I am in the process of updating my fireplace hearth as we also will install a gas fireplace insert. The wall surrounding the fireplace is stone and we will not remove that. I've removed the old hearth and reduced the overhang to be a rectangle shape. I'd like to use a material that is more contemporary but still looks great with the stone. My two material ideas are to make the hearth of a sleek wood in a dark cherry or smoky mahogony stain. There is an offset mantle further down on the wall that could be updated with the same wood material to tie the look together. My other thought is to use a 10x20 sleek tile with 1/8 grout line, and possible glass tile accent trim. This is the fireplace that will go in: http://www.kingsmanind.com/files/file/152/idv33_36_100.pdf Picture of the fireplace here: https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=772a390f7245b2ba&page=play&resid=772A390F7245B2BA!311&authkey=wBNqeH5xVWY%24

You have a nice room, it's very dark. I would not use that herringbone tile. Too busy, does not work with the rest of the decor of the room. I would paint the fireplace the same color as the trim and also add some lamps to the room. That will lighten up things considerably. Then decide if you want to replace the tile.

To my eye the fireplace does not have attractive proportions. The hearth is too wide and and overly deep for its height, the wood box is too small, the ceiling trim too bulky, mantle too large and too high. And the doorway looks squashed in beside it. No amount of whitewashing or painting is is going to change any of that. The good news is that it looks like the stone isn't boulders stacked up like some of the photos people have posted above. I think it's rock veneer, flat pieces of rock stuck to a cement/wire mesh base. If it's veneer, you should be able to see that from the side. Can you stand by the round mirror and take a picture for us? Veneer can be removed relatively easily by someone with experience and the right tools. Then you can have the room you want. You can shorten the hearth and put the TV to the left of the fireplace which would look much better than above it. Now is the time to do it, when you're re-doing the floor. If not, be sure to keep a box of the flooring for later if you want to remove or shorten the hearth and need to fill in the floor. My house also had an overpowering stone fireplace and the best thing we ever did was replace it with a normally-proportioned fireplace surround. IMO these large stone fireplace walls look great in big chalet-style homes with high ceilings, and are out of place in regular homes.

There are a few ranch houses in my neighborhood with white or cream paint and dark roofs and trim. They are stunning! By the way, the brick on your chimney is very pretty. I definitely would not paint the brick. Can you paint the garage door black, too?