What can I do to update this wall?

You can white wash it like a dry brush technique in any color. A beefy rustic mantle with beefy corbels holding the mantle.

http://www.hometalk.com/search/posts?filter=stone%20fireplace%20makover

Or you could sheet rock it in and then tile over it. You could finish the top off as a wall and tile around and above the actual fireplace then put up a pretty mantle.

It appears the rock is surface and not entire rocks, it may not be very deep. I would consider ripping it down. After a bad day a work, it may be fun. There may actually be a wall behind it.

Watch for materials at ReStore. They have everything from wood to tiles. It may work.

Good luck.

I don't think I would change the colour of the rock at all, it will take away from the earthy quality of it, however; I would go to the restore or local building supply and look for some beefy wood...6x6" or if you can find them, old barn beams. If you can get one ripped down that would fit from ceiling to floor on either side of the rock work to frame it in then using another full piece notching the sides to overlap the outside portions of wood log cabin style to create your mantle (will look like a huge H shape when you are done). I think doing this will give you the space to add some pizzaz to the wall, a great painting, photo, art piece etc. If you are at the restore see if you can find a couple large black iron brackets that would fit mounted under the mantle and on top of the side wood pieces to add 'jewelry' to the finished look!

I have Terri's VERY SAME problem!! This is a GREAT isea...Thanks!

I had a wall like that and was about to take off the stones when my wife saw a wall just like ours and it was BEAUTIFUL! Why? Clean and dust it well, and get HIGH GLOSSY white paint and paint it AFTER you put a white primer coat on it. THEN put several coats of HIGH GLOSS white paint on everything even the "grout" . People come in our house and stop dead in their tracks to comment on it's beauty! Wish I had done that years before i did.

I believe in work with what you've got, if on a slight budget. Another suggestion might be to do a coat of wall grout. After it is dry it will probably be less than smooth. Use a tint in the grout and sand if you want it smooth or leave it rough and rub with a tinted glaze. I choose rough finish and squished hand picked pieces of hay into mine - choose a few "blossoms" also. A rough hewn mantle of aged wood would be great looking.

I don't know how to put the picture on my computer as I am not very computer literate. I tried but I will have to get someone to show me how. Sorry. So I will say you simply have to use you imagination. The "stones " on my wall were identical and getting so ugly I couldn't stand them anymore. To think I nearly destroyed them! The wall is right inside my front door in the foyer and trust me everyone stops dead in their tracks and marvels at the beauty! It is the highlight of the foyer!

Guess I must be stupid but I don't use my old flip cell phone for email. Sorry. If I could , I would. Ha, I told you I was not computer literate and now oyu know that also includes my cell phone. (-:

if you absolutely insist on covering them, you could buy thin plywood cut in strips to cover it as wood planks. Above the mantel area of course.

or tile over it