I believe there is too much going on to the right of the fire place. If you remove the fireplace completely (considering you never use it), you will have a lot more flexibility with your design options- which in this case, and based off what you have mentioned it may be your best bet. Then you will be able to center the TV stand- depending on what's behind the fire place.

I would take everything off it and clear out as much as possible to reassess. I think it's too monochromatic. Everything is neutral without a focal point. A large mirror instead of the art might help to bounce light around. Try a few things before deciding. As you don't use it you could remove the entire arrangement and replaster the wall. You could either close it up or just leave the opening and use it for display purposes.

Thanks. Yes we haven't done anything to the lounge yet (the rest of the house is finished but we keep putting this off, mainly due to the fireplace!)

If we removed it entirely, including the hearth, is it just the carpet that would be damaged or the floor underneath?

We had an almost identical fire surround in our old house. The fussy bits were really easy to remove and the whole thing looked way better without them.

That style of fireplace was very popular with some building firms in the 1980s. My friend had an almost identical one in her house. The hearth is lovely and being marble is its best feature, however the marble backing and the surround are a poor copy. Like you, my friend didn’t like it so she removed the mouldings and painted it in Bone by F&B which was an improved. The 1980s was not a good period for decor so if you hate it then it has to go!

We removed a fireplace before laying a new laminate floor. We blocked up the chimney opening and replastered the wall. There were no major issues on the floor under the hearth, just a couple of lumps that were easily removed. We ran the flooring into what was the fireplace and now have a pot plant in that space. It's a small room and removing the hearth makes it feel bigger.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may start by trying to remove the ornate bits and giving it a paint!

The marble is an aglomerate marble made up of chunks of natural marble , hence the markings. It was very in vogue in the 1980’s I would not recommend lime washing or painting in anyway. Subject to your budget replacing the marble with a Matt black slate or a honed granite removing the moulding on the surround and repainting the surround would make it more simple and classic looking. Visit your local fireplace showroom and ask them. If you don’t use the fire, maybe replace with an electric effect fire, makes the room look cosy without the need to use any heat. Good luck with it. Xx

Matching that marble and the ornate surround to a modern look is tough. I'd just rip the whole thing out since you don't use the gas fire anyway. It’ll open up the room way more and you can just plaster over it for a clean finish.