Thanks Handyman. I simply used acrylic paint and ordinary paint stripper. I used a wire brush to strip as well as sand paper as the bricks have a rough finish and it was impossible to get the sand paper across the bricks without it breaking up. I've added a updated photo of the whole project now finished. The hearth was horrible old slate. It looked awful. I painted it with a tough gloss black marine paint and framed it with a piece of stained wood. It really is the hero of the room. We love it.

Hope this gives other people ideas on what can be done to your house without a lot of cost if you also don't have a lot of money to spend on updating your place.

Check out this discussion - there are sooooo many options!!! [https://www.houzz.co.nz/discussions/have-you-remodeled-a-fireplace-lets-see-it-dsvw-vd~790201[(https://www.houzz.co.nz/discussions/have-you-remodeled-a-fireplace-lets-see-it-dsvw-vd~790201) Here are our before .....

The stained glass windows seem to be at odds with the exposed brick, but probably match the original part of the house. If the stained glass windows are giving privacy from an overlooking neighbour I would keep them, and work to make the brickwork more like the original part of the house, so it seems less incongruous. This could be done using a traditional wet plaster or solid plaster technique, which you would need to complete befor your gas insert fireplace is positioned. I would finish it of with a traditional timber fireplace surround and mantle piece, which would be the focal point of a more contemporary room, but link in with the original architecture. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls