accessorize the black hearth; maybe with fireplace tools, cushions, giant candlesticks, etc. After you live with this for a while you might decide that the fireplace isn't such a disappointment.

I actually like the mosaic, and the black. Overall it doesn’t look bad at all. If I were to nitpick, I’d say the rustic wood seems out of character with your home and decor. I’d consider replacing that with something more refined. Even another wood that’s smooth.

I like that look, but I haven't been able to find stone like that for a hearth anywhere. The only lighter colors we could find were very busy.

I think it looks nice. In fact, it's pretty great at tying to the elements in your room and the fireplace looks great on its own. The tile seems like a good match for the rug. The black matches the sofa. I don't see a "disjointed mess" that "doesn't go with anything else in the room." As for modern tile with your more traditional rug, that's just transitional style and many people prefer it to all modern or all traditional.

If you think the black is too stark next to the rug, put something on it. Maybe a few stacked birch logs, maybe a pair of urns with grasses or feathers.

But, frankly, my overall impression is that if you'd titled this post as "look at my great fireplace" you'd be getting a chorus of oohs and aahs.

My comment is although you may hate the tile surround but I actually love it. It's hard to see in the photo but are the mantle and legs wood? If so, perhaps painting those or lightening them in some way would provide less contrast with the tile and might make the whole fireplace more palatable for you. Good luck!

Here's an up close look at the mantel. It's a much softer gray-brown than it looks in the first picture.

I think the advice you’ve received from others are all good options but I’d keep it as it is. It’s beautiful and unique. With the outlet above the mantle I’m assuming you are planning on mounting a tv above it. If so, why not make it a Framed Tv so when you’re not watching tv you can choose a beautiful picture to be displayed.

Hexagonal tiles date back to the Romans. Can you reframe your thinking about it as historic, not modern? I like it.

Consider breaking up the hearth as you look for an alternative stone.

This made me smile: This fireplace came together one bad decision at a time. Looks like a new house. If so, decision fatigue has set in and you need to take a tip from the Cat. Keep calm and give hearth decisions to Future @kendravicknair when your head is more clear. The hearth you desire has yet to appear but it will. Beautiful home.

The outlet is just to keep our options open in the future. I definitely want art over the mantel. The TV is on the wall to the left of the fp, opposite the kitchen.

If it were me, I’d want to break up the black hearth a bit - perhaps with a vintage log holder and some birch logs — then I’d put it on a list to consider in a year (it may not bother you then and if it does you’ll likely have a better idea of what to do bc the rest of the space will be further along) its a lovely room ✨

I also think it’s fine as is and once you add art, plants, details to the entire space it will all come together. You’ve clearly just started decorating so give it a bit of a chance

I wonder if painting the base of the hearth black or black-brown would tie everything together. The white base, to me, makes it seem disconnected from the other elements. You can even mock it up with dark paper, or perhaps someone can do a computer mockup.

I know you didn't ask but...

If this were my room, I would reposition the TV somewhere more to the left. There is space behind the sofe, I think there is room to move the entire seating arrangement and rug further from the fireplace. Open up the room make it easier to watch tv.

Arrange the sofa and loveseat to make an L seating facing the fp and tv. Then possibly swivel chair as a side chair to face any direction. Get a couple of lightweight poufs to move as needed for footrests...we did and it works great.

While I really like the rendering with the lighter hearth, I wouldn't rip out the black granite that you already have installed until you have completed the fireplace with art/items on mantel and hearth. Also, the material on the mantel in the rendering is a faux marble quartz - depending upon what type of fireplace you have, quartz may be the wrong material to use. I know that Design Interior South wasn't suggesting that you select that exact material - however, it may not be as easy to find a piece of marble or quartzite that works.

I like @la_la Girl's idea of adding a vintage log holder with birch logs. The birch logs will lighten/break-up the solid black of the hearth. By adding items on the hearth that pull colors from the tile and wood mantel, the solid black will be softened.

I also agree with la_la's comment about waiting to re-visit it after you've lived with it for awhile. I think you'll be surprised when it no longer seems like a series of "bad decisions."

FYI - I do not think that your surround tiles are too modern - the shape isn't - and while it's a glass mosaic tile, it's a matte glass. Not all glass tiles/mosaics are modern. Also, I think that your home is transitional - not traditional.

Yes, we had to rule out quartz for the hearth because it's a wood burning fireplace. That eliminated most of the white/light options that were in our budget.

I like blubird’s suggestion to paint the lower trim dark so it looks more grounded. Emily’s white/light accessories and additional touches of brown make it look well balanced

I hear what everyone is saying about just letting it be for now and decorating it to see if I like it better. I appreciate the kind words and will probably go that route at this point. But let me try asking a different question... originally, what I wanted was for the whole fireplace and hearth to be floor to ceiling wrap-around brick. We decided that wasn't in the budget and that's how we got to where we are now. Ironically, we probably spent more on the hearth, mantel and tile than we would have spent on brick. But what if we tried to turn the whole thing into a focal point by doing some kind of finish to the whole chase? Something as simple as painting it a different color (maybe in the black family like the hearth, though that scares me) or covering it in shiplap or board and batten, or wrapping the whole thing in tin ceiling tiles painted with some kind of coordinating finish? Here are a couple more pictures of the side and back.

Thank you for paying the pet tax! I think that adding one more material is just going to make it seem even busier and more disparate. I really like Emily's idea of bringing the wood tones down and adding white birch logs to brighten it up inside will help. Painting the trim underneath won't work because it's connected to the trim all around the base.

On another note, I like your bar stools. May I ask where they're from?

The bar stools were from Wayfair. https://www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/george-oliver-2675-leather-counter-bar-stool-with-large-seat-and-back-w111885550.html?piid=299926709 26.75" Leather Counter & Bar Stool with Large Seat and Back

Not sure I know exactly what you’re hoping for. Am I on the right track?

totally get what you are saying - I think you'd have to figure out the treatment above the fireplace - where it stops and starts bc it looks like the FP is flush with the side walls? AI changed that I think

Sorry, my question wasn't clear. I was asking if there's something we could do to make the whole fireplace more of a cohesive focal point for both rooms, something less easier expensive than the brick that I originally wanted.

And yes, those header walls are flush

It’s personal but I wouldn't add a wall treatment - what about a fun vertical piece of art you like for the wall facing the dining area?

Thank you for the bar stool link. It's so hard to find something with a decently higher back.

They are comfortable, and they look nice, but they are a little rickety and need to be retightened fairly often. And they're faux leather. Just fyi.

You have a largely empty space and seem to think the fireplace is a problem. Often, design works by diverting the eye from problem areas, or integrating them, with beautiful pieces in other areas. (BTW: there should be a healthy armful of chunky logs or birch logs to add to the focal point.)

Commentors have offered some wonderful examples, which you seem to be resisting. The right art, a filled firebox, and great furnishings will make the fireplace much less of a visual problem for you. Be careful not to "remuddle" by trying to fix the fireplace when there are other ways to make it work in the room.

Notice below how a great painting, bedspread, beautiful drapes all harmonize to make a rather dreary fireplace echo pieces in the entire room. This is a master class in integrating a fireplace into a room.

Mid Century Master Bedroom · More Info

You might consider adding some moulding if you really wanted to make it a feature all the way around, and wanted something affordable. Something simple to not compete with the rest of what you have going on.

What about a gray wood stain?

I added a fireplace screen. And I'm trying to decide on a piece of art. Here are some I'm considering. Thoughts?

I like the first one the most, but there's not a lot of other green in the space so far.

I don’t think painting the tile will solve the problem, because the light tile itself works well as a contrast to the black hearth. The fireplace feels disconnected mainly because the natural brown wood, black granite, and white base currently look like separate elements.

I would keep the wood, but darken the entire wooden mantel and surround with a deep espresso or dark walnut stain. This would preserve the visible wood grain while bringing its color much closer to the black hearth, firebox, and fireplace screen. I would also paint the white base beneath the granite in a soft black or deep charcoal. The light tile could remain unchanged and would provide a clean contrast between the darker elements.

After that, I would rely on decor rather than adding another permanent wall treatment: one well-sized piece of art above the mantel and one simple object on the hearth would be enough. This video shows how changes in color, lighting, materials, and a few carefully chosen decorative elements can completely change the feeling of the same living room:

https://youtu.be/R-2ZyyBc6EY

I'm open to just about anything except staining the wood. It is antique barn wood and it is beautiful. The tone is perfect with our floors and other wood elements in our house that we love.

I like what Emily posted. A darker color relating to your sofa may make the hearth feel less jarring.