Are you wanting to keep it and make and change its appearance or get rid of it all together?

Can you post a photo showing the entire room? It would help in giving ideas for the fp.

I don't want to get rid of it. Just use the place effectively

Here is a shot. I am just moving stuff around so not looking good now

could get some andirons and fake logs and put in there for decoration. Some people put fake plants but I don't understand greenery in a fireplace. At our second home we have one we don't use much and I have a multi-candleholder and when I'm feeling in a cozy mood I light all the candles, looks nice.

We never use the fireplace in our MBR. We have white birch logs in it. I feel like they work because they *could* be burned, but I wouldn't because they're way too expensive.

Do you like the white paint? Do you plan to keep it blocked off with plywood? If so, I might be tempted to put some pretty wallpaper over the plywood and add an openwork screen in front of it, sort of a layered look. Paint the brick to blend with the built-ins if you don't care for the white. How about the mantel, plan to put some decorative items on it or art above it?

How about a tv?

I would paint the plywood insert black and put a fireplace screen like in the picture in front of it. Then I would beef up the mantle decorate it.

I would beef up the mantle and use some fire screens as shown here.

As long as the flue is closed you shouldn't have cold air coming in. I've never felt the slightest draft from our fireplace which has also not been used for ten years because it causes pollution, and we just use central heat. If you're really concerned about that you could put something like the plywood up the chimney to block off air. We have a fireplace grate with whitish logs piled in it for looks and keep the mesh screen open. It looks very inviting and natural.

What about glueing a mirror to the back board and place lots of candles.

Do you think you'd ever return it to a functioning fireplace? Whether wood, gas logs, or a recess where you sometimes light candles? If that's a possibility, I'd keep it and decorate as many above have suggested.

Fireplaces can have function, charm and simply look good. Do you like how your neutered fireplace looks? I have a fireplace (gas logs) that I don't use a lot but it's aces when I do. Other than that, a fireplace can be in the way (hearth sticking out) and somewhere you can't put furniture close.

If there was any chance of returning your fireplace to a functioning state, I'd keep it. Otherwise, what is the point of keeping it? It's neither fish nor fowl.

Thanks for all responses. I will never use fireplace. but having a functioning fire place is a plus point when I sell the home. So don't want to get rid of it. I don't watch TV, so don't have one. I don't like the current white color.. This is the way it was painted when I purchased the home. The candle with the mirror is a very creative suggestion... But If i do that, I have to remove the plywood. Lot of great suggestions here.

The plant idea

You may want to measure the ply-board and buy a mirror as close to the size. Lean the mirror at a slight angle against the ply, that way the ply can remain. Then I'd paint the plywood the same colour as the brickwork, once you decide on a colour.

Agree that the white is stark compared to the rest of your room. I'd paint it another color, remove the plywood, add a grate with real logs and then place a string of white Christmas lights among the logs. Did that at my mom's house since she never used the fireplace. She turned the lights on every night.

It sounds like you want to keep the plywood, but, IMO, that is one of the issues with the current set-up. It alters the look of the fireplace, and not in a good way. There are all sorts of fireplace draft stoppers that you can buy or DIY that fit up inside the chimney and can't been seen. Using one of those would allow you to have a fireplace that looks more like a fireplace.

Then I'd paint the brick. The stark white doesn't work with the other colors in the room.

Then I'd look at dressing the fireplace up a bit. Plants, candles, a pretty screen--something that would tie the fireplace in with the rest of the decor in the room. I've seen non-working fireplaces filled with logs, with the cut ends facing out into the room. Or filled with books. Here's a link with some other ideas for inspiration: non-working fireplaces

xarcady : Thanks for an excellent summary what needs to be done.

It would be helpful to see a full shot of the wall, not just the firebox....

I did the multi candles/ mirror when we first moved into this house. Our split stone fireplace does not have a gas just for starting the wood and I did not want the MESS kindling would bring. Eventually we put the full cover doors back on and have used it. Full flush doors vs the beautiful screens that are all the vogue are a necessity for our fan system to use the heat generated to warm the room. Summers I stack birch logs..readily available on our property. For sure I would begin by toning down the WHITE of your brick. Leaving the plywood in place, maybe mirrored, your hearth has plenty of room for a line of candles.

Before you do anything else, paint it. The white is way too stark and doesn't do anything for the beautuful cabinets. A medium gray color would be a very good neutral, but if the plan is to keep the mantle, leave it as is so the cabinets still tie in with the fireplace. You may think gray and brown are not a good combination, but you may be plesantly surprised!

First I need to find how to get rid of the Glossy paint. Painting on top of this will not stick to the surface

I would still start with painting the plywood insert black. There are paints that can be used over glossy surfaces, maybe a paint expert will check in? Or ask a knowledgeable paint store employee.

Use Stix bonding primer...it really does adhere well and then takes a top coat of paint nicely. You might also play around with faux finishing the bricks to make them look more like brick and less like paint.

After reading the posts, i am now ok with removing the plywood. Here is the picture inside the fireplace - Mix of sand and cotton like stuff. I guess I can get rid of this and put in a grate with real log?

Yes, with the high gloss finish you will need a primer. I've not heard of Stix, but it sounds like the right priduct for the job. You will probably need more than one coat, so make sure the first coat is dried, thoroughly. Primers may vary from 24-48 hours drying time. Don't hurry this process. ;)

Yep. Why not? ;)

Love trees, can you post a picture of the whole wall? It already looks better without the plywood!

Here are pictures showing the full view. Many junk in shelf on both sides and I am working to clean it up. Grateful for all your suggestions

If you are getting a draft the flue may not be closing properly. Also question how the sand got in ther. Have checked the flu?

I see not much draft. Will check flu..

If you don't care for gray, even a cream color would tie in more nicely with your furniture, floor and cabinets. I have a curved grate which holds several logs which really looks much nicer than just one log.

I'm sorry to say that color-wise your nice picture over the mantel may not have enough impact to make the fireplace a real focal point. I would put something there with more color and texture to make the fireplace stand out more.

How about trying a glaze on the brick before you jump into painting? Or a stain? There are a multitude of colors of stain, even a gray. Brush on, wipe off.....shades of Karate Kid.lol

Have you considered painting the cabinetry to match the fireplace? That might look nice

Oh, this is going to look nice when you finish. Even if you don't use it as a fireplace, making it look like one, with a grate, wood, and a screen will be a wonderful addition to your room. The mantel wood seems to match your cabinets, and so I would paint the brick a very dark gray (I think that's the color of your cabinet shelf?). And the darker color will help the bulk of the fireplace recede. You could do some mockups with a Paint program.

When you paint, use the thickest nap roller that is sold. It uses a lot of paint but it is a great way to paint brick (I've done a lot of that!) And don't use a good vacuum cleaner to clean out the fire box. If there is ash in there, it is too fine and will ruin the vacuum and spread ash everywhere (don't ask how I know this).

What If I match the wall color? Looks like painting gray is favored here. I will try it. Anyone here can suggest sherwin wiilams/Benjamin moore paint code/name for a good grey color? Thanks

I do not think I have ever seen a fireplace sitting so proud of the cabinetry that flanks it. That alone makes this a challenge!!!

I'd definitely try to do a faux finish on the brick to bring it back to brown shades so it blends in with the bookcases rather than stands proud of them.

You could also have a gas log insert installed to make it a gas fireplace. You have natural gas in your home already, it wouldn't be that hard to have it fitted. Then you could actually enjoy the fireplace!

I'm with Annie on the faux finish to bring the bricks back to brick-looking and blend better with the built-ins, there was a thread here some time ago where someone did this and posted pics through the process, can't find it to link though.

This is a Gas fire place. I can see the Gas valve and Key to open the valve

Oh I do like the ply removed.

Has anyone suggested repainting the firebox, now that the plywood is removed?Once you clean it out, the firebox walls can be repainted with a high heat, no flame, black paint available at most hardware stores. We had the firebox of our gas fireplace touched up--and it looked brand new. Might be a good back drop for whatever you decide to add next.

We had tailor burners in all our fireplaces at the house we just restored. The "cottony stuff" in those was asbestos. Just make sure you know what you are dealing with before you disturb anything!

This may be more project than you want; but what about painting the built-ins white or cream?Then you can keep the fireplace white (maybe tone down the sheen), and accent the hearth and mantle with any color you want--even changing things out with the seasons! I think white or cream cabinetry, white or cream fireplace, and black firebox, would create an amazing neutral back drop for whatever else you want to add going forward :) Two beautiful cream paint colors are SW Alabaster, or SW Neutral ground. I know that Benjamin Moore has some very popular whites too.

Depending on how much money you want to put into this, how about re-facing it? There are many options: granite, marble, river stone (nah). We went with a porcelain tile, but we were doing a new fireplace, not a re-face. I've even seen re-faces with old barn wood that looked good (HGTV of course). Try here for some ideas in that direction:

https://www.google.com/search?q=refaced+fireplaces&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj_iZDKyJTNAhUB3WMKHYmIC7QQsAQIRg&biw=1440&bih=770#imgrc=eMFzFxHvt4mssM%3A

Resurfacing is a great idea. The google pictures looks fantastic. Thanks