OK, i commend you for taking on this job.
This is what I would do:
- Rent a Sawzall and saw away the horrific shelfie thing. It must have just been stuck on there, so it may come off easier than you think. Look underneath it for supports.
- Remove the drywall, if you choose
- remove the brassy thingie.
Then I would sand and seal the brick, so it was one more or less homogenous texture.

Then I would paint the brick in the color of your choice and install the surround of your choice....
good luck! send us after pix!

I think your space lends itself to some fun updates. I would remove the dry wall and expose all the brick and paint it all white - quite modern or that amazing deep, dark bluish grey everyone is loving right now.

Would you be allowed to put it a new insert? I've looked into inserts and they make some really sleek modern ones these days. That way you get to keep your fire, and you get to have it look modern.

The tile? hmm...If you don't want to have to remove it, you can try covering it in cement so that it would be a cement slab under the painted brick. You could extend that slab all the way to the door, making for a cool, modern shelf/seating.

I think this is exciting. Have fun. :)

http://www.modernests.com

if you're lucky the drywall was sparingly glued on. worst case scenario, you may have to sand/beadblast the brick. if it's completely discoloured, you could consider painting the brick white. as for the slab, you could remove the tile and have it blasted at the same time as the brick.

I would just strip everything back to see what I had.

It is possible that the brick won't be in too bad shape underneath the drywall, or at least be salvageable. Poultices might remove some staining, or substances that would have penetrated into the brick (given its porosity). No way to tell until you strip it off though. In a worst case scenario, you may need to stay open to painting the brick.

Same thing for the tiled ledge. If it is too damaged, it is something that can be easily replaced -- either with a fresh concrete ledge, or a stone slab. Or, if it is stained from the tilework, you can stain the concrete, and wax it (a very attractive finish)

I'm sure it will feel so good to rip out that insert!!! Too bad about losing the wood burning fireplace though...

You are to be commended for fixing such a "remuddling" travesty!

Good luck -- and keep us posted!

I would remove the black tiles instead of cementing over them. You would only be able to skim coat it and it may not be thick enough to completely cover the tiles and grout. Tear down the drywall, and if it was glued, you may need to use a chemical solvent or sand blast to get the glue off. It's a lot of work and will be quite dirty.

I think you should just talk to a contractor with experience in restoring things - that would give you a more definitive answer about the brick and the concrete/tile.

I do like the suggestion above of putting in a new, sleeker insert, if you want a working fireplace

I think your right about the drywall being glued on. I like the idea of painting the brick after the drywall is removed but I don't know if that's an option for you.

As far as the brass surround goes, they sell a high heat spray paint that's much cheaper then replacing it all together.
http://itsgreattobehome.net/2009/04/24/how-to-paint-a-fireplace-surround/

I suggest you remove the tile and see what you end up with...if you like the concrete look all you have to do is resurface the concrete, or you can just buy a more attractive tile to lay down.

Good luck.

Oh removing an insert is expensive when done right, let's remember we're dealing with gas.

That tile will pop right off with a chisel. That said, you will be left with some mastic. You can have it ground off (but it's dusty work). The concrete should be as good as new.

The brass cover probably has nothing to do with the actual gas pipe inside the fireplace. It should come right off. What to do about the gas piping is best left to an expert IMO.

As to the dry wall, it looks as though they "furred" it out with furring strips and affixed the drywall to that. If so, then you're lucky. The drywall will pop right off the furring strips, and the furring strips are power nailed into the brick. Be careful pulling those off and you might be good to go.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Looks like a nice DIY project to me.

Personally I'd paint the brick as I'm over the red brick and would prefer a cleaner palette.

I would cover the brick in stone facing.

http://www.archiexpo.com/prod/pietraelite-elisdevid/reconstituted-stone-veneer-facing-exterior-54941-126247.html

And retile the concrete slab in mosaic tile.

Have a few people come out to give estimates. Ask what it will take, and if you can save a few bucks by starting in on the job yourself.

What you don't want to do is end up having to pay a professional to fix what you broke...like lopping off the corner of one of the upper bricks or the concrete slab.

You probably wouldn't be able to match the upper brick, so then you'd have a really big job. Of either living with a chipped brick or having the whole fireplace rebricked.

For fireplace inserts, they can range about $2,000-$3,500 for one of the newer sleek designs:
http://www.homeportfolio.com/listing/fireplace_inserts.html?catId=173&index=1&listGridPref=grid&itemsPerPage=48

You won't have a place to hang pictures above the fireplace. The fireplace becomes the art on that wall.

Check out a couple of images of fireplaces using similar brick styles...

http://veryvintagevegas.com/2007/10/20/the-susan-saga-chapter-15/

http://retrorenovation.com/2009/03/07/cindys-midcentury-massachusetts-ranch-house/

http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/05/was-my-50s-fireplace-originally-painted-or-unpainted-spokane-chris-ponders/

http://www.fitzdecarts.com/completed_projects.htm

http://www.arbold.com/Knoxville/Images/808-fireplace-1.jpg

http://www.arbold.com/Knoxville/Images/808-fireplace-2.jpg

I think it looks wonderful in it's natural state and not that thrilled with the painted one.

How do you know what the house originally had? Are you sure the dry wall/tile weren't added to cover a problem?

If you have contact with the previous owner, maybe you could find out who did the construction. They'd know better than anyone what you're up against in your reno.

Best of luck.

My suggestions would be to cover the black tile with a concrete skim coat, paint the brick white or gray and do the same with the drywall(i like the different textures) and replace the surround with a matte nickel one if you can....

Thanks everyone!
We're just not sure if we're going to go for it - or make some small changes we can live with for now. I think if we at least take off the fireplace doors and maybe paint the brass surround it would do wonders. As for the drywall, we may just paint the entire living room a more exciting color and put a huge piece of art above the fireplace.

What isn't shown in the pics is the opposite wall is all brick as well with Eichler style sky view windows - so we'd love to restore it to the original to anchor the room. Ahhh... to dream.

@lisa - we have seen pictures of the original space as they were planning to do what they did and there doesn't seem to be any issues they were trying to cover up. i believe i can get in touch with them, i might try that.

Again - thanks to everyone and to AT for posting!

Painting the brass surround is a recipe for trouble - unless you enjoy the smell of burning and bubbling paint....

Do the job right and either get a replacement fireplace insert - or get a gas burner that's meant for use w/out an insert.

As for the other - I'd strip of the sheetrock and tile see how the brick and hearth look. Worst case scenario, you could recover the hearth and brickwork with some groovy but timeless and MCM-appropriate ceramic tile such as Heath.

I really like the black tile shelf thing. Maybe change it to a white tile to go with the wood and brick?