reminds me of my old fireplace rock. i painted mine a dark black / grey. turned out great!!

Your ideas sound great! I would remove the wainscoting. I think it would make the rooms look more open and the ceilings higher.

Definitely take it out. While they did go casual with the styling of it, it just doesn't add anything. A nice architectural wainscot in a formal room can look absolutely fab but I think for this room you could take it out. For the fireplace and the room, what look are you going for? I think that will determine how you handle the fireplace.

We are looking for a clean modern look. An everyday living room to fully utilize the fireplace and large deck that leads off from the room.

I would put my money into replacing the carpet, taking out the paneling and painting the walls. The stained wood work and mantel are fine as is the stone fireplace. Both would look very nice with olive green walls.

Painting our wainscot white brightened our kitchen. If you are adding wood floors I would definitely paint or remove the wainscot.

Stain mantel to match floors. With your dark furniture a lighter wood would brighten the space. A white ( or cream) mantel and baseboards would work with any color wall and floors.

If you want clean and modern (not transitional), then you might consider removing the traditional mantel and bringing the fireplace to the ceiling. My architect says that the formula for modern is White + Wood + Windows, so if you're looking for clean and modern -- that's the way to go. That means hasta la vista to the wainscoting as well. If you don't have the budget/stomach for that, definitely paint it out white.

I think the slate color you're considering would look great with that fireplace rock. I'd remove the wainscoting altogether, go with the dark floors, remove that crown-moulding-looking hearth & replace it with chunkier (3" thick) wood. Also, I'd replace the window and door trim with something custom & wider, not the builder-grade trim you currently have. Also...is that a popcorn ceiling? If yes, definitely remove! All in all, I think you're totally on the right track. This will be a beautiful room!

Oh my. Not enough coffee yet. I meant "mantel", not "hearth".

We have just done the very same thing! We painted the wainscotting Creamy by Sherwin Williams....its a lovely soft color and not so glaring as bright white) but all the other trim white. We painted the mantelpiece (looks very much like yours but bigger) creamy, and freshened up the walls with a gorgeous soft gray. This will make that lovely fireplace POP. We added a hardwood floor (white oak...ours is a farmhouse). Replaced the fan with something more updated and I am guessing you are getting rid of those drapes?? If I can do it, I will post pics. It went from brown and dreary to fresh clean and up to date. We also mounted a new TV to the wall.

Oh yes, and we removed the popcorn ceiling!!!

Here's an easier solution than removing a popcorn ceiling, cover it with stretch ceiling. We carry over 280 colours in high gloss, matte, satin, and canvas-textured finishes. Our material can also be printed with any high resolution image. We take care of installation for you, no dust, no mess, no chemical fumes.

i would take of the wainscoting, paint the walls light gray, have a plug moved up to mount the tv to the right wall from the fireplace, turn the sofa to face that wall, much like the picture Amanda posted ....for the layout.

I have similar look in an upstairs game room minus the fireplace. Leaving carpet but considering painting wainscoting!

All of the paint colors sound very nice, but how much light does this room get? Are you using the room during day time (sunlight) or night time (lamplight)? If daytime and not a lot of outdoor light coming in, shouldn't use the dark paints.

I suggest you replace the ceiling lamp, like the modern decoration

that flipping light fixture is awesome sauce.

That flipping light fixture is hideous! Hey, if the wainscot had more detail, I might keep it, but it's pretty plain, so You may want to ditch it. Be careful about very dark floors, the tend to suck the light out of a room, and wow, do they show the dust!

We also thought about dark floors when we moved into this house, the yellow lab talked us out of it.

Like the idea of white wainscot and white trim Do not paint the stones on the fireplace Paint and replace mantle with a larger one. Pick a natural color for the paint from the color in fire place stone. Pick another color from the stone for the wood floor. And area rug to snug it together.

OK, just my opinion, but the best part of the room is the stone fireplace. is it functional? Hope so!
First rip out the ceiling fan and put up a nice one without a light! If you need overhead lighting, install recessed. Then you can refinish the dated ceiling. I think I would paint the lower paneling and any trim white as well as the mantel. Pick a fresh new color for the walls - something gentle and light - something you love. If you are forgoing carpeting for hardwood or laminate, I suggest a light wood like maple (antique is nice) or a birch. Have fun.

One more vote for removing the wainscoting and keeping the stone fireplace. Replace the mantle with something larger, deeper and more modern looking (painted in a dark color if you like). That stone lived for a very long time before it was plucked from anonymity to become the center of your family room. Don't disrespect it by covering it up with paint.

Stone fireplace is too big for the room. I'd remove the stone and redo in more modern tile. I would also remove the wainscoting.

Take out wainscoting, I did and built a shed with the cedar at the cottage. Paint the fireplace wall a darker grey than the other walls. Makes it look deeper. Take out oak shelf on mantle, could then paint the left over oak trim the darker grey. It will give a clean look without doing too much. You could also lower the stone work if possible but then would need to cut the stones to make it even. I personally like the stone. do the painting first and see if you like it before going to all the trouble of removing the stones which look good to a stone lover. Natural with modern is very popular. Now for the drapes... remove get roller blinds and add a narrow drape on each side for softness and framing.
Flooring : vinyl plank flooring many different shades and cushions the sound when walking. Many of my friends have installed it. I will at the cottage.
Ceiling : Remove the fan if you have air conditioning. If not change for a more modern one, sleek lines. we painted the semi globe black because we did not want the light to interfere like it does in your photo. Our ceiling fan looks really good.

TV: out of the corner, options : could hang on the left of the fireplace ( move light switches to the left of the doors. Look awkward there - we did. or cut down the fireplace stone and install tv over the place but must recess into the wall and change to rectangular gas fireplace. we did and it looks great. Instead of stone though we installed fireproof board and painted the dark grey color. it looks good too. we have also installed narrow strips of mdf and I faux painted them to look like carera marble. That was over 20 years ago and I still get compliments. GREY NEVER LOSES ITS STYLE.

Why spend more $$ than you have to. I think slate walls with the wainscoting just as it is.. will look great ! dark hardwood floors with a large contemporary rug. ( lose the ceiling fan and junk on the mantle. )

first I'll

first I'll change the carpet floor...I feel like it doesn't give personality to the room

If you put in darker floors, take out paneling paint walls a light shade of gray to compliment fireplace. All trim white including mantle. Why not extend the mantle and add a bookcase to the one side of fireplace. No to valences.

My your house looks similar to what our house did when we bought it in 1990! We had all stained woodwork and bit by bit have painted everything out white and changed all the baseboards as well! Nothing like bright white woodwork and it never goes out of style! We used "Linen White" by Benjamin Moore (satin impervo) which is a nice white but there is also "Dove White" or "White Dove" (can't remember which comes first!) that is a bit whiter if you want to go brighter white. I would keep the paneling below and paint it out white as well as the mantle. There are two great gray paint colors...One is "Agreeable Gray" by Sherwin Williams and the other is "Repose" by Sherwin Williams as well. Both great grays for your walls and I think would look nice with your stone as well. ! Go out and buy the book..."Elements of Style" by Erin Gates and go to her blog as well! She has GREAT ideas in decorating! I would move the TV to the wall to the right of where it is and if you can buy a bigger TV stand to put it on. Honestly IKEA has some great ones......just something lower and longer and white! : ) I am all for sectionals if you can swing it! We have the Pottery Barn Pearce with the corner wedge (a nice splurge!) but they aren't cheap and honestly a lot of people have the EKTORP corner sofa from IKEA which is awesome, too, and it looks a LOT like the Pottery Barn sectional! Lots of slipcover choices, too, including a darker gray one which would look awesome with the white woodwork, light gray walls, and then the darker gray sectional! If you live in an area with Craigslist you can look there for sectionals, too. Lots of people sell their EKTORP corner sofas (sectionals) and you can always buy new slipcovers for them if they are in good condition. I am also for hanging curtain rods as high as you can against the ceiling as it makes your ceilings look higher. So I would probably get a bigger rod (maybe even a big black one or paint the one you have white) and hang it higher over your French doors and buy longer curtains maybe in some neat print like Moroccan. And remove the ruffles from those small windows in the corner, too! If you want something on them not sure if they come that narrow but those Roman shades in straw would be cool, too! And if you can I'd replace the standing lamp with a neat one they currently have at Target that has a kind of driftwood looking stand. I can't remember if it comes with a shade or not but think it does! Or you can buy a new barrel lamp shade at Target. I love white lamp shades or even the burlap ones. If you have a Home Goods in your area they have sooo many neat pillows, too! Or a Marshalls. I would just get a cool "sunburst" style mirror to hang over your fireplace. Erin Gates LOVES her mirrors, too! : ) On that bigger wall to the left of your stairs if you are walking back up to probably the kitchen/eating area you could put some neat sideboard/buffet type cabinet on it. Or even the Expedit from IKEA that comes in different sizes and you fill the cubbies with baskets and use them for storage. Then you could find a neat lamp to put on top of it. Oh...and your carpet looks fine and would go great with the gray walls so unless you want to replace it, I'd leave it! Hardwood flooring is not cheap to install and I'd put the money into things that would make the biggest impact! Good luck with everything! Looks like you have lots of great ideas from fellow HOUZZERS! : )

TO debpthomps, HI, I meant cement board around the fireplace, about one foot for insurance regulations I believe and then just use paint the wall the darkgrey. we have a potlight on the ceiling on each side of the fireplace to highlight two beautiful antilope canyon photos we took on a trip. The placement of the two potlights changes the color highlight on the painted wall. No stone work at all. I prefer no shelving on each side of the fireplace on the reader,s photo. it would be too to busy. I then you have to dust, dust, dust. the carpet must go, more dust and ..... Vinyl plank flooring, depending on the make cushions the footstep. there are many colors to choose from. Hardwood floors are good too but at this moment in time I will be getting vinyl plank flooring for my cottage reno. too much change in temperature causes problems for hardwood flooring. and yes, a lovely contemporary rug. I like the new sisal IKEA has. Saw it this week.

Back in the 50's and 60's, most all the houses were built with real hardwood floors. The younger generations do not know why walk to walk carpeting was invented. The reason your high school gymnasium echoed and was so damned noisy was due to the lack if sound absorbing materials, hence carpeting was invented. I'm sick of listening to my neighbors lovemaking, their conversations, their arguments, and they updated to hardwood floors or removed their wall to wall carpeting which was over hardwood flooring. May the American builder quit using that shit. There's my opinion.

I would remove the paneling, paint the woodwork white, put in dark hardwood floors and then paint the walls with Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter. If the mantel is rough, have someone face it with a nice finished wood and paint it white as well. You should replace the ceiling fan. Your furniture arrangement would be better if you could put your TV either over the fireplace or on the wall next to the window, then put a credenza or buffet under it to weight that side of the room. Put a nice sized area rug like a 9 X 12 to pull the furniture arrangement together.

The room appears dark with limited natural light entering the space, so I suggest keeping the wainscoting and painting it white and placing a darker color on the walls with white trim around doors and windows or create one accent wall with dark color and the other walls lighter. Add more overhead lighting, such as recessed lighting to brighten the room. Choose a medium or lighter rustic color flooring that would go well with the fireplace stone and replace the mantle with a light to medium color heavy wood mantle or stone mantle and hang an accent piece on wall over fireplace or picture.
Place a large metal/wood style entertainment unit on the large wall and place the TV there and purchase a sectional sofa that will seat several people and you will need fewer pieces of furniture and reduce clutter. Hang two or three large fun art pieces on the wall by the entryway. Place a large rug on floor in front of sofa with big ottoman as table and for resting feet on while watching TV. Place a tall modern cabinet in the space between fireplace and sliding door for storage.

Congratulations on your new home! I throw in my lot with the bye bye wainscot group…especially if you're aiming toward clean and modern. I'm also very bye bye ceiling fan/lamp. If you can put canned lights into the (freshly scraped) ceiling that would go quite a way towards the modern look. I especially like the ceiling lamps that are available now that have a soft diffuser so you're not seeing the bulbs overhead. I've never understood why fireplaces get stuck on one end of a wall. I have one in a corner and it's a pain to group furniture around it. If you can't completely pull the stone off the wall and do a modern, hole in the wall fire place then I'd leave the natural stone and add a larger, darker simpler mantel. Dark wood floors would be awesome but I especially like some of the lighter gray tones that are popular now…plus they look a bit more contemporary. If you want super modern, go bamboo and save a bunch. Down down down with the current drapes and valances and up up up toward the ceiling with iron curtain rods. If you can't replace the ones you have painting them black will give a more modern look than the oak. Happy house!

I'm afraid you're going to encounter some hidden expenses in some of the basic makeover. I too would vote for removal of the wood paneling; but it is attached to window trim and the stairs, so there may be replacements needed in spots--including dry wall. Also when you remove carpet, especially on stairs, in order to install wood floors properly, you may have some necessary installations/adjustments of sub flooring and trim additions to steps.

So start with prioritizing. What is non negotiable on your list?

That being said, I vote for keeping most of it lighter and brighter. The room needs airiness and natural light. Make the most of your windows/doors to the outdoors. A less intrusive ceiling light and light color would lift the ceiling up in appearance.

I think you need to ask yourself what your foundation pallet is going to be (which will continue throughout your house). It will either be cream or white. From there, you can start making decisions on the color of paint, flooring options, what you could possibly do with your fireplace, etc. Is this room going to set the stage for future renos or do you want this room to flow with what you currently have?

I think your biggest priority is to remove the popcorn and add sufficient lighting. I would definitely paint the wainscoting the same color as your wall color. I think the fireplace is fine.

Add my vote to removing the wainscoting. Your ceiling is too low to divide the walls like that. Especially since you like a clean modern look. I would make scraping the popcorn off the ceiling a priority. I like your idea of wood flooring. As for color, you need to choose the overall palette for the house so you don't end up with a hodgepodge from one room to the other. Also because of your ceiling height, I would paint all doors and trim to help blend them in and keep the room from looking choppy. Maybe a soft cream color on the walls and white trim.

As for that mantle. That may need to be stage two. I think the current stone is too chunky for the size of the fireplace and for your stated design preference. The wood mantle is too thin to compliment the stone. I would totally redo it with a clean wood surround and glass tile.

paint the wainscoting and the walls in matching high gloss color of your choice. Reface the fireplace with a contemporary veneered some or stainless steel depending on how modem you want to go. Rrplace the ceiling fan with a contemporary fixture. add a contemporary rug, window treatment and artwork and you are done

Wainscoting needs to go if you want a contemporary look ,as well as the popcorn ceiling

Fireplace- take out stones. Replace wiith cement board for two feet around fireplac and dry wall the rest. Paint a nice grey. Gives a modern look for a great price.

For a clean modern look with a twist of vintage you could keep the stone fire place but beef up the mantle and paint it black paint your walls a crisp white right down to wainscot or remove it completely. Pick a new hard wood floor or re sand and stain existing floor under carpet if there is hardwood in a rich ebony. Furnish with black whites grays and a pop of your favorite color..( yellow, teal , red, whatever) throw in a few vintage touches like child's small chair by the fireplace in a natural wood or even paint black to match mantle. I like to group things in 3 so if you can
Find a few vintage things so fireplace adds to room without having too much labor money or time. Good luck!!

I love the stone fire place, it's a cabin-like and cosy. I can't see detail on the wainscot... if it's worth saving or not but if it is, you can't go wrong with white or cream. Dark wood floors in such a dark room might be oppressive. Lumber Liquidators is a great place to find reasonable flooring and they have lots of choices. Put your money and energy into getting rid of the popcorn ceiling and installing hardwood floors. There are lots of nice light fixtures at Rejuvenation Hardware, Restoration Hardware, Schoolhouse Electric, etc. Skulk the salvage stores too for all kinds of things. Vintage always adds charm.

Oh Dear, I know its a matter of opinion but I can't see anything in this room I would keep . The fireplace is awful, typical of what people did in the seventies and eighties. The ceiling looks as if it has been textured and well the carpet! Wainscoting? Looks like someone has taken a modern house and tried to turn it into a old cottage. This is only my opinion of course but I would strip out the lot, scroll through houzz see some fantastic, exciting interiors and copy. Good luck with your project

Please do not paint the stone of the fireplace...covering up nature is not a nice thing to do. I'd clear the room, replace the carpet with a nice dark laminate flooring and go from there. Get rid of those ruffles over those great windows, leave the blinds...that's it. I don't like the drapes on the doors. Want a window film with a nice outdoorsy design perhaps? I'd get rid of the paneling on the walls too. Hang the TV over the fireplace and leave the mantel almost unadorned. Perhaps paint the room a nice cream color? There are so many things you can do and I wish you all the best!!!

It looks pretty nice to me