Spray you fireplace cover black with high heat paint ,your home has great bones ..just get out that paintbrush and instantly update

I would begin by painting out all the trim....baseboard, window molding and door trim include the bookshelves. Nothing dates a hose more than oak trim. Then it’s time to tackle the kitchen cabinets. White kitchen are very popular but give the island some personality with either a coat of black, navy, green. Or if you love color paint all your cabinets a retro color like the teal I have uploaded. Congrats! and have fun decorating!

Congratulations on your first home! I would paint out all trim, cabinets, shelving, fireplace brick and shelving unit in a crisp white. If the budget allows splurge on a backsplash and new counter tops in granite or quartz to give the kitchen the wow factor. Brushed nickel cabinet pulls will compliment your appliances. Paint out the brass on the fireplace as suggested and remove all wallpaper. You will now have a fresh slate to choose your wall colours. Have fun and enjoy your new home!

Thank you everyone for all of the tips! I have been reading on some blogs that painting oak cabinets can turn out horribly and was wondering if anyone knows any tricks to tackling it? Also, some people recommend staining darker. What are your thoughts on that?

No stain,paint it can be done ,clean them well,if you are going to do it yourself goggle Annie Sloan chalk paint for the easiest application ,you can do it without sanding and it works great

Annie Sloan chalk paint is a great idea. I'd go with old white. If your preference is darker Annie Sloan has that too...would be a nice contrast to your floor. Easy application! No prep work!!

Paint island a different color than the red, be bold. You did a nice job on decorating the LR., should move table 18' from couch. I love sofa tables behind couch.

Happyleg, she said all of the pictures were from before they moved in, so it isn't her furniture.

Make a conversational area in the living room. Start by moving the upholstered furniture and the coffee table in so they relate to each other.

Ok, Nancy, thanks. I primed & painted windows once & it was very hard work. It's very fussy. They do have expensive paint with primer. Pick your color.

Thank you everyone. Yes - everything that you see in those pictures is actually from the previous owner. I currently have stacks of boxes and an extremely out of place, oversized L sectional that we will have to sell. It was absolutely perfect in our last home but unfortunately isn't making the cut here.

I do like the look of the white cabinets and the darker island. I'm not a huge fan of trying anything retro or bright and bold simply because we are military and will be moving in about 4 years. Which will require us to either rent or sell the home.

For the chalk paint - if water were to splash on it or if I had to wipe them down would it be pretty forgiving?

Thanks again for everyones input - the pictures definitely help as well!!

My advice would be to take boarder in kitchen down. Repaint kitchen wall neutral color, spend your money on counter top upgrade . Dress cabinets with nice pulls and or knobs.

With Annie Sloans chalk paint...2 coats of paint (dries very fast so will take no time at all) and then apply 2-3 coats of her soft wax. It will repel water so you can absolutely wipe cabinets down. Check out Annie Sloan website for article on kitchen cabinets and lots of pictures so you can see if you like the look. I agree with going more neutral as you will be moving again in a few years.

I think I spent hours looking at all her work last night! Looks amazing - now fingers crossed I can do something half as good! :)

First off thanks to you and your husband for your service. Secondly, for the kitchen consider doing a reface. You get a new looking kitchen for about a third the price, and you should get a military discount on top of it. But it is new doors, drawer fronts and veneer on the front of the cabinetry. The good news is, the beams in your living room are pine so hey they aren't oak! I would consider keeping the beams the way they are. Take the cabinets out next to the fireplace and consider white washing the brick. You could either redo the cabinets in that area or have a built in area for the tv. The other side could be an art niche? Could be cool, keep us posted!

If you are considering the idea of kitchen refacing. I did this with my kitchen and was very pleased with the results. Its a great option if you are not making any changes to the layout. Ive attached photos so you can see how a reface looks.

I did a refacing also, and it was less than half the price of all new cabinets!

Sorry, that's too small. Here's a better one