I have not read all of the above. It must be tempting to render and paint the fireplace but if it is decided to work with it then maybe you can find your colour palette in the bricks. The new grey carpet will give you a fresh neutral but grey can be very cold. you might need a bit of warmth in the others colors chosen for walls or soft furnishings. If you extend the tile base in front of the fireplace that will give another opportunity to introduce more impact with the tiles. There are always lots of gorgeous tile options. I am loving some of the Moroccan looking styles.

Have a look in Houzz's Living Room Photos and in the search bar type 'TV over brick fireplace in photos.' Might give you some ideas. also, if you were to build a hearth surround and mantle, the TV would look good mounted on the brick (could angle it down a bit so you don't have to crane your neck to watch). Still, need a place to store the bits and pieces that go with the TV.

The simple whites are what I like, the lounge welcomes you to get comfortable and spend time and lose all the distractions, giving you a chance to refresh and refocus. The TV art on the wall is the highlight and draws your attention, and hides its personalities. Is it a TV at all?, Overall I chose number 9 for its simplicity and comforting feel with no clutter and with one piece to comfort the body and one piece to stimulate the mind.

haha!!!! Siri - you can have your Eiffel tower angel... give me the beach any day :) Nic - perhaps some driftwood, shells and a jar of sand might help bring the beach to you - just don't knock your sand flying or you'll literally be able to crank up your fireplace and lie down on your sand to sunbake lol.