TIDY shelves of books for the win!

Seriously -- never go out and shop for bric-a-brac that doesn't follow naturally from what absolutely grabs you. That is the path to expensive clutter. If you aren't feeling giant vases, you just don't need giant vases.

My first thought was shelves. Books are a great raw material! And cherry wood shelves (or keep them the yellow color to blend in) would look nice.
I love the look of stacked and color-coded books complemented with found objects. Pottery (even inexpensive glazed flowerpots) is my go-to item, or bottles/jars filled with pebbles/shells/etc.
It could still look really neat and clean. You could give the tv and vcr more air down below and spread the books out above.
Love the artwork.

i dig the idea of shelves, but i also kinda like the mirrors there since they open up that space. i think putting symmetrical sculptures/arrangements on either side would only make the fireplace area look boxier and more severe-- my suggestion is to lean some tall-ish framed art on each side (even layering a couple pieces), allowing some of the mirror to remain visible. i'd go for abstract organic paintings to soften those spaces up (think Franz Kline)...then include personal items- a vase, turtle shells, a glass bowl heaped with old pool balls, coral...you know, whatever...

also, i would lower the painting above the fireplace a good couple of inches...

best of luck-- that looks like a great space to work with!!

I think the shelves will make it look a little over the top symmetrical. I would opt for taking the mirrors down and having some photos or artwork framed in vertical frames that match.

I do like the idea of continuing the books, but lately I've discovered the joy of burning candles placed in front of mirrors. The mirrors amplify and reflect the candlelight and it can be very lovely. Maybe three enormous candles on each side of the fireplace?

Leave the mirrors.

I vote for leaving the top openings bare.

But if you think it too spare, look for something LARGE and architectural that sits sort of centered in the squares. Were it me, I'd do those big flat disks of jade, mounted on stands.

And if you leave shelves in the lower one, they seriously need to be bulked up.

If you do add bookshelves to the top (but I vote no), take out the mirror and enclose the bottom openings with doors.

And while not normally a fan of flat screen over fireplace, in this instance, the shelf effect gives you a perfect place to sit (not mount) a TV. If so, you can always hang art in each of the mirrored openings.

If you don't need the bottom openings for storage, store logs in one of 'em.

Totally agree with Patrick...specifically, get something simple, big, and ROUND. Even if it's not a jade disk--there are incredibly inexpensive gorgeous large charger-ish things, or even a few big items with rounded coontours.
Bookshelves--while I love books and always want more--will just make the boxy even more boxy.
Re the mirrors--since you're planning to renovate in a few years anyway, I'd avoid the hassle. it's always more work than you think.
Great fireplace--have fun!

No, please, no! RID THE MIRRORS! They scream outdated. Built ins are the way to go. Paint the wall behind a different color and spread out your books in organized clusters adding a trinket here or there that you own. I'd also suggest a round mirror to replace the rectangular framed art you have that reinforces the boxiness. It would be lover-ly!

Consider also changing the color or finish of the upper portion of the chimney breast. Slate, glass mosaic tile, or just paint.

And installed recessed downlights in each of the MIRRORED recesses.

Then enclose both down openings with wood doors, and run the grain horizontally.

All this will help with the "Hollywood Squares" look.

i saw your place and immediately thought of one of my favorite fireplaces, i scanned it here http://www.flickr.com/photos/southof290/2244737023/

i'm in the tidy up and keep the mirror camp, but i think the real problem is that middle shelf, it's like a thick belt on a big-hipped woman

I recently saw David of Color Splash on HGTV modernize bathroom mirrors that looked like these, by framing them in dark wood. He took 2x4s, painted them a rich dark brown, then he GLUED them to the mirrors. You have to use appropriate glue of course. Don't ask me, I didn't catch that part but I'm sure the hardware store can help.

This way, you don't have to buy something else just to put it in front of the mirrors. I think buying big decorative stuff just to put them in front of the mirrors is not necessarily the best solution, maybe warming up the mirrors by framing them will do the trick, and for not much money.

I would do books on the top and some manner of doors or short folding screens on the bottom. The TV corner looks a little cluttery to me, so you can hide it this way.

I would actually like a massive round starburst mirror over the fireplace. They seem a bit pointless at the sides of it.

I'm with Patrick (the other one) on this. Those big spaces need big things, and I would consider putting doors on the bottom spaces.

I like the starburst mirror idea also.
It seems like you like books, so putting shelving would work well. To counter the square effect, include some non book items on the shelves too (pics?plants?) Play it up as a library wall with something fabulous in the middle.

Here's an idea akin to framing the mirror:

Go to your local frame shop and ask to see the colors in their oversize mat selection. Have the exterior of the mat cut to fit the measurements of the recessed space above the shelf. Have the interior cut to fit the amount of mirror that you don't mind seeing.

Choose a color that pulls out the shared colors in the books below or the framed picture in the middle. Glue or otherwise affix the mat to the mirror,then decorate as the above folks have described. You should be able to achieve this somewhat inexpensively.

As a final step, consider organizing and containing the clutter on the lower shelves in boxes that match or complement the colors you've chosen for above. Alternatively, you could mount a roller shade in a decorative fabric on each side to hide the tv and accessories when not in use. (I like smith&noble for this.) Good luck! Send in the results for us to see!

I would hang something from the top of the niche, maybe paintings/photography or a large sculpture of some kind (maybe on chain, but I was thinking more on those metal rail things you see in Pottery Barn catalogs). Anything on the ledge might make the space look boxier than it is and would be far more difficult to fill the void further up.

I like large scale artwork in the center and if you did need more storage, a couple shelves would be nice. As far as the weight of the space, I think it's better to keep the bulkier storage like stacked books on the bottom and, as others said, perhaps covering them with cabinet doors. Also, to define the space more architecturally, I like the idea of painting the space above the mantel in a darker shade of the same color, or a contrasting color all together. Maybe the different color below? Just an idea, good luck!

i reeealy like that space, but i'm a sucker for boxy minimalism... as a general rule, divergency of scale and asymmetry are good things that help to add visual interest to a space (as our eye/mind naturally wants a state of symmetry, asymmetry wakes up the senses). in that vein, one thing that comes to mind is an element of scale (large print/art leaning in the center space replacing the horiz. piece which is ill-sized) and asymmetry that seems to be missing. other posters have mentioned large pieces and i'd agree, but a pair of anything will tend to over-formalize the already brutal space (good for buddhist temples, bad for mantles). others have mentioned the removal of the mirrors (i'd agree) and the addition of built-ins... however, unless you have some really nice books to display, i'd keep the built-ins down below as built-ins to replace the mirrors calls for a set of first-edition hemmingway (not paperback danielle steele). the TV and videos seems crammed in that space. i'd suggest moving the TV to a place that doesn't compete with the same-size-y-ness of the fireplace itself or think about doors to cover the mess. i'd also urge you to avoid the knick-knacky trappings of dried flowers and small tschokies... you don't *need* to fill every nook and cranny with "decor"... less is more.

Get rid of the mirrors.
Get rid of the mirrors.
Get rid of the mirrors.
I've never heard any of the home design pundits say it, but I think mirrors can increase clutter by doubling the amount of stuff you see - especially on a mantle. Dump 'em.
With the mirrors down, I covet that mantle - such a perfect place for displaying art.

I like the mirrors. And you can always hang art infront of it as well.

Keep the mirrors, tidy the shelves below, and put one 'grand gesture' in front of each mirror (maybe something like the Dora Maar vase from Jonathan Adler) and then keep the rest of the mantle clear.

You've got a really great space to work with. How lucky you are. To begin, I wouldn't be too hasty to take down the mirrors. They add light and space and are really lovely if they’re in good condition.

To begin, I’d add some architecture: add molding to create something dramatic above the existing mantel, settling the top of the mantel over a half a foot over the current one. You can buy it or make it with planks of wood and molding; the design needs not be complicated, it just needs to stand out from the rest of the wall. Paint the area to match et voila. You can do whatever you want with the space you’ve been blessed with, in whichever style is yours. Lastly, I would add some recessed lighting.

Off the top of my head, there are 3 things you can now do:
1. Add shelving, keeping your original art.
2. Add an interesting piece in the center, flanked by art.
3. Add some more architecture in the form of arches over recessed wall.

See the sample images I’ve made here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23544483@N04/with/2247441094/

Hope you get some great ideas from this!