I purchased a house that had a large brick-faced faceplace in the family room, along with a raised brick floor hearth. The fireplace itself was originally woodburning, but the original owner ran a gas line and now it has gas fired logs in there. We didn't like the brick face/floor hearth, so we had it all demo'ed. The below picture is what we have now. Notice in the bottom right of the picture is the clay tile-encased furnace flue coming up from the basement (previously it was hidden in the floor hearth structure). It diagonally comes up through the floor and into the fireplace wall. In order to hide it, I think we need to use a fireplace surround (like a white column) to encase it, but that looks like it will be very close to the firebox itself. Does that require me to convert to a zero-clearance gas insert? Any other thoughts/ideas are helpful here, since we're sort of stuck now. Here is a link that might be useful: Demo'ed fireplace

I know you said that you aren't changing the carpet, but might you consider it? Only because, I'm assuming that is a gas fireplace, there is no need for a large tile area in front. You can go for a narrow hearth or no hearth. If you wanted to do that, unless you have a large scrap or can match it, you're stuck with the large hearth. I like the idea of doing built-ins. As they would be asymmetrical anyway due to window placement, you may just want to build in on the right to accommodate TV and components and leave the left side as is. Not that I'm suggesting this style, but just to illustrate a tv next to fireplace built in, one side only. Something like this might work for you, but without the overmantel. Note that this tile surround is very similar to your hearth tile. If you like that look, you could get more tile, perhaps and then tie it together that way. [Eclectic Living Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-living-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_718~s_2104) by Shallotte Fireplaces COASTROAD Hearth & Patio

Hi there - I am going to say few things that will make me sound like the bad guy, but don't kill the messenger. It appears you have a standard wood-burning fireplace in a manufactured home that has had unvented gas logs added. Assuming my powers of observation are correct, there are a few things you should know. The stone wall panel is probably only held on with about four screws. If you look very carefully between the joints in the stone, you will probably find where the screws are. You can probably just unscrew the screws and take the whole thing off. You'll have a blank slate! If nothing else, you can take the panel out to the garage or yard to experiment with colors without worrying about making a smell or a mess indoors. If you wanting to paint it, I'd start with a block primer, which will help to deal with the porosity of the stone. Otherwise, it will probably be three coats of regular latex primer. A good semi-gloss latex paint is the best thing to use around a fireplace. It handles the heat better than solvent-based finishes. Don't paint the hearth, no matter how much you are tempted. If you don't like the color, replace it with another non-combustible material. Also, FYI, if you look in the installation manual for that fireplace, it was not approved for the installation of unvented gas logs (those kinda look like Temco Amercan Dream logs to me, but I could be wrong). Technically, you can keep the logs, but the damper must be clamped open, which means they won't heat the same way anymore. Running the logs without the damper open could create a hazardous situation. The heat deflector hood should not be covering the upper louvers. It will prevent air from circulating around the fireplace, which creates a potential hazard. You will not need the hood if the damper is open. Don't run the gas logs with the glass doors closed, in case anyone forgot to tell you. Hope that little bit is helpful. Happy re-decorating!

HI -- There is two much texture and busy pattern with the brick going one way and the wood going another ...it's cluttered and dark looking . If the wood can be removed then do that and replace with drywall and or tile that in the same direction as the bricks , on the horizontal. I would paint that whole wall one color like the wall color . Then the texture speaks for itself . You say you don't want to spend too much so a live edge shelf/mantel would be very expensive . So basically you just need to simplify the look of that whole wall so it blends into the room and looks more modern .