It's a beautiful built-in unit! I would keep it. If you make any changes, you could modify it to fit your current needs.

Gosh, as far as cabinets, that one is one of the better I have seen. I'd keep it and put TV somewhere else in room! Perhaps you could repurpose it for a liquor cabinet.

It is nice, but it doesn't work. At a minimum, the middle portion needs to be removed. That is the only place the TV would work. Components are small nowadays and can go beneath in cabinets. THe wood color will probably not work. We want a light coastal theme in house and I don't want to make mistake of having an existing wall unit dictate the decor. Still conflicted. How to make it work?

Taking out upper unit means dealing with drywall and trim issues and the top of the bottom unit was not designed for show so it probably isn't finished. What happens if you remove upper doors and build in shelves? Assuming you paint it, does that make it work? After painting unit, you could add wallpaper or paint to back of upper hutch. You could also add a TV swing mount, to pull TV forward when it is being viewed and push it back in and close doors.

Here are some ideas:

I'm with you - it totally dates the room! I would have the top removed, paint the woodwork white (research a good painter in your area that has a good track record of painting cabinets, and find a beautiful sea foam green color for the walls. The contrast will have a coastal feel and be beautiful - research coastal design and create a folder of looks you love.

I agree with the others that this is a classic design that does not date the room but it isn't functional. Do remove only the top half but keep the doors - you never know where they will assist you in future . . and be prepared to rework the crown / vertical mouldings on the wall / remove it altogether. If the "beachy" theme you envision is best advanced by painting this white, paint it white but your television is going to be dark .. what about a crisp navy blue cabinet below white moulding and walls .. maybe a faux marble top in quartz so the navy blue has a carrerra look top? that feels nautical or beachy just thinking about it but balances a heavy black television above ..

If you can take the center medallions and the Xs off the doors, leaving just the outer square like side units and then paint, that might make it work better for you. It would certainly make it less obtrusive. I personally just hate to give any kind of storage.

Contact a local millhouse and speak to one of the designers to see what they can re-imagine for you working with the current unit.

I have to say I totally disagree with those that say this does not date the room. The design of the woodwork IS beautiful, but tv cabinets are outdated!! No arguing that point, it is just a fact. Take the top section off, you will be much happier with your new, planned current, coastal design :)

You have not moved into the house yet. Try leaving things as they are for a while until you have a better feel for it. I personally do not like the TV as a focal point in a room & if it could fit nicely behind the doors all the better.

Seems like the previous owners had a Mediterranean theme going, with tapestries and details on wood doors. But don't be in such a rush to tear things down. You can bring your own flair to the room by adding shelves on both sides of the central unit to display coastal objects, books, photos, antiques, or small size oil paintings with coastal theme, etc. They don't have to be full length of the wall, as they could float in asymmetric fashion, giving more modern look. You can paint the wood white and accent the door trim with either navy or gold tones, very coastal. There are many photos on HOUZZ to get inspiration from for nautical or coastal style before you loose this beautiful, albeit slightly "dated" (or perhaps simply "not you") composition. Creating something like this is not easy, and tearing the top down might leave large vacant wall staring back at you. You might find that then you have to remove bottom cabinets as well and start from scratch. Not cheap!

Here is one of my favorite coastal living rooms on HOUZZ. Notice how art de-emphasizes the wall structure and how shelves are symmetrical to the centerpiece. I know, in your case, it's not a fireplace, but that's just a detail.

http://houzz.com/photos/3236295

You can also add mirrors to the front of the center cabinet. Doesn't have to be many, just a few, in a grid pattern, but it would certainly add movement and light to the room, as well as making it bright and coastal. Alternatively, to really enlarge the room, you can put full size mirrors on the side walls and then float shelves at the front. This would create a very striking and modern effect, to banish any sense of being dated. A recent design in NYC did just that, see pic below. If you are worried about seeing your reflection, you can add wallpaper to both sides and hang sunburst mirrors.

http://houzz.com/photos/25092732

The cabinet is beautiful. I would not take it out. Where is your tv going to go in this room? Drywall will most likely have to be replaced if a tear out is done, repainting, and will be costly. More shelving on either side would make an impact on the room. Add to, not take away.

.

Though this built in is in the bedroom, but the idea can be used in your space just as well. Making cabinets mirrored helps to alleviate the often heavy effect of the built ins. I think that's what you might be struggling with when you talk about "dated". Just heavy. And mirrors diffuse that volume by bringing movement and light.

http://houzz.com/photos/25092796

In this picture you can see how console tables "float" in front of large mirrors. You can achieve the same effect with shelves if you line both walls with mirrors.

http://houzz.com/photos/25092732

Thanks for all of your ideas. This room will be the main gathering place in the house. We will have to put the tv on this wall. No question. I know it is not a decorators dream to do so, but it has to go here. We plan to have large comfy couch. Maybe a sectional or couch love seat and chairs. Mid tone wide plank floors. I was thinking of painting cabinets and adding shelves on either side of tv. I like white and shades of white. I also like the navy idea that someone had. Or, I could just rip it out and start over.

My favorite pic so far is from Lucidos. I really like the white wall unit.

I also like the idea of adding some mirrors.

Luv the wall unit. Try to work with it. Art and TV right and left
Paint but not the wood.

Don't tear it down, it´s a cool piece and very interesting. Do paint the wood light grey or soft white, add floating shelves in the same color to store books and knick knacks. putting the back of the couch facing the unit (but have a walkway) and putting a tv on the other side. If not adding it on the right side but definitely don't make it a vocal point. I don't know how big the space is or really know your style. But looking at your profile i see you like blues and coastal traditional style so painting the walls a pastel aqua and adding beautiful furniture, greenery and family items.