Fireplace brickwork

Moving from an open fire to wood burning stove. I’ve taken out breeze blocks on either side of the inner hearth so now there is a strange two-tone colour to the brickwork. I want to keep the look rustic but how should I best even out the colour? (I know I need to smarten up the rear hearth too…)

Moving from an open fire to wood burning stove. I’ve taken out breeze blocks on either side of the inner hearth so now there is a strange two-tone colour to the brickwork. I want to keep the look rustic but how should I best even out the colour? (I know I need to smarten up the rear hearth too…)