SFGate

olldbobbi Do you have two of the same posts? I commented on one but I don't see my comment here. If you do have two posts, have Houzz delete one of them: support@houzz.com

tallest I would take mirror off, paint bricks in white - same as the wall, and put bunch of firewood where chairs are.

Then yo could deicide what to hang above. May be add a shelf or artwork.

emmajanekp Oh yes, the mirror is definitely going, it belongs to the previous owners! Sorry olldbobbi I can't see two of my posts, but will check with Houzz. Please can you let me know what you wrote?

olldbobbi I just said I wouldn't paint the brick, personally, because I like natural brick. You can clean it with a foaming bath cleaner and a nylon scrub brush. For the area where the chairs are I believe that's meant for storing logs, and I suggested an interesting log holder instead of just piling them in there: [houzz=Conmoto Wood Bridge Log Holder]
[houzz=Copper Bucket]

I think installing a mantel would make it look better for you.

emmajanekp Thank you, at what height would you recommend the mantle should be? Half way up the brick?

emmajanekp I has a thought about creative plastering .... Something like this:

vickiric I think first I would paint the area where the plastic chairs are a dark color so it doesn't fight with the fire pit area. Then I would get a beautiful mantel that would go across the whole area to tie them together Then decorate the mantel as a whole not divided between the two areas. We just bought a beautiful fireplace glass door inset. It really adds to the look.
I think I would also paint the wall around the fireplace a color that doesn't fight with the fireplace bricks. Good luck, please post whatever you do. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

olldbobbi For the hieght of the mantel, I think halfway up the brick would be too high. I know the mirror isn't yours, but if you look at the first gridline up from the bottom, I think the matel would look good just a little higher than it.

emmajanekp Thank you - this has been really helpful

olldbobbi Great! Post 'after' pics, we never get to see them!

tallest I think exposed brick here is not really old style (so not worth that much displaying) and due to somewhat non balanced irregular shape of it, it sticks out a bit odd, if painted (and perhaps scrubbed off to have some red peaking through) it would be more balanced. The mantle makese sense (white) and painted area for logs - well that's good idea too although you should have it filled with logs and that way it's not really fighting the fire place. ;)

Rooms That Work Wow! I am a great fan of symmetry and balance, so I should hate this fireplace, right? Wrong! This fireplace looks "off" because of its current presentation, but it has excellent bones. Here's the problem: it is off balance largely because of the visual weight of the firebox adjacent to that space. You can solve this with split firewood, as others have suggested, and already it will look better. Fill that cavity completely with wood so you get equal weight with the fireplace. Next, and here's the big impact piece, paint the drywall surround and the brick the same colour and the walls something different. That way your fireplace has presence and weight. Now you have symmetry, balance and impact. It will be a beautiful example of Modernist design.

groveraxle I love asymmetrical fireplaces, but I totally agree with Rooms That Work about painting the brick and drywall surround. Also, if you do that, no mantel. Keep it simple.