Horrible Fireplace help

[peppogirl]

Could anyone advise on what we can do with this welsh slate fireplace?
It's too big to remove and too expensive. Has anyone got anything similar they can share what they did with theirs to modernise it a bit? I can't find anything like it online.
We will be replacing the fire.

What fire are you planning on? I'd paint it. Old white.

Plaster boarded and tiled perhaps?

It's a black electric one like this.

Do you think it will paint ok? It's covered in varnish so would take a lot of prep.

Ooh I think Cmagic's idea is better. Plasterboard will give you a cleaner look...if you put a sleek looking fire like the one you chose with that rustic looking slate it might be an odd pairing.

Yeah you are right it's an odd pairing at the moment. We like the plaster board idea too, we will have a look at the options.

Thanks all