What sticks out is the fireplace screen - black and brass rather than just black. The hearth material also stand out. The mantel is a bit old fashioned.

You could rip out all the stone, reduce the size of the hearth and rework the area, once you have an idea of what you want it to look like.

My initial thought is to reduce the size down by removing from each side and white washing the stone. I guess I'm not trying to spend too much by getting a new insert, but could do a different mantle.

Get the right paint and paint the brass black.

That hearth is what would make me crazy . Is this wood burning or gas FP?If gas remove the hearth completely and the mantel. IMO painted stone is just plain ugly. I have ahuge fireplace in my house it acyually backs onto my kitchen and I love it but not at the beginning.But painting it never entered my mind but I did at one time consider covering it with concrete. So I guess my advice is live with it for a while before doing something you can’t erase. BTW mine is 10’ wide 4’ deep and 8’ high

If you do decide to remove it here is some options to replace it with

Fireplace · More Info

Fireplace · More Info

Fireplace · More Info

Fireplace · More Info

Thanks for the design ideas!!
It is a gas fireplace.

see I think the hearth is making the room look extra small...I think I like the idea to remove that and trim the stone down and maybe add some built ins on the side instead of those shelves maybe?

I kinda like the statement wall. I am all about making things work so here's what I would play around with. Carefully look at your fireplace. Is the brass removable? (on ours, it was just magnets). If the brass is permanent, get high heat black paint and paint all the brass. Remove the mantle......it's too wimpy in size. The hearth seems a little out of proportion (too small). You can minimize that with accessories. You need something tall on either side of the fireplace to help downplay all the rock. I hate fake trees, but in this case, I would consider one on either side. Place some heavier accessories on the hearth. Clunky lanterns, thick candles, sizable vase, etc. On the floor, near the ends of the hearth, i'd add a large baskets with extra throws/blankets in it to soften the hard edges. - Just had an idea, instead of fake trees, get two high, small plant stands and flank the wall with good sized house plants. Have fun. I love challenges and making things work.

You do not need the hearth so take that out for sure. IMO if you had wood floors in there the FP would not be so in your face it would be more in balance with the space.

Are those vents for heated air or speakers? If within your budget, remove the hearth and drywall over the whole wall. Of course removing the hearth will also mean updating the floor covering.

You could take a small paintbrush to change the big orange rocks greyer and so make them less prominent.

@maddielee
they were vents from the old wood fireplace

You could leave the stone in place, install furring strips and drywall over it. I second removing the actual hearth.

i would potentially remove the whole wall.. not just drywall over it.. im not looking to make the room any smaller..

im thinking i might take down the wall on both sides and just have the rock in the middle..
lighten the rock with a wash or paint..
potentially remove the hearth and put a different mantel in..

lord. First off, remove that horrid mantle. I just can't even......

choices,,,remove the stone and redo it completely.

cement board over the stone, do something else

mortar or stucco over the stone,,,, this rock was done in a German Schemer. (basically like a mortar wash

or, you can paint it. I'd try this first since you have nothing to lose. It will look something like this

if you use Romabio Masonry paint (not the lime wash one)

you can use Romabio on it and paint it white, or whatever color you want.

I'd do a reclaimed wood mantle this is longer and thicker

Then I'd take the hearth all the way across,

this is not like your stone. just look at the hearth all the way across

hearth and wood mantle ideas

so I demo'd out the old gross wall..
I am currently trearing down an old barn on my friends land... I plan on fling a barn wood wall...
what kind of stone would look good with barn wood??

thinking of finishing it like the lighter pieces in this wall