If you are looking for a Wow! factor, the fireplace has a certain Arts and Crafts potential with those brackets holding the mantel shelf. Flank the fireplace with two substantial built-in looking bookcases about 3/4 the height of the fireplace. The stone does not look natural - is it concrete? I would tile it over with earth-toned tiles with a hand-glazed look, all but the brackets, the shelf, and the tiles on the flat surface of the hearth. If only the brackets are exposed, they'll look natural enough. Perhaps a couple of decorative tiles in there also. Or you could stucco over the stone. Paint the firescreen dark bronze or black. A couple of sconces over the book shelves. There should not be that much soot deposited over the opening. Either there was a bad one-time flare-up or there are chronic problems with a smoking chimney.

Everyone has been most helpful. Thank you for all the suggestions. I think gayle brought up a good point about having both lamps on the fireplace wall. I tried some different arrangements and decided I did not like the ginger jar lamp on the drapery wall though as it competes/clashes with my drapes. I feel it works best to the right of the fireplace. However, I swapped the floor lamp and the drum table, moved some of the items closer together plus took down some of the wall decor and would like feedback to see if I'm on the right track. Galye's idea of moving the curio to the left side does not work. There is no pic yet in the little red frame, but that is the plan. Here it is with the gold shade back. Perhaps it does not look so off now that the floor lamp has moved. I'm going to go back to Lamps Plus tomorrow and look at some different shapes in gold. I haven't been able to find a black one in the size I need and even with the excellent virtuals squirrel has provided, I'm a bit leary of ordering one online. squirrel: I really appreciate all of your PS virtuals. I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating. You are incredibly talented. If I could please ask (when life settles down) if you could PS the sconces on either side of the painting in the above picture. I am not quite decided it I want the sconces there or elsewhere. I did try the floor lamp where you placed it and from that perspective I really like it, but from the other angle it blocks the view more than I would like of my drapery. While I do love the virtuals of the pics to either side of the fireplace IRL it just feels like the pictures are competing with one another as the room is not that large. With the taller table top decor to either side of the fireplace (which I still need to work on), I'm thinking perhaps I don't need so many pics on the wall. I also liked Les' idea of putting some greenery/plants in the sconces instead of the candles. Les, can you suggest any particular plants or place to shop for them? Do you see it as more upright or cascading? Here is a close up of my corner curio: It was not a deal and I paid more than I wanted to. I spied it some months ago at an antique store, but didn't get it since I was not far enough along with this room. When I decided a few months later I still wanted it and had not seen anything on CL for sale, I decided to go back to the antique store and bought it. They didn't want to haggle on the price, though it was on a 10% off sale. I still need to work on items for the center shelf. I just love the little key that I need to use to open the cabinets. squirrel, did you notice the fern on top like you had added (though yours does cascade better than mine)? Do you even realize how much influence you've had on this room? You picked out my floor lamp too.

Thank you for your suggestions! strategery, to demolish the fireplace would be very costly and that's not in the budget. Plus, it's a functional fireplace and the only heat in that room - refacing it should be fine, I just don't know what to reface it with : -) tatts, I don't know what bluestone is but I'll google that! Beth H. great suggestions! I like the idea of something different, although with it being tiled from floor to ceiling, I'm gun shy about doing anything too busy and having to coordinate other furnishings to a bold design. I especially love the tile in your second photo. It looks like Tabarka Tile, which I'm in love with, but I figured out the square footage and the tile alone would be about $2K and I don't think I can stretch the budget that far. I love Fireclay also but the lead time on their tile is about 8 weeks and I don't have that long. I think the blue herringbone tile is a good look - I wouldn't do blue, probably something more muted, but do you think that look would be OK from floor to ceiling without being too busy?

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. 🤗