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Well. we can't have that...as a quick fix, what if you painted everything one color but in a matte finish? Would that help? It could be a darker gray than the walls (down 2 or 3 chips on the strip).

Another color choice would be a brown that works with the stone and the camel leather ottoman.

Otherwise, find a photo of what you would love, have a finish carpenter come in and replicate it.

Since you don’t like the ornate mantle and stone, and need space for a larger tv, maybe it’s a good time to reconsider the entire wall. and the speaker can become part of the look overall. Instead of the worrying about how to accessorize the mantle, just enhance the sides.

There are ways to complement a traditional home, but in a fresher way.

I would suggest removing that heavy and poorly proportioned fireplace surround and mantel and replacing it with a simpler one. You can search simple traditional fireplace surround… many choices pop up, Wayfair etc. A carpenter could also build you one to your taste and height choices.
Then I’d suggest covering the stone with slab pieces of another material you do like. Could be slate, soapstone, marble, etc.
I think you would be much happier and it will look great.

I’m admittedly NOT “tech savy”. My question is: why the speaker box? Maybe we’re missing out, but none of our TV’s have speaker boxes. BTW, what size is your current TV? I agree that your mantle is a little too ornate ( for my taste ).

I don't see any way to increase the size of the TV screen. However, a linear speaker is a better way to go IMO.

There are lots of fireplace surrounds available to purchase. Then you have to decide if you want to select a light or dark stone for around the hearth opening.

with a TV mounted above the mantel you don't need any decor on the mantel... you have plenty of shelves to style.

I like the mantel; it’s not the run of the mill “Mantels-R-Us” type thing.

@oncape has good ideas for paint and the colors.

I tried a blue; maybe not perfect choice with the stone, but I like it. I didn’t intend to paint all the walls.

I think a deep shade of green like BM Vintage Vogue could be fabulous, too.

I say it would look a bit better of you put your choice of tiles on it maybe a modern one based on the photos

The first and best thing?

Please take pictures of the whole room, from all angles. Let's see the rest, please?

As to the mantel, brick , and all? You're asking a fix: It's called "tear off , redo"

The entire wall, bookshelves all, could use a bit of edit. It's fine to have decor, but no, not with the tv above a fire please, and you need some editing of the adjacent collections. More jpegs..ALL the angles and stand with your back to the fire as well..

IMO the whole surrounfd is a mess remove it then see what kind of mantle . We do need to see the whole room too.

Depending on your investement amount here is one idea that could work. It would mean removing your fireplace surround. Replacing your stone with a marble tile and a solid marble hearth piece. Having a lower but simpler fireplace surround built and having the speaker set within that wall and moulding so it sits flush with the moulding front. Depending on how far back your fireplace box sits this may require your mantel surround and moulding to be built out a few inches.. Similar to these sound bars being built in to the surround

Other recommendations would be to add cabinet doors to the open shelves on the left for balance, Wallpapering (or painting) the back of the book shelves. Navy is a lovely accent to grays and mustards Which would look something like this

You have to check to see what your clearances are for code for your fireplace. Usually gas and wood require 12" of non-combustible material over the fire box. I think a marble or marble look would fit with your traditional style. Then you could look for a less ornate surround with a lower mantel to accommodate a larger t.v., possibly a Frame t.v. to let you add art while you're not watching the t.v. A simpler surround could probably get you 5 or 6 inches of extra height. Something like this still reads traditional but is much less ornate.

The mantle is beautiful but overpowering in that room. Go with a simple design and one that will allow you to lower the tv.
It would be nice if the bookcases were symmetrical so consider adding doors to the left side to match the right if possible. You could even enclose the top portion with glass doors for a nice clean look.
Add some accessories to pull the colors of your ottoman and print together.

I don’t know how old your tv is, but for our first flat screen tv we had to use a sound bar because the speaker in the tv wasn’t great. Our new model though has a much better speaker and we no longer have to use the sound bar.

There is nothing wrong with the existing mantel. If you don’t like the stone, you could look into replacing that part. Personally, I think the stone is fine.

The mantel ‘is‘ ”beautiful”- and it is not ”overpowering in that room“... imo, all the stuff around it is “overpowering in that room.”

If you need the built-in shelves for storage, versus display- then consider getting doors made for them, and make it closed storage.

It does not matter what surround you bring in... if you are not going to down-size the items on the shelves, you will be wasting your time and money.

.

Also, consider talking to professionals regarding the tv and sound bar situation.

ETA: You can also look into this:

https://www.mantelmount.com/?

Love/loathe is personal to the op.If not what you want? Change it.

The adjacent clutter IS a big issue, The left, with no lower doors, shallow due to passage clearance? Bye bye if at all possible

Better, below as gifted fro, above: ) along with E.d.i.t.

The OP said quite clearly,

"I live in a traditional style home and I’ve never loved our fireplace. The mantle is too ornate and I don’t love the stones."

So whether anyone thinks it's beautiful is irrelevant.

There are so many ideas here for renovating it, but most all of them require a large undertaking and a bit of $$$. The wood can be removed and the stone and hearth covered with a different material. I did just that in my living room many years ago. The painted white brick and plain log mantel was not what I wanted. First I had a drawing done of how I wanted it to look. Then I had a finish carpenter remove the mantel and cover the entire wall with raised paneling and black marble. Because we didn't demolish the existing brick the entire wall protrudes a few inches, but you'd never know that it wasn't original. It wasn't cheap but it still looks good 25+ years later.

So think about what you want it to look like, and plan it very carefully. Then draw it out (or have someone do it for you), and present the drawings and your choice of materials to a carpenter for pricing.

I would add, this isn't a slap lipstick on the piggy that offends. When you hate a thing, have "never" liked it? That means to me, a careful , one time approach, ( even if a delay for resources) and, get exactly what you want..

Interesting below! Realizing TV/fire competition and the resulting fire obsession SURROUNDING same: )...........

https://www.tileheaven.uk/info/hearth-proportions.htm

So these are some thoughts that may clarify my intentions- and also hopefully be of help to you.

First:

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.” ~ Confucius

There are times, when a simple shift in perspective- can possibly save one from a lot of trouble (not to mention expense). But ultimately (and obviously), this is your home, and your choice.

Next:

As far as the items you display and reducing clutter: Do not seek to just “Decorate”. The things that you display in your home should have significance to you. (And this includes your art, btw; art is a very personal choice.)

Below, are just a few thoughts on displaying items, reducing clutter, etc. These excerpts are from an article regarding feng shui. If any of these ideas resonate with you- then take the useful ideas and leave the rest.

https://lifeathome.ikea.com/blog/feng-shui-the-modern-way/

I just wanted to thank everyone for all of the great ideas, creative mocks, and thoughtful suggestions. I am going to take more time to review, especially to ensure we are meeting code (thank you @katinparadise). At @JAN MOYER's request, I'm attaching a few more photos so you can get a feel for the open layout. Behind the living room is the kitchen and small eat-in area, so while I love @acm's swap idea, it wouldn't work for our lifestyle and for the rest of the room.

To answer some additional questions, the speaker in the center is an Episode® 500 Series LCR Speaker with Dual 4" Woofers, and it's a part of the sound system we have. There are some other options but it requires some tradeoffs so we just need to do a little more research.

@JAN MOYER @Emily - agree 100% on the lower cabinet doors. the left side is more shallow but it would look more balanced with them added (my mother has been saying the same since we moved in).

I'll note that the shelves could be thinned a bit, but I can assure you that all of the items carry meaning and value.

I'm leaning towards a simpilier mantle and swapping for marble or tile. We are very early in the process but really appreciate all of the ideas. We'll keep you posted on where we land! Thank you!

For how we live........................

I'd like you to draw and measure the room, accurately. Every wall window, passage has a dimension.

There are two other spots for a tv, a less blocked view into the room , so this is apparently a need to see the tv from the breakfast table?

All the art is hanging ,,,,,,too high: ) and I'd swap the sketch locations.

One more idea for you to consider, if you have the room, you might consider this arrangement.

You could place the tv above the console, but if you like to watch while in the kitchen I’d leave it where it is.

To my eyes, fireplace looks like it's laughing.

I wonder if changing the curved pieces would suffice, maybe save a few pennies.

Painting the backs of bookcases certainly improved & balanced the TV black hole & stones.

I think if you would paint the entire mantel and wooden fireplace surround a deeper greige would you would love the stone. Also paint the built-in cabinet the same. It could be a very beautiful and eclectic look.

Have you thought about instead of redoing like the hardest thing what about painting the shelves a brown color that matches the stones of the fire place

@cjay54- It was suggested up thread- and I do agree that painting the entire fireplace wall, including the mantel, could indeed be a “very beautiful and eclectic look.”

This may be along the lines of what you were thinking, color-wise.

That is a nice idea, too, @Mika Beuckman .

Could alternatively, just do a color on the mantel and actual fireplace/ tv section.

However, painting the bookshelves too is a dramatic statement- with the added benefit, in this case, of acting as somewhat of a foil.

Warm and cool tones - including brown, black, and grey- are mixed in nature all the time. One example would be the beach/the shore. There are even beaches in this world that have black sand.

The only thing I would agree with from that previous comment/tirade... is that you could of course keep the existing mantel and surround, just as they are. The main issue I see is the styling of the shelves. As I stated up thread, imo, this is detracting from your space; and it will still be detracting from your space- no matter what new surround you bring in.

I think what's being ignored here is the OP's original comment that they would like a larger t.v. That can't be accomplished with painting the mantel and/or bookcases. A less ornate, shorter surround would solve the problem. The whole ornate style does not seem to fit OP's more casual style. You can't fix that with paint.

@terrib962, I never see comments on here from you that are helpful. You're insulting, rude, and counterproductive. If you can't say something nice...

I think the last thing they need is a bigger tv...

Also, tbh, @katinparadise - I mostly do not find your comments to be helpful, either.

@freedomplace1, is it on us to decide whether or not OP needs a bigger tv? If that's what they want, then maybe the comments we make should be comments that help them achieve what THEY want, not what we think is best.

I appreciate that you may not find my comments to be helpful, but I do my best to never be rude or insulting to people who come here asking for solutions to their problem. My comments are simply my opinion and they're meant to be taken or left by whomever is posting the dilemma.

You’re obnoxious. At least in my experience you absolutely are such.

Also- FYI: there is really no room there for a bigger tv... even if they were to get a lower mantel. (Unless there is a new type of vertically shaped tv that I am unaware of.)

If they want to be able to view the tv better, they need a mount such as the Mantel Mount. This will likely be the case even with a lower mantel.

If you find me obnoxious, I suggest you overlook any of the comments I make and move on. I don't come here to spar or debate with people. To each his own.

I really do my best to overlook your comments, @katinparadise. And I do for the most part. Except- it seems like every time I turn around- there you are! making remarks about my input, etc. So, if you really ”don’t come here to spar or debate with people”- I am sad to inform you that you are stepping to the wrong one.

I'm done here with you. I'm not the only one I've seen you disparage.

TV's should never be over fire places. It is not good to strain the neck and sit with your head turned up to see a TV mounted too high. TV's should be closer to eye-level sitting down on a sofa.

way too much going on on that wall- tv/fireplace/shelving on both sides. move tv to where pic is over sofa n move sofa yo opposite wall. paint the entire fireplace area snd bookshelves to give that area more depth. take dome of the ‘stuff’ off the shelves. add some greenery to a shelf or two

Oy vey !!!

FP has a laundry list of commentary he doesn’t like. Mine ? See the Library of Congress!

:):) and I just ignore .

The real point is the OP wants a bigger tv, which does have better places to exist peacefully, but can't be seen from the kitchen.........."would not work with our lifestyle"

With our lifestyle is lovely below, courtesy @ Emily

The OP never did a draw/measure, but the whole space has a side eaten with limiting french doors, limiting furniture arrangement.

I'd try a tv between those doors, but who knows without the feet and inches: )

The kitchen island would bug me as much as the mantel: )

Will suggest that if you do replace your mantle and surround that you make it a very simplified style that will still fit well with your oversized crown moulding.

I am not sure who ”FP” is... but I will assume (and certainly hope) that comment is not referring to me...

For one thing (and just for the record) I am not a ”he”... I suspect that many here could have figured that out (even that commenter...). If my flower avatar provides no clue- I think the content of many of my comments here, over the past decade+, have pretty much made it clear.

^^

Don't think anyone noticed the avatar........they read your comments,

@JAN MOYER, I refuse to engage any further. It's interesting that I was called obnoxious when the comment I was referring to was made by someone else disparaging everything about OP's furniture and choices. Apparently that's not obnoxious. While I agree that the t.v. may have a better place in the room, I think that if it's what works for OP, then we have to try to give advice based around that. But enough hijacking the thread with comments that don't have anything to do with OP's dilemma. The idea of the t.v. between the doors seems as though it might be viable. Hopefully OP will come back and let us know if that might work.

So many nice ideas here! I have had multiple iterations of mantels and going into version 4 and it’s never easy to decide!
You never specified budget but it also isn’t super expensive to do a fireplace update either in the grand scheme of things.

Get a fireplace you like.

Also don’t kill me designers but we have a mount that brings the tv down for watching. It moves up and down and does an amazing swivel side to side. Is it ugly AF in our gorgeous home. Yes, yes it is 😂

But it’s so functional for us and our local designer said it was fine bc we also need to live in our house.

P.s. don’t mind the overuse of lanterns…I had brought them in from outside to protect them in the winter. That’s not the proper staging.