I actually really like the look of the mirror. It's all too predictable to see a painting about the mantle. If this were my living room, I would surround it with other things. You could place a small clock in front of it or some art next to the fireplace, like you can see here. I can also see what other posts are saying about covering it, but I feel that would make the room feel much smaller. Mirrors help make rooms feel a little more open,

A couple of the pros on this site seem to think that personal photos should not be displayed in a living room or what they otherwise call "public" space (no idea what that even means, as my own home is certainly not "public"). I very much disagree. The tribute piece is lovely, and I think it would work beautifully on the smooth wall. What a sweet reminder of the man you loved. Hang it as is without hesitation.

Ok, well I asked about the built-ins and got much more! ;) JudyG - I can see why it looks that way in the photo, but it doesn't so much in person. I zoomed out so I could get as much as the room as possible, so though it is tall, it's not as out of proportion as it looks in person. The current color of the built-ins is a creamier color than the concrete fireplace surround and it doesn't look good together. Beth H - The install above the fireplace is made of steel sheet metal. As far as the fan, I did want something minimal so as not to add more to the space in addition to that major metal instal;, though I did question the size and length of the fan with company and the guy, who claimed to work in the industry for 20 years, said he'd never sold a download longer than 48 in and that this size was good for a 16x17 space. Ceilings are 19 ft. I wish we could've done stone; we committed to the metal and when removing the previous surround, found beautiful stone underneath that would've been lovely to put up, but it would've thrown us way off budget at that point - metal was made and ready to be installed. The the brick is still underneath the concrete surround/metal so that'll be taken into the next iteration of this home - which is WAY down the road. Our budget now includes paint and accessories. I love the ideas you've shared and wished I would've seen them sooner! So maybe paint the built-ins the same as the walls and then the cabinets a darker color to stand out? Like the 2nd or 3rd photo. Also adding windows to integration 2. The stair used to be white spindles and copper spirals, it was terrible and we wanted something cleaner, so no, the bars have to stay. Here's a pic of that part of the room: Also - nothing has been 'styled', just livable. I haven't done the bookcases, the sofa table behind the couch is the wrong size and color, also hate the light in the kitchen, but I didn't want to overwhelm this question with all of the issues in the room. Thank you, I appreciate all the suggestions!

for starters, I would paint them both White. the one above the TV will blend with the furniture, I'd leave it empty. above the fireplace, you could add a shelf of a wood on top of the sheetrock opening (something you already have in the room to warm the space) and add natural filler millwork to build up your mantle to a fuller depth. Consult a finish carpenter or cabinet maker for skills.