UGLY fireplace insert - how do I de-ugly it?!?

The 1940s house we were buying had a cute-ish reddish brick fireplace - until the inspection showed a leak. The repair was a fireplace insert - very functional, very expensive, terribly ugly black surround with chrome edges that mostly covers the brick and creates a giant ugly black hole focal point, looking even worse for showing just a hint of brick behind it. Can't get rid of it, can't spend a fortune, but must paint or do something about the black part and the HORRIBLE CHROME. Desperate for creative ideas.

Public Comments

1. Can you just remove it and get one of those stand up folding screens
2. I don't really know cant get a real clear pic of what you are trying to ex-plane but maybe you could build a wood frame around it a mantle and paint that.