How to cover brick wall

Hi all 1t if this post is in wrong area please move, 2nd excuse the mess getting ready to paint walls.
Now onto my dilemma today my lovely wife asked if walls can be covered and slab shelves be removed (I have attached pictures), I must admit after banging my head on shelves they could use being removed as for wall she asked it to be covered from fireplace to where the joint on side wall. Apart from putting strips on the brick and drywalling I don’t have a clue as to what to use, so any ideas will be appreciated and wife says to keep them civil LOL.

 

IF I WERE WANTING TO COVER SUCH PRETTY STONE I WOULD PLASTER IT. I think those slab shelves could be rapped with a chisel and they will come off close to flush. BUT someday someone might want to re-expose that stone so I think I would frame out a wall from floor to ceiling, take off the crown molding and drywall the new wall unattached from the stone. Furthermore, I would frame it with narrow steel studs. Put up a channel at the top, one at the bottom and then stick in the studs and drywall it. My partiality to steel is just that I am not a very good carpenter.

 

I suggest you think about getting a new wife. j/k