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killough I would paint it too! It is easy to do. You can probably paint the screen if you use the correct paint
You could also cover it with wood or drywall for a new look. I have done the wood because we live in an older house. It looks great!

Keitha Sorry but I agree with your husband.... For a start I remove the fireplace screen and clean the stone with some warm soapy water and a stiff brush. Install a new decorative fireplace screen and paint the wall behind the fireplace an accent color. Maybe the color of the candle on the mantel?

Barbara Griffith Designs Definitely remove the brass door piece and replace with a great screen such as "Keitha" suggested, or no screen at all. Definitely clean the brick, if it is difficult to clean there are products just for that purpose. Paint the top board (mantle) shiny black. Looks like the tile hearth area is not finished around the edges?? If not, add small trim piece, wood floor color. Add simple black utensils on one side. Whatever is over the fireplace..hang on the wall. Minimize stuff on mantle. Paint all your walls a color.

Amplio Paint it black and leave screen in gold it super hip.
I would consider some limestone tile for the floor "Mealy gray" or something in that tone.
If the top is wood, I would try to get a old wash look wood look for it.

Shannon Sanderson Thanks for the suggestions! The top is actually flagstone, although it does look wood in the picture, also the look we are going for the rest of the home is "rustic modern", I never thought I would leave the brass gold colored insert, I thought I might spray paint it black, whether or not I painted the brick, but its a great suggestion leaving it, if I paint the brick black...

Amplio You can start with the brick and see how it looks?

Keitha Agree with Barbara, definitely "hang" the artwork.

Barbara Griffith Designs Brass fittings on a fireplace is a very dated look.

ASVInteriors I am finding more and more brass fittings creeping back into design trends. If you can hold off touching the brass surround, I would suggest you do so.

Keitha I agree with ASV that brass is regaining popularity but it does nothing for your fireplace, sorry. :-(

Shannon Sanderson Thanks asvinteriors, I think I might do that, looking at your projects, love your work!

ASVInteriors Thanks Shannon. Glad to be of help and appreciate the compliment!

Shannon Sanderson Here are some others pics of our house around the fireplace, so you can see the look we are going for, keep in mind, we just remodled this new home (to us it was built in the 50's), so I appreciate all of your suggestions! Also, yes I will be cleaning up above the fireplace...

Keitha Great house! It will be fun to decorate.... P.S. love your dining table!

odessalight Hi, love your fireplace, but I guess I would have to ask...do you use it a lot??
Second are you painting your living room? And if so then you can incorporate the new color into the room....I like black too, but wondering if this might be like a hole in the room....a design problem if you do that....
Maybe go buy a piece of black poster board etc. or paper and tape over fireplace and leave it for a week...
Then if you still are fixed on painting black...look at all the fireplaces in houzz and save them then revisit them.

Sometimes a quick fix as paint is a good idea at first, but from experience researching saving photos and letting it sit is sometimes better.

I might be tempted to paint the stone a color depending on the colors in the room. And paint the fireplace a color....good luck;)

Shannon Sanderson We do use the fireplace (live in Colorado) some, although not a ton, I am not planning on painting, the whole house used to be a peachy tan that I hated, and the color now is BM classic gray, maybe later on I will do an accent wall... Good suggestion on getting a black board to try it out...

Shannon Sanderson FYI, as you can see I am definitely into neutrals, I am wanting emerald green as the accent color...

decorateme123 The brick is actually nice on the fireplace. You just need it to pop. I suggest a thicker mantel with triple crown molding in a dark brown stain with a large wainscoting piece connected above with the same color stain. Also change out the brass to a dark brown metal. This will bring out your beautiful floors. The bottom tiles would be nice in a light beige stone or subway tiles or even something with a small pattern through it.

kathleen MK I think black would be overpowering on all the brick especially that bit that wraps around the wall. that should be hidden by a bookcase. I'd use black slate to replace the tile and paint the fire screen black. Then the mantel could be covered with black painted wood if you want black accents.

loreelulu If it were me - I'd #1 clean brick so you see its original/natural tone (I like the beige). #2 Definitely paint the brass black - brass is dated and NOT on its way back in, especially if you're going more modern/transitional. #3 Paint walls -a neutral color (like Sherwin WIlliams Kilim Beige or Nubby Wool) which will blend with the brick nicely and de-emphasize it, pull it all together and make the wall more cohesive. #4 mantle - I like the material, just need to lighten the load on top of it. Hang the picture leaving atleast an 8" space btwn bottom of artwork & mantle to give the eye a visual break btwn heavy items. Note: If you Paint brick - you are committing to doing so every 2-3 yrs (repeat) b/c of absorbtion, flaking, etc (not low maintenance) - & agree with other comments that black brick would be overpowering,especially against plain white walls. Good luck, post AFTER photos once you're completed your re-do.