My first thought is there needs to be more contrast between the brick and the mantle. They are the same tones, so nothing stands out. I would refinish the mantle either darker or lighter. Personally, I would go dark for more drama. Instead of lots of little things, you need objects with more impact. If you want to increase the feeling of height, add some tall objects: vases, candle holders, sculptures, etc.
I found this article when I was working on my fireplace, its very helpful http://www.sasinteriors.net/2011/10/how-to-decorate-a-mantel/

Give the period of the objects you love, a Charles Rennie Mackintosh-style white fireplace would be great. If painting the brick is not an option, can you paint the mantlepiece and fix white panels on the pillars either side, up to the point where it starts to jut out? Perhaps some sort of white-painted overmantle panel, too, that the picture could hang on would increase its input. This landing at William Morris's Red House is inspirational about what white can add to Arts and Crafts http://www.williammorristile.com/morris_life/red_house_upper_landing.jpg

I like the idea of creating contrast by darkening the mantle. You could decorate your mantle and add some plants to the bottom. Check out Emily Henderson's video about styling one: http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog/styling-101-how-to-style-your-mantel.html

There is so. much. brick.

Move the framed print AND the klimt tile. You love these items, but they don't work at all with your fireplace. They're too small for the fireplace, and the colors don't work. I suggest you take these items and place them in an area where they can be better appreciated by themselves.

Also, paint the walls something that isn't tan or sage. Farm house red might really complement the fireplace by bringing out the browns.
As for the fireplace, I would add something big and bold right above it, that works with the brick without fighting it. Maybe a sculptural element. Stained glass was extremely prevalent during the Arts and Crafts movement. A large stained glass mural in brighter colors would look great, I think.

All the items around your fire place are way to small, and the color of the wall does not provide enough contrast with the brick. I would flank the fire place with tall, columnar plants, or African sculptures, or something, and maybe find a cool painting, large and bold, preferably modern, and prop it on the mantel.

I was going to suggest a mirror, too -- large enough to really fill the space above the mantel. It would give contrast and help lighten up the brick and wood. Reframing the print in a much larger frame, with wide matting in a cream color, would give this more pop, but I think overall the print is too small for the space and would be better in another spot. I agree with the previous posters that the Klimt tile deserves a better home. It gets really lost in all that brick. Good luck, and post an update when you decide!

All your pieces are small and blend in with the fireplace. You need fewer, bigger and higher contrast pieces. If you move the Mucha and Klimt that you love so much to a light colored wall they will show up better and you will enjoy them more. Look for art nouveau and arts and crafts artists for one big statement piece over the mantel. I would also look at Stickley style furniture and have a mantel made more in that style. Good luck!

Contrast and Scale...more of both.

If you can repaint the mantel, I would do that as others have suggested.
Concur with the other suggestions that the objects you do have there are too small to make an impact.

Consider hanging a large brightly colored textile above the fireplace - a thai silk piece or something vibrant that almost fills the entire space between the mantel and the ceiling.

A tall full house plant would be nice there too.

Depending on if you actually use the fireplace, I can also see a simple bench cushion running along the hearth - something you could make yourself out of a wool fabric remnant that has a bright pattern that evokes the arts/crafts spirit.

rynkeller nailed it. If you're married to that art, it needs to be reframed with a larger mat and thicker frame that will allow it to echo the size of the "hole" of the fireplace. Painting the mantel a darker color would help ground the eye.

But I think the problem is more basic. You say you want "wow" factor, but both of the art items you love most are saturated with "subtle nuance" factor, not the bright colors, bold graphics, or high contrast that constitute "wow" factor. If you achieve "wow" factor on that wall, you might end up outshining your art so that it can't possibly hold its own. Reconsider the term you use for your goal. How about: "I want to create a warm, subtle, timeless setting in which my favorite art can be placed so that it is seen to best advantage." That approach calls for fine gradations of color, tiny details, and materials that possess heritage, whereas (so far) you seem to think the answer will be found in eye-popping, bold statements.

Maybe start by getting one of those pieces of art in a larger version.

@keusadilla thanks for finding that video, I was thinking the same thing. For Pzzldmom, if you like the print and tile that you have on the mantle already, then my suggestion is to paint the mantle itself a bright pop of color - orange, yellow, or if you want to stay more neutral, paint it the same as the wall color, but use a glossy paint. Then instead of hanging your print, set it on the mantle leaning against the wall. Hang big mirror or large print on the wall above. Whatever you hang needs to be 3/4 - full width of the fireplace opening.

Hope this helps!

Brass peacock firescreen or something else. Agree with bee for Brian. The fireplace is saturated with warm colors. Larger items like a tall vase- not warm and brown- standing in front of the brick wall would interrupt the monotonous brick. Big mirror would lighten it too.

Brass peacock firescreen or something else. Agree with bee for Brian. The fireplace is saturated with warm colors. Larger items like a tall vase- not warm and brown- standing in front of the brick wall would interrupt the monotonous brick. Big mirror would lighten it too.

Agree that it's contrast and scale. Everything around the mantel is far too small to have the kind of impact you want. You need much larger accessories and artwork that contrast more with the immense brown wall. The wall is so strong in it's scale and blanket of brown that you need something strong to stand up to it, whether it's much larger artwork, a mirror, a big dramatic vase with tall, dried branches, or layering variations of these things. And I think painting or replacing the mantel piece itself is a fantastic idea to punch it up and make it a feature. You prints are great, but I think they will work better maybe on a flanking wall. They just get lost. Good luck and have fun with it!

I agree with the above comments. I think you need a chunkier mantle that stand out more. Then you should find yourself a larger painting or mirror for above the fire place. If you want to keep the print and tile that you love close to the fire place I would suggest haning the print stacked over the tile (get a plate or tile holder) on the wall just to the right of the fireplace. (or see if you can get the tile framed in soemthing similar to the print and stack them on the wall to the right).

I would get a large vase with some sticks or a tall fern-y plant that would sit beside that shair inbetween the fireplace and the door. You need some added height to the area and a tall plant would help. Plus it brings in a splash of green.

I would remove the other small items from the mantel and find some large scale candles or taller vases in bolder colours as the items you have on there now just fade away.

That "styling the mantle" video is really quite good. I'd use some of those suggestions, and if possible I'd recommend trimming the fireplace in a way that makes it stand out - framing the "pillars" of the fireplace with wood, for instance, or finding another way to set the fireplace off from the wall.

I'll probably get a lot of disagreements on this, but I would paint the brick that surrounds the fireplace opening (below the mantle only) white or cream to define it. Then paint the wood mantle the same color. You will be leaving the majority of the brick as-is but allowing the fireplace itself to "pop". (Tip: Try uploading the above picture into a photo program and recolor the brick to test out what it would look like. If you are not sure how to do this I am sure you could find a friend who does.)

To add height, like others suggested, a large mirror propped up on the mantle vertically would be sure to do the trick. You can prop the art you love so much in front of the mirror with the vase off to one side. The link @razledazlerose provides good visual examples of what I am trying to describe.

A tall plant would do wonders, I agree. But make sure it's far enough away or at least not so wide that you don't need to move it whenever you use the fireplace.

Why is painting the brick not an option? I would paint that brick in a heartbeat!!!! There really hasn't been any new construction since the 90's with brick like that. Painting it would totally update the look. I would bulk up the mantle and remove the fireplace guard. Do you use the fireplace? You could put something interesting inside if you don't (ie large river rocks). Also, your piece of art is wonderful, just to small. Maybe flank it with something, or move to a better place where it could better be displayed! Let us know what you doF!

Kirt

I notice that the hearth doesn't go all the way across the width of the brick. Also, the fireplace isn't centered. Grrrr. I would definitely like to see a vertical piece on either side of the hearth that can cover up some of the brick. Maybe a book shelf ? Storage ? Identical skirted tables ? Dressers ?
I would visually break up the brick over the fireplace with a rectangle of distressed wood or bead board. Maybe a huge picture frame with a painted back ? This could just lean or be attatched with velcro. Your artwork could go on this board. The board should be a color that really shows off the artwork. If your artwork looks to skimpy, ( and I think it will) add a few small mirrors or decorative plates or something so that the eye looks at it all as a "set" or "grouping" - not just a few straggly pictures.
I hope this helps. ~ C

Paint the ledge high gloss black (or bright white), have the mirror/art work also framed in black (or white) and do paint all the walls of the room in a bright white (BM decorators white or white heron for example). I think changing the surrounding walls will have the biggest impact.

- for inspiration, look up brick walls on google/pinterest - you will see that white and high gloss black looks amazing with brick.

The tile just doesn't do The Kiss justice. There's so many beautiful colors in the original that you can use it as a starting point for the rest of this fireplace. I know you're not open to painting the brick, but are you open to tiling? I think some mosaic tile near the top of the opening will work with an Arts and Craft style type of home. I'm a fan of a jade or maybe emerald glass tile. It'll break up on the neutral and work with the art piece.

The art in the middle is just too small in the center but might work as something flanking the center art. Just be sure to create visual balance with either another art piece or an equally ethereal statue possibly something gilded to play against the center art.

Contrast & Scale are totally lacking.

I would put some columns down the sides of the fireplace and maybe an over mantel, and paint it all a color the will bring some brightness in. (White is easiest but it doesn't HAVE to be white.) That way you don't have to paint the brick, just break it up. I agree with other commenters that painting the surrounding walls is also a good idea. Also, you could try some kind of stain or glaze on the brick to make it look less dull. At that point all you need to add is one larger piece of art or a mirror, if you want to keep it simple, which it sounds like you do. I would move the art you love somewhere else where it can be appreciated better instead of looking dinky. If you want to keep that tile on the mantel, then I'd do an arrangement of a few objects - maybe some arts and crafts style lanterns on each side for height, and a round mirror on the wall?

"It is nondescript, fairly boring and screams, *yawn*."

Thank you, Pzzldmom, for the mental picture of someone trying to "scream, *yawn*"

In my mind's eye they're either lost in a coughing fit or experiencing lockjaw.

Personally, I would paint the brick a darker color and hang a much larger piece of art or a tall tryptic. You could also make the fireplace seem taller and pop out by painting most of the brick to match the walls and painting from the hearth up a different color.

The brick "columns" under the mantel can be "extended" by placing tall candle sticks or tall art objects on the mantel directly above them. I would also add a cluster of framed or unframed paintings - they can be layered. Find paintings with a similar theme...like fruit or flowers...or abstracts.