Is that real stone? Or foam-fake stone?

If it’s real stone, I say leave it, it’s a cool feature. The bigger problem in this room is the wall color.

I would rip it out and redo it with a stone I liked, redo the box and add a mantel. If thats not an option, paint it.

What about having a built-in bookshelf unit built around it to hide the stone? it looks equal on both sides so floor to ceiling shelves with cabinet on bottom and a wood covering of the front of the hearth at the bottom sides. Then a mantle in the middle to connect the two pieces.

If that’s not possible, I would gray-wash it to make it all one uniform color. (Start with a 50/50 mix of paint to water. Chalk paint works great. If that’s too light, increase the mix to 75 paint and 25 water. The eye is drawn more to it because of the color variation. I’d add a simple white mantle and surround with art on top. Then paint the walls a similar light gray shade or white shade. Basements are dark so light colors are key.

As for furniture layout I’d have a small upholstered armchair on each side of the fireplace facing outward and then a sofa facing the fireplace and chairs with a cute coffee table in the middle. If it’s deep enough of a hearth I’d put some throw pillows on one side and a large basket with throw blankets on the other side. If you still want the pool table I’d put it behind the couch. Sitting area should be around the fireplace. Good luck. Hope that helps.

I really like it. Why rip out real stone. Paint the walls to match (I'd pick out a brown/grey) and it'll look 1000%s better.

Thanks for the comments. I feel bad painting it because it is real stone and it’s so stunning but... I feel like i need to do something.
I like the idea of the bookshelves. I hadn’t thought about that. However, how would I deal with the stone bench at the bottom? I mean, should the shelves go only bench to ceiling?

Also... I don’t like the golden fireplace. I’ve heard there is a heat resistant spray paint. Do y’all think that will be enough to change the color??

Painting, changing or spraying brass, and adding a mantel

I’d go ‘60’s mod around it. Cool and funky decor. Have fun with it and make it the focal point.

Kind of similar one:

https://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/house-interiors/a8712593/palm-springs-house/

From Apartment Therapy:

I really like the colors in yours.

I would live with it for a while since this is a basement, no need to rush into a decision.

You say it is stunning, so this means you like it. Not sure why you want to change it.

I agree with painting the walls. I would do a very light green or beige that matches the stones.

I would definitely replace the brass screen/doors with black, bronze, or nickel. I think that would make a big difference

You've got some beautiful colors in the stone from which to choose to base room decor or wall paint.

Maybe this is for a separate conversation but how can I decorate this long room where the fireplace is in? It’s a living room/family room in the basement. It’s long! I was thinking of somehow breaking it into a tv/couch area and adding a small bar near the fireplace (?) I think I’ll paint the long wall a soft cold light green/gray color.

Perhaps put the TV on one of the walls perpendicular to the fireplace?

what all would you like to have in that room?

Cool wall, you'll have an interesting space when you're done. My one thought looking at your photos, and seeing the rocking horse, is that if you have young children, that jagged edge on the stone bench could be lethal. Maybe if you do a wood mantel you could box over the top of the bench with matching wood - unless the fire box comes right down to that level. Do you think you will be using the fireplace, or is it strictly decorative?

real stone.. OOOH lucky you. I think this is very cool looking and unique. I agree with Sasha Dog. IMO Its your paint colour which is throwing things off.

Add cushions to the bench, just not in front of the firebox.

Very good points! I don’t have kids yet but we are planning to. We just bought that house so I’m in decor mode. I thought about adding a custom cushion to the bench of the fireplace because yes, I agree with L.D. Johnson, it could be lethal for kids. I think I’d like to use the fireplace once in a while

This should be taken as inspiration for colors. I couldn't really do much with the layout.

I wouldn't put a bar area in front of the fireplace. I'd put the TV/couch area there so you can enjoy the fire. Move the pool table where the couches are now. Put the bar in the corner where the TV currently is.

To create the TV area, put it on the long left or right wall, black couch opposite and red chair centered in the room facing the fireplace.

Cushions on the bench would help for seating, but unless they wrap over the top edge it would still be a hazard, as would leaving it open in front of the firebox. My daughter had a similar hearth, and installed a safety gate around it when her kids were little. That could be an option, although you'd need more of a fence than a gate. I wonder if a stone mason could do something about cutting, grinding, or capping the jagged edges to make it smoother.

Yes, you can spray paint the screens/ doors with heat resistance paint. I did mine in my game room and it turned out great. It would be a shame to paint the stone. It is lovely.

As for furniture layout I’d have a small upholstered armchair on each side of the fireplace facing outward and then a sofa facing the fireplace and chairs with a cute coffee table in the middle And a sofa table behind the sofa. If it’s deep enough of a hearth I’d put some throw pillows on one side and a large basket with throw blankets on the other side. If you still want the pool table I’d put it behind the couch. Sitting area should be around the fireplace. Good luck. Hope that helps.

Oh my! That green chair just changed the whole game! Thank you!!! Cawaps! I am a visual person so that helped so much. I think I have an idea on what I want the room to look like. I’ll look for some pics and share. 🙌🏼

Good point about the green on the pool table fighting with the stone. The visual separation achieved by putting the furniture on the fireplace end and the pool table on the far side will help, but you will need to choose your wall color to work with both.

As for my bookshelf idea you’d do shelves and then a cabinet with doors resting on the hearth. Then have the contractor put a straight panel at the bottom to cover the front of the hearth That will just look like the bottom of the cabinet. And don’t keep stone just because it is real. You want to love your house and if it doesn’t make you happy who cares if it’s real, white or gray wash it!

Okay... I think these are the ideas I’ll be considering.

Thanks to all of your suggestions I have found the right inspiration for that room. I think my pallet for the wall will be a light gray/blue - something to match the colors of the stone in the fireplace. Keeping the stone intact. 🤗 I’ll be adding a light wood mantel. I will also add a custom long cushion that wraps around the hearth - to make it kid safe. I’ll add one or two green accent chairs, and either golden, black or wooden accents like a lamps, coffee tables, pillos, etc. I have a dark brown sectional that I think will go well down there, too. Moving date is not until the end of April, so I’ll add the finish photos in May or so. 🤗

These are some photos of furniture layout. You could put a TV with stand in place of one of the chairs next to the fireplace.

I actually really like the fireplace wall! I would move the tv area to that fireplace wall end - put the tv on one of the side walls by the fireplace wall, with the sofa opposite. Then the pool table can go toward the other end of the room (basically switch the two areas as you have them).

I'm glad you've found your inspiration. My feeling was that the way to tone down the fireplace color was to add more color elsewhere (But not red! Red is complementary and will just make the green look greener). I think your plan will work out well for the room.

Right now the pool table clashes with the color of the stone But if the pool table doesn't stay, I could see building a whole room around that unique stone color.

A room composed of soft greens and blues would be great in this space.

I would keep it and paint the walls a light gray green. My reaction was similar to Sasha.