What to do with an off centered fireplace.

Whether you stand a chance at getting your way depends a lot on your husband and which of you is more determined (or maybe stubborn?). What about adding book shelves on only one side of the fireplace? Since your fireplace is off center, a single set of built-ins would make it look more like the asymmetry was intentional.

I'm with your husband on this one. Off-centered shelves would drive me nuts. Just add shelves to the one larger side equalling out the offset.

I think bookshelves would look nice. I would make them so they go to the ceiling and look more like a built in.

I have seen fireplace look more centered by adding an inset to hold logs, on one side. Trim the fireplace and inset to look as one unit. Now that it is centered, you can add your bookcases.

Start with several options, which would solve your problem. Try different ideas, and see if something you like will balance it out. Good Luck!

I think that you can have quite an effective 'built in' look even with uneven side pieces...put the shelves in to size and use trim pieces to give it the built in look. When styling coordinate the two 'sides' with colour/style choices...

Could you put different size shelves on either side, one longer than the other to balance it out more?

Create a vertical cabinet on the off side to store his fishing rods. or trophies.

As long as you don't make the shelving on each side identical, you could do it. Perhaps bookshelves on one side, and cabinet plus bookshelves on the other? Look through magazines like This Old House, BH&G, etc., or go online to decorating sites for ideas.