db3512 - I have just recently (last 12 months) finished removing my fireplace. It was a double sided version of yours. 6 feet wide and 5 feet thick. It was not an easy task! First, this is a best guess. The brick from about the top of the flue on up the ceiling will likely be backed by framing and a header; no drywall. Below that it will likely be part of the firebox structure. You could conceivably remove it with a lot of work and mess. A 5-7lb sledge works best to just splinter the brick. Get the one with a wedge shaped end. It breaks the brick better. The brick breaks easier than the mortar so don't waste your time trying to chip at the motar. Once the upper brick is out, the mortar generally comes out pretty easily. I would also wait until spring as your heat will go right out the new hole you have created. If you can, get into your attic and look down along the chimney to validate. I could see the entire back side of the brick walls down to the firebox. About widening your firebox, in short sure if you have enough money you can do anything. Not to be flip but if you want to enlarge your firebox, you are looking at tearing out your fireplace and rebuilding it. Again that assumes it is a real fireplace and not a brick façade of some sort. Good Luck!!

Replacing with another gas system? Normally, I'd say not but there could be circumstances with the original install.

Seems like all of you agree with me that it could be a lot better. I had thought it should be wider if not all the way across. Les, I'd never thought of iron corbels, kinda interesting and unique for sure. I just know when I saw the timber ones at the home show I loved them. But I was wondering too if they were TOO rustic. Caroleoh, I know what you're saying about my trim and cabinets. The cabinets are distressed but not heavily. My heart says rustic but I've decorated more traditional with some antiques and distressed pieces mixed in. kswl, I purposely told the builder I didn't want my mantel painted because I thought the wood look would be a little more rustic and in keeping with the bricks. It just didn't turn out like I pictured in my mind and I can't say exactly why, so frustrating! gray, I do live in TN but I'm over 400 mi from Dollywood so I can't make a day trip to check them out. Sounds kinda wild, I've never seen a mantel carved with 3D animals. Maybe they have a website. Thanks for the input. Would love to hear from others too about their thoughts on the timber mantel or other suggestions. Thanks!

You definitely can't stain paint, and what you have definitely doesn't look like simple painted wood (Maybe plaster?) so I don't think you can just sand it down (it's possible someone applied some kind of funky texture over wood, but I wouldn't want to be the one to try sanding it down and be disappointed). I agree that covering would be the fastest and easiest way to get the look you want.