Hahahah! I've been spending too much time in Hot Topics! When I saw FLW I thought Far Left Wing and I'm wondering what does politics have to do with a fireplace??!!

I sort of like the brick the same color as the rest of the room. I had to really look to see how much brick you really have, and my first thought was ‘wow, that’s a lot of brick’. If you do go with something else, I would look at a shade slightly darker than the wall color.

Love the wall hanging.

I also had to blow up the photo to see the brick. I was looking for a small brick area behind the jere birds. (It's the whole wall!) I would keep it the same color as the other walls. Off white would work for me.

I also like the idea of making it the same color as the walls. I think the fireplace, the wall hanging and the texture of the brick will be more than enough decorative layers for the space.

I would love to see a photo of the room when you are finished!

I think you need a wall color for both walls that plays up the beautiful wood ceiling. What that color should be, I don't know. I'm sure the white and cream walls look better than what was there, but I think there is an even better color for those walls.

Beautiful room! I would do it all off-white or all off-white except the fireplace wall. Maybe Benjamin Moore Rushing River or Benjamin Moore Rainy Afternoon or Iced Marble on that wall. These all have a tic of green.

Here's the lighter shade - Iced Marble near white and wood.

Or, darker shades on same chit.

What about a green like or from the concrete? It would work with the new color on the walls, and IMO it would not look like an accent wall, but would highlight the texture of the brick, which you will mute or lose if you paint the brick the same color as the walls. Green would also play well with the lovely wood ceiling, but if you are going further modern, maybe monochrome is the way to go.

I would want the bricks of the fireplace to be a bit darker than the walls. It should look like a separate feature - not like your are trying to blend it in, unless that is what you want to do. Personally, I would never buy a house with a fireplace because I would not use it, and they add to home owner insurance costs because the chimneys are earthquake hazards, and I've seen plenty of toppled chimneys.

Thanks all. It is indeed a lot of brick! I like some of the suggestions. I've been scouring FLW (funny, Annie!) photos for inspiration, but his fireplaces are typically either stone or the same brick as the rest of the house. Also, there will be burlap-toned draperies in the room soon (not on that window you can see -- that blind will come down and there will be nothing on that window).

I thought about going with something like SW7053 Adaptive Shade or SW7047 Porpoise. I love those sort of Weimeranerish gray-browns. It's a little tricky with the reddish trim and ceiling and the mid-tone oak floors.

And Lars, I hear you! One big benefit of where I live is we're pretty much out of the fray for natural disasters of all kinds. Except of course for drought. I'm thinking of having the ugly woodstove pulled out. It didn't seem to do a whole lot for us over the winter, and I'd much rather have the ambiance of a visible fire in the firebox.

Aaaaaaaaand, I finally painted the fireplace. It only took me a divorce, a year and a half, and a pandemic. Sometimes I have a little trouble getting moving. But it’s done! It very much lightens up the room. I’m glad I matched it to the existing paint.

Now I just have to hang the birds.

It looks great!

You've had quite the year jakabedy! I hope you're on track for a less stressful future. I think yyoyouyour paint jjojob makes everything looks much brighter and it has got to be a big relief to have that off your plate.

That looks so good! I love what you're doing with the room and new rug and chair. Your birds will look fabulous.