The first thing I'd do is replace that little hanging light fixture in the entryway. With that massive wall of brick, something more substantial would look better. The fireplace has simple, modern lines, and neither the light fixture nor the mantle work with that. A simpler (but again, substantial) mantle would look better. It actually looks like the fireplace was designed to not have a mantle at all, and i'll bet you could just remove that awful one and leave it unadorned. You could try a large potted plant (real or a good fake) on the side of the fireplace where that can is. That would soften things up. The great thing about plants is they go with any decorating style. Last but not least, if you don't want to hang art in the entryway you could hang a huge framed mirror on the back of the fireplace. You'll probably want to hang something large and framed on the front too. Just my two cents' worth, but since you asked...

I'm not understanding this. Do you plan to make a front for that opening where you can see the studs? The only solution I would do is to close up the front with the fireplace installed, then place a thick dark mantle and put the tv over the mantle. I'm not sure that painting works.

All good suggestions. Thank you everyone. So we have had many discussions and have made some progress and now we are leaning towards the following. We are going to "cap" the ceiling at the triangle, just above the second beams. So we eliminate the high triangle, thus regulating the room temp better and allowing for lighting install. We will drop the fan lower, keep it centered, and add recessed lights on either side of the fan (front and back) on the flat/new ceiling. Add sconces above the mantle (wiring behind the new drywall). Rather than paint the brick and while we have scaffolding here anyway, we think we will box in the brick from new flat ceiling to the mantle (not with shiplap) and run trim down either side. We will then frame out a new mantle down each side and across the brick. We will keep the brick as is around the fireplace and on the hearth (I don't like the idea of floor to ceiling painted white brick and felt that since we use the fireplace we are better keeping natural brick so it won't show soot and dirt), but put a new piece of stone in for the hearth. Smooth the outdated plaster walls (since plasterer has to come for the new ceiling). Paint the ceiling, the trim and fireplace walls/mantle white, and the walls a soft gray (Edgecomb BM). Cap the track lighting unless we decide down the road we need it. I'd also love to consider refacing the brick with stone veneer but maybe not this time around. So yes, our budget is blown but it seems to be a situation of go all in or don't half spend. Trying to resemble something like this but not with shiplap and with our brick not whitewashed: Thoughts/feedback? Good news is that my contractor knows us and works slowly so I can modify as we go if something doesn't look right. I toyed with keeping beams but they really aren't nice beams. We've also done away with the wood beam mantle but I think if we keep the look more robust and less delicate that we might be okay -- more thick/shaker than formal crown. Also adding trim to the supporting beams that connect wall to ceiling to make them look more "finished" - they look like planks or 2x4s now and I never realized they were actually beams until we just put the window in and broke into the wall. They are just above the windows and you probably can't tell from the previous photos. Any thoughts - would love to hear them. You've really turned me around on the shiplap - thank you!

Thanks for the great ideas! I would love to get rid of the TV! But at this point that won't happen with the hubs. The layout of the room is that there is a sectional opposite the wall (and behind that the eating area/kitchen). I do think that 2 chairs would work well for conversation/design even though they wouldn't be function for TV watching (too close). For the wall, I will start looking for 2 bigger, related pieces. It does look like the scale is off right now!!! I like the idea of larger mirrors in an interesting shape. Also, love the birch tree art... that size might go well in my dining room!