I think you should decorate to it....with the proper placement of "stuff" it looks fine....even attractive. I wouldn't think a mantle would be right.

Here is a link that might be useful: Fireplace

I also recommend working with it.

What style of decor do you like?

Of course start out with a cleaning by a chimney sweep ... just to make sure that it is in good safe working order ...

You could start by painting out the brass on the fireplace doors -- with basic black barbeque (high heat) paint.

You could add a thick wood beam across the whole length of the fireplace -- or even add a white-painted wood box beam mantle across the whole length.

Or simply add a good sized mirror or artwork above the fireplace opening and then sit a trio of different sized ceramic vases on the ledge on the right-hand side. Make sure that the trio is quite tall so that they are in porportion with the height and style of the fireplace.

I was going to look for a couple of ideas to post for you, but I found so many interesting ideas on Houzz, I kind of couldn't stop myself. I really like the first one and the last one especially intrigues me, with the idea of just one bookcase on the side with the offset mantel.

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[contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by new york architect Coburn Architecture and Interiors

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[modern living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2105) by new york architect Audrey Matlock Architects

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[modern family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/modern-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2105) by boston architect Eck : MacNeely Architects inc.

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[contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by baltimore architect Ziger/Snead Architects

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[traditional living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2107) by austin architect Hugh Jefferson Randolph Architects

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[contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by boston architect LDa Architecture & Interiors

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[traditional dining room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by new york interior designer Marie Burgos Design

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[contemporary family room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2103) by los angeles interior designer Kashmere Interiors

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[contemporary living room design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2103) by austin interior designer Laura Burton Interiors

Gosh, hate to see painted stone - ***sigh*** - but let's work with it. I'm assuming it's wood burning??? If so I would construct a rough-hewn wood beam mantle all the way across & then a "support" beam (vertical) to make a log area. Then above the mantle I'd do a simply framed round mirror over the firebox & a pair of coordinating artwork over the wood stack. I also would highlight the area by painting the other walls in a great color. (I would also paint the little door on the wall to the right in the wall color)

~Jeana

I love the asymmetry of the fireplace. I see it as a great opportunity to do something really special! Love the examples posted above.

Sure there is stuff you could do...but you just bought a house (congrats!) and you should just enjoy your new space for a bit. Embrace some of the ideas given above and in time you can change it up. It'll look great decorated cause it will be yours!

The last example would work so well for the fireplace! :) Except in reverse -- a full-length thick wood mantel -- and the additional shelves would be perfect! :)

I agree with remodelfla...enjoy your space and get used to it before you start making decisions and drastic changes. The fireplace is very nice, it just needs some 'life' and some getting used to. A mantel is a great idea but I'd wait until you see what your stuff looks like and feels like before adding one.

Thank you so, so, so much to everyone for your help and responses. I thought I replied to each individually (from my phone), but I just replied to "the host". I am appreciative of all the ideas - mainly that I need to embrace the fireplace and its beauty as-is. After all...it's mine! I can't wait to do more with this site. So glad to have found you all to get and give ideas. It's like having all of the good-advice friends I wish I had locally!

I'd clean the stone above the fireplace to make it nice and white too, and then take some time to see what things you have or find that you like to inspire a direction. I think it is good advise to live in a house a while and test your ideas about what you want to do, but even better advise when you need to form ideas about what you want to do.

Personally, I like mantels, but this is a fireplace that doesn't have to have one and might be better without one. Some of that answer may come from what else you find you want to do, so take your time to develop your ideas. Consider whether you want a mantel -- a place for candles or decorative knick-knacks or just something more to dust and things to move to clean? Consider the heft of the stone and whether a clean, minimal mantel will be out of proportion. Consider your smaller wall and average height ceiling will mean a heavier mantel would just chop up the wall and make it look dumpy. I'd mock up anything you want to test or at least draw it in on a copy of the photograph.

You do have a hearth ledge and a corner wall -- a pairing that most of the other examples don't have. I haven't tested the idea, but -- if you want a mantel and shelves and don't mind dusting, etc, you could put small open shelves in the corner and let the one shelf at mantel height run all the way across the fireplace.

I like the idea of a mirror or art hanging over the fireplace and something tall to the right. The "thing" on the right could be vases, a telescope, an easel, a sculpture , a small tree or branches, a wall hanging or tapestry, an old ladder with something hung from the rungs -- keep your mind open to something that strikes your fancy and expresses your style.

Can you tell you will not get textbook advise from me? ;-)

You could build a bookcase top to bottom on the right side, leaving enough stone to the left of the bookcase (right of the firebox) that would match the amount of stone on the left side of the firebox.

But I would leave it as it is for now. It would be a great place to put a chair, table and lamp as a cozy spot by the fireplace. The hearth is a great display spot, as you have seen from the wonderful pix others have posted. You could hang a series of art vertically on the right side, and just add a mantel above the firebox area on which to place items.

As teacats suggested, I would paint out the firebox, perhaps consider a bronze or copper or pewter depending on your decor and the paint that is available.

I would love to see the paint stripped, but that is perhaps more than you want to tackle right now.

Congrats on your new home.