To paint or not to paint

Awhile back I finally crossed another thing off of my lengthy to-do list. I sit around my house and look intently at the walls, windows, closets, etc and try to decide how to change things up or make them look better. Lately, I was looking at my fireplace. As you can see from this pic, there has only been a brick "mantle" if you can even call it that.
I have been wanting to add a very simple mantle with the scrap wood in the garage. Here is the finished product.

I know it is just very simple and plain, but it helps the fireplace have a little more prescence in the room. Thank you to Mike, my wonderful hubby, for helping me with this project. Of course I got the usual response at first, the ever popular eye-roll, but I reminded him how much I loved him and flashed him a smile. Now, I need your opinion. Should I paint the fireplace brick white also??? We do build a lot of fires. Please leave me a comment with your vote :) Thanks!!