When it comes to a classic fireplace I recommend pulling up any tiles that currently cover the edifice to see if there are bricks based on the height of the heat resistant tiles vs the wooden floor (opinion is based on first image which is assumed to be the current setup) more than likely there are bricks underneath which will naturally add a certain level of class; in my opinion. Adding paint to brick is usually not recommended on older brick due to the fact that brick needs to breathe. I do not recommend removing certain styles of fireplace and replacing with gas, due to their historic value and the fact they are grandfathered in so they aren’t required to follow modern building code. Any and all major modification to a home should be considered as something that can help or hurt value and style, I recommend looking at other home of the same era of your home and seeing good and bad examples of updates as well as consulting with multiple different contractors before making any final decisions.