I have a gas fireplace and the brick right above the fireplace still gets some black soot. But my white mantel (which is closer to the fire opening) does not. But I also have a regular wood burning fireplace in another room and I don't think you will have a problem. You could try it and see if you get any smoke build up and just stop using it as soon as you see black on the bricks. I doubt it could get to your mantel since its so high above the opening. But if you keep it regularly cleaned off, it shouldn't stain your brick. You probably don't retain much heat from vented gas. It goes up the chimney like the wood fire does. But after growing up with real fires, I love my gas fireplace since I don't have to do any work to get a fire. My only beef is that the logs get lots of black soot on them and I have to clean it off at least once a year. It stains the ceramic logs and that can't be removed completely.

Nice work! We're in the UK and have done several (mainly) DIY renovations - or restorations as I prefer to call them with them all being at least 100 years old - and have lived on site throughout, so understand how stressful it can be. Our quickest complete restoration took three years, so good on you for making such dramatic progress so swiftly :) Spurs me on to get a wiggle on with our current house! Raphaella x

Penny - I typically love some of the more outspoken opinions here. I'll see a post and be like "Ohh, wait til Sophie sees this!" usually because I agree with her opinions! I'm sure I would be really sensitive to hear it about my own room, but that wouldn't make it untrue. :) I was reading and considering everyone's input, but I've realized it can be difficult to reply to suggestions from multiple people at once! I really, really, appreciate all of your input. I definitely think you're right about no more furniture with drawers. It makes a lot of sense in many cases (and in the pics that people posted). Unfortunately, with 73" on each side of the fireplace, a standard chest would look miniscule, and that would leave me with putting a full-sized dresser there. With three dressers (counting the Hemnes my TV is on), it would just look like I had an elaborately furnished closet and not a family room! I actually had both chairs and the round table at the entrance for years. Since they both swivel, the table kept getting knocked down, and I grew tired of having to shimmy between the chair and the endtable all the time. Maybe I'll go back to that arrangement, but I'm liking them flanking the FP for now. cawaps - Ikea is definitely where my budget is currently - but I get the feeling I probably need to de-Ikea this room as I'm able to. :) I'll be on the lookout for consignment and thrifting bargains that might work. Anglophilia - You're so right, flat fireplace walls ARE a PITA! My last home had a diagnoal FP, and boy, I hated that, but this is still a pain! I think you're right, the ottoman has to go when we can replace it. We don't mind having a few toys here, since the bedrooms are upstairs. We hang out here frequently (and it's off the kitchen). He's a bit too big for a playpen at this point, so we choose which toys to keep in here, and we have a place to put them away, and we keep the rest in the playroom. It's a balancing act! Suezbell - Thank you for all the ideas! I will definitely be finding a home for the owl. Storage and a desk would be useful additions, I will consider those. The bookshelf is up for sale, since the height and color don't really work in here. I'll likely be replacing the TV dresser when I can to something with more interest or color. The Hemnes dresser was really only meant to be temporary - and here we are 5 years later!

Thank you everyone. I appreciate the help. I guess I was unclear about the what I wanted to paint. I love the bricks of the fireplace and wont touch them. What I would like to paint is the ledge or seat under the actual fireplace. It is made of cement with plaster finish (Only on top and sides) that has a marble look to it. It is cracked and worn in places. Plus the off white/maroon color scheme is very unattractive. My plan is to paint it a matte dark cement like color, close to the grout of the fireplace. I would love to enclose it in wood but I dont think that is unrealistic for our situation and the whole fire thing. I love the idea of plants that have been suggested. I will look into easy to care for plants that dont need alot of light. I do not have a green thumb and have difficulty keeping things alive that dont whine at me. As for the shelves, I really like them and do not want to be rid of them. I guess I was looking for suggestions of what shapes to put up there. Long and thin, short and round, oblong, several small items, etc? Also, brightly colored, neutral, metal, etc? That way I can go into my own collection and find something that fits the bill. Anyone know how the fireplace would be decorated when it was originally built? It also has a couple of nails in the grout (previous families stockings I assume) so hanging something is possible also. The windows seem to war with the shelves in my mind, the balance seems off. I have thought of painting them the same color as the brick, and also the color that I will paint the ledge. They are about 8-9" deep, so I worry painting them the same color as the brick will look odd. Currently they are painted the same color as the wall, a light gray. Would you put something on them, like a shelf? I am looking to make the whole thing seem cohesive. Luckily privacy is not an issue, it is on the second floor. And I want as much light as possible so not looking to add greenery out side. We do plan on replacing the plexiglass with clear window glass in the near future. In my mind it would look so much better as one long window but I dont think we will take on the project. Thanks again for your input. I look forward to hearing more ideas.