Have you considered no mantel at all? If you were to remove the raised hearth and the current mantel, then do your stacked stone all the way to the floor, it would give it a cleaner, more modern look. Because I couldn't sleep and decided to take the opportunity to think more about your fireplace . . . Many of these asymmetrical fireplaces have a niche to the side for logs. I know you can't manufacture such depth, but the addition of the stone will give you a little depth, and you could play with that. Assuming you do away with the raised hearth, you could even cover a portion of the existing brick on the left with drywall or panelling of some kind so that the fireplace itself would be symmetrical.

Hey everyone! It’s been a while since I posted updates and to be honest there isn’t too much to report at the moment! Trying to figure out where to put ducts for central air. I’m attaching some photos I thought you might like :) the first is what the beams look like inside the walls and what I’m hoping the ones exposed will look like when they stain is rubbed out. The second pic is the original flooring upstairs (dusty from construction). It’s called pumpkin pine flooring and that’s the flooring I want to put on the ground level kitchen and sitting room. Then a picture from the notching looking at the stone room, and vice versa! Hope everyone is healthy and safe ❤️

Thank you for your comments. I thought I'd share a change of layout plans that I'm pondering considering I didn't like either option with sink in the bay window/dishwasher layout. Spoke to the contractor and we think it's easier to leave the sink where it is, widen the window above it to be the pass thru awning window, widen the current U shape, leave the bay window as is and the 'eat in' kitchen table area. So I'll be down a dining room but that's ok, it's only a few times per year MAYBE that I entertain and need more space. I can put up a temporary dining table elsewhere (or switch over the den to dining room in the future) or make that circular table an extendable to an oval one. I may add a built in bench to the bay window now or down the road. In this layout, it's a little awkward as to what to put in the niche where the pantry is in my drawing below. It's not full height in there and it's currently where I have a sideboard but with my dining room no longer being there after the reno, it should be something else. Pantry cupboards, maybe a little desk with open shelves above? maybe a beverage/coffee station with mini fridge. I know it's a little awkward having the pantry outside the kitchen. That's the only thing that bugs me about this layout. Other option is to put the pantry to the right of the fridge. In my current kitchen this is where there is a desk and open upper shelves that definitely needs to go. It's where all the 'junk' goes like recipe books, telephone, pet food, meds, etc. so I'm drawn to putting lowers and uppers there to hide all the stuff. But it also makes sense to make this the pantry area so it's more accessible than having to walk around the penisula when prepping. So that's the dilemma/question...where to put the pantry. And what to use that niche for. Note, that niche does have a direct sightline to front door so people will see it when they walk in the front door. The area by fridge is hidden from view facing back of house Thanks in advance.

Have a contractor add studs, drywall, and close it off. Find a tile you like and tile the entire thing. It's asymmetry......Lose the shade on the window above it. It;s awful looking. If you must cover it? Find art you can customize to the size. Put a nice large leafy potted plant to the newly dry walled and tiled side and it will be fine. Make sure you soon meet code...........and removing tile may NOT have been the best idea. Plan on replacing with heat proof SOMETHING. Don't use it until you do.