Thank you Beverly! We have considered white washing the fireplace. That's so neat how you gave me a visual. Thank you! The whole black-trim-on-one-wall-thing came about when we had someone come out for a consultation on widow treatments/blinds (which we haven't figured out yet either). We also needed blinds in the master bedroom and newly renovated master bath, which both have black trim, and the look is really great in those areas. She suggessted we carry that out into the living area by doing the fireplace wall trim black, plus the ceiling beam and staircase rails. It doesn't have to stay, but looks a bit better in person with the whole house in perspective. I'm so grateful for the suggesstions!!! I'm an accountant, not an interior decorator!!

This will not help you, I'm sorry. Seems to me the whole point of having a mantle is decorative/ display space. In this case you have room for very little. If it were mine, I would eliminate the mantel and lower the tv as much as possible yet still within fire safety guidlines. I have never understood the draw of a tv above fireplace.

A rectangular interesting and colorful painting and just the candlesticks, with nothing else on the mantel, will look very nice, with perhaps a plant or foliage or flowers in a vase added. No word signs, that trend is over and it really never looked good. If you don't use the fireplace tools I would remove those too.

Kudos to you for NOT putting the TV over the fireplace. In most spaces, seeing that always makes me hear NIN .... "bow down to the one you serve...." Mantel-wise, a bit of editing and addition might be in order. I'd keep the art, leaning if you like. Doesn't need to be centered. (first pic below isn't,for example) Edit the vases and the two smaller items. I might end up with two vases and that light (?) on one side only,depends. My choices would differ thru the year. Rotate your items, a mantel should not be a static vignette. (although I get that some like to do that) Allow your items space to breathe, let the deep wall color surround them, and try mixing material,heights, and shapes. Fresh flowers in a vase look great, so does greenery, but random dried stuff doesn't. Consider adding something tall,slim and metallic for more height if you wish. Like a candlestick,a sculpture. Or add a small painting in front of your art. Mantels, like console tables or shelves can look great minimal, maximal, and in between. But they are only part of the whole room. If relocating the TV is possible,I would. Could it fit on the other side of the fireplace? That would open up that TV corner for a low,open chair. Overall,it seems to me that you've created a personal and layered space. Edit it a bit and see if you enjoy it even more.