What about brick fireplaces:)?

PS Glad you kept the fireplace as it was, personally I think it adds a bit of charm to the room.

Did you put the fireplace in?

Add a counter worksurface with cabinets under the window for storage.Remove the wall between the living room and hall to open it up and to showcase the staircase as a feature opposite the fireplace.

We’ll use some for a backsplash and a fireplace surround in a house we are working on right now, and store the remainder for another rental reno in the future.

A Ballroom-sized Great room with 2-story vaulted ceiling and wood-burning fireplace, a lg bedroom, full bathroom, laundry and 3-car garage complete the first floor.

The main level featuring tall ceilings, living room plus powder room, spacious custom kitchen with new cabinets, counter and stainless appliances, formal dining, family room with built-in fireplace and access to deck.

The roof, hardwood flooring, windows, gas fireplace, and water heater are all new as of late 2014.The best thing I think, is that I have a closer working relationship with the owner already as he is my landlord who is retiring, and I have been renting this place from him for the past year, so I definitely know it pretty well.

Behind the wall it is garage.I came up with these ideas:Drywall up this place so there is a whole flat wall to the right side of the fire place.

to put slate over an ugly brick fireplace and man-o-man it stuck well....but brick is porous.