Do you use it, want to keep it, need to keep it?

It's interesting how the upper curved part blends into the wall so well, a demonstration of the power of painting it all one color.

This could be a Kiva FP in which case it needs to be either embraced or removed. Waht style is your house ? Coastal only tells me locale I need to see the house. I really dislike corner FPs so I woudl remove it and add one somehwere that makes furniture placement much easier. So is it gas or wood burning ?

Is the wall behind it white? If so, I would paint it the same.

Paint it and don't spend another $ on it.

Paint it to match the walls and add satin nickel bowed fireplace screen and tools.

I like it as it is. The brick pattern is interesting.

I would eliminate the one set of steps without a rail and close up the pony wall.

The wall cutout bothers me more than the fireplace. Removing a fireplace with a chimney is generally expensive. I would paint the brick to match the walls (talk to your paint store about high heat paint). And either close the gap on the wall or open the bottom part. I would also remove the stair railing on the left and replace with a wall mounted handrail if one is really necessary.

Here's one way to do it (make sure to clean the firebox really well so that it appears black. bring in a few logs.

Paint brick, add wood beam mantle, build a wood skirt

Or, nix the wood skirt trim, and just have all brick:

You could also skim coat all of the brick to match the upper portion, smooth it all out and paint or leave natural.

I wonder if someone before you skim coated that upper portion. maybe it was brick like shown here:

different levels of paint coverage you could do. this one is more of a limewash

You could also go for a very heavy mortar coverage over all of the brick.

I'd prob do something w/the triangular top portion and remove it.

Thank you all! i do like the idea of closing up that wall and maybe building somwthing on it like built in bookcases. agreed the stairs need help.

The fireplace is great. I'd design my whole room around it as is. There is too much working against it in the room.

I would stucco or plaster over the brick and make it all smooth. You don't have to arrange all your furniture around it. You could have a place to sit by it and the main seating area could be in the main part of the room.

I tiled my fireplace which has rounded edges, as does yours, with pencil tiles. They come on a sheet and if placed vertically, accommodate the curves.

Maybe lift it off the ground by just painting the bottom perhaps. Add a 75" Frame TV next to it and it is a perfect setup.

THank you all so much for your input.