What ideas would you recommend?

I love it just the way it is especially the mantle! You could whitewash it. You would still see the color of the bricks but it would be toned down. You can whitewash a little or a lot. You can use colors other than white. Gray is a popular color too. Love the mirror too!

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/whitewashing-and-updating-brick-fireplace-43416332?expand_all_questions=1

Hi Marge. You have a bold color on your wall so I would go with either white or black. I think white would look better with your wall color. But, Marge, be sure to buy paint that tolerates so much heat. Good luck.

I definitely agree with the white wash idea that would modernise it and lighten it up!

Marge: that wall is most definitely BOLD.

I opted for off-white paint on my fireplace bricks --- and went with a neutral grey color palette on the walls... also I decluttered my mantel... I think it gave a more open, updated, and fresh look. See pic.

Good Luck! ...keep us posted if you do "a project!"

In that room against the red colour I would go white.

I would go white to brighten it up. Here are some tips for painting brick: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRzWmamxoPY

Fireplace renovations are very exciting.

Fireplaces can be painted or often retiled and I find looking around at the visuals on Pinterest or Houzz might offer some inspiration and ideas.

Heres some ideas that I saved

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/the-saga-of-the-truly-ugly-fireplace-33847745

https://www.hometalk.com/post/3373956/media?id=541608

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/charcoal-grey-painted-fireplace-6384857

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/updated-fireplace-39461004?

https://www.hometalk.com/diy/living-room/fireplaces-mantels/fireplace-whitewash-project-27546793?

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/fireplace-face-lift-just-87

https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/17-fireplace-upgrades

https://www.bhg.com/decorating/fireplace/styles/before-and-after-fireplaces/

That would be really cool! I think you could go for a white or a gray! Your choice though.

I would leave it and paint the walls light beige instead

Great Wall color. However the fireplace is more rustic whetesa the rest of room is more elegant and polished. I would opt for a more traditional mantel with sides that cover most of the brick and either paint the brick or cover what's left with tile.

no

You can whitewash it and I think you will love it. My cousin just did it, using thinned white latex paint. Easy and lots of tutorials on youtube.

Whitewashing the fireplace would be a great option if you're looking to lighten/brigthen your room. Not sure if you like the darkness, but if you do then a sophisticated charcoal would be one choice. Either way the "feel" of the room will be different for you.

Hi Marge, When we moved into our current home, the fireplace was a dark brown-red brick. I knew I wanted to do something with it. I painted it a creamy white semi-gloss and have never looked back. I really love it. My husband wasn't sure how it would look and wasn't entirely on board.....now he loves it. Good luck.

I would use a gray white paint, and gray wash it. White wash just isn't my style. I think I would also paint my walls Agreeable Gray from Sherwin Williams. It's a nice soft color and would make the room look bigger and brighter. I love your mantle.

German schmear is an excellent way to modernize things a bit. German schmear is simply another way of saying water downed white or grayish plaster. There's a series on HGTV I forgot the name of the program but it's with Chip and Joanna Gaines. There's a particular one where they do the outside of the house and it looked amazing when they finished

Please don't paint that beautiful fireplace. I am looking at buying a home and if they have painted the fireplace I won't even consider it. YOu remove all the character, when you could have just painted your walls.