Tuesday, you are so awesome to help me! So, based on the idea that it's the color of my brick that is the problem, I looked up images online of dark mortar, and when I was out driving, looked for homes. I could find pretty much NO pics/IRL homes with dark mortar. Would you say that, esp. since yours is outdoor, it WILL fade, whereas mine being indoors (in a dark room), will just stay as-is? Anyway, I have yet to see a pic of dark mortar that I like. The room is narrow, so I think the enormity of the FP combined with the unattractive B/M is a problem. I am not sure what my options are, though, given that I want to maintain it as a working FP and that my budget is teeny! (Many DIY projects are done w/non-working FPs). I am thinking drywall or stucco would be the best options. Dunno.

hosenemesis! Thanks so much! $21.00 is so much cheaper than hiring the labor to do two fireplaces plus materials! We do NOT DIY (except I think I can manage grout)! The entire house and many view decks will be stunning when finished. It's got good bones! But the remodel is already costing well over what we figured, and if we can make these fireplace surrounds look good with a little grout, then that will be first on the list. Thanks for the suggestion of no additives, and the grout float thingie. There are shades of beige and white in the travertine, so we'll look for a good color of grout and get that party started! Suzi

It would help if you moved all the stuff away and we could look at the whole fireplace wall. From the photos, the fireplace and wall seem out of balance but it is hard to tell. I think your stacked wood could look really interesting in the right context, again, it's hard to tell from the photo. It appears that the color tones of the wall, the fireplace and the floors seem a little off. I am afraid that whitewashing the tile might emphasize the tone differences between the floor and the paint. The other thing you might consider is adding wall trim to around the fireplace to make it more finished and add some height and balance. This a little more ornate than I was considering but it will give you an idea.

In warmer climates as SoCal and Texas, travertine works well outside..covered or uncovered. I have travertine on my patio that is open to all the weather elements. Here in Texas we have winter 2 months out of the year and it might dip into the teens or 20s. No issues with my travertine that has been installed for several years. The travertine that is installed in the photo is a versailles pattern (also called a french pattern). Looks like Durango travertine but could also be called Crema Imperial, Ivory or Classic. Several names for just 1 color. Being that you're in SoCal, most likely the cost of travertine is highly expensive. You can find glazed porcelain tiles that mimic the look but may not have all the sizes. Pricing may also be better. Visit actual tile showrooms to look around and get advise. Avoid big box stores as Home Depot or Lowes.