Doors on top would work. I like your idea about the fireplace. I've seen pictures where that was done and it's very clean and modern looking. Good luck with your makeover.

Because this wall is in your dining room, you could consider keeping just the lower parts of the bookcases. Top the cabinets with granite, or the limestone like your fireplace will have. The cabinets offer nice storage for dining room china. Or you could add doors to the upper section as shown in photo.

Hi, do you think I do 3 doors on each side? Like a single on the outside, then doubles on the inside? leave the open space on the "counter" do they call that a buffet? And about the fireplace... leav eit on the floor? Or raise it?

How about frosted or textured glass doors so that you don't have a wall of wood? They could still somewhat hide what was inside while bouncing light around the room? Are you going to paint or re-finish them? The amount of storage is incredible.

Yes, Ryan, I think that 3 doors would be suitable on each side, and have the bottom section serve as a buffet.

Yes- the storage is awesome.. but too much! (I cant belive I am saying that!! ha ha!) I found this picture on here & like the look of these cabinets with frosted glass
- I would do stone all the way up and not the sheetrock columns... @ Carolyn Albert Kincl Design I'm not picturing what your mean "Top the cabinets with granite, or the limestone like your fireplace will have." Do you have a picture of that? I appologize I cant visualize anything! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR COMMENTS! It makes me tackling this SO much more exciting!

I'm not sure about painting or refinishing? That scares the crap out of me! That would really eliminate the wall of wood problem though... that is EXACTLY the problem, and why I am installign new, darker wood floor!

Before you tackle the expense of adding doors, have you tried de-cluttering the shelves. Since this area is in your dinning room I would decorate with large colorful platters, pitchers and bowls. You do not need a lot of pieces to make a huge impact. Lower/larger shelves could hold some beautiful table cloths, etc.

I am in favor of the comment to add textured glass or frosted glass doors on the top to break up all that wood. Definately post after photos for us!

I like your ideas of limestone hearth and front - very simple and clean.

As housemamma suggested, de-cluttering the shelves would also help. Definitely remove the TV. And all those picture frames could perhaps be used on a "gallery wall" in hall? Personally, I don't like clocks in a dining room, it reminds me of school cafeterias and only having 20 minutes to eat lunch - lol! Are the top shelves adjusable? If so, you can simply remove that middle shelf and adjust the top shelf down a bit.

You could also paint the back wall of the book case the same color as the walls or a deep, dramatic accent color. And when you do put something on the shelves, maybe only one pretty plate, serving piece, pitcher per shelf or a small stack of pretty cookbooks on one of the lower shelves.

It looks like you've got good ideas - just keep asking questions when you're uncertain.

Here's a picture of a dining room cabinet with a granite top, and that's what I meant about putting granite or limestone on top of your cabinet. Limestone also comes as a slab to be made into countertops.

If you're redoing floors as well, I would suggest something dark, dark brown, or a lighter black. These tiles in darker shades are great - http://tiledaily.com/2012/08/14/series-iii-wood-porcelain-tile/ I suggest dark because it takes the focus away from it, and onto brighter things that you would want to accent, by using brighter colors and/or accent lighting. Painting/staining the cabinets a darker brown, as well as adding doors should help out a great deal.

Very dark wood floors, whether real wood or tile that looks like wood, will show every little thing and I would not recommend them.

Try the inexpensive route first, remove everything from the wall and shelves. Do not put anything back until you have painted the wall a dark color--maybe a dark bronze, chocolate color. If that does not seem to pop for you paint the background of the shelves the same dark bronze, chocolate color Place an area color on the floor that has some of the dark bronze, chocolate color. Do not clutter shelves with all those pictures and frames or anything else. Keep it simple when you put things back!

dark wall for fireplace

you can get rid of all the clutter on the shelves and put glass doors on them. install some nice lighting inside the shelves and have nice pieces of glass/crystal (vases, plates, bowls). it would look great with the new fireplace you want to add.