'fraid I'm with the "change it" party as well.
Just a suggestion - since you've got a nice digital pic of the setup, why not look for a range of pics of different fireplaces + surrounds and try patching them in to the picture? That way, you could see what "looks more right".
Personally, I'd definitely go for something much lower and less domineering. That way, the white strips on either side would probably not matter so much and the superb bookcases would take over as the salient feature.