Well it is just my opinion but I do not think the photos work on the fireplace. I would have an artwork above the fireplace. I do not think you can appreciate the photos when they are on mass like that. I would be placing one or two small photos like that on my desk, on a bedside table, on a side table etc., If you have a book case, you could mix some of the photos in with the books and objects.

I'll start with compliments. I love your rug, sofa, ottoman & architecture. That's the good news. The bad news is...all of those pictures have to go...WAY out of scale. I would do a dramatic height of branches with lighting highlighting it. It needs to have presence & impact. It also appears that there is too much space between the fireplace & seating area, which makes me wonder if the beautiful rug is large enough. You also may want to consider an accent chair next to the sofa, between the fireplace & sofa. I'd like more angles of the room. I'm also seeing the opportunity for perhaps more interesting paint in the niches...

https://www.houzz.com/photos/21st-century-bungalow-contemporary-living-room-new-york-phvw-vp~413007

Here are a few different angles. I would love an accent chair but it would cut off the room because of the front door. And yes the rug could be bigger but my boys love to play on the hardwood floor so I scaled back. Thank you for all the comments.

Love the rig. If you do as well, I'd take inspiration from that. The instant the photos are removed, the space will see larger. As hard as it may be, I would wait until you add some interest to the room with paint etc before I put one thing on that mantle. :)

Your room looks inviting. I also think that the photos make it look too cluttered and think it detracts from the gorgeous curve of the fireplace. can't see in the picture but do yo have or need a firescreen?

Yes I have a screen. Again thank you to everyone for the comments

Have you seen the huge wrought iron clocks? That's what I would put there. Hobby Lobby or Garden Ridge would be your best bet. Then maybe 2 candle stick lamps and something in the middle maybe some leather books to go with your let her ottoman.

I love the brick fire place! I do like the photos, but think they would best suit a wall, the current placing is a bit cluttered. I agree with the vase comment maybe a tall slender vase would be a good filler...

I'm looking again... Or you could get 3 huge Madallions start from the top and work yer way down to the top of the fireplace mantle then put yer two lamps one on each side and then what ever in the middle but I don't think u want a picture over the fireplace only because it would distract you because of the pics in the hallway. It just throws your eye off if there is a pic above the fireplace you would gave to take the pics in the hall down then because they are to close to the fireplace not because if fire but just to picture picture.....Eeee. Lol

Clearly, family is very important to you. The space is very safe and play friendly without looking like it's only a play room. The advantage of an accent chair is that the room right now is so oriented on the TV that it seems to ask you to turn the set on if you sit down on the sofas (or is that a sectional?). If you scoot the TV cabinet a little to the right, you would have room for a small accent chair to be on the left between the T and fireplace. As needed, that chair could be pulled out to create a circle of conversation, and stay back when not needed, for a better view of the fireplace.

Getting back to your original question, heat and photographs are not a great combination, so the photographs are at some risk on a fireplace, unless you never use it. I have to agree with some of the other comments - all those frames also distract from the handsome architecture of the fireplace.

Perhaps you could put some of these photos into a digital frame, for a slide show of favorite pictures, or put photos into a collage frame. When my children were young, I used to use one collage frame for photos of relatives who were persons I wanted my children to recognize when we visited them on holidays, but who did not live very near us. Other places for photos might be a hallway, or a powder room rogues gallery, if you have a lot of ancestor photos. You may find that some of the photos are ready to go into a scrapbook, while others are special moments which you would like to continue to savor. I'm sure you will find other places to put the most important ones.

Then you can add a few larger items - a pot or large potted plant on the hearth, a set of wrought iron fireplace tools, and on the mantel, perhaps some wrought iron candlesticks on one side, and one family photo on the other. Take your time looking for something sculptural for the center above the mantel shelf - anything from a metal sculpture to architectural salvage. You want something which will be able to be seen against the brick, so you need a lighter or darker color than the brick.