I've done those tiny, miniature poinsettias on my mantle - a royal pain to keep watered and they must be daily. I've tried tiny topiaries (live) again a problem to water. All these things look great for a photo shoot, but for 2-3 weeks prior to Christmas and at least through New Years? Not so great. It's why so many have gone to fake greenery. What is available to the public is just so awful. Florists and designers can buy gorgeous stuff, but it's VERY expensive. The pictures one sees online and in catalogs usually have doubled - even tripled - the garlands to look lush and full. Then one must store these gigantic things. Last year, I used a 1/2 circle vase holder from the 1980's - it holds 5 very small cylinder vases. I put in cut amaryllis. I surrounded it with my magnolia leaves. They got a bit dry, but the amaryllis held very well and was easy to water. I'll be doing that again this year.

Why would you try to change THAT??? I am with you. I love nature and texture. I love natural wood. But you asked us, which means your eye saw something off. I don't know about you, but my eye roams my garden looking for things that are working. And that aren't. I am constantly plannning moves, trims, etc, always perfecting. Any yet, MY yard would be hated by most perfectionists. My idea of something that is working is very far from tidily edged, mulched, mown. It is more about nature at its best. My naturalistic eye looks at the fake bulbous stone that goes halfway up the wall and says, wha???? If someone built a fireplace by hand, hauling stone from the river, what would it look like? Whatever they hauled from the river would also be used to make the chimney. And he would not waste one trip from the river making a pointless wainscoting. But if you like it, that is all that matters. If you don't need it for heat, take down the mirror, close the vents, and lean a picture against them to hide them. Still remove any excess art/clutter from the alcoves and stack wood in the left hand side. Easy Peary looking good :)

This is the fireplace from a distance. The floor is travertine. The other picture is the view from when you walk in the door of the back of the fireplace.

Here is a photo of the fireplace. Not sure why it wouldn't let me post it with the original post.