Calling all creative women!!

Guys I need help. We moved into this small country cottage that was built in 1920, with plans to renovate it. We have a game plan for mostly everything and have done TONS of renovations. However, there's one piece that is driving me NUTS....the fireplace. It was an old brick fireplace that someone thought would be a good idea to paint shit brown. It's so ugly and it really darkens the livingroom. We can't remove it quite yet because it's going to be $10k to remove. So I'm trying to find cheaper options to disguise it or even work around it. Like I've considered maybe building walls around it? But then that would also be crown moulding and everything. I'm all ears ladies! Please help!

PS. That's vinyl flooring and wood that they put over the hole.