Here are some possibilities to pull the entire visible space together since it opens onto the kitchen as well. The whole space is a mix of informal (kitchen, living room in distance with slipcovered sofa) and formal (dining room panelling and ornate pendant.) If you're only interested in making one change, skip my Comment. All my suggestions below take into account the kitchen and living room, all visible from the dining room to create harmony in all three areas: --Repaint kitchen and dining room white to match your visible living area on the other side of the kitchen. As mentioned, your dining room and kitchen are dark--dark countertops, dark wall paint, dark floor, dark dining room furniture. Lighter wall paint throughout the entire visible space would give you a sense of flow and airiness. --Remove that decor clock and replace with a beautiful, light colored horizontal landscape art work that will echo the outdoor view of your dining room window. A long, wide art work will give the feeling of another window. Art work can be abstract trees, skyscape, in greens, reds of falls, or whites as below. The creams and whites below echo your dining pendant. You could also do a pairing of two art works on that wall. --Your pendant, though beautiful, seems far too formal for a dining area open to the kitchen and in a mountain house. But if you love it, then pair the ivory color with an art work and nubby linen ivory panels ceiling to at the window per Diana Bier. Also consider a new overhead light in the kitchen to upgrade that space since it's totally opening to the dining area. --Consider adding ivory half slipcovers to dining chairs as shown below since you don't want a rug This will lighten the dining room and, again, echo your pendant and slipcovers at the other end of the space in the living room. (You could also paint the chairs ivory and your counter stools.)

I would like to see the chimney and firewall be the same material. If it were mine, I'd probably add brick behind to match and paint it all white (with a heat resistant paint, of course). I would then think about a tile for the floor that is closer to the wood color (but not a wood look tile) so it blends in, or maybe make a statement with a patterned cement tile. Does your woodstove brand have matching stovepipe available? If so, I'd switch it out for burgundy pipe. I don't know the technical aspects of using tile, but some of these with white tile is a more modern/contemporary look than the brick. not this stone, but with matching burgundy stovepipe: white brick: tile? fun hearths: this one with white brick

I wonder when natural brick and stone became a feature so disliked in the decorating world? Is it the Gaines effect? Pinterest? IG? All of the above? I mean, sure, throughout history people have painted masonry, but never to the extent as the last few years. It was something thoughtfully weighed and considered, usually due to bad brick quality … not a trend for any and all situations. Especially not with stone. Looking at real estate in my town, a large percentage of the houses have exterior and/or fireplace masonry painted over … and they look like badly done DIY projects. I’d never buy one. Reading old threads here, it was rare for anyone to suggest painting or limewashing masonry. Instead, the features were pretty much treated as background, and creatively integrated. I hope the tide turns, as there won’t be many houses left with interesting and natural features. Sorry to veer off, OP, just something that interests me. It is a discussion board, and I’m discussing. :)

Here is Option 1. I am suggesting you hunt for an antique armoire to slip into the niche. Depending on other furniture selections, you might want to paint it for interesting focal point. I relocated the TV and got larger TV with long console below. I would explore the cost to delete that fireplace or move to niche and fix wall where it currently sits. As a min get heat proof black spray paint and spray away gold bands. I would select track arm sofas and large coffee table or a pair of 24 x 48” glass and metal tables butted together. Less wood pieces for sure. A swivel chair to left of existing fireplace so TV can be viewed from there. A 9 x 12’ rug would anchor grouping. Depending on size of dining table you might have room for sofa table behind sofa with back to kitchen/ dining areas. A arc lamp behind swivel chair would be nice. Change out fan with style that works with new furniture.