Fireplace Screen Mid-Way Makeover (Opinions Welcome!)

We've been doing a lot of "around the house" projects this month.  Something about the spring weather motivates me to fix all those little things that have been bothering me all winter.  Our fireplace screen was on my "house to-do" list.  It's old and dated, and when we remodeled the Family Room in October 2010 I didn't update it, because I was just out of energy and money.

But the warmer weather got the best of me today and I tackled the old, dated screen.  It was incredibly easy to remove.  Scary how little muscle it took to pull it out from the wall, really.

I cleaned the brick with a little soap and water- I read that you really aren't supposed to spray water on it, because the water can drip onto surfaces and make the soot stains run, so I covered the bottom with a plastic garbage bag to protect the tile.  It looks a little better, but I really want to try this Quick N Brite Cleaner that has great reviews online.

So, after I had removed the screen and cleaned the brick, I wasn't crazy about having an open fireplace.  I mean, we do live in Florida and use our fireplace less than five times per year, but still.  My in-laws have an exposed fireplace with no cover but their brick is much more decorative and their logs are gas, which makes the clean up non-existent.

So, I researched screens on Target, WalMart, Amazon, etc.... then I found my way to Craigslist.  Oh how I love Craigslist.

An hour later and $15 out of my pocket, I came home with this beauty.

Now, I wasn't crazy about the scrolling ivy (or whatever you call that), so I just pulled it off.  That sounds so easy on the computer screen, but there was a lot of sweat, a broken nail, and some screaming involved.  But I did it.  All by myself.  (Yes, Dad.  I really did!)

So, now the fireplace looks like this in my house, and I'm wondering if it's okay.  Of course the screen needs a fresh coat of paint as you can see where the vines and such were.  But, I wonder about the two gaps on either upper side of the fireplace- is this okay?  Do I need to get a screen that's bigger and covers the entire opening?  This screen kinda looks like a mustache to me, but I like the lines of it.

After I took this picture I brought the middle part forward and pushed the sides back more.  A better photo is below.

Here's a photo with the entire room.... I'm thinking that if I paint the screen black then it will blend in and not be as noticeable.

What do you think?

Oh, and if you're curious as to where this room started when we bought the house, check out this post.