10 years in this house and I've finally had it with this fireplace. We're painting the living room (light sage) and replacing the ugly tile floors with wood that will match the stained baseboards/mounding/trim.

But what on Earth do I do about this fireplace?? It's sort of a monstrosity-- taking up a big corner of our small living room in our small house. The horns that were there when we bought the place are coming down. I'd like to keep the trim and wooden mantle.

i like a white-wash paint look, but I've only seen that done over red brick. And this brick has a light gloss, so would whitewash even work? My husband doesn't love thickly-painted brick, but I'm not sure there is an option.

i know you can do a stone veneer, but I'm not sure I'm up to that. I like simple projects.

I do have a few loose bricks to test things on, but they've been stacked outside for so long that they're more weathered than the indoor brick. Better than nothing.

Oh and we do use the wood-burning fireplace in the winter.

What would you do to spruce it up?

Thanks!