I would advise against painting the brick and stone, because I don't think you can ever get the paint off again.

I'm questioning the pendant lights. Why are they in the corner of the room?

And are you going to paint? I'm not crazy about gray and beige together.

If you are not going to be using it as a functioning fireplace, pull the pendant lights, consider a twinkly chandelier in the center of the room and a large bright painting or mirror over the fireplace. Once the room is decorated, the fireplace will fade into the background.

Did you mean angles? If you've got angels in your house you should be running it as a tourist attraction, not remodeling.

Since you don't sound like you care for any of it, I'd do a total rip down, just be sure to budget for all new drywall for behind that top part, it probably won't come off clean. If you can't do that right now maybe clean the lower stone and paint the top stone the same color as your walls and hang a large piece of art or mirror on the wall next to it to redirect attention.

It's useful to know what style you are aiming for. Funnily enough, the first thing I thought of was... wood paneling! And then I realized that that sounded even more 70s. But what I had mind was a much more textured wood like (faux) zebrawood or cocobolo, that can play off the stonework as an "exterior" material, only on the fireplace wall (which can then be focal). You'd probably need to drop the chair rails, and ditch the beige in favor of something that is either: [1] more stark in color, e.g., white or gray which can create a modern/organic contrast or [2] more natural in color like a light "forest" green which plays off the nature more strongly.

As a second alternative, it's actually fairly easy (but slightly tragic) to simply cover up the fireplace with a wall.

As a third alternative, if you plan on doing some remodeling (e.g., w/the electric insert), you might as well get a contractor to handle the rest, e.g., resurface the fireplace etc. It's not too much work and once again you're at much greater liberty to design to our own whims (and not the fireplace's).

I would definitely say rip out (best case) or paint the fieldstone. Like honey oak, that look is never coming back. Plus it's on a really bad angle (puzzling), plus it's completely overwhelming. The concrete brick isn't too too bad. If you ripped off the fieldstone, is it flat enough to maybe reuse as a path or patio outside?

Another option might be to box over the fieldstone. That might be easier and cheaper. Then paint it out like the walls.If you do box it out, run the box up straight to the ceiling, don't follow the angle of the stone. You could even do a deeper (wood?) mantel under the box.

There's a nice example of a stuccoed fireplace here: http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0813295813493.html

I like the worn, gray bottom of the fireplace very much! It would create a cozy corner in your room. It seems that creating a space there was the original idea with lighting placement.

I agree about the dark top--it's way too much. Without it, you have a soothing background pale color values that I think work well together.

Happy Holidays!

I would go the simple route and tear out the weird angled bit of stone above the fireplace. See if that doesn't improve things before doing anything else. You may end up liking the fireplace better.

We had a similar situation only it was brick above the fireplace (not even real brick - just decorative thin bricks) and it was an easy DIY demo (although we did have a contractor replace the sheetrock).

Those hanging pendant lights would drive me crazy - I would replace them with ones that hung at the same level rather than having one higher than the other.

I would say rip out the stone over the fire place and reconstruct as a smooth wall and keep the bottom (mantel and below). The stone, because of how it appears, could be flat stone put on edge as a veneer. That may make it easy to remove.

Or, box it out, square it off and build it up, maybe even stucco or plaster it. Get rid of the balustrades over the window, chair rail, and remove the popocorn stucco ceiling and replace with smooth one. Have brass ones, and go for it!

Yeah, I personally really like the fireplace as is, and would just have the stone above removed. I don't think the color you/the seller picked does it any justice. Pain the walls a light gray, or a light beige from the fireplace stone, and just that will make the place looks much better.

Besides that just change the screen to something like this and the pendants to something more your taste.

Is it a wood burning fireplace that just needs some minor repairs?

If so, I would spend the money to have it fixed. There is nothing as lovely as a real wood-burning fireplace; I know that is a feature we've always looked for in houses that we have bought, and so suspect it might have higher resale value.

Then, I would rip off all the stone, and reface the fireplace, either with large single slabs of stone (marble or slate), or with Heath tiles, like so:

http://www.heathceramics.com/tile-build

It's a strange place to hang pendants; I would switch to a row of wall-washers sink into the ceiling instead. Since the textured ceiling already has a large patched spot, I would re-drywall the ceilings to get rid of the plastered texture. We had popcorn ceilings and covered them all with new wallboard; I know it is a hassle, but it makes a huge difference, and is really worth the effort.

Good luck and have fun with your new house!

If it isn't a wood burning fireplace, I would rip everything out, and re-center the fireplace on the wall; it's location squished in a corner will make furniture placement difficult.

I was confused about "angel stone" too. Not really sure if you meant angle or something else.

My recommendation is to paint the walls first, then see how you like the fireplace. It's an interesting layout and I think it could be really nice if you got rid of the tan walls. I'd paint it gray and then take a look at the fireplace.

While wood fireplaces are fun in theroy, I can tell you that the only time my childhood home fireplace was used was on christmas day. otherwise it was too much of a pain to get wood, get it going, wait for it to die out so it was safe to leave over night and then clean up after. I would highly comend the upgrade to electric or gas (the kind you turn off with a switch). I'm sure people will be horrified by that...

Anyways on to your delema. i think you should remove the stone above the fireplace and resurface the stone below (remove it and pick a nice tile or other stone to replace it). Get a chunkier mantle and either leave the wall above smooth or box it out slightly. Then on the right hand side where there are shelves in the fireplace, add new built in shelves that either end where the mantle is (if you don't box out the top, or continue up a little ways if you do box out the top).

I would definitely get lights that are the same height and remove the chair rail (it makes the room look short). I would either consider adding a layer of drywall to the ceiling to cover up the stucco and paint it white or you might want to consider adding wood planking to the ceiling to give the room some architectural detail. You can either keep the wood "woody" or paint it white. Don't forget to move the curtains up to just below ceiling height (which will also make the room look taller)

http://st.houzz.com/simgs/fcb10bc20e28624a_15-4824/contemporary-bedroom.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_49ajmL65Elo/S9ZB2YuC9jI/AAAAAAAACuQ/VVm1m8KmPVs/s640/elle-decor-white-bedroom3.jpg

it also looks like you've got an opening with spindles... you might want to consider changing out the spindles to something different or paint them a darker colour so they don't stick out so much. Right now it screams "Look at me! I'm a set of spindles randomly floating in the middle of nowhere!"

I, too, vote for getting rid of the stone above the fireplace. I think after that, it will be just fine. The nicotin stain paint on the walls - I hope it's going, too. I would paint in some light stone colour that goes with the fireplace.
I like the room, I think it has great potential.

Everyone will tell you not to paint it as you can't remove the paint later. Here's our thought when faced with the similar conundrum. If we hate it the look and color of the stone now we'll probably hate it later and have no desire to see it again. So, after investigating our options, we decided to paint it! We had a similarly large rocked fireplace that was at close glance, a lot of grout. We knew that ripping it out was the $1000 option but painting could work and be only around $100. Sure enough, it's gorgeous and now a stunning part of our living room. A coat of white masonry primer and two coats of white paint later, we are no longer dying to take a sledge hammer to it. If you want a first shot at the easier, cheaper solution, you have little out of pocket to lose. Good luck!!

I don't like the beige and grey together. I also don't like the trapezoid angle thing going on with the rock. Is it possible to get more rock and make it square and then find a nice grey for the rest of the room. And perhaps get rid of the faux wainscotting line across the middle of the room? That style clashes with the fireplace.

Having a large red stone fireplace in my 1970's home for fifteen years (red) I learned you can either pay someone to eradicate it or embrace it. First time I remodeled and thought I could just do what I want and it would somehow go away. It doesn't. You can't fight the bones of the house. Other unit owners have done HIDEOUS things like paint the stone. Don't do it. Either pay a contractor to rip it out completely OR embrace the 70's. Get some nice WARM mid century modern furniture-think handcrafted modern-Pearsall sculpted wood tables with glass on top. Cork lamps and chrome. Imo, the stone at the bottom is Ok and works with the beige paint..it really looks like the grey flagstone was added later and clashes with the rest of the space color wise. I'd spend a weekend rip it down the flagstone and have someone put up new drywall or just continue that stone from the bottom all the way up. Most mid century homes had that flat stone but the fireplaces went all the way up to the roof peak. Look at Atomic Ranch magazines and get a feeling for what your home might have looked like before someone started mixing styles.

Be really careful. There is probably gas lines or something behind it. I wonder why it's boarded up. I'd have it inspected before using.

Rip the whole lot out - in the long run it'll be more aesthetically satisfying than some patch-up job.

As for the bad angels in your home, some sort of exorcist would probably be in order.

I believe your fireplace probably looked like this originally-stone went all the way up. For whatever reason...probably a remodel where someone took out the chimney, etc...they took out the top. Is this gas, wood, or what? Does it vent anywhere?

http://www.weloveaustin.com/listings/Brady-404.html

How about the shelving and color blocked paint behind this fireplace in this MCM LA home? Gorgeous....

http://www.homeportfolio.com/SlideShow/interiors-with-colorful-personalities/laura-britt

Well...this actually is probably what your fireplace actually looked like originally before the flagstone was added at the top. I'd see about recreating this look. I just don't understand where the chimney has gone. If they took out the chimney all together and this is no longer a functioning fireplace, take it out completely and have a contractor thread in more oak flooring.

http://www.viridianrealestate.com/plugins/listings/partials/flyer.php?id=000000032

Sheetrock right over the grey stone and while you are at it square up that icky angle. Replace the pendant lights with recessed lighting, or if that is not an option perhaps track lighting or no lights at all up there.

I doubt the fireplace and rock wall above it were put in at the same time. Looks like a 60s era fireplace that someone thought could look groovier with that rock above it in the late 70s. Neither is really so awful on its own but they don't go together at all. Also, the chair rail looks like a recent addition and it also doesn't suit the style of the room. I'd remove it.

Window treatments are going to be a challenge in that room with the heater below those big windows. The drapes look like a fire hazard to me. Roman or cellular shades might be a good idea.

Hi, I'll get rid of it and replace it by a stove. I don't know if it's your style, but I am in love with the scandinavian stove like those : http://homeofbambou.blogspot.be/2012/10/scandi-week-swedish-real-estate-and.html

p.s. About the opening with the railings -- if you are going to be doing drywalling, you may as well close up that opening. Even though we can't see the whole wall, such a small opening, filled with spindles, adds nothing to the room, and breaks the flow of the wall, creating an odd shape.

Also, remove the chair rail, and switch out from Kraft-paper brown to something lighter, a shade of white.

Since you are going to be slapping up wallboard on the ceiling (!), you can work on the wiring, and run a box to the middle of the room (in addition to the wall-washers), and hang a gorgeous pendant.

This one -- the Moooi Random Light -- would be amazing (in the largest size available), although a cluster of 3 or more would be even more magical:

http://www.homeinteriors.ie/blog/moooi-light/

I would cover the stone on the wall with wood planks, panels, squares, whatever.
Change out those hanging lights for cans
Paint the walls bright white or very dark
Removing the chair molding will make the space seem larger and less choppy

I personally really like the fireplace proper -- it is probably that the current setting makes it seem dingy and oppressive. I would opt to keep it, and focus on addressing the things surrounding it. The fireplace has a bit of a rustic and dark feel to it, so I think you could balance it out by going with bright colors and sleek design. It's hard to say what kind of design you prefer, but here is what I would do:

- Tear down the blue stones above the fireplace.
- Tear down the molding to put emphasis on the height of the space.
- Get rid of the pendant lights.
- Can you do anything about the popcorn ceiling?

- Paint the walls in a lighter color (I think white would look quite nice).
- Not sure what kind of furniture you guys are bringing in, but modern, simple furniture with sleek lines would go well against the rough fireplace. I would suggest simple colors in the white/black/gray group.
- Update the fireplace accessories with modern-looking ones.
- Heavier, textured curtains to balance out the room given that the fireplace is in the farther corner of the room.
- Textured rug for warmth.
- A lot of light fixtures.
- Above the fireplace I would put a large mirror with a nice, rich border.

I am imagining this room in a lot of white, gray and black major elements, so you could play with warm colors in the form of throw pillows, candles, etc.

That's all from me. Best of luck!

For those asking about "Angels"... she's correct: the brick around the fireplace is called "angelstone". Google "angelstone brick" and you'll see images of the grey/cream, faceted brick in the surround.

Honestly, I think you should keep the surround... I have a problem w/the fieldstone above - perhaps just building out a drywalled area above the mantle would suffice? Then you can paint and decorate however you want. Cleaning up the angelstone is pretty easy and it's true to the age of the home. I like it - especially those built-in shelves to the right. It can be updated w/a new insert/screen and look great.

I'd get it professionally torn out and sheetrocked over, resulting in an ordinary wall. It's (sorry) an ugly fireplace and in an inconveninet corner. So, since it's non-working anyhow, I'd make it go away.

But that's just me...

(I, by the way, have a gas fireplace centered on a wall in my living room, which is a nicer layout. I like it, but it throws off a ridiculous amount of heat for a small room, so we seldom turn it on. I love the ambience, not the heat!)

You might look to www.retrorenovation.com for some inspiration. You could end up embracing the mid century vibe of the surround.

At least have the upper angled rock removed and sheetrocked professionally. I'd keep the lower original fireplace part and just give it a pro cleaning. Remove the chair rail in the room - that kind of wood work is totally wrong for the architecture of this house. I would repaint the room to a non-muddy color. I'd go fresher and whiter to harmonize with the ceiling - Abalone from Benjamin Moore is a really soft neutral that works with both tans and grays.

that fireplace is awesome! don't rip it out or cover it! just remove that hideous rock veneer(?) above it, replace drywall, paint all walls (current color is nasty) and then invest in a nice looking screen. it could look great!

you guys are AWESOME! Yes, we are going to paint (this is the original vendor's colours), and are planning on ripping down the stone above. The lights are hideous and I don't know what to do with those.

Regarding the ceiling, I would love to have raw wood beams up there and yank that stucco out, but it's not in our budget right now. The spindles are also an eyesore and I'm not sure what to do with that at this time except knock the spindles out and make it open.

We have lots of funky art, lots of colours, but are thinking a white modern room would be lovely, but wonder if it would draw attention to the stucco? We're also big bright, colour fans too but would like something smart and cool looking. We both work in the arts and want a cozy but creative space with lots of light.

Thank you all for your ideas!!

love all of the ideas!
I would LOVE to have a plank ceiling, but it's not in the budget right now. It is a wood burning fireplace which is great in theory (I believe the chimney- which is behind the wall) would need a new liner, but I wouldn't use it that much and my home insurance would be higher. wonder what to do with it instead?

Thanks!