- Changing from your existing masonry fireplace to the linear gas fireplace in the photo you posted a link to would likely be fairly expensive, as it would require removing/modifying the masonry of your existing fireplace, but there are other approaches you might consider. One of the keys to modern is minimalism. You might try keeping the appearance as uncluttered as possible - perhaps by removing an existing mantel or stripping away other elements to leave only the most essential parts. If it is a wood burning fireplace, the building code requires that you leave non-combustible hearth protection in front of the fireplace, but you might be able to change the hearth material to make it more modern (pink wall with hearth flush on floor). The other thing you might consider is changing over to a modern gas burner, with glass media or stones (first photo, with black mantel). There are gas inserts that are beautiful as well last photo with stone wall), but the investment goes up when you get into a full system with firebox, surround, venting etc. If you have a photo of your current situation, we might be able to tailor our suggestions to be more helpful.

If I were you, I would put the tv on the end solid wall and float a pair of sofas in the room perpendicular to the tv wall. Then you'd have your tv and your fireplace at opposite ends of the room and you could enjoy either of them equally. I'm not sure how large your room is, but there may be room for another chair or two. You are best to draw up the room to scale and experiment with furniture dimensions to see what nicely fits there. Allow enough room for a coffee table or a large upholstered ottoman in the centre. Does this help?

It's hard to tell without pictures. Can you post some pictures? You can custom color the veneer to match the existing stone. Or you can choose a stone that has more of a traditional feel.

A Rumford design is very shallow, has outward-flaring sides, a back that arches forward, a curve on the underside of the front lintel leading back to a broad slot-like flue with a flue chamber above it. The overall front opening is almost square, sometimes slightly taller than wide. Rumford fireplaces are very distinctive looking. You can get some basic information from this wikipedia article here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumford_fireplace and there is plenty of info online, even ready-made reproductions (more or less accurate). Rumford developed his improvements and published them in the late 1790s, just before fireplace heating was displaced by stove heating (a process already well underway when Rumford developed his improvements). Good luck with your whatever you decide to do.