Apologies 1st that you are in for a long read. We're preparing the large family home to sell (downsizing) down the track. It could be in 6 months to 5 years, so the improvements for sale we are making we could be enjoying for a while. I'll also mention we are on the Central Coast just north of Sydney in a relatively affluent beachy area on a small 'bush/ rainforest) acreage with gardens, the house was 80's character/ architect designed on multiple split levels & is in a higher price bracket than the average house in the area. Agents have warned us that it will likely take quite a time to sell waiting for the 'right' buyer to come along (18 months has been mentioned...), unlike the flash, newer McMansions on small blocks in the area.

I mention this as we are working our way through obligatory/ needed maintenance to sell, but also looking at cost effective enhancements that may help the house sell. I probably will be on Houzz a bit looking for advice as we pick & choose what to do. Firstly we are needing some advice on what to do with the main architectural feature of our lounge, the fireplace. We are hoping to add some wow factor as you enter through the foyer into the lounge.

We last extensively renovated 20 years ago this mid 80s dark brick & cedar house, gyprocking throughout including the feature ugly dark brick fire place (& painted it the at the time a trendy bright red! You can guess what real estate agents have said about this....). See photos (I have also included photos of the approach to the room through the pre-renovated foyer):

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The most cost effective option that has been advised is of course just painting it the off white of the rest of the room, which would do it no justice & I feel that we could use it to better effect with adding some pizzaz to a large but conservative room. If money was no object we would go travertine or other stone cladding. We will be definitely be tiling the glass atrium foyer floor that leads into the lounge with travertine (no one likes 40 year old black tiles apparently any more) & the stone theme could be carried through. We may also paint over the remaining cedar in the room too (once I convince my husband over his cold dead body) which could make a differentiated fireplace 'pop' more.

However to clad the fireplace we would have to have the plasterboard stripped from the fireplace, & either attach the stone to the original brick underneath or to new cement sheeting attached to the brick. The cost quoted being more than $10,000 (including material), which of course is a major expense.

However, one option suggested is to tile over the existing plasterboard (we know it has to be be prepared because of the paint) with faux stone tiles (eg porcelain types), which is significantly more cost effective (no stripping plasterboard or treatment of the stone, cheaper material. We have been quoted $2,600 for the tiling (not including tiles, could be $1500 - 2,000). I'm hoping for some advice:

1. We have been told it can be done .....Should we be still concerned about the weight of tiles? We're talking about 18 square metres of tile to a non-standard ceiling height.

2. We have only found a few porcelain faux stone tiles that are best described as 'CrAzY paving':
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I would much prefer something like:
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Does anyone know anything like this in a lightweight tile?

I like stack stone but it is too heavy & expensive. Does anyone know of a lightweight tile faux version of the stack stone types that would be compatible to glueing on the existing plasterboard?

Would anyone know of or have any suggestions for tiles beyond the crazy paving style?

3. French pattern honed travertine has been suggested as glue-able onto the plaster board:
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Hubby's not too keen on it, would like more 'stone-like' texture, but I like it as a compromise (real stone, ease/ cost). Again this would only be the tiling cost (with sealing which we can do)
Again, would this be still be a weight concern?

Am I right to think that money & effort spent 'enhancing' the fireplace would be well spent when aiming at a select area of the market that is looking at something that is somewhat different but expects modernisation & 'quality'? I don't know if I am expressing what I mean at all well. Many have said just leave it for the buyer to change things if they want. We want to help how fast it sells & achieve the best price we can by improving its & the house's overall appeal?

Any comments, suggestions & recommendations would be gratefully received ! Thanks !