I don't mind that at all, and it looks functional. Can you take out some shelves? Maybe less obvious tone for track lighting, like satin nickel?

Why would you leave it empty? Do you plan to move the television to a different location? Do you plan to remove the wall and open it to the hall? I found it strange that you said leave it empty now I'm stuck on that LOL. If I was you I would leave it, after you decide on flooring and paint color I would actually either leave the wood and the way it is or painted down to blend with your taste. The most important part of this is those track heads they are so dated and must go if you do any work to it please see if you can tape the existing wire and add some actual bookcase lights, these are similar to picture light but can hang on the small dimensions of the wood.

HI -- It would be such a waste to take these out and would cost a small fortune to build them today . The lighting as mentioned needs to be up dated . I would take out the center section shelves and just have that space for a flat screen TV to fit . I would paint the inside of that alcove and the wall behind the shelves to a dark color like maybe a charcoal or a black/brown or a black/navy which ever works with your décor . This will set off the wood and make it look more modern and rich and up dated . Then dress the side sections minimal with select items so there is no clutter . Remove one shelf on that right side section to balance with the other side .

Yes, the track lighting is going for sure. By taking it out I mean adding dry-wall and making that whole wall flush. The shelves definitely look nicer in the picture. By cropping it I lost some detail. The shelves are supported by those metal tracks that run down the sides

Tv ugh, and I'd do anything to set mine back, even a bit from main view.

I might take out the shelving and leave the base cabinet. I don't see anything heavy on the shelves; I wonder how sturdy they are. Depending on how the cabinet looks in-person I would either leave it as is or paint it.

If the shelves can be adjusted, do that as they're too close together on the right side to be able to display anything bigger than a paperback book.

Shelves like these are the perfect place to display all your treasures and finds you've collected through the years. It will bring a lot of personality and charm to the room. I have 3 bookcases in my L shaped dining room that I furnished from the thrift store over the last 18 years. It's been a lot of fun, and I've found some great stuff that adds a lot of personality to the room.

Hello,

I would deconstruct the built-in, keep the recessed area open for diversity. If you chose to keep the bottom section only, I recommend painting it white and adding a huge salt water aquarium with lots of colourful fish.

Definitely keep the wood for reuse. If I were not using the base, I would move it to the garage / the barn / the workshop / hobby room or sell it.

The track lighting is a MUST GO. I also recommend painting the grey space by the ceiling as an extension of the wall.

The shelves aren't too bad. Paint, readjusting heights, remove lights, new hardware on drawers....they could be great. The thing that is a bit strange is how they are recessed, but the depth doesn't match the recess. I can see how these would be awkward in real life. You could pull them out and put a reading nook there. One other thing, the posters seem odd. I would like it better with no posters, or take out the individual shelves and put the posters down in there instead. At least level them out. They are hung at odd varying heights.

I like the built-ins! I'd probably paint them white and wallpaper or paint the wall behind in a different color.

[https://www.houzz.com/magazine/paint-your-bookcases-to-transform-your-room-stsetivw-vs~29035629[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/paint-your-bookcases-to-transform-your-room-stsetivw-vs~29035629)

The bottom cabinet looks like it is flush with the walls, both lengthwise and in depth, bit the shelves look like they were almost an afterthought. If you can, remove the shoving. Paint the cabinet to blend with the walls if you want the room to seem bigger...otherwise either leave the wood unpainted, or for a more modern pop, paint it an accent color....burnt orange? A olive drab? Dark navy? You can float off center shelves at a later date that are the same depth as the nook. Lots of possibilities...but whatever you do, leave the base cabinet...it looks like it belongs there. If you rip it out and try to put something smaller..it will look contrived.

I'd keep the base cabinet and remove the shelves. If this is the wall your TV is going on, you could flank the TV with floating shelves, maybe using the current shelves to create them.

My take:
Double the shelves so they are the same size as the top trim. The thin shelves make the unit look busy/unfinished.

Use the shelves, as suggested above, for floating shelves. You could double up on these too and add a trim to hide the fact. This idea is the best of suggestions. There are a bunch of how-tos for doing this.

Not a fan of track systems, taking the unit down to the base would make a huge difference. I like the unit. it is worthy of it's location. And you have storage below for all TV equipment. The TV being off centered would bother me and prefer it mounted on wall at viewing level.

I would remove the shelves keep the bottom piece and hang art in the space where the shelves were.

Shelves are really nice. I'd get rid of art work above shelves- just adds to visual clutter. Remove lighting. Don't replace. Placing two wind back chairs away from TV makes space look awkward. Your grouping of times seems to evenly spaced apart. Consider clustering them instead of spreading out.

Great suggestions thank you all, I should have made clear these photos are from the listing and all of the furniture and decor are the previous owners.

Will you let us know what you decide to do? We love to see the 'afters' :-)

Do you have a fireplace in the room? I would rip them out, because they don't look totally built in, they don't fit right... At least I would rip out all the shelves and do something above, and repaint/stain the lower cabs.

OR, You could add drywall to the whole area, but leave recessed areas for tv, faux fireplace, cubbyholes, etc. Something like these:

Great suggestions! There is a fireplace in the room. I will be sure to let everyone know what we decide.