Maybe add a white mantel on top of it? And/or a modern firescreen in polished nickel or such?

Can you at least take that first row of tiles off? That is not major remodeling.

I’m not sure what that means to take the first row of tiles off. I’m completely useless when it comes to DIY. There’s a huge mantle at the very top. I actually was looking for decor or art ideas. ☺️

I like your rooster(is it rooster in the right corner?) but it's too dark and blends in..so I'd put there a plant in a light planter, or maybe a high vase/figurine you love, to take a bit off monolithic black look.

and I'd put a great, commanding attention art on that mantel. even lean it. Can be two slightly overlapping pieces as well.

I'd put curtains too maybe, on these two small windows, for the more balanced look, because windows are very cute-but the fireplace makes them look smaller.. but I see you have a cat..I never had cats so I don't know whether they like to tug at curtains..?

Thanks! No curtains because we do have a cat (ugly cat tree in the corner). I have some art of my kids but I’m not sure if it’s too overpowering. Plants are also tough because of the cat

And oh the desk things are firewood holders and tools!

Right, silly me. So nothing breakable/edible under. Need to think.

As for the art.

You want art to be overpowering, actually. You need it to overpower the fireplace or at least get equal with it))

I love your kids' art but I'd go for more color. And either one central piece, or ..in short, not a row thing.

I must say though-even now, while I'd go for bigger, brighter art (with your kids' art, one wants to be able to see the details..and right now hard to see from afar..so I'd rather enjoy them on some wall where it's easier)-it's already the right direction imo. It already looks a bit more humble, that fireplace.

I mean to remove the top row where the line is below. Right now the tile is way too high.

Yes that would help to remove the top of the too large fireplace but no idea how to even start with that, I think it’s too big a project for me, I’d have no idea how to do it - I assume I’d need to remove, and replace drywall.

Removing it will require at least drywall repair. I'm not sure if you need to replace it. A handyman should be able to do this.

the framed pics make it look even blockier. try an assortment of candles, vases and/or ceramic at different heights. nothing rustic though. or something like this pic below could be fun. normally I don't recommend perfect symmetry for mantle decor, but I like how pretty these candle vases look agains the dark background.

to be 100% honest though: that fireplace absolutely does not belong in that room or with your style of furniture. it's a fireplace for a high ceiling, starkly designed modern home from the early 2000s. it's dated, dark and oppressive. it kind of doesn't matter how you decorate it. you might want to plan on ripping it out and replacing it with a more appropriate size and classic style.

Yeah definitely one day - I hate it

one other idea: a row of small framed artwork and nothing on the mantle.

just noticed one thing though: personally it might bug me that the tops of the frames are higher than the window frames. one more mockup with smaller photos:

This will unroll the full length you need

The Second Ode to the Red Cliff, Semi-cursive Script by Zhao Mengfu · More Info

These come in 40 different colors

LA Linen Polyester Poplin Backdrop Drape 96"x58", 2 Pack, Dark Sage · More Info

And you can put this in the right corner to balance out cat condo and have a functioning spot for the laptop

Arch Tower, Silver and Black · More Info

Big floor plants...at least 4 feet tall and one even taller...or perhaps on a stool to make it tall....move close to the fireplace to soften the corners. and anything white or very light you put on the mantle just emphasizes the dark brick..

Here is a mockup of some of the ideas mentioned above - a lighter fire screen and fireplace tools, and a row of art work above the mantle. Breaking up the massive black square on your wall would be a big improvement. I wouldn't worry about aligning the top of the art with the tops of the windows. Better to fill the space as a counterbalance to the fireplace surround.

Oh wow thank you - that does make a big difference!!

Here's the same image with the top row of tiles removed from the fireplace surround, and another with a white mantle mounted above the second to last row of tiles.

So, so much better but I’d still need to have the top tile removed and a new mantle installed. I actually think the slate would look really nice with a a completely white surround but it’d require the removal of tiles.

It’s always nice to have a range of possibilities, from changing out a fire screen to removing tiles, adding a mantle, etc.

Painting that wall a dark colour will reduce the contrast between the fireplace and the wall, and help it look more balanced in the room. I suggest a very dark version of the green on the other walls.

It would be helpful if you took some more close up pictures of the mantle. Is it wood or the same tile?

Krylon high-heat enamel comes in a copper colour. Just spray paint your fireplace tools and screen for a quick inexpensive fix.

Or, say goodbye to that black tile, and tile over it. You won't have potential water issues that people warn about when doing this in a bathroom or kitchen. Someone in another thread used stick-on tile to go over a row of decorative tiles above their bathroom vanity. Lots of how-to on the internet. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, it's a small job for a tile pro or handyman because there's no demolition or drywall work. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/can-you-tile-over-tile/

If the sides of the tiles show, just paint them your new tile colour. I painted the tile edges in my bathroom and it's lasted 20 years.

The row of tiles above the mantle should be painted the same colour as the wall. You can buy or make a slip cover mantle (or mantle cap or mantle cover) that goes right over the existing one. No demo required. https://www.homedepot.com/b/Fireplace-Mantel-Cap/N-5yc1vZ1z10hgv

This might be too country a look for you but a burlap mantle scarf would break up the sea of black. I wouldn't leave long fringes because of your cats. https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/280771357990481981/

Thank you great ideas!!

We had slate with white mantle when we bought the current house. and white mantle looked too traditional with the much more rustic slate..really bugged me. Ours was multiple colors slate, tiles-weren't smooth.. but still.. I'd consider that when deciding on a mantle.

Agree that best thing of course would be to redo completely, or to modify..from my experience though-you'd love it more if completely redone. We wanted to save money, so we did redo ours but not fully. and I am not pleased as I should be. "Someday" though gets further as we speak..as it often happens with best laid plans..))

Anyway, that's my frustration, and your slate might be less rustic in nature, tiles- more sleek... and can be painted as partim suggested. Maybe it's easier to make it shorter, in your case. Will still be up to code.

(we actually took ours to the ceiling, which is 8 feet, and I didn't want it to visually "cut" the wall..the idea was nice but there were many shortcuts in implementation.)

I like the idea of painting the wall darker too. And the screen idea-simple and brilliant. And bright colors on art in rendrings above really work. I must add I'm very "asymmetrical" person in my preferences, so if art doesn' t align with the windows that would make me only too happy.

To my eye too much stark white on the mantle only emphasizes the black mass.

I would choose art with planes of color

Kazimir Malevich Suprematism, 20"x20" Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print · More Info

Kazimir Malevich Suprematism, 20"x20" Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print · More Info

Kazimir Malevich Suprematism, 20"x20" Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print · More Info

Kazimir Malevich Suprematic Painting, 20"x25" Gallery Wrapped Canvas Print · More Info