Please do not change a thing about the fireplace itself, it is gorgeous, including the stone mantle. Your floors are gorgeous too -- warm, and the warm colors in the FP, oh my goodness what I'd give to have a FP in my kitchen like that. I agree with others that what you've got on it is too small and too much, also too horizontal. You need (a) vertical thrust (b) simplicity (c) largeness. On either (or both) side(s), what do you think about a large vertical oil painting (or canvas transfer of oil painting) -- NO GLASS, just a framed oil, leaned against the wall, flanked by a pair of large topiaries or candles or wood candelabre (something of a soft material, not metallic or glass, since you have a lot of "hard" going on there with all the brick and stone. I know this is simple, but simple is often good, especially when the fireplace makes such a grand statement all on its own -- so much so that you could practically leave it completely undecorated and it would say enough! The only thing that bothers me a teensy bit is the exposed black firebox and I'm wondering about a simple (but beefy) fireplace screen in front of it. But even so, the rest of the composition says so much that this little point doesn't matter much.

Partim had it above...... embellished below You decorate/arrange for MOST of the time....... four chairs will easiiy go around the table. Float and forget the rest. Go get a big pouf cocktail table, or a round glass top to fight all the rectangles in the room. Get an inexpensive 5 x 7 rug, or a great faux hide rug! Snug the table to the wall...... add a great big piece of art or even a mirror !It is what it is. When you can lose the loveseat? Lose it.! And you will lose a " visual wall" : ) You can angle those for conversation and walk right through. Doesn't matter...this is what you have now. And it fits. Just make it work . If it is two of you dining MOST of the time......you don't worry on the rest of the time where you might want six. This is why god invented "buffet style". Bottom line is you are both "over " and under furnished. For the moment. lol

Are you planning a wood burning or gas fireplace? If wood burning this one seems like a great option for linear without being too modern - we looked at it but concluded we needed more height (and we're not dealing with the constraint of a t.v. over the fireplace, as we're generally not a fan of that, aesthetically or functionally). http://www.heatilator.com/Products/Longmire-Wood-Fireplace.aspx That said, I would really consider an arrangement as in your first photo, with the t.v. next to the fireplace.

Thank you everyone for the responses! I have attempted to respond 2x so far and it isn't showing up...I'll write a shorter response and then reload the computer to see if that is the issue. To answer your questions (quickly): I apologize about the sample quality. I posted the photo to show the shape of room and give you an idea of what we are working with at the moment (obviously, still working on it). I didn't even think that maybe you guys would zoom in on the pictures! I will put a higher quality one. I"m sorry they were so horrible/terrible. Thank you for the suggestion to use Duraseal/Bona. I had wondered if that was a better option but hadn't started researching. I was playing around with the minwax that I had at the house. I will def look into the Duraseal provincial. I think it's more like the color I imagine in my head. My only concern is that it would be too dark but that's what samples are for! The floors will be pine. We aren't in the position to get other wood right now, so we are going to deal with the yellowy color but it's the best we can do. fortunately, pine was common in farmhouses around here, so we aren't too far off base (I don't think so, anyway...) I am going to re-read everything and get back with more answers. I'll find a better quality sample pic. Sorry again - I didn't realize that you were looking at them!