How about putting a fireplace screen covering your fireplace to make your art more beautiful. We got fireplace screens at home and I can say it added some nice spot/angle inside your home. Just a suggestion.

I did also post at the Home Decorating forum but as it turns out it was only at the Gallery area where someone had linked to a bunch of mantle pictures. I'm not too sure if anyone will actually see the question. I'll wait and see what happens here at the Remodeling forum and if I don't get any ideas, I'll make a post at the top level Home Decorating instead of the Gallery. Jodi-

Jlc--thanks! I'm slowly warming to the idea of maybe tile just around the firebox. And I agree that a darker tile/stone would be best. Slate would look nice and not compete with the Carrara counters. I'd have to see some sort of photoshop or mockup to be able to tell. Mtn--I'm not sure I'd like the balance of dark charcoal top with white bottom. I think it emphasizes my low ceilings. Robo--different on both sides is a viable option I hadn't considered. I also appreciate you sneaking a photo of that fireplace while at dinner! You're very kind. That looks elegant, and helps me consider the options. Hi Colorfast! Nice to see you too. I agree with you about the feeling of the fireplace. I had not planned hearths when we reno'd. The fireplace area you see used to be a gigantic brick mass of two offset fireplaces as part of the wall that separated the two sides of the house, complete with massive ugly hearth on one side. I was rebelling against that set up when I re-designed the house and moved rooms around. I wanted a sleeker look. At this point, there's not enough floor space on the living room side for hearth. On the family room side where you see little DD's art table, there's enough space. I'm hoping that when we are finally able to buy new furniture for the family and living rooms that we can add some sort of little seating by the FR fireplace. Athomeinva--thanks. The fabric is not my style at all. It's hard to see, but there's a metallic thread running through the fabric. And it's showing its 25+ years of wear. Although the settee itself is much too ornate for my taste, I'm never going to part with it, and I don't currently have space to put it anywhere else in my house. It's a very special piece to me. I hadn't thought about having to possibly paint the side shelves. Not sure. The sprayed on finish is so lovely right now. Hmmmm....

Here is a photo of the fireplace. Not sure why it wouldn't let me post it with the original post.