Here's a link you might like. And some pics are incredibuly FUN http://www.houzz.com/photos/products/metal-artwork

I really wish the mantle was lower. I agree with pp that metal artwork (preferably coloured) would bring this together.

I agree that the mantel looks high. If it is possible I would consider lowering it while keeping it at the recommended distance from the stove for fire safety. If you add a metal wall sculpture betwen the stove and mantle I would keep it in the same color metal as the stove. I am not a fan of narrow oak trim. Trimming the brick makes the brick look fake and pasted on the wall. Do you need the trim?
I would consider painting the wall a deep gray similar to the color of the stove and some of the bricks. This would minimize the contrast you now have between the brick and the white wall.

I took some artwork from Curt's link for you. I didn't look at the sizes to see what would fit in that spot. You can use these for inspiration. Look on etsy for handmade, one of a kind pieces, too. :)

I can't change the metal height as the bricks are built out that way coming out from the wall as supports - they definitely don't look fake in person though with the floor and everything bricked in; unfortunately the wood trim is on its side (so you see the narrow part in the pic) and this set up allows air to pass behind it - if it was removed the bricks wouldn't be there to the depth of the wall and it would look odd - all awesome ideas but things I can't change. I never thought about the metal artwork - my thought was more towards a more modern refacing or something. I feel very limited with what is there. All ideas welcome and I'll look at something metal - etsy is a great place!

I think it is fine the way it is.... don't have delusions of a grand house theme here. It looks like a functional design for a casual house. Teach you infant or toddler the word "NO" and "HOT" and you should be fine. Good luck.

I think it looks nice as is. We had a woodstove for years and I think yours is a nice setup and a good looking stove!

I think the idea is that we are trying to make it look a little more updated - not grand but the rest of our style is a little more modern and up-to-date and I was looking to make this have the same feel.

Trying not to be defensive on this point - while he does know and understand know and hot - which we have drilled into his head - he could trip and fall on the brick - which is hard - and/or hit the fire place which could give severe burns. That is a cautionary thing that won't be there forever but isn't worth the risk to us and we'll have up until we are comfortable with him around it. We have no other baby gates or anything up with the idea that he knows what to do but the consequences with fire seems a little more severe.

Thanks Ann! Just trying to make is more modern...

It'd be tough to make that woodstove look modern (or most woodstoves for that matter), but I do think the job was done in a very professional way and looks quite nice. You could put larger, more modern items on the mantle and replace the green bucket with a more modern style in black.

Have you thought about painting the brick and mantel all one color? Like white? It would add a little modernity and make the woodstove really pop.

I have had that stove, it's a 70-80ish Vermont castings. I miss it every winter...I now have a Jotel that we tolerate. The Vermont Casting stove you have is an extremely functional piece and you should cherish it. I switched out to the smaller stove because I was afraid of it with little jocks running around the house, and living in Louisiana we really didn't need the intense heat it can put out. If you live up north, you are probably very happy with it right now! Given that, that brick wall is there for a reason...to keep your walls from torching. keep the mantle high, and if you need another element there, consider insetting some tiles for some of the center bricks. You know an inset "mantle" of tile would look really cool! If you want to sell it, let me know!

I'm not a big brick lover but I think your is very nice. I would NOT paint it.

Here's a link to some "Stove Decor" Ideas - Good luck! http://www.pinterest.com/rettingers/stove-decor/

That's a neat idea - I'll have to look for some pictures of that and some pictures of some painted. This is going to sound counter-intuitive but it always seems a shame to me to paint brick. I saw somewhere where someone had their brick treated to lighten it to a more modern color, which intrigued me a little bit. The safety aspect is such an important thing when it comes to having actual real fire in your house - you are right on that! I do love the wood stove and wouldn't change that at all. Thank you all!

This is the treatment type feel I was talking about

Of course - the other part of my house that makes it feel a little less modern is all the woodwork - which is beautiful but I'm a white trim and doors kind of girl. Other than that we are updating things like our sliding doors to French doors to open up to our sun room; we changed out our fruit tile and laminate counters to a more modern backsplash, darker stained cabinets and granite counters; we're changing out the cream colored bathroom (this year) on the first floor to more modern colors with a semi-vessel sink; all the fixtures are almost changed over from brass to aged bronze, etc.

Hey Imlost119,

Although unsure of your budget, we recently completed our "Radner" line which features a custom fireplace mantel. Feel free to visit our site www.NuBirch.com for more inspiration and to ask us any questions you may have!

Team NuBirch

Our budget is not that - we are more of the do-it-your-self but do-it-right kind of people and budget.

If you're wanting the mantel lower you might want to consider an iron mantel, that is noncombustible. You can place it anywhere above the stove without safety concerns. Iron mantels can also give a modern look to your stove. Here are some ideas from our Houzz page, the second photo on this link is an iron and wood mantel: http://www.houzz.com/projects/383430/Fireplaces. You can also visit our website to see more iron mantels: http://www.ironhaus.com/mantels-sourrounds/ Good luck with your search!

The ivory looks nice in the picture we attached below! It may give your fireplace a contrast and pop of color!

Glad you don't want to paint the brick. It's such a trend right now and I wonder how many people that paint their nice brick white will regret it terribly in a few years:) You can always decide to paint it, but you can't go back.

I'm so hesitant to paint the wood work but you are right - that could totally brighten things up - what an interesting idea! I am one of those that worries about regretting things in a few years when things fall out of trend. I don't want to be stuck in the 90s but I don't want to be so trendy that in a few years I'm doing it again.

Yes, I might paint the wood trim too but I'd NEVER paint the brick:)

What color? I have off white walls but I'm not afraid to paint the living room - to one side our entry is that same off white that continues up the stairs - the sunroom off the end is a pale green and to the kitchen is a very pale blue; we are painting the bathroom in that hall gray (pale)

Well, like you, I like white trim - with any color wall.

This looks almost identical to a project I did a couple of years ago. We used a copper backing and set the hearth flush into The floor. You can see pics on my Houzz profile.

I never attached the final product - oops! When my son turned four we took the gate off, white washed the brick (just to soften the color) and stained the mantle. We also got a new wood stove, added metal wall art as some suggested and put new things on the mantle. We learned when installing the wood stove the height was set as a specific distance from the opening to the chimney so that stayed as-is.