Hello dongrossi, Why is this fireplace a problem for you? It looks like a rather efficient log burning one, Do you want to remove it? Oh I see, did not read your post properly...just a caution having wooden shelves and books near a source of heat....just because the heat warps and discolours even from a distance...and I think there are regulations today different from when that fire or many others like it were installed that would not permit a mantle or shelves above a heater at a certain height. I've just done a heater remodel in an old house as had to change a few things, move the existing old mantle up a bit......maybe just check.

@ dongrossi...Good Luck and enjoy...there's no right way to do anything, advice is good but in the end you are the one who has to feel satisfied with the outcome. Agree with WUFF about embracing the era of your home...I feel the same about mine. I would not remove the mantle either or any of the woodwork...unless you were subject to regulations on the distance of any woodwork from a source of open flame...even if it has a glass door..Councils can be pretty punctilious and silly just for the sake of flexing muscle...I'd be doing my own thing. Seems that there's been no ill effect on what can be seen of the shelving from the vent above the fire. Its vety classy! Love Wuff's siggestion about the old chairs...sounds very cosy.

In addition to my post above...having lived with a fire set in a wall for many years with a vent to let the hot air into the room...I'd do neither of the above....except maybe old cabinets of well seasoned timber and not new built ins up against the wall enclosing the chimney. The heat from that fire and from the vent would affect the cabinets, dry them out, make them crack...especially since timbers today are not well seasoned as when the fire place was built....That enclosed chimney/flue would radiate heat as well...There's a reason why the walls each side as well as the timber shelves are a dark colour and there's nothing built into the spaces on either side. Installing the cabinets and painting them a pretty light colour might look good for a while but not if you intend on making good use of that lovely fire place. I've lived in my current 1900s house for 32 years and have come to know the why's and wherefore's about timbers and heat in old homes. One longs for a lighter environment sometimes but this needs to come from other sources rather than anything against the fire place. Its a bit of a blocker to renovations at times but again, with Wuff, "Embrace what you have"...read up about homes of the same period, surf the net...you'll find some beautiful solutions. Here's one....you could clad the walls either side of the fireplace with a fireproof stone cladding...enlarge on that...may not be your 'cup of tea' but for what its worth in making your place "yours".

Quite a difference and looks great! What is the name of wall and trim colours?

Will you rehang the mirror, it was a good fit.

The mirror wasn't reflecting anything beautiful so unless you want to bounce light around the room, you might consider putting a picture there instead