Thanks for the thoughts and tolerance guys. I think direct vent are relatively good at avoiding Indoor Air Quality IAQ problems but would add the tighter and smaller the house, the greater the chances of exhaust contamination along with time used. Life safety codes require the use of CO detectors when including gas appliances and it seems barely 50% of homeowners maintain batteries and replacement. You don't add IAQ liability or risk when you go all electric. It seems most high performance builders are aiming for passive house airtightness, levels that many other building professionals point to as cost effective for most new construction. Exhausting things gets much harder at these levels. Many designers embrace the beauty of truth in materials. What could be more fake, than a hydrofracked fossil fuel behind a pane of glass that provides little useful heat? What is the real truth represented by the flames? New construction should include infrastructure costs like trenching and pipe drop charges per appliance. Of course if a client is willing to spend more and install gas stuff, I can always see the bright side that I will probably make more money.

Paint the molding a charcoal Gray, at the ceiling height...paint the mantle the same color and paint the woodbox, where you have 3 figurines, the same color charcoal gray--or a matte black color in those 3 areas? I don't know what it would look like but you could just paint the woodbox, the mantle, the wall above the mantle and the trim, all the same color...either a black or a charcoal gray(matching the stone's darkest color) OR! Keep with the trim and the woodbox color and paint it all a pretty gray white(not the stone). It might be better to do the wall the same color as the mantle, trim and woodbox? White is certainly more family friendly, than maybe the fireplace screen could be a stainless steel? or silvery color? I guess if you use it, it becomes black with the smoke in the firebox? You do have a challenge on your hands. It would be easier if the television was not competing with the fireplace area, to be sure.

Probably will go with a one big piece of tile for the hearth and same tile for the surrounds of the fireplace. The mantel is still a work in progress, probably will skip it as I can't seem to find "affordable" ones with storage capability unless I build myself which I won't do, and I really don't want to go with one piece mantel at the moment. Any feedback ?

yeah, I think you could do without the top mantle piece. just have the tv. You really don't need all of the other stuff around it.